Sri Lanka has registered 28 more victims of COVID-19, Director-General of Health Services confirmed on Tuesday (May 25).
The latest fatalities have moved the country’s death toll to 1,269, according to official data.
Five of the deaths took place on May 25 and the remaining victims have succumbed to the virus infection between the period of May 18 – May 24, the Department of Government Information stated.
Reportedly, 11 of them have been recorded as domestic deaths.
The deceased were identified as residents of Galle, Kalutara, Bulathsinhala, Unawatuna, Horana, Govinna, Galpatha, Hunnasgiriya, Maththaka, Wanchawala, Meepe, Matara, Ahangama, Veveldeniya, Ruwanwella, Meegahathenna, Agalawatta and Dehiattakandiya areas.
COVID pneumonia was recorded as the cause of death of majority of the victims. Some of them also suffered from diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, sepsis and other complications.
Daily COVID-19 cases count moved to 2,728 on Tuesday (May 25) as 920 more people were tested positive for the virus in Sri Lanka.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 169,900.
Government Information Department stated that 2,706 of the new cases reported today were associated with the New Year coronavirus cluster. Twenty-two others were identified as arrivals from foreign countries who are under quarantine.
As many as 141,175 recoveries and 1,269 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
According to official data, up to 27,456 active cases are currently under medical care at designated hospitals and treatment centres.
An individual who was pushing a wheelbarrow filled with goods purchased from a supermarket has been taken into custody today (May 25) as he was not wearing a face mask in public.
The arrestee was identified as a resident of Darga Town in Aluthgama, DIG Ajith Rohana stated.
Legal action will be sought against the man in question on charge of violation of quarantine regulations, according to the police spokesperson.
Sri Lanka is expected to receive a stock of 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China, with the consignment likely to reach the island tonight (25).
Principal Advisor to the President, Lalith Weeratunga stated that the SriLankan Airlines flight carrying the stock of vaccines is expected to touch down at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake around midnight today.
Flight UL-869 which is carrying the 500,000 vaccine doses had reportedly departed from Beijing at 19:45 and will arrive at BIA around midnight.
In March, Sri Lanka had received 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine as a donation from China.
Meanwhile the Cabinet of Ministers have approved a proposal to take necessary steps for the immediate purchase of 14 million doses of the China-manufactured Sinopharm vaccine and 01 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Sri Lanka Grama Niladhari Association states that they will withdraw from their duties from midnight today (May 25).
Sumith Kodikara, President of the Association, said that the decision was taken in protest of the COVID-19 inoculation program.
Addressing the media, he said that while the vaccine drive was initially carried out in a systematic manner, it is now being implemented in violation of the priority lists.
The government says it has planned to vaccinate 60 to 70 percent of the country’s population against coronavirus by the end of 2021.
The Department of Government Information stated the need for the expedited supply of vaccines has been recognized as there is no other solution to control the COVID-19 pandemic other than inoculation.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted the approval for a proposal to take necessary steps for the immediate purchase of 14 million doses of the China-manufactured Sinopharm vaccine and 01 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
The proposal has been tabled at the Cabinet by Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi.
The
nature of politics in Sri Lanka is giving heavyweight to criticise minor issues
that aren’t significant and people observed that the opposition parties in the country
have been using such minor issues to show that they are active in politics to
attract the support of people. As the head of the state president is criticised
by the opposition, that doesn’t mean the president has failed the management of
the economy.
All
countries of the world have been influenced by The COVID-19 and no proper study results have been
published so far and neither the government nor the opposition has evidence on
this matter. However, for publicity, the opposition uses social media and
attempt to show that the president has failed and the opposition has not
presented the alternative to the government approach and the opposition
directly criticises the president. Is the effort of the opposition successful
in attracting popular support? No, it is not because of popular support, and
giving consent to manage the economy is a different matter. Has Mr.Sajith
Premadasa been attracted popularity to attract public consent for economic
management is a questionable problem and the informal talks of people show that
people have not massive criticism against the role-playing of the president and
to change the president’s authority at a presidential election?
Many
countries in the world have failed the economic management effect of the
COVID-19 has complicated economic development and Mr.Rajapaksa, as the leader
of the country, works well and people need to appreciate his effort.
The
main issue in the country concerns the control of the pandemic and the
government takes positive action while taking steps to control pandemic and to
maintain economic development. In this situation, people must unit and ignore
politics and divisions. The history of the country showed that a variety of
epidemics were in the country and people used to act together while engaging in
epidemic control and economic activities performed well without problems to
families.
The
patience of people and uniting are major tasks in the current difficult
situation and nobody is immune to the pandemic and people need to respect the
rule to survive. The shouting in political rallies would not help in the
current situation and engage in own work without supporting to spread pandemic
is the responsibility of people.
People
in Sri Lanka are addicted to various religious practices ignoring the threat of
the pandemic, and many people opt to make hurray for good or irrelevant
activities. The government does what is right to the country and people need to
support the government behaving as advised by the government.
Mr.Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa has a clean and productive vision. The president has not gone out of
the vision even in a situation; the country is hit by a pandemic, Mr. Ranil
Wickremasinghe has expressed the best practice and the government cannot ignore
his views.
Since
the Donomore Reforms, the people of Sri Lanka have not been understood the
fundamental issue of the country which has been insincere to communities each
other that is called disunity and struggling economically has been a problem
face by many and policymakers did not consider it could be eliminated.
Mr.Rajapaksa
is being good job, and people need to support him following the instruction
given by his office.
A Sri Lankan student, detained by the Japanese immigration begged to be released to a hospital for medical care.
But, the officials refused.
They thought she pretended to be ill to avoid deportation.
She died on March 6, 2021 alone in her cell.
Protesters holding up pictures of Wishma during a demonstration in Tokyo. (Courtesy: Kyodo)
The records reviewed by Daily Mirror show instructions from a doctor reading: If (medicine) cannot be administered orally, she should receive an IV drip and be hospitalised.” The comment contradicts the content of the interim report, which says no recommendation for hospitalisation was made
https://youtu.be/TV6GMD4AHt8
Wishma dreamed of becoming an English teacher in Japan. She loved the country, its culture, and its people so dearly that when her mother was nervous about sending Wishma alone to an unknown country, Wishma said It is Japan. I am gonna be safe and fine.”
It was around 11 a.m. when Wishma started struggling to breathe. In her solitary confinement, she groaned in pain for hours before falling silent near 1.30 p.m. She received no emergency treatment whatsoever for more than two hours, despite the cell being under 24/7 CCTV surveillance, Japanese government records detailing circumstances leading to the death reveal. After 2 p.m., when officers visited the cell, they found Wishma’s lifeless body.
