News

Director of the Anti-Corruption Movement Namal Kumara has been arrested today.

Police said that Kumara was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in connection to the tense situations that occurred during the past two days when he arrived to give a statement at the Warakapola Police station.

Dayasiri and Kumara spotted together

Furthermore, Namal Kumara was spotted with SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera outside the Hettipola Police station.

Kumara gained notoriety for exposing an alleged plot to kill President Maithripala Sirisena.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also reportedly directed the Police to take action against the UPFA MP Jayasekera who had allegedly visited the Hettipola Police station to secure the release of several suspects arrested for instigating communal violence in Kurunegala.

President Maithripala Sirisena has issued an extraordinary gazette notification proscribing three organisations. Accordingly, National Thowheed Jama'ath (NTJ), Jama'athe Milla'athe Ibrahin (JMI) and Willayath As Seylani has been banned.

President Sirisena announced on April 27 that he would immediately proscribe the extremist organisations and after 17 days, the President has finally issued the gazette notification today (14). Sirisena is currently on a visit to China to attend the 'Conference on Asian Civilizations.'

Gazette notification:

Two high ranking UN officials have pointed out that the recent violence in Sri Lanka has highlighted a growing influence of nationalist and extremist views of identity in the Asia region, putting religious minorities at risk. The statement comes in the wake of riots that have resulted in at least one death so far. 

Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, and Karen Smith, United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, issued a joint statement on Monday regarding the attacks made against religious minorities in Sri Lanka.

Full text of the Joint Statement:

"Recalling their recent statements against violent extremism and hate speech, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the United Nations Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Karen Smith are alarmed about the growing acts of violence on the basis of religion, including attacks against homes, places of worship and businesses, in the North Western Province of Sri Lanka.

The Special Advisers noted a recent spate of attacks against Muslim and Christian communities in Sri Lanka, a majority Buddhist country. The attacks committed on this weekend of 11 May follow deadly attacks carried out on Easter Sunday of 21 April 2019, against churches and hotels in various parts of the country in which more than 200 people were killed and hundreds were injured. The recent violence in Sri Lanka has highlighted a growing influence of nationalist and extremist views of identity in the Asia region, putting religious minorities at risk.

The Special Advisers stated that “it is in the interest of all ethnic and religious groups in Sri Lanka, as well as the Government, the opposition, civil society and the security sector, to work collaboratively in taking appropriate action and immediately stop these hateful attacks. The country is trying to move forward from a traumatic period of inter-ethnic armed conflict, but these attacks are pushing Sri Lanka backwards. If not adequately dealt with, the recent violence has the potential to escalate even further.”

The Special Advisers acknowledged and welcomed the swift response of the Government, including by deploying the security forces to protect affected communities and addressing the spread of false information and incitement to violence. They also encouraged the Government to make sure that these and other past similar attacks are fully investigated and those responsible for instigating or committing these violent acts are brought to justice and made accountable. They added that “the Government needs to give the example that it will not tolerate the spread of prejudice and hate among groups within its population. This needs to be done at national and local level, by putting an end to local discriminatory practices that perpetuate religious intolerance and violence”. Mr. Dieng and Ms. Smith also offered their support to work with the Government on inter-faith and inter-religious harmony and inclusivity.

The Special Advisers concluded by stating that “Sri Lanka has a pluralistic society. To be a Sri Lankan is to be a Buddhist, to be Hindu, to be a Muslim, to be a Christian. All these communities are entitled to their identity, to freely exercise their religion and to live in peace and security in Sri Lanka, as recognized by the country’s Constitution. We call on all Sri Lankans to respect one another."

On May 13, 2019, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the program supported by an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). 

Completion of this review, upon the granting of waivers of nonobservance for the end‑December 2018 performance criteria on the primary balance and net official international reserves, makes available SDR 118.5 million (about US$ 164.1 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 833.73 million (about US$ 1.155 billion). The Executive Board also approved an extension of the arrangement by one additional year, until June 2, 2020, with rephasing of remaining disbursements.

