Foreign Relations Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena said that notwithstanding Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from the co-sponsorship of the UNHRC resolution, the government is committed to achieving accountability and human rights within the framework of the Constitution towards sustainable peace and reconciliation through the appointment of a domestic Commission of Inquiry.
During a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet in Geneva on Friday, the Minister, who led the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), assured that Sri Lanka will implement policies rooted in the government’s commitments to operationalize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and by continuing to work with the assistance of the UN and its agencies.
He noted that the existing reconciliation mechanisms established by Acts of Parliament such as the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations will be continued, with appropriate adaptation in line with the government policy framework.
High Commissioner Bachelet thanked Minister Gunawardena for his participation in the High-Level Segment of the UNHRC. Regretting Sri Lanka’s withdrawal as a co-sponsor of the HRC Resolution on Sri Lanka, she appreciated the government’s assurance to the UNHRC of its continued cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and UN bodies, and the observations on the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations.
Minister Gunawardena reiterated the government of Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of resolution 40/1 and the basis for doing so. He recalled that, one year ago, his predecessor, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, had also pointed out a number of areas in the resolution that were undeliverable.
The Sri Lanka delegation shared its perspective on a number of areas, including the need for closure, adequate funding to reconciliation measures, shortcomings in the former Counter Terrorism Bill and the government’s intention to undertake a review of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with a view to proposing necessary amendments to its provisions.
The High Commissioner also engaged the Minister and delegation on the challenges faced in dealing with the interface between freedom of expression and the prevalence of hate speech and abuse of social media, technology and human rights and environment and human rights.
State Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Additional Secretary to the President Admiral (Retd) Jayanath Colombage, Senior Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, and Acting Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Dayani Mendis were associated with Minister Gunawardena at the meeting.
Director General of the UN and Human Rights Division of the Ministry of Foreign Relations M. R. K. Lenagala, Senior State Counsel Kanishka Balapatabendi, Brigadier E. S. Jayasinghe from the Ministry of Defence and Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Relations Subash Sri Wijethunga were also part of the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd session of the HRC.
A statement is being recorded from Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) former ASP B.S.Thisera over the previous investigation into Dr. Shafi Shiyabdeen, police said. It was reported that the ASP had returned a harddrive, which was taken to custody, to Dr. Shiyabdeen. It has been later found out that the content of the harddrive had been deleted when a new investigation was launched into the incident.
Mushrooming of apartments, buttressed by corruption, creating infrastructure nightmare for Colombo
Colombo’s skyline is rapidly changing with apartment constructions that cost millions of dollars. But, are they complying with planning and construction regulations? An investigation by Eye has revealed violations in planning and construction of apartments in the Colombo District, which have become far too commonplace.
Outdated legislations and policy guidelines, we discovered, are the main reason for this alarming trend. The situation has also led to corruption creeping into the system, increasing negative social impacts and safety risks to the community.
Violations of rules and regulations
Eye is in possession of an audit report inspecting a total of 37 apartment complexes in the Kotte-Sri Jayawardanepura area, compiled by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in 2017.
According to the report,
The audit report exposed a number of projects which have violated building by-laws. When Eye inquired, it was found that neither the UDA nor the Kotte Municipal Council has done any follow up to pressurize certain developers to pay the penalty and resort to regularization.
With no central authority to review construction, the result is the creation of the densest urban sprawls with structures facing one another only a few feet apart mainly in Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia and Kotte-Sri Jayawardenapura areas. Let’s take a look at a few major cases that took place recently.
Rajagiriya
A group of residents living off Buthgamuwa Road, Welikada, Rajagiriya, are raising voices of dissent, against an Indian luxury apartment project. The residents claim that the construction site of which they said the approval and clearance process had several hitches, has posed severe threats to their safety and welfare. They demand to know whether this is the ‘price’ they have to pay in exchange for development.
Following a RTI filed by residents, it was discovered that a private road was converted to a public road in order to give access to the luxury condominium under construction. They also complained that they were greatly disturbed by deafening construction work which continued into late night. A host of other issues were revealed about the construction site, including the illegal filling of a marsh and building an unauthorised bridge as the main access road to the project.
Retired Col. Vikum Siriwardana, one of the affected residents said, We demand that development is carried out according to the law and in a manner that doesn’t hinder residents. We urge the government to put an end to these illegal practices and to carry out development initiatives in a planned manner.”