Sri Lankan student Wishma Sandamali, 33, languished in Nagoya Immigration Center in Japan, awaiting provisional release for six and a half months. Once a healthy and fit young woman who weighed 85 kg, Wishma lost more than 19 kg during the detention period, her health records say. Her condition continued to deteriorate. She died on March 6, 2021, triggering allegations that critically ill detainees are neglected by the Japanese immigration service.
Even though she had been diagnosed with suspected Oesophagitis, the treatment she received was focused on her mental health.
Even though her health deteriorated week after week with her symptoms of Oesophagitis started getting worse, neither was she given IV drip (intravenous drip) nor was she hospitalised.
The reason is also evident in an interim report, compiled and issued by Japan’s Immigration Bureau. From the very beginning, the immigration officers thought Wishma faked illnesses to get released.
Yasunori Matsui, a supporter from the START — an organisation for refugees and migrants — had written to the officials multiple times regarding Wishma’s deteriorating health.
We had filed requests for her to be hospitalised and put on an IV drip, but the immigration bureau just kept saying she was fine. I am forced to say they left her to die.” Matsui said.
How she lost legal status
A university graduate and English teacher, Wishma flew to her dream destination lawfully in June 2017, eyeing the skyline like any newcomer.
Her status of residence at the time of her entry was college student” and her period of stay was one year and three months. However, she became unable to continue her studies when she ran out of money to pay for school and ended up overstaying in the country.
She applied for refugee status in September 2018 and she was permitted for a stay of two more months with no work permitted. When she applied for a renewal of refugee status in December, she was not permitted over lack of reasons.
This resulted in her losing her status of residence. She was arrested in August 2020 and charged for violating Japanese immigration control law. Foreign nationals in Japan after the expiry of their allocated period of stay are detained at government detention centres until they return to their home countries. She was immediately sent to the Nagoya Detention Center.
Circumstances leading to the death as revealed by the interim report
Wishma started complaining of vomiting in mid-August, 2020 and it continued throughout her detention period. In mid-January, 2021, she began complaining of stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and numbness of the body. By mid-February, her condition grew too weak to walk or even stand, and that she required assistance from the staff at the immigration centre to go to the toilet and even change clothes.
Her blood tests in January showed mild polycythemia (an increase of red blood cells in the body). However, the interim investigation report states that the part-time doctor at the internal medical centre who examined Wishma on January 28, took a wait-and-see approach.” The doctor instructed to test Wishma’s blood in another two months.
On the night of January 28, Wishma vomited blood and requested the officials at the facility to take her to a hospital. But, they didn’t. Within the next few days, the frequency of vomiting increased and intake of provided meals started decreasing. Then, she was moved from a shared room to a single cell. The authorities also started counselling for Wishma as they thought from the very beginning that she malingered.
From January 2021 until she died, she suffered from constipation. In early February, the gastroenterologist who examined Wishma by a gastric endoscope suspected reflux Oesophagitis (inflammation of the tube that sends food from mouth to stomach). A supporter from a non-government agency who had looked into Wishma’s matter requested the immigration officials to take Wishma to a nearby hospital and provide her drip-infusion (medication drip from a bag through a tube into a catheter). However, doctors said it was not necessary.
Later, when she continued complaining of pains and difficulties in her body, she was asked to see a psychiatrist. The interim report stated that although psychiatric consultation was ordered on February 16, the COVID-19 situation in nearby hospitals hampered the process.”
It was only on March 4, two days before her death, Wishma was brought to a psychiatrist. The interim report says that since Wishma did not request a consultation with a doctor after February 22, she wasn’t provided with any medical treatment until March 4 the date, reserved for the psychiatrist.
Since the last week of February, Wishma often has laid on the bed and needed assistance to move her body. She even used diapers as she could not move to even go to the toilet. All of this happened inside her tiny cell. Two days before her death, the psychiatrist who checked Wishma suspected Somatic Symptom Disorder (mental disorder that manifests as physical symptoms that suggest illness or injury). However, the CT scans performed on Wishma on the same day revealed no abnormalities in her brain. But, she was prescribed antipsychotics and sleep inducers.
On the day before her death, she spent most of her time sleeping under the effect of the medicine. On March 6, hours before death, officers who, as usual, visited Wishma to check her blood pressure and pulse could not measure them due to an error in the technical instruments.”
When officers instructed Wishma to have breakfast, she could not communicate; only cried and moaned in pain. It was around 11 a.m, Wishma started struggling to breathe.
The interim report which has been compiled checking CCTV footage inside the cell after Wishma’s death clearly details Wishma’s movement on March 6. It states how she desperately struggled for hours to breathe. After 2 p.m, when officers visited the cell, they found Wishma without a pulse.
A letter Wishma sent to a volunteer at START in February
Discrepancies in information
The cause of death, as mentioned in her death certificate was diagnosed as acute hepatic insufficiency. The type of death is categorised as unknown. The psychiatrist noted that they could not find a cause for Wishma’s death from the psychiatric point of view. However, the lengthy interim report released on April 9 has also failed to determine the cause of her death.
In post-death hospital records, it says that Wishma was normal till noon on March 6. But, she has been breathing heavily and since the morning on the same day, according to the interim report detailing care provided for her. There are also discrepancies between the medical records compiled by her doctor (obtained by her family lawyer) in February and the content of the immigration bureau’s report. The omitted information is a set of remarks made by a doctor when Wishma underwent a stomach endoscopy at a hospital outside the detention centre.
The records reviewed by Daily Mirror show instructions from a doctor reading: If (medicine) cannot be administered orally, she should receive an IV drip and be hospitalised.” The comment contradicts the content of the interim report, which says no recommendation for hospitalisation was made.
When this was questioned recently at a House of Representatives Committee on Judicial Affairs’ board meeting, the Japanese Justice Ministry explained that while Wishma’s medical records were obtained before an interim report on her death was created, the regional immigration services bureau responded that the doctor’s records were non-factual.”As a result, the ministry said, the report it filed contained differing information.
Public outcry in Japan
I am not well at all. Please help me ASAP. They won’t take me to a hospital outside because I am in their (immigration centre) custody. I want to recover. But what can I do? I don’t want to bother you, but I have no one else who cares about me,” Wishma wrote on February 2 to her supporters.
Yasunori Matsui from the START had been meeting with Wishma since December 2020. Mr Matsui who witnessed the deteriorating condition of Wishma during visits had written to the bureau requesting them to admit her to hospital. But, officials said it was not necessary.
There have been several protest rallies by Japanese groups supporting foreign workers and refugees, demanding the government to reveal the truth behind Wishma’s death. Members of the Japanese rights group START, chanted phrases including, Why didn’t you save her?” and, We want you to change.” Protesters were heard saying slogans, including, Totally unforgivable,” and, Reveal the truth.”