Sri Lanka’s three-year extended arrangement was approved on June 3, 2016, in the amount of about SDR 1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion, or 185 percent of quota in the IMF at the time of approval of the arrangement).

Following the Executive Board’s discussion of the review, Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair of the Board, issued the following statement:

“We join Executive Directors in extending our condolences to the government and people of Sri Lanka for the loss of life and suffering caused by the recent terror attacks.

“The Sri Lankan authorities have successfully brought the program back on track, despite important setbacks, by advancing fiscal consolidation through a well-targeted 2019 budget, rebuilding reserves, while maintaining a prudent monetary policy under greater exchange rate flexibility, and reviving structural reforms. Sustaining policy discipline remains critical to strengthen resilience, given still sizable public debt and low external buffers, and support strong and inclusive growth.

“Sustained revenue mobilization is needed to place public debt on a downward path, while making space for critical public investment and an expansion of the social safety net under well-defined selection criteria. Strengthening the selection and appraisal process of large-scale investment projects and assessing their fiscal affordability is critical, given Sri Lanka’s high public debt. Stronger fiscal rules and a medium-term debt management strategy will support medium-term fiscal consolidation and debt reduction efforts.

“The authorities should renew their efforts to strengthen SOE governance and transparency, including by advancing a restructuring plan for SriLankan Airlines and completing energy pricing reforms, building on important progress with the implementation of the fuel pricing formula.

“The Central Bank of Sri Lanka should continue to pursue a prudent and data-dependent monetary policy. The amendments to the central bank law will be a major step in the transition to flexible inflation targeting. Efforts to build reserves should be sustained, under greater exchange rate flexibility, to protect the economy against shocks. Harmonizing regulation and supervision of financial institutions, strengthening the macroprudential policy framework, and enhancing the crisis-preparedness toolkit will help further strengthen financial sector stability.

“Continued implementation of structural reforms is essential to support strong and inclusive growth. Efforts should focus on liberalizing trade, improving the business environment and promoting investment, strengthening governance, encouraging female and youth labor force participation, enhancing social protection, and improving crisis preparedness to natural disasters.”

Police have arrested 13 suspects over the the violent clashes that took place last night.

The suspects are accused of causing damage to shops and properties owned by Muslims in the Minuwangoda area. They will be presented to the Minuwangoda Magistrates Court today.

Police spokesperson said that the suspects have been arrested under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and that they could be sentenced upto 10 years in prison.

A Sri Lankan man was killed despite a nationwide curfew imposed Monday night after anti-Muslim riots spread to three districts north of the capital in a violent backlash against Easter suicide bombings.

The 45-year-old Muslim man died shortly after admission to a hospital in Puttalam district during the rioting which began Sunday in the area, a police official told AFP.

“Mobs had attacked him with sharp weapons at his carpentry workshop,” the official said. “This is the first death from the riots.”

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the curfew was declared to prevent unidentified groups destabilising the country by orchestrating communal violence.

“At several places in the North-Western Province these groups created trouble, damaged property,” Wickremesinghe said in a televised address to the nation.

“Police and security forces have contained the situation, but these (unidentified) groups are still trying to create trouble.”

Wickremesinghe said the unrest would hinder investigations into the April 21 attacks that targeted three Christian churches and three luxury hotels, killing 258 people and wounding nearly 500.

In a separate TV address, Police Chief Chandana Wickramaratne warned police will take stern action against rioters, and constables have been issued orders to use maximum force.

Residents in the North-Western Province were ordered to stay indoors after Christian-led mobs torched dozens of Muslim-owned shops, vehicles and mosques on Sunday and Monday.

The attacks came during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Later the curfew was extended to cover the entire country of 21 million people.

Police said there were sporadic incidents of mobs throwing stones and torching shops, motorcycles and cars owned by Muslims. In the town of Hettipola, at least three shops were torched.