Mount Lavinia
Residents in many coastal roads in Mount Lavinia including Lilian Avenue, Mount Avenue, Simon Abeywickrama Avenue and Hotel Road speaking to Eye said that they were experiencing problems due to apartments spouting next to their residences. Their problems included lack of water supply, natural sunlight, ventillation, noise pollution, issues in garbage collection, lack of maintenance of drainage systems, prevalence of dengue menace and traffic congestion. They also question how the UDA gave the nod to such constructions which are destroying lives of neighbouring communities.
Thilak de Alwis, a resident of Simon Abeywickreme Avenue said; These roads, especially Abeywickreme Avenue, Hotel Road and the adjacent roads, are by-lanes which are less than 15 feet. The traffic congestion we have with the three schools, namely St. Thomas’s, Girls’ High School and Buddhist Ladies College has worsened now. In an emergency, an ambulance can’t reach the destination.”
If a fire breaks, the fire brigade cannot reach. If there is a building which is 35 to 40 perches land, the mobility for a fire engine is not possible. In that case, we are in danger,” Thilak said.
There was an amendment to the fire regulations in Sri Lanka last year with more advanced fire precautionary methods. However, experts in fire safety are of the opinion that even with the new regulations, it is difficult and almost impractical to make structural changes to existing buildings.
Another resident in Mount Lavinia Amal Wijayamuni said they have complained many times to UDA, the Police and many other government authorities responsible for regulation of high-rise buildings, but nothing has happened. Development is not just building. Each city has to have a plan. It’s not about 24 perch areas where you build a high rise. Please don’t make Sri Lanka like Dhaka in Bangladesh. Plan it and do it properly,” that was his request.
It is easy to detect obvious non-compliances such as the encroachment of road reserve by builders and inconsistent planning of fire protection passages between properties. Many buildings in Mount Lavinia, Dehiwala and Wellawatte do not even have proper driveway entry profiles.
Major loopholes
The Planning and Building regulations contain several building specifications with regard to minimum extent of land, maximum number of floors, minimum road width, minimum width of plots and plot coverage ratio, etc. Issuance of preliminary clearance, approval of plans for constructions are done by the UDA while the constructions below the said specifications are handled by the Municipality.
When studying all the cases and complaints of the residents from various parts of the Western province who are affected by the mushrooming apartment constructions, it was highlighted that in many instances;
Local authorities such as Municipal Councils (MC), Urban Development Authority (UDA) not abiding by the laws and regulations
Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is not doing its job
A legal officer from UDA is taking the side of the developers and blamed the residents, adding that they should not commit any sins by opposing high-rise constructions. (Paw weda karanna epa)
Former Chairman of the UDA Mr. Jagath Munasinghe has allegedly worked as the consultant architect of an apartment developer
It was alleged by the general public that the public officials were being bribed by the developers
Meanwhile, Eye interviewed a small scale property developer from Maradana who shared his experience of dealing with local government officials in obtaining approvals for his previous construction projects.
As the owner, I met all the criteria which were laid down by the municipality. When we applied for the Certificate of Conformity (COC), they said we had violated the street line requirement. We had a loan to be paid. We invested all what we had. But, we couldn’t rent it on time because the COC was not given to us. It was a terrific time we had. Finally we paid these officers who were involved in giving the green light. We paid them Rs. 150,000, which was their request. When we paid the money, there was no objection. Everything was alright and we got the COC. This is only one experience I had. I have enough experiences. Anything illegal, what they say, will become legal and legitimate once you pay them out. That is the story of this country,” he said.
Taking the issues to court
The residents of Layard’s Road, Thimbirigasyaya, Attapattu Mawatha and Longden Place, Colombo who have also faced severe problems due to apartment constructions in their neighbourhoods have sought legal actions against the developers.
With the support of the Transparency International, a case was filed at Court of Appeal Writ No 43/2019 on March, 2019. The residents seek to direct the relevant authorities to implement the laws pertaining to construction, take action against the illegal constructions, investigate corruption and address gaps in regulations. The case also advocates for both policy and institutional reforms as it has some major concerns as follows.
Writ of Prohibition- Directing UDA, MCs/UCs/PSs issuing permits which are violating the laws and regulations of the country
Writ of Mandamus- Directing UDA to strictly follow UDA Law no 41 of 1978 and amendments, strictly follow the Zoning Plan
Writ of Certiorari – Calling and quashing development permits issues under extraordinary Gazette 2054/45 dated 18/01/2018 which permits additional parking floors, etc.
The Petitioners state that in the most arbitrary manner, former Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka, had published the above Extraordinary Gazette, amending the 2008 Amendment of the Colombo City Development Plan, which purports to permit additional parking floors to be discounted not only when calculating the Floor Area Ratio but also from the calculation of the permissible number of floors, dangerously allowing monstrous and gigantic high rise constructions to come up.