A petition they submitted reads:
The incident was caused by neglecting medical care. Clarify who has responsibility for the management, and release. We need an apology and the truth as soon as possible. To stop this from happening again, we ask you to change your policies from one of the single-minded deportations to one that considers the circumstances of the individuals involved and offers them relief.” In response to the allegations, Immigration Bureau officials informed the protesters that, we are currently under investigation by the ministry (of justice), and therefore cannot respond.”
We received condolences, not answers to our questions: Family
Wishma’s mother, a widow, had taken out a mortgage loan to send her eldest daughter to Japan. Now she is struggling to process the amount of grief.
There was nobody to give a drop of saline to a selfless person like my daughter who had donated so much in her life. She always went beyond her limits to help people. But, in her dream country of Japan, they left her to die like an animal. They watched her die,” mother lamented.
Her sisters criticised that they felt as if the immigration agency was covering the truth.” The Japanese government officials including the subject Minister who met with the sisters who are currently in Japan have offered condolences and but did not give answers, the family complained.
The sisters met with the Head of Japanese Immigration Centers and also the Minister of Justice on Tuesday (18). For all the questions they raised, the response from the officials was the same we are very sad about what has happened. An investigation is underway.”
They also visited the single-person cell where Wishma was detained, describing it as small and as if for an animal.” They heard her insisting that she was unwell and wanted to be taken to a hospital outside. But, immigration officers repeated to her, ‘there’s nothing wrong with you,’ as she continued to be in distress,” said Wayomi Nisansala, a sister of Wishma, referring to detention center staff.
Those who are working in embassies have no compassion to represent their people in those countries. They have no mechanism to monitor Sri Lankans living there. They simply do not care.”
Problems in Japanese immigration centres not new
According to Japanese media reports, in recent years, inmates have died one after another in other detention centres as well. But, the Immigration Bureau keeps rejecting allegations of negligence. Japanese immigration facilities have been criticised in and outside the country for their lengthy detention periods.
When inquired by the Daily Mirror, Chandana Weerasena, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo, Japan said as of 17 of March 2021, there were 26 Sri Lankan detainees under the Japanese Immigration detention centres. All of them have been charged for illegal stay (overstay) in the country.
He claimed that the Japanese authorities initiated the investigation into Wishma’s death as per the request made by Sri Lankan Embassy. He also stated that until the final report on the death is issued by the Japanese authorities, the Embassy would not release any media statement concerning Wishma’s matter. The final report is set to be released in July.
Meanwhile, Kazuna Yamamoto, President of Voice Up Japan organisation during an interview with the Daily Mirror stated that Wishma’s death and deaths of 14 other non-Japanese detainees, died over the past 17 years could have been prevented.
She also stated that the government of Japan on Tuesday (18) was forced to drop a draft revision to the Japanese Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which proposed forcible deportation and criminalisation of those who are applying for refugee status in Japan for the third time due to growing condemnation and pressure over the death of Wishma.
Wishma dreamed of becoming an English teacher in Japan. She loved the country, its culture, and its people so dearly that when her mother was nervous about sending Wishma alone to an unknown country, Wishma said It is Japan. I am gonna be safe and fine.”
Illustrations done by Wishma while she was being detained
A matter of significance is the introduction in the US Congress of a bipartisan resolution calling for an international mechanism for crimes committed in Sri Lanka.” It has been moved by Deborah Ross. The resolution says:
(1) acknowledges the 12th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka and offers its deepest condolences to all those affected by the conflict;
(2) honours the memory of those who died and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of all communities in Sri Lanka in their search for reconciliation, reconstruction, reparation, and reform;
(3) commends the United Nations Human Rights Council for prioritising the collection and preservation of evidence related to human rights violations, a process that must not be interfered with by the Government of Sri Lanka;
(4) recognises the bravery and commitment of advocates for justice across all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil families of the disappeared, whose protests and demands for answers have at times been met with threats, intimidation, and harassment by government security forces;
(5) urges the international community to advocate for and protect the political rights and representation of the historically oppressed northeastern region of Sri Lanka and work towards a permanent political solution to address the underlying issues that led to ethnic conflict;
(6) recommends the United States explore investigations and prosecutions pursuant to the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and
(7) urges the United States to work with the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish a credible and effective international mechanism for accountability for the grave crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka.”
The sting is in paragraphs 3,6, and 7 which seek to invoke the UN Security Council, the only body with legal teeth. This is while the Sri Lanka issue remains on the agenda for the UN Human Rights Council sessions in September, this year.
To:
President Joe Biden and Vice President: Kamala
Harris
From: US Citizens of Sri Lankan Origin seeking
assistance with Covid Vaccines
Date: May 23, 2021
We
the citizens of the US who are originally from Sri Lanka convey our
appreciation to you that we are now able to ease our anxiety with Covid19 due
to your leadership given to speedy and ample vaccinations provided to the
people. We commend your effort.
However,
it is not so in our home country Sri Lanka, the closest neighbor to India. Their situation is dire with the spread of
Covid spilling through from India. It is
sad that in the US news, we noted no mention about Sri Lanka, the closest
island nation in references to the region.
Sri Lanka is swimming distance from India. Sri Lanka stands alone without
attention. People are dying.
Physical
facilities were anticipated and speedily provided but the most critical need,
VACCINES are not arriving in time for the people. We appeal to you to please turn your
attention on Sri Lanka also in the cluster of countries affected in the region.
We hope this will get your
attention.
Given
below is the link to a news item from Sri Lanka that refers to the role that
the US can play. Lives of the people
there in the small island matter. Thank
you.
Colombo, May 24 (The Island): The Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEC), which is the professional body representing the agricultural economists of Sri Lanka, has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa express concerns over the ban on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The letter in full: The Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEC), is the professional body representing the agricultural economists of Sri Lanka. Our membership endorses the government’s decision to adopt a Green Socio-Economic Model for development, as we firmly believe that such a strategy is vital for conserving the environment and improving human health. We agree that green approaches in crop cultivation contribute significantly towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moreover, SAEA is of the view that most of the current farming systems in Sri Lanka are unsustainable.
Hence, the conversion of them into organic farming systems, in the long run, would help promote health of the people and nurture integrity of the nation’s environment. It is well known that many countries currently take systematic and pragmatic approaches to achieve this long-term objective by first setting targets, standards, and subsequently, investing and promoting farmers to adopt best practices.
Therefore, we would like to extend our appreciation to the government for taking such a valuable decision to adopt the green socioeconomic model in Sri Lanka.
The Downside
SAEA would also like to bring to your attention some concerns on the appropriateness of the newly introduced regulation, to restrict forthwith the importation of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by the Gazette Extraordinary No 2226/48 of May 6, 2021, to achieve the above-mentioned broader development goal.