The need of a Building Code
Unfortunately, residents often have limited knowledge about the hidden structural defects, usage limitations and regulatory compliance requirements that should be fulfilled during the construction phase and also during the lifespan of the building. This knowledge is important to ensure consumer health and safety, to obtain a fair return on investment and to facilitate building functionality, sustainability and comfort, said Janaka Seneviratne, a Chartered Professional Engineer and an International Professional Engineer of Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka and Australia.
He believes that Sri Lanka has the worst possible regulatory and compliance mechanisms. Builders ‘run the show’ according to their whims and fancies while regulatory authorities rely on builders’ recommendations as many professionals employed at approval authorities are not fully-trained or technically skilled enough to handle a holistic and practical development approval process. The authorized officers lack a proper understanding of building compliance aspects, Mr. Seneviratne explained.
It is unfortunate that many consulting engineers have become just document collectors and coordinators without any technical input or control over the development process,” he said.
He also shed light on the government’s duty in the matter. We don’t have a good public sector certifying system due to the unavailability of a Consolidated Building Regulation Act and a National Building Code. We only act after a disaster.”
The expert claimed that Sri Lankan ministers have no clue about the need to develop a proper Building Regulatory System which is why there is a need of a clear leadership from the Executive level of the government.
Decisions on development activities in Sri Lanka are made at Pradeshiya Sabhas, Urban, Municipal and Provincial councils and Ministries. In the above set-up, there are overlaps of authority, conflicts of instructions, contradictory regulations and compliance loopholes supported by corruption and bribery.
However, in case of an emergency, such as a fire or collapse, which authority will accept responsibility? The question remains.
If you know any issues that deserve to be investigated and reported on Eye, which would otherwise go unreported, write to our team dmeyelk@gmail.com or Deputy Editor – Investigations, Dailymirror, Wijeya Newspapers, No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka.
Two Sri Lankans who had returned to the island from Italy and admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) on suspicion of being infected with COIVD-19 have been tested negative for the virus.
According to reports, the two individuals were receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospitals in Sri Jayewardenepura and Ragama prior to being transferred to the IDH.
These two males were initially hospitalized to get treated for cold and fever, however, they were later transferred to the IDH for further medical examination.
Director of the IDH Dr. Hasitha Attanayake has stated blood and saliva samples of the two individuals were sent over to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo for testing.
However, despite being tested negative for the virus,, these two individuals will continue to receive treatment at the IDH, Dr. Attanayake stated.
In the meantime, the latest figures of the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated more than 82,000 people were infected, over 2,800 deaths in China. In addition 31 deaths were reported in Iran, 21 in Italy, 16 in South Korea, 10 in Japan, 2 each in Hong Kong and France and 1 each in the Philippines and Taiwan.
President Gotabaya Rajapakse and his team will be campaigning to obtain 2/3rd parliamentary majority for the abolition of the 19th amendment. The opposition, Tamil Diaspora and the like-minded international forces will be resorting to maximum false propaganda to prevent such a majority.
In
the event the government failing to obtain 2/3 majority, cross-overs from the
opposition will be become the only solution to obtain the passage of the
required legislation.
Therefore,
the government now has an opportunity to submit proposals for the abolition of
13 and 19 amendments to a referendum at the general election. This will
undoubtedly further erode the vote base of minorities for the government, but
an increase in Sinhala votes could be expected.
Attempting
to abolish both 13 and 19 simultaneously might be difficult and dangerous, but
as a minimum referendum proposal relating to 19 amendments could be a practical
alternative. The proposed new constitution can be framed to do away
with the 13 amendment.
UNHRC High Commissioner as expected has rejected the Hon Dinesh
Gunawardane’s disapproval of Resolution 30/3 co -sponsored by the UNP Government.
She has opted to sit with the critics of Sri Lanka and questioned that Sri
Lanka has not addressed impunity for past violations and nor undertaken
security sector reforms . She firmly
believes in the numbers killed as churned out by the Darusman report and
other pro-LTTE fronts. These figures vary from 40,000 to 200,000 making the war
against the Tamil Tiger terrorism almost a genocide, a term used by the
political arm of the LTTE. Can the High Commissioner
Bachelet re-examine the words impunity and the security sector reforms used
by and vouch that her words are based on facts or fantasy created by the
interested parties as Bachelet knows who, what, where etc. She has completely
ignored the UN Colombo report, Lord Naseby’s comments, Col Gas’s observations,
Paranagama Commission report and Census carried out by the Government of Sri
Lanka. Hence, Sri Lankan government position that Resolution 30 /3 is
misleading can stand the test and if UNHRC is aware of its powers that it
cannot force any solutions that impinge on the country’s sovereignty and is
interested in a productive dialogue, the High Commissioner should reconsider to
grasp the ground realities.