The SAEA predicts massive economic losses due to potential yield losses, in the absence of proper substitutes for chemical fertilisers and pesticides, with the implementation of the import ban on fertilisers and pesticides. The immediate adverse impacts on food security, farm incomes, foreign exchange earnings and rural poverty can be detrimental to achieving the cherished long term goals. The SAEA’s primary concerns, and the less costly policy alternatives proposed by its members in place of the newly introduced import ban, are given below for your kind perusal and consideration.
A. Appropriateness of using an Import Restriction on Agrochemicals to promote organic farming
The SAEA is of the view that the policy instrument identified by the government to promote organic farming is less appropriate due to potential economic losses and its incompatibility with other policy goals of the government.
1. Economic cost to the society
When converting from conventional agriculture into organic farming, the government should weigh the technological, environmental, and economic costs and benefits. The preliminary findings of the studies conducted by the SAEA on potential economic losses of the import ban and respective estimations are given below for your consideration.
(a) Agronomic studies reveal that the average yields from paddy can drop by 25% if chemical fertilisers are fully replaced by organic fertilisers. This loss in productivity could reduce the profitability of paddy farming by 33%, and rice consumption by 27%, if paddy is cultivated just with organic fertilisers with a complete ban on rice imports. In contrast, applying organic fertilizer with the recommended dosages of chemical fertilisers would improve the profitability of farming by 16%.
(b) Absence of chemical fertiliser would drastically reduce the productivity of the Vegetatively Propagated Tea (VPT). With a 35% pro ductivity drop, the export volume of tea would go down from 279 to 181 million kg, causing an income loss of LKR 84 billion. The estate sector will likely incur significant losses compared to those of tea smallholders. These losses could further be aggravated due to increased cost of labour to apply bulky organic fertilisers.
(c) The coconut yields would go down by 30% if chemical fertilisers and pesticides are not applied. This situation will adversely impact fresh coconuts availability for the production of coconut oil, desiccated coconut and other coconut products. The loss in foreign exchange earnings can be as high as LKR 18 billion, based on the assumption that only 26% of the total coconut extent is fertilized. When the additional cost for the importation of edible oils is considered, the loss of foreign exchange earnings will be even higher.
(d) The above results were derived considering the immediate effects on three agricultural sub-sectors. An analysis performed accommodating adjustments in the economy over the medium to long run reveals that a reduction in average agricultural productivity by 20% could cause a decrease in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 3.05%, suggesting an overall contraction of the economy with the implementation of the import ban.
2. Compatibility with other development policies
The proposed policy instrument is not compatible with the policy objectives stated in ‘Vistas for Prosperity and Splendor’. Given below are a few policy incompatibilities highlighted by the members of SAEA (Relevant statement from Vistas for Prosperity and Splendor shown in parenthesis).
(a) Modernisation of agriculture (International export business through various value-added products backed up by new technologies): The SAEA would like to propose that the government considers Sustainable Intensification of farming systems to feed the growing population with rising incomes, seeking safe and nutritious food which are produced in environmentally sustainable farming systems, rather than converting all systems to fully organic agriculture, as its policy objective.
(b) Food self-sufficiency drive (Make the country self-sufficient in the relevant products): Estimates reported in section A (a) indicate that a food deficit would be created in the country owing to yield losses. However, the current government policy on food self-sufficiency would not allow the policymakers to fill this deficit through imports. Such a situation could give rise to food price inflation, unrest, and starvation.
(c) Freedom (People-Centric Economic Development): The chosen policy instrument does not provide flexibility to farmers to determine their least-cost food production methods, without harming the environment. This situation would violate the ‘people’s freedom’ policy of the government.
(d) Rural-urban migration (Linking the village development together with the regional development): Contraction of the rural economy due to reduced farm profitability will lead to increased migration from rural to urban areas. With limited capacity of the manufacturing sector to absorb migrants, this will result in urban congestion.
(e) Commitments with the WTO and other international relations (Friendly, Non-aligned, Foreign Policy): The policy instrument chosen is not compatible with commitments to the WTO.
B. Alternative Policy Instruments for making Food Systems more Environmentally Sustainable
In light of the above observations, members of SAEA suggest the government use more cost-effective instruments to achieve the stated health and environmental outcomes, in place of the newly introduced import regulation. They note that globally, the approach to environmental protection has been evolving from a regulation-driven approach to a more proactive approach, involving voluntary and market-led initiatives. Accordingly, we wish to propose the following three-point policy package.
1. Incentivize organic cultivation using safe and environmentally friendly organic fertilizers and pesticides:
a). Open up pathways towards encouraging organic fertiliser production, storage, distribution, etc., and promote Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to achieve those.
b). Develop national standards for organic fertilisers and pesticides to ensure non-importation of substandard products to the country, and domestic production meeting specified quality standards.
c) Improve awareness of various organic farming technologies among farmers through a strengthened extension system.
d) Institutionalize and make Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) a mandatory national standard.
2. Dis-incentivize use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in an environmentally harmful manner:
a) Revisit national standards for chemical fertilisers and pesticides to ensure non-importation of sub-standard products to the country.
b) Impose environmental taxes on selected inorganic fertilisers and pesticides.
c) Reduce and eventually eliminate the subsidy on chemical fertilizers. In phasing out the fertilizer subsidy, we wish to recommend the following steps.
d) Prioritize subsidies according to characteristics such as fertilizer type, agro-ecological region, season, and crop.
II. For the targeted farmers, establish a voucher system that restricts farmers’ access to a lifeline amount [such as two bags] and require them to purchase the balance at market prices for a limited period.
III. When the subsidy is lowered, introduce an output price support program to support the farm producers partially.
4. Provide and support farmers to adopt site-specific fertilizer recommendations and integrated pesticide recommendations.
5. Reduce and eventually eliminate protection provided to crops that are highly fertilizer intensive and erosive.
6. Strengthen existing measures to improve awareness of the safe use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
3. Cross-cutting proposals to safeguard the poor and vulnerable and improve the policy process:
1. Maintain a safety net for the poor recognizing the possible increase in food prices.
2. Identify a harmonized financing mechanism. For example, finances of saved fertilizer subsidy and environmental taxes can be used to subsidize organic fertilizer production and application.
3. In formulating the strategic roadmap, adopt a consultative process involving all stakeholders (policymakers, politicians, agriculturalists, environmentalists, and the private sector) and also consider economy-wide impacts (macro, meso, and micro) and externalities.
Considering the economic loss, policy inconsistency, and counterproductive effects created by the regulation in the manner introduced, and the availability of relatively superior alternative measures, the SAEA humbly requests you to substitute the import ban on chemical fertilizers and pesticides with the set of alternative measures proposed above. We assure SAEA’s professional support to establish a green-economic model for the agriculture sector of Sri Lanka.
(Dr. SAMPATH DHARMADASA, President/SAEA and Dr. SHASHIKA RATHNAYAKA, Secretary/SAEA)
Colombo, May 24 (NewsWire) – The travel restriction currently enforced in Sri Lanka will be extended till the 7th of June.
According to Minister Johnston Fernando, three days will be allocated during the extended travel restriction for the public to purchase essential goods.
Travel restrictions extended till 07th June. Restrictions will be relaxed on 25th May, 31st May, and 04th June to buy essential items. Vehicles will be not allowed to travel when the restrictions are relaxed” Minister Johnston Fernando said.
Only one person can travel to the nearest shop from one house. Only food and medicine shops will be allowed to open” he added.
Key decisions taken with regard to the travel restrictions:
Travel restrictions extended till the 7th of June.
Travel restriction will be relaxed on the 25th and 31st of May, and on the 04 of June from 04 am to 11 pm.
Only supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, fruit and vegetable shops, fish and meat stalls, and pharmacies will be permitted to remain open when restrictions are relaxed.
Liquor stores will remain closed when travel restrictions are relaxed.
One person per house will be permitted to step outdoors to purchase essential goods when the travel restriction is relaxed.
The public urged to visit stores closest to their residence.
Food, vegetable, and essential goods delivery trucks will be permitted to operate during restrictions.
Vehicle movements of the general public will continue to be restricted during the period that the restrictions are relaxed.
Only essential services and delivery services permitted to operate during restrictions.
The public urged to adhere to health guidelines when stepping outdoors.
National Identity Card (NIC) system will not be in effect when travel restrictions are relaxed.
The Colombo Port City Commission (CPCC) bill passed with several amendments proposed by the Government and opposition MPs and in accordance with the Sri Lankan Supreme Court (SC) determinations received by the Speaker of Parliament. After placing the SC determinations before Parliament on 18 May, a two-day lively debate was held where frank opinions were expressed by the members highlighting the democratic space available in Sri Lanka under freedom of expression.
The Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission empowered to grant registrations, licenses, authorizations, and other approvals to carry on businesses and other activities in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be established within the Colombo Port City. Several petitions were filed in the SC challenging the Bill on grounds that some of its clauses are inconsistent with the Constitution. Now that the bill has been passed, a high-powered five-member Commission to administer the Port City could be set up.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stressed the importance of the Colombo Port City for Sri Lankan economy at the 26th International Conference on The Future of Asia” held last Thursday (20). Organised by Japanese mega Media group Nikkei, this year’s Conference was held on the appropriate theme,Shaping the Post COVID Era: Asia’s Role in the Global Recovery”. Delivering the Key Note Address, President Rajapaksa said that the strengthening of relationships between countries in Asia, and increasing cooperation amongst nations globally, is even more important today than it has been in the past, given the ongoing pandemic and its consequences.
He made a direct reference to the Port City and the Commission to be set up to govern the new Port City. The new development extending the Colombo business district to 269 hectares of reclaimed land represents an exciting new opportunity for international businesses. The Port City will be a Gateway to South Asia. It will create a vibrant new cityscape incorporating an international financial centre, a Marina district, outstanding residential and commercial facilities, as well as world class infrastructure, all within a tropical beachside paradise,” he said and added, New legislation that will ensure an attractive environment for investors and greater ease of doing business within the Port City has been prepared. Special status and a host of exemptions and special incentives will be accorded to businesses that will have a broad economic impact.”
Attracting investment
The President expressed confidence that investors from all over the world will benefit greatly from these initiatives and from the Port City’s unique geostrategic position at the heart of one of the most rapidly advancing regions in the world. I invite all nations to encourage their businesses to take advantage of this opportunity, and to be part of what will become a key service hub to this region in the future.”
Sri Lanka is keen on encouraging investments in technology based industries. We have large numbers of qualified, experienced and skilled professionals in the Information Technology space. Our ongoing educational reforms at the secondary and tertiary levels will further enhance the prospects of our young people in this sector in future. President Rajapaksa told the fellow Asian leaders that a new legislation, including an Act on personal data protection, is being formulated to create a more robust environment that will enable global technology companies to operate from Sri Lanka. The Government has already instituted several other supportive measures towards this, including instituting a zero-tax policy for technology companies headquartered here.
Sri Lanka also has the raw materials used in many high-tech industries in abundance. My Government is prepared to provide significant support to investors who seek to create value added industries in connection with these resources,” he said and added, we also seek investments for power generation through the use of renewable sources such as wind and solar, in keeping with our growing industrial needs and our policy of enhancing environmental sustainability.”
Strategic importance
President Rajapaksa utilised his keynote address to enlighten the Asian leaders about Sri Lanka’s unique place in the Asian continent. Although still a developing country, Sri Lanka ranks relatively high in many social development indices. The country has a robust public health system and provides free education through to the tertiary level. We have a well-educated, highly skilled, hardworking, and capable workforce. Sri Lanka is one of the most connected nations in South Asia, with major global centres less than five hours away by air. Colombo, the commercial capital, is one of the most beautiful cities in the region and ranks as one of the very best cities in South Asia for the quality of life it provides.
As an island strategically located at the centre of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has been a hub that connected the East and the West since ancient times. Today, Sri Lanka has outstanding port infrastructure that can facilitate transhipment and provide world class services even for the largest container ships. We also contribute greatly towards maintaining maritime security in this region, helping protect vital sea lines of communication on behalf of all nations.
We are determined to safeguard our national interests based on friendly, cooperative interactions with all our partners on equal terms. We follow a neutral foreign policy. We aim to harness the advantages of our strategic location to develop our economy and uplift the wellbeing of our people in a sustainable and equitable way. We seek to significantly strengthen our bilateral relationships with all countries, and in particular with our partner countries in the Asian region in terms of trade and investment,” he said.
President Rajapaksa, in reply to a question asked by Nikkei moderator Go Yamada on balancing India and China. The President explained that cooperation with China is on par with overall economic and commercial trajectories. While we are aware of world power rivalries and regional power dynamics, our foreign policy is neutral. We consider India our closest neighbour and a long-standing friend and we understand their security concerns and sensitivities. We will never allow anyone to use Sri Lanka to jeopardise India’s security,” he said.
The new Port City Colombo, a joint venture with the state and China Harbour Engineering Corporation has 100 hectares of land ready for construction. In the next five year strategic plan 20 plots in total of 60 hectares of land adjacent to Colombo’s central business district have been identified for the pilot projects.