The High Commissioner had regretted the change in the approach to the
issues by the new government compared to the ‘commitments previously made’. She
should realize that the present Sri Lankan government is determined to
extricate the country from the bogus reports based on disinformation, and
taking steps in keeping with the mandate received at the recent Presidential
elections in which the baseless UNHRC resolution received a lot of attention.
The High Commissioner should understand that the previous Government’s foreign
minister did not have the approval of the Parliament and the President for him
to have made a commitment on behalf of the country.
She further commented critically about the present Sri Lankan
government’s stand on the Constitutional reforms carried out by the previous
government. Such statements are further proof of the fact that the UNHRC’s resolve to intervene in the affairs of the
sovereign Sri Lanka whereas there are many countries who consider UNHRC as a
dead duck.
Will cooperate with UNHRC within the framework set by the November 2019 Presidential election
Geneva, February 27 (newsin.asia): The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) here on Thursday that the Lanka government will set up a new Commission of Inquiry to go into allegations of human rights violations during the war.
Reacting to the update on Sri Lanka given by the High Commissioner of Human Rights, the Lankan Foreign Minister said: A Commission of Inquiry (COI), headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court, will be appointed to review the reports of previous Sri Lankan COIs which investigated alleged violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), to assess the status of implementation of their recommendations, and to propose deliverable measures to implement them keeping in line with the new Government’s policy.”
He further said: National law enforcement systems will continue to investigate and prosecute cases on all allegations of torture and other human rights violations that are currently before the judicial processes.”
We hope the Council would appreciate this approach of focusing on deliverable measures of reconciliation that are in line with the interest of Sri Lanka and its people, instead of the practice of taking on a host of undeliverable commitments with the intention of never implementing them.”
Within the above parameters, we look forward to continuing our engagement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights mechanisms and procedures, and to continue to work in close cooperation with the international community through capacity building and technical assistance in mutually agreed areas, in keeping with domestic priorities and policies.”
Under Parameters Set By Presidential Election
Gunawardena made it clear that while Sri Lanka remains committed to engaging with the UNHRC in achieving sustainable development, peace and reconciliation, it will do so only within the national framework overwhelmingly approved by the people of Sri Lanka during the Presidential Election last November, where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected with an overwhelming majority.”
Yesterday, the Government of Sri Lanka, at the High Level Segment made clear it’s position with regard to HRC Resolution 30/1, particularly, its decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 of March 2019, which also incorporates and builds on preceding Resolutions 30/1 of October 2015 and 34/1 of March 2017.”
Notwithstanding withdrawing from co-sponsorship of this Resolution, we emphasized our commitment to achieving accountability and human rights within the framework of our Constitution, towards sustainable peace and reconciliation – through the appointment of a domestic Commission of Inquiry, by implementing policies rooted in the Government’s commitments to operationalize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and by continuing to work with the assistance of the UN and its agencies.”
To those who have expressed disappointment on Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1, despite the Government’s re-assurance to this Council of our commitment to achieving the goals set on accountability and human rights, towards sustainable pace and reconciliation, it is clear that they are privileging a superficial façade” which has failed to deliver for four and half years, over the genuine possibility of reconciliation, underpinned by a people’s mandate.”
In keeping with our consistent policy of continued engagement with the Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka wishes to respond to the current Report of the High Commissioner and engage in a constructive discussion with this august assembly today, with the sincere hope that this Council would recognize the realities on the ground.”
We do so conscious of the fact that, of the period of 1 year since the adoption of Resolution 40/1, and 4 ½ years since the adoption of the initial Resolution 30/1, our government has been in power for only a little over 100 days out of the said period.”
I wish to recall that, during the 40th Session of this Council, almost one year ago, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) was represented by a delegation headed by my predecessor, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, who, in Sri Lanka’s statement, explained at length the constitutional, legal and socio-political challenges involved in ‘fully implementing’ HRC Resolution 30/1.”
In this context, we consider that the High Commissioner’s insistence in the current Report on the ‘full implementation of the demands made on Sri Lanka in Resolution 30/1 indicates that the OHCHR fails to recognize the rational and legitimate concerns voiced by States that are seeking, in good faith, to address issues.”