Colombo Port City Commission will be vested with powers to approve investments without going to the Board of Investments, give tax breaks and regulate businesses in the most far-reaching ‘one-stop-shop’ designed so far. It is expected to address several problems in Sri Lanka’s ease of doing business indicators that had kept back foreign direct investments.
A spokesman for CHEC Port City Colombo said 40 out of 74 buildable plots of land are allocated for commercial development which will bring investments and business activities while 34 plots are for residential use. Out of 269 hectares reclaimed, China Harbour will get 113 hectares, 91 will be common areas vested in the Government and the balance 60 odd hectares are land the Government can sell and earn revenue.
In designing the Port City plan, significant emphasis was given to create a vibrant business hub district, because of its extension to the existing central business district of Colombo.
It is no secret that Sri Lanka’s current economic growth would not be sufficient to drive demand. Therefore businesses had to be attracted to Phase One to drive activity. Sri Lanka is primarily seeking foreign investments through dollar inflows, but domestic businesses would also be allowed to buy land to gain a foothold within the Port City.
International trade, logistics operations, hospitality and tourism are considered natural strengths of Sri Lanka. The Port has identified ICT/ BPM, offshore banking, private equity, wealth management and investment banking as priority sectors.
The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, decided to suspend the importation of a limited number of vehicles today (24) in view of the current situation in the country, the PM’s office said.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today.
Ministers have pointed out to the Cabinet that the import of vehicles should be further restricted, taking into account the current situation in the country and the financial situation.
Accordingly, steps have been taken to suspend the previous proposal to import a limited number of vehicles as per the decision of the Cabinet.
Minister Johnston Fernando says that the government has decided to extend the islandwide travel restrictions currently in effect, until the 07th of June.
However, he said that the travel restrictions will be temporarily relaxed tomorrow (May 25), May 31 (Monday) and June 04 (Friday) for the people to purchase essential items from the nearest shop to their homes.
However, the public will not be allowed to travel by vehicle to purchase essential goods as they will only be allowed to walk to nearest shop.
Only grocery shops, pharmacies, bakeries, fish and meat shops are permitted to open tomorrow while liquor stores will remain closed.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said a meeting presided by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was held this afternoon in regard to the recommendations made by various specialists in the medical field pertaining to COVID-19 and how the country should proceed during this period.
He stated that during that meeting certain decisions were made and accordingly this briefing was summoned to announce the said decisions.
Clarifying further on this, the Army Chief said that the travel restrictions enforced since 11.00 p.m. last Friday (May 21) will be eased to some extent, but not completely removed” at 4.00 a.m. tomorrow (25).
The travel restrictions will be enforced across the island once again from 11.00 p.m. tomorrow (25) until 4.00 a.m. the next Monday (May 31).
Thereafter travel restrictions will once again be enforced with effect from 11.00 p.m. on May 31 and will continue until 4.00 a.m. on June 04 (Friday).
Travel restrictions will come into effect again at 11.00 p.m. that same day (June 04) and will continue until 4.00 a.m. on June 07 (Monday).
The government of Sri Lanka has decided to have these travel restrictions in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka,” he said.
He said that considering the present situation, the President and the government has decided to enforce these travel restrictions while considering the fact that the majority of the people require to purchase food items and medicine.
He said that a time period of about 17 hours will be given for this purpose on May 25, May 31 and June 04.
Police Spokesman DIG Rohana emphasized that only one member from a family will be permitted to go out to purchase essential items from any outlet within walking distance as traveling by vehicle will not be allowed.
This was announced during a special press briefing at the Government Information Department attended by Ministers Johnston Fernando, Prasanna Ranatunga, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva and Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana.
The press conference was held to brief the public on the current Covid-19 situation in the country and the maintaining of essential services.
The Cabinet of Ministers, considering the situation in the country, has decided to suspend the import of even the limited number of motor vehicles.
The decision has been taken when the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, convened via Zoom today (May 24).
During the meeting ministers pointed out that the import of vehicles should be further restricted, considering the current situation and the financial position of the country.
Accordingly, measures have been taken to suspend the previous proposal to import a limited number of motor vehicles.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reports that another 687 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, moving the daily total of new cases to 2,970.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus reported in the country to 167,171.
As many as 139,947 recoveries and 1,210 deaths have been confirmed in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The Epidemiology Unit’s data showed that 26,014 active cases are currently under medical care.
Sri Lanka Medical Research Institute (SLMRI) has made a revelation on cases of ‘black fungus’ detected in Sri Lanka.
With reports of a person from Ampara who has been diagnosed with the ‘black Fungus’, there has been much dialogue in Sri Lanka regarding the infection which has stirred quite a storm in India.
However, the Deputy Director-General of Education and Research at the Ministry of Health Dr. Hemantha Herath said that experts yesterday (May 24) allayed the fears by confirming that the infection in question was not a result of the ‘black fungus’.
Meanwhile, SLMRI has revealed that Sri Lanka has reported cases of ‘black fungus’, also known as mucormycosis, since 2019.
Dr. Primali Jayasekara, Head of the Department of Mycology at SLMRI mentioned this at a media briefing held in Colombo.
She said, This fungus is not new to Sri Lanka. We have reported 42 cases of ‘black fungus’ in 2019, 24 in 2020, and 24 in 2021 so far.
However, so far none of these patients had been infected with COVID-19. We have not heard of COVID-19 patients being infected with mucormycosis yet.
This fungus is not new to Sri Lanka. Our country has all the environmental factors needed for it to grow. The fungus is present in our soil. Persons with low immunity may get this infection.”
A special 24-hour hotline dedicated for public inquiries regarding essential services has been introduced and will be operational from today (24).
The public is requested to call the hotline number 1965 for any inquiries regarding essential services during the travel restriction period.
This is being implemented under the Presidential Task Force for Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation.
The call center has been established at Temple Trees with over 20 officials ready to answer calls regarding essential services while they will also provide contacts for the various relevant institutions as requested.
Launching the service this morning (24), Minister Namal Rajapaksa stated that the general public as well as those engaged in essential services have various issues regarding these services and they can call the hotline 1965 to report them.
Sri Lanka has
been taking a defensive position in Geneva, from the first UNHRC resolution in
2012. Always explaining its actions
during and after the conflict, observed Neville Ladduwahetty. This is a flawed
strategy, he said. Instead, Sri Lanka should table a Resolution in the General
Assembly and seek redress.
Sri Lanka
should not have to keep going to the UNHRC to make its case, given that 10
years had now lapsed since the end of the war, said Sarath Amunugama in
Parliament. Its 10 years now since the end of the war. This joke must stop,” he
said.
Unlike Sri Lanka,
other countries ignore UNHRC. UNHRC has passed many resolutions against Israel.