Baseless Allegations
As highlighted before this Council on several occasions, Sri Lanka has consistently refuted the credibility of the false and unsubstantiated allegations leveled against Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, the present Commander of Sri Lanka Army and Actg. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Sri Lanka considers that the continued arbitrary accusations made against Lt. Gen. Silva in OHCHR Reports and other statements made in this Council and unilateral actions by certain countries, are unacceptable and a violation of the principles of natural justice.”
We also stress that there are no proven allegations against individuals on war crimes or crimes against humanity in the OISL report or in any subsequent official document. It is an injustice to deprive any serving or retired officer of the Sri Lankan security forces or the police of their due rights.”
With regard to alleged intimidating visits”, surveillance”, complaints of harassment” and reprisals” referred to in the High Commissioner’s Report, The Government has already publicly refuted these allegations, and is committed to protecting and promoting freedom of expression and civil society space, and ensure that complaints received on alleged attacks against journalists, human rights defenders and civil society are investigated and prosecuted.”
Devolution of Power
With respect to references in the report to the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution that established Provincial Councils, it must be noted that, soon after the end of the conflict, the citizens in the Northern Province were able to use their franchise at a Provincial Council election after a lapse of 25 years. However, the near two year delay in holding Provincial Council elections in any part of the country, by the previous Government which co-sponsored Resolution 30/1, with the active support of Members of Parliament representing the North and East, has hampered the operationalization of devolution of power as mandated by the constitution of Sri Lanka.”
The new Government, is committed to holding the Provincial Council elections at the earliest possible opportunity, upon suitable amendments being made to the requirements that are needed to conduct the provincial council elections in terms of the law.”
We wish to reiterate to the Council Sri Lanka’s commitment expressed during the High-Level Segment to achieve sustainable peace through an inclusive, domestically designed and executed reconciliation and accountability process.”
The existing reconciliation mechanisms established by an Act of Parliament such as the Office on Mission Persons (OMP) and the Office of Reparations (OR) will be continued, with appropriate adaptation in line with Government policy framework.”
With regard to the issues on missing persons, steps would be taken, after necessary investigations, to issue death certificates or certificates of absence, while also providing livelihood and other assistance to affected families.”
Within the above parameters, we look forward to continuing our engagement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights mechanisms and procedures, and to continue to work in close cooperation with the international community through capacity building and technical assistance in mutually agreed areas, in keeping with domestic priorities and policies,” Gunawardena said.
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has said at least one thing that rings true in the minds of most Sri Lankan people. It is the lack of belief in the appointment of another Commission of Inquiry by the Government.
Her concern was about addressing impunity for past violations of human rights. Our objection is much wider. We seem to be the country with the world record for Presidential Commissions of Inquiry with the more important aspect of Commissions that achieve nothing; the reports of which are often kept secret. Commissions that have become a political joke in a country, where political humour is the stuff of the vulgar!
The current political mood, the mood of political power, is one of great joy and triumph; rejoicing at Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from co-sponsoring the UN Resolution 30/1 that related to the postwar situation in this country, and especially the situation of the victims of the war, that of missing persons, and the wider postwar issues that relate to democracy and human rights.
Whatever thinking Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena may have had when talking of a new Commission of Inquiry (CoI) headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court, to review previous Sri Lankan CoIs on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, his mind may have had a block about the wider Sri Lankan attitude to such commissions, whether headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court or not.
Michelle Bachelet says the Sri Lankan State should work for “all its people and the needs of all communities, particularly the minorities”. Come on. She must know the political history of this oldest democracy in Asia. We are a majority-led nation. That has been the growing tradition from the time we obtained freedom or independence from colonial rule. We are today the proudest advocates of Sinhala-Buddhist dominance and power in our country. They are the majority voters, and how can one have true democracy, without the satisfaction of the majority?
By the way, does the UN High Commissioner Bachelet have no idea of how minorities are treated in the world’s two biggest democracies – India and the United States? The violence currently seen in India is proof of the majority power pudding. The rise of Hindu majoritarian power is making a mockery of the old values of freedom and equal rights that the founders of the Indian Constitution put down as the values of independent India. It has much more to do with the values that prevailed in Gujarat – when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister; the Muslim minority has nothing to do in such thinking.
Does Bachelet need any education and instructions on how the minorities, whether Black or Muslim, are actually treated in the United States? Does she not know how President Trump prevented the migration of persons from Muslim majority countries to be US citizens, a position not knocked down by the US Courts? Does she not know why the call for Black Power is a continuing political clamour by the Black Americans? She would learn more if she reads more of the current election campaign of the Democratic presidential candidates, and the pressures brought to curb the rising influence of Black voters.