In 2017, HRC adopted 5 such resolutions in one session despite opposition from
US and UK. Israel boycotts UNHRC and does not reply to the charges leveled against it.
India told the UN
point blank that it was not ready to talk about Kashmir at the UN. When anti-
Muslim clashes took place in Gujarat, in 2002, killing over 1,000 civilians and
injuring many more, India told the UN that it was an internal matter and New
Delhi would not allow it to be raised at international forums.
Sri Lanka
should now change its strategy. Sri Lanka
should stop running to Geneva. It should go
straight to the UN General Assembly, and make a formal complaint about UNHRC
and OHCHR.
Sri Lanka
must begin by reporting UNHCR and OHCHR for interference in Sri Lanka’s
internal matters. The Eelam war was a
secessionist civil war which stayed within the island. It did not spill out to
other countries. It was an internal matter. The military fought a secessionist
group, not an ethnic community.
Also, the
Eelam war was primarily a political issue, relating to sovereignty, not a Human
rights issue. But UNHCR looked at it as
a violation of Human rights and focused on accountability and reconciliation.
Secondly, Sri
Lanka must report UNHRC and OHCHR for grossly exceeding its mandate. UNHCR has
done this over and over again in its anti-Sri Lanka Resolutions. Resolution
30/1 of 2015 speaks of devolution of political authority, land use and
ownership, with a call to the people of Sri Lanka to work with OHCHR and NGOs.
These are internal matters which are outside the remit of the UNHRC.
The UN General Assembly must also be told of
the dishonest methods used by UNHRC, and OHCHR under the guise of Human Rights,
to push the Eelam agenda.
HRC has used for this purpose, contrived,
biased reports (Darusman and OISL) crackpot documentaries, (Channel Four) extreme observations (UNHRC Special Rapporteurs) and evaluations by the
OHCHR itself. The faulty Darusman report was used as a primary source by the
OCHRC. The OISL Report is ‘unique’ and
was the first of its kind by his Office in respect of any country said the High Commissioner. (see Note 1)
There
is also the question of ethics. UNHRC sponsors false reports and threatens
small, defenseless countries to please powerful countries, while turning a
blind eye to the HR abuses of those powerful countries.
The degree of pressure that was exerted on Sri Lanka is without parallel, said
GL Pieris.
Sri Lanka
will receive support at the UNGA. There is much goodwill for Sri Lanka at the
international level, for its long standing record of democracy, economic and
social achievements, its old civilization and multiracial roots, said Sarala
Fernando, writing in 2021.,
The countries
that spoke out at the UNHRC in support of Sri Lanka will speak out at the UNGA.
They will have much to say and will say with gusto. Cuba said
UNHRC has one policy towards some countries and another towards other
countries. There are no resolutions on countries responsible for invasions
of other countries and killing their people. We are against this
duplicity.
We are
against the politicization of the UNHRC, continued Cuba. We are against any
country-specific resolution. That is our stand. It is an infringement of
the country’s sovereignty. It is unnecessary interference with internal affairs
of a country. It is the creation of unnecessary pressure on a country.
When a country is singled out in this manner, it will not cooperate.
There should only be co-operation by the UNHRC with the member states.
In 2013,
Cuba’s ambassador to Sri Lanka was asked by the media, UNHRC has adopted two
resolutions on Sri Lanka. What are your views on them. These resolutions have
not been fair by Sri Lanka, the Ambassador replied. They have not recognized
Sri Lanka’s achievements. Why is Sri Lanka singled out? Sri Lanka has not
invaded another country and killed its people.
In 2018,
Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka said
We are strongly condemning the use of human rights issues as an excuse for
interfering in domestic affairs of countries as well as undermining the basic
principles of International Law. We oppose the adoption of the politicized
country-specific resolutions. The adoption of country-specific resolutions has
only one goal, to punish unfavorable governments. This is utterly
counterproductive. It has not
contributed to improvements in the human rights situation.
China’s
Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Chen Xu spoke up for Sri Lanka
in his official statement in the Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR Report on
Sri Lanka during the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council in 2021.
Ambassador
Chen Xu said, it is the consistent
stand of China to oppose politicization and double standards on human rights,
as well as using human rights as an excuse in interfering in other countries’
internal affairs. We are concerned about the clear lack of impartiality shown
in the OHCHR’s report to this session on Sri Lanka and express our regret over
the failure of the OHCHR to use the authoritative information provided by the
Sri Lankan Government. The so-called preventive intervention” and the proposed
targeted sanctions contained in the OHCHR’s report are clear interference in
the internal affairs of Sri Lanka and exceed the mandate of the OHCHR.
Sri Lanka should stay the course
and not budge from its present position, said analysts. Sri
Lanka government has put up a good fight
all these years in the face of tremendous pressure from the US led western
bloc, Perseverance
will pay off in the end. The rest of the world is also becoming critical about UNHRC.
In 2011 while the UN
General Assembly was meeting in New York and Human Rights Council was in
session in Geneva, the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration spoke
at a conference in New York, and what he
said sounded much like what Sri Lanka was saying. He had, inter alia, criticized the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navaneethan Pillai.
The
Council was never established to isolate countries, intimidate and harass
nations. It was designed to help countries to improve their human rights
performance in a collaborative manner. The Council’s job is to assist and to
encourage, not to punish. This was the objective of those who created the
Council in the first place, said critics.
UNHCR is well aware of the criticism. We recognize that the Human Rights Council is a flawed body, in
need of reform to its agenda, membership, and focus, admitted USA in 2021. UN High Commissioner
announced at the 32nd session of UNHRC in 2013, a growing number of countries
are refusing to cooperate with the UNHRC. But
this will not deter the UNHRC, he said.
Sri
Lanka should now go before the UN General Assembly, and suggest that the UNHRC should be scrapped
.it should be replaced by something more
effective, an organization which is
fully funded by the UN and therefore independent of all member states. The focus
should be on prevention and mediation,
not fault finding. While the other more prestigious UN organization
provides services to member states, UNHRC engages in fault finding.
International Labor Organization, created in 1919, has been offered as an example, probably
because the ILO also deals with sensitive issues. ILO became a specialized agency of
the United Nations in 1946. It has a unique tripartite structure which gives an equal voice to workers,
employers and governments. They are
all represented on its Governing Body and participate in its decision-making
processes. ILO has passed 189 Conventions – more than any other body. ILO
Conventions become a part of national law not on ratification by States, but by
incorporation of their provisions into the national laws. ILO officials treat
members with the utmost respect, said experts.
UNHRC is not as
well entrenched as people think. It is
still under observation. Its future is uncertain.
When the UNHRC was created, the UN General Assembly decided that
the work and functioning of the new HRC should be reviewed five years after it
had come into existence, and the review should take place at the level of the
General Assembly. At this review, the status of the Council would also be
considered.”