She has told the UNHCR that Sri Lanka has still not addressed impunity for past violations, not undertaken security sector reforms needed to address their drivers and enablers. There is a fundamental reality that Bachelet must understand. It is that Sri Lankan or Sinhala – Buddhist traditions that are the trumpet call of our people today, are far older than the United Nations and its values, which can only date back to the 1940s. This is a culture that is more than 2500 years old, and as academics and historians of new ‘learned thinking’ say so much today, we cannot and must not be made to follow the traditions or current values of our colonial rulers.
Why must the present day people of Sri Lanka be bothered with any ‘past violations’ when their concerns have everything to do with current progress with majority dominance? How does she say we have not undertaken security sector reforms, when we have now moved to getting the security services to play their own roles in traffic control in the cities?
She must also understand that the ‘drivers and enablers’ of the security sector are now at the very height of their positions. Does she not read our media or even visit the Internet on Sri Lanka? How many key positions in governance and administration are now held by persons who are from the security sector? Today’s government, that is against co-sponsorship of the UN Resolution on Sri Lanka, is certainly in favour of the highest honours being bestowed on the uniforms of power and authority. A huge majority of the population has voted for a new political figure of the security sector to be the Head of State and National Leader.
It is time the United Nations itself, as well as the UN Human Rights Commissioner, began to realize that members of the UN and its Commissions have their own traditional values and standards, especially those that date more than two millennia, and traditions of monarchy and caste-based governance, which need recognition in a world that seeks to ignore the past. Post-colonial modernism must take note of the realities of monarchic and non-democratic histories, and work towards and coming together of the past with a modern revival of such past.
The United Nations can have its meetings in New York and Geneva, it can have interesting agenda for discussion, but it must never forget that member nations must have the right to follow their own traditions, that were nurtured and developed long before the concepts of Human Rights, Democracy and Minority Rights and Interests came to the political vocabulary.
Three hearty cheers Sri Lanka – for withdrawing from co-sponsorship of a resolution that will remain with no change in the agenda of the UNHRC!
A video of a government teacher, who teaches mathematics to his students with some creative methods has gone viral on social media.
The teacher named Kosala Galagedara has posted a video of his teaching sessions of a classroom on his Facebook, where he is seen playing a drum to the tune of a popular children’s song replacing suitable words in the lyrics as necessary to make the students understand and learn basic mathematics.
He has said on his Facebook that he had received many messages and telephone calls to which he could not reply as he is a Government teacher with only four years’ experience in the teaching profession .
Four university students including a Buddhist monk, who were directly involved in removing CCTV cameras at Kelaniya University, have been remanded until the 3rd of March.
The order was delivered by Mahara Magistrate’s Court today (28).
On February 24, a group of members of the Student Union of the University of Kelaniya had forcibly removed the CCTV cameras fixed at university premises for security purposes.
The Student Union had objected to the fixation of the cameras charging that this was done as a measure to control students.
Following removal of the cameras, the members of the Student Union had claimed responsibility for the action and stated that it had been done as a sign of protest.
Sixteen students were arrested over the incident yesterday (27) and 12 of them were granted police bail later. The Police had stated that charges will be filed under the Public Properties Act against the remaining four students.
In the meantime, the administration of Kelaniya University today (28) announced that a total of 25 students who were identified in connection with the incident, have been suspended for 2 years.
Issuing a statement today (28), the university’s administration stated that further inquiries pertaining to the incident are ongoing while steps have also been taken to promptly fix the CCTV cameras back in place.
The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee meeting has ended without a decision on the symbol for UNP-led alliance, says the General Secretary of the party, MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.
The Working Committee is set to meet again this Sunday (01).
Chaired by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNP’s Working Committee convened this afternoon (28) to discuss the matter of the symbol of the newly formed alliance and its constitution.
Kariyawasam, speaking to Ada Derana, stated that the Working Committee agreed on appointing 60 percent of the Central Committee members of the new alliance – Samagi Jana Balawegaya” – from the UNP.
In the meantime, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to contest the looming general election with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balawegaya”.
the SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem stated this during a joint press conference held with the new UNP-led alliance at the Parliament today.
Two Sri Lankans who returned from Italy have been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) on suspicion of being infected with COVID-19.
According to reports, the two individuals were receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospitals in Sri Jayewardenepura and Ragama prior to being transferred to the IDH.
These two males were initially hospitalized to get treated for cold and fever, however, they have been transferred to the IDH for further medical examination.
Blood and saliva samples of the two individuals have been sent over to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo for testing and the relevant reports are to be received tomorrow, stated the Director of the IDH Dr. Hasitha Attanayake.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to probe and obtain information with regard to alleged incidents of political victimization from 8th January 22015 to 16th November 2019 has extended the time period for receiving complaints.
The Department of Government Information announced this issuing a communiqué today (28).
Accordingly, the PCoI will receive complaints on alleged incidents of political reprisals until the 6th of March.
The Commission has so far received more than 300 complaints, according to reports.
Preliminary investigations on these complaints are conducted by the Presidential Commission’s police unit and the Commission’s panel will record statements.
The Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to sign the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) in its present form based on the recommendations of the committee of experts appointed in this regard, says Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana.
He stated this today (28) addressing the media briefing to announce the decision made by the Cabinet of Ministers during its recent meeting.
The committee of experts appointed to conduct a comprehensive study on the MCC agreement has concluded that it contains clauses that are not in agreement with the Constitution of Sri Lanka and are detrimental to the sovereignty of the country.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has tabled the interim report of the committee to the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister Gunawardana stated.
He further commented that this agreement was devised at the discretion of the former government led by the United National Party (UNP) and not by the United States.
The government decided not to sign the agreement taking into consideration several facts concerning the MCC deal such as its obscure manner, inclusion of clauses that are against the country’s Constitution and are detrimental to its sovereignty, inclusion of clauses that can adversely affect national security and national, economic, social and cultural affairs and concerns that sprung up regarding the island nation’s sovereignty, independence and national security.
The government is willing to go into talks pertaining to the MCC agreement without its unacceptable conditions, the Minister said further, adding that the government is ready to receive subsidies from any friendly country considering the prevailing capital shortfall in the country.
The book is a re-examination of religious conversion gone through in a surreptitious way also from this book Author mention how the invisible power of invaders trying to Demise Buddhism and Sinhala Nation in This book examines key point… of cultural war towards their (Sinhalese) own nation, Palitha Aritarathna says that “religious conversion is probably one of the most unsettling political events in the life of any society and still no minister, no person would like to talk the truth behind proselytizing effort of NGO and Some of the extremists are who believe right religion is their own only.
In another way the author is used to mention that mutual understanding must be improved and who or they are coming, visiting, working, touring, illegally staying at Another country or Land should respect and protect its origins, (religion and Nationality)planning to demise Buddhism and Sinhalese is an a work that stop immediately.. War on religion is a big shame. Avoid, Step back from converting peoples and interposition others’ land.
Book Name: ‘Invisible Destructive force Behind Vanishing Nation (Helaya)’ ‘Helaya wanasana Adisi Balwega’ (Sinhala Language ) Limited edition not available at the book shop edition. Agust/2010
PUDUCHERRY: In order to promote tourism, the ministry for shipping has mooted a proposal to start ferry service between Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Jaffna in Sri Lanka covering a distance of 56 nautical miles (103.7 kilometres).
Shortly after chairing a meeting with ministers and government officials of Puducherry, Union minister of state for shipping Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday addressed a press conference saying that the project is expected to take off in three to four months.
Lok Sabha MP V Vaithilingam, who was present at the press meet along with the Union minister, said it would take around three hours for one-way ferry trip and would cost around Rs 6,5000 to Rs 7,000 for a round trip. Some investors have already expressed interest with their proposals, he Kandasamy added.
Mandaviya said hundreds of Tamil-speaking people from Sri Lanka come to India on pilgrimage. Besides, many Sri Lankans also visit India to see Buddhist sites. The ferry service will facilitate their visit. It will not only give boost to tourism, but will also improve bilateral cooperation between the two countries, he said.
A ferry service between India and Sri Lanka was operated between Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, over a distance of 30 nautical miles. After the 1964 cyclone destroyed infrastructure at Dhanushkodi, the service was operated from Rameswaram. In 1984, the Union government suspended the service due to the rise of ethnic conflict in the island nation. In more recent years, the TN government has been looking at a fresh site at Rameswaram to resume operations.
The project would be on public-private partnership (PPP) basis, where the operator would run the service, Karaikal Port will be the facilitator and the central government would extend support, Mandaviya said, adding, to take the proposal forward, a committee under chief secretary along with secretary (port) would be constituted at the earliest. The committee would go into the nitty gritty and submit a report. Issues related to immigration, customs and NOC by agencies concerned will looked after by the Union government, the minister added.
It is a major tourism project that will help in the development of Karaikal, said Puducherry Health and Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao.