The first review of the UHRC took place in
2011.The General Assembly decided to
continue the Human Rights
Council as a subsidiary body and to re-examine its position at a date no sooner than ten years and no later than
fifteen years from 2011. (Resolution 65/281 of 17.6.2011.) This means that
UNHRC will come up for review before the UN General Assembly in 2021 or between
2021 and 2026. It is likely that at this second review, a firm decision will be
taken whether to continue with the UNHRC or not.
There is already an overlap
between UNHRC and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly
(UNGA). Third Committee deals
with a wide range of social and economic issues, including human rights and humanitarian
affairs. It examines human rights
questions, including reports of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights
Council .UNHRC submits its annual report
to the Third Committee, for submission to UNGA. This makes UNHRC a subsidiary of the Third Committee, rather
than UNGA, moaned HR fanatics.
NOTE 1
the Panel in the Darusman
report came from outside the UN. This violates the authority under which
the UN
Secretary General is expected to function. The role of the panel was only ‘advisory’.
The
High commissioner admitted that his report on Sri Lanka (OISL Report) the exercise has been done for the first
time. The report is ‘rather unique’ and it is the first of its kind by his
office in respect of nay country. The report makes drastic recommendations
relating to demilitarization of the north and east, downsizing the military,
removing the indispensable security mechanism embedded in the Public Security
Ordinance and impinging on the command structures of the military. Other
recommendations are breathtaking in the degree of intrusive impact including
fundamental land reforms, distributing political and administration powers
within the country, and the establishment . of special courts outside the
country legal system. 193 countries are
exhorted to prosecute Sri Lanka ‘under universal jurisdiction.’ Sri Lanka is
castigated for delays in resettling persons without mentioning the presence of
land mines. All member states of the UN
are asked to re-consider applications by
Sri Lanka military and police for participation in peace keeping and training
programmes across the world.. (GL
Pieris)
The OISL report calls on the Sri Lankan Government to accede to
the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and establish a hybrid
Court to handle allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses. However, it
is impossible to take such action as that would be a violation of the
Constitution of Sri Lanka.
2015
Resolution is all about system change, a complete overhaul of Sri Lanka’s
political, legal, security and defense system to serve the global interests of
the United States, said Tamara Kunanayagam.
( Continued)
Sri Lanka had
plenty to say at Geneva when the UNHRC
Resolution 46/1 ‘ Promoting reconciliation ,accountability and human rights in
Sri Lanka” came up for approval in
Geneva in February 2021.
Sri Lanka
said that the Resolution violated Article 2(7) of
the United Nations Charter, and acts beyond the mandate given in United Nations
Resolution 60/251. UNHRC has no right to
interfere in the affairs of a sovereign country in this manner.
The
Resolution is based on the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
on Sri Lanka presented to the 46th Session of the HRC. The report is one-sided
and exceeds the mandate of the UN Human Rights Council. It contains sweeping
recommendations and unsubstantiated and unwarranted comments of essentially
political nature which no self-respecting sovereign country can accept. This report
violates the principles of sovereign equality of all member states of the UN
and non-interference in internal affairs. This Resolution is the work of other
countries.
Sri Lanka
also categorically rejected the unprecedented proposal in this Resolution to
expand the role of the OHCHR. This sets a dangerous precedent and will have
wide-ranging implications for all countries. The Council cannot assume tasks
not assigned to it by the UN General Assembly in resolution 60/251.
Does Sri
Lanka represent a case warranting the immediate attention of the Human Rights
Council, Sri Lanka asked. Sri Lanka has only defeated a secessionist campaign, and acted within its legal rights to
defend its territorial integrity.
We leave it to the members and observers of this
Council to make their own judgment on whether Sri Lanka represents a situation
that warrants the urgent attention of this Council, or if this campaign is
essentially a political move. It is regrettable that countries with vested
interests seek to achieve their political ambitions using the Human Rights
Council as a tool.
The Council must hold the scales even. The vote on this Resolution
provides an opportunity for the member countries of the United Nations to see
whether the Human Rights Council is staying within its objectives. We urge that
this resolution be rejected by the Council and be brought to closure, concluded
Sri Lanka .”
The Resolution
was put to the vote. UNHRC announced, The
United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted by a vote, the draft
Resolution titled Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights
in Sri Lanka” A/HRC/46/L.1/Rev.1) tabled
by a ‘Core Group’ of countries, on March 22, 2021 during its 46th Session. Out
of the 47 Members of the Council, 22 countries voted in favour, 11 voted
against and 14 abstained, stated UNHRC.
In favour (22):
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Italy, Malawi, Marshall Islands,
Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom and
Uruguay. Against (11):
Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian
Federation, Somalia, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Abstentions (14):
Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Japan, Libya,
Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Senegal, Sudan and Togo.
Sri Lanka
commented on the result. It is clear from the voting result that the majority
of the Council did not support this Resolution. There was significant support
for Sri Lanka . China , Russia and Pakistan voted against the Resolution. So did Bangladesh, Philippians and Venezuela.,
India abstained. We are aware that some of the countries which stood by Sri
Lanka at this vote withstood immense pressure on them in doing so. We thank all
countries who braved pressure to reject
the Resolution.
Marshall
Islands voted against Sri Lanka .
Marshall Elands has always followed the United States at the United Nations and,
voted with USA. on all key issues .in December 2017, the Marshall Islands was
one of just nine countries (including the United States and Israel) to vote
against a motion adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
condemning the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel. Marshall Islands recognizes Taiwan.
Neville
Ladduwahetty pointed out that the UNHCR
followed the method of counting used in the Committees of the General
Assembly. Resolution was approved on a simple
majority, ignoring the abstaining votes. Since the votes for the Resolution
were less than half the 47-members in the Council, the Resolution has been adopted despite the
fact that more than half decided not to support it .
However, the
15-member Security Council requires nine affirmative votes for a decision to be
adopted. Elsewhere, organizations require
half plus one for a decision to be adopted. Simple majorities in most
Parliaments require half plus one of its elected members for a Bill to become
Law.
UNHRC should
revised its voting regulations. The current practice allows Resolutions to be
adopted by less than half the number in the Council. This is not good enough a
threshold for a UN institution as important as the Human Rights Council where
much is at stake for all States.
The Human
Rights Council is in a league by itself. Since its decisions impact on nearly
every aspect of human life, the procedures and practices it adopts should be sound. Sri Lanka should take the initiative to
table a Resolution in the General Assembly calling on the Human Rights Council
to take a fresh approach in the adoption of Resolutions. Even if the abstaining
votes are not recognized, no Resolution should be adopted without half plus one
of its members casting an affirmative vote . (Continued)