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his ministers, who wanted to implement such a project, are happy to see the Union government initiating it. The project will bring business and economic development to Puducherry, said port minister M Kandasamy.
More than 700 children from Sri Lanka were adopted in Switzerland, some of them illegally. (Keystone / Anthony Anex)
A report on irregularities in adoptions from Sri Lanka in the 1970s and 1980s concludes that authorities turned a blind eye to the situation. More than 700 Sri Lankan children were adopted in Switzerland during that period.
The Swiss authorities had been aware of the existence of irregularities and cases of child trafficking by the end of 1981 but did not halt adoptions from Sri Lanka until 1997. This is the main conclusion of research carried out by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences external link(ZHAW) commissioned by the Federal Office of Justice and Police external linkand presented on Thursday. For the first time, the ZHAW was able to evaluate adoption records of children from Sri Lanka held by certain federal authorities, three cantons, several district offices and municipalities.
According to Prof. Nadja Ramsauer of ZHAW, who is one of the authors of the report, the Swiss federal authorities delegated responsibilities to other bodies, made adoption and entry procedures easy at the behest of adoption agencies and the general supervision of adoption did not work. The cantons were also lax in their supervisory role. They allowed child placement agencies to operate even though did not meet legal requirements to do so.
The analysis of individual adoption files revealed that procedural errors had occurred: The declarations of consent of the biological parents were missing in the documents, the entry permits contained falsified data about the children, too few of the future adoptive parents were examined in detail with regard to their abilities, and children had poor legal representation during the two-year foster care relationship because no guardian had been appointed to them.
Final responsibility
While cantons had a role to play it was the federal authorities that bear the final responsibility since child custody went beyond national borders in this case.
“It was an interplay of various federal authorities, each of which was responsible for a part of the problem. The most important of these were the Federal Office for Foreigners’ Affairs (now the State Secretariat for Migration), the Federal Office of Justice and the Swiss embassy in Colombo,” Ramsauer told swissinfo.ch.
Through an internationally organised network, up to 11,000 Sri Lankan children were given up for adoption, often illegally, in various European countries, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. More than 700 children from Sri Lanka were adopted in Switzerland, some of them illegally.
According to the ZHAW study, the placement of these Sri Lankan children proved to be very lucrative for locals because of poverty and low wages in Sri Lanka, a situation that also encouraged corruption.
The starting point for the study was a Dutch television programme, which aired in 2017 and drew attention to widespread child trafficking between Sri Lanka and several European countries. A report published in 2019 initially lifted the veil on the controversial adoptions of Sri Lankan children by Swiss parents in the 1980s.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan babies who were adopted by Swiss couples in the 1980s are trying to discover whether they were smuggled into the country.By Julie Hunt
Minister of Transport Service Management Mahinda Amaraweera has said that construction of the Kandy Suburban Railway Project, which is being implemented to curb the growing traffic congestion in Kandy Metropolitan Region, will be expedited.
This was mentioned during a meeting held at the ministry in this regard with the participation of State Minister of Transport Services Management Dilum Amunugama, MP Sarath Amunugama, Spanish company undertaking the construction of the project and relevant stakeholders.
Accordingly, the Kandy suburban railway will be Sri Lanka’s first electrified railway track.
This project will facilitate double tracking the section from Rambukkana to Kadugannawa and Kadugannawa to Katugastota via Kandy.
Minister Amaraweera has given instructions to the authorities to extend the railway line from Kadugannawa to Gampola up to Nawalapitiya as well as Kundasale.
In addition, the Goodshed bus stand in Kandy will be developed as a terminal and the surrounding area will be turned into a transport hub. Kandy suburban railway will run through an underground tunnel that is expected to be constructed towards Katugastota in order to avoid the area near Scared Temple of the Tooth Relic.
The Kandy suburban railway line will be constructed as an elevated railway line above the existing railway line.
Twelve out of the sixteen arrested university students over the removal of CCTV cameras from the University of Kelaniya have been granted police bail.
The remaining 4 students, who had been directly involved with the act, will be filed charges under the Public Properties Act, stated the police.
Earlier today (27), 16 university students including a monk were arrested over the removal of CCTV cameras from the University of Kelaniya premises.
On February 24, certain members of the Student Union of the University of Kelaniya had forcibly removed the CCTV cameras fixed at university premises for security purposes.
The Student Union had objected to the fixation of the cameras charging that this was done as a measure to control students.
After the removal of the cameras, the members of the Student Union had claimed responsibility for the action and stated that it had been done as a sign of protest.
The next day (February 25), the removed CCTV cameras had been returned to a point in the university.