In the town of Minuwangoda, just north of Colombo, a Muslim-owned hotel and a mosque were attacked by stone-hurling mobs armed with sticks.

“Several shops have been attacked,” a senior police officer told AFP. “When mobs tried to attack mosques, we fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse them.”

The officer added that “there are people trying to make political capital out of this situation.”

PM warns against rumours

Earlier Monday, authorities banned Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

Platforms were similarly blocked after the Easter attacks.

The prime minister urged the public not to believe rumours and warned that civil unrest will stretch the already thinly deployed security forces.

“I appeal to all citizens to remain calm and not be swayed by false information,” Wickremesinghe said on Twitter, which was not targeted in the social media blockade.

A state of emergency has been in place since the bombings -- which the Islamic State group claims to have helped -- and security forces have been given sweeping powers to detain suspects.

The latest wave of unrest started when a mob targeted Muslim-owned shops in the town of Chilaw, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Colombo on Sunday in anger at a Facebook post by a shopkeeper.

“Don’t laugh more, 1 day u will cry,” he wrote, which local Christians took to be a warning of an impending attack.

The group smashed the man’s shop and vandalised a nearby mosque prompting security forces to fire in the air to disperse the crowd, but the violence spread.

There had already been clashes last week between Christians and Muslims in Negombo, the town north of Colombo that was targeted by the suicide attackers.

The main body of Islamic clerics, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), said there was increased suspicion of Muslims after the Easter Sunday killings.

“We call upon the members of the Muslim communities to be more patient and guard your actions and avoid unnecessary postings or hosting on social media,” the ACJU said.

Internet service providers said they have been instructed by the telecommunications regulator to block access to Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram.

Schools reopen

The latest unrest came as Catholic churches resumed public Sunday masses for the first time since the bombings.

Dozens of people have been detained since the Easter attacks, and with security heightened students are only allowed into schools after checks for explosives.

But attendance has been extremely low, according to education authorities.
Muslims make up around 10 percent of Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka’s population and Christians about 7.6 percent.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake said that the Sri Lankan military is prepared to use maximum force against nationalist groups who attack innocent Muslim citizens. 

"I am warning those who go around in motorcycles destroying properties of innocent people. The Army will use full force to end this. If necessary, the Army will use maximum force together with the other armed forces," the Army Chief said.

Meanwhile, Acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne also warned that they would respond to those who instigate riots with maximum force during a televised address yesterday.

Island wide curfew was imposed last night after violence spread across towns in Kurunegala and Gampaha districts. Police had fired into the air and used tear gas to disperse unruly mobs.In the north-western town of Kiniyama, windows and doors to a mosque were smashed and copies of the Koran thrown on the floor.

The attack was triggered by a group of people demanding a search of the building after soldiers inspected a lake nearby looking for weapons, Reuters news agency reports.

The government said that security forces have restored calm to streets in the areas affected by violence and insist officers are preventing revenge attacks on Muslims.

Sri Lanka is not a Sinhala Buddhist country but a country that belongs to all those who have taken Sri Lanka as their motherland, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said yesterday in Matara.

Samaraweera pointed out that although the country’s majority is comprised of Sinhala Buddhists, this does not mean we can impose our opinions on others simply because we are the majority.

“There are people belonging to Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Islamic and other religions in Sri Lanka. All of them have the same rights which the Sinhala Buddhists have,” he said.

“We should remember this. Most of us have gone abroad or have relatives abroad. If you go to Italy or the UK and if you become a citizen of one of these countries, there are no second-class citizens. The one who became a citizen today and the one became a citizen even thousands of years ago have the same rights,” he said.

Even I could become a cardboard hero and say that this is a Sinhala Buddhist country. However, Sri Lanka is not a Sinhala Buddhist country but a country belonging to all who have taken Sri Lanka as their motherland,” he said.

The persons who founded, expanded and funded the National Thowheed Jama'ath (NTJ) will timely be revealed, says Minister of Justice Thalatha Atukorale.

Atukorale made these remarks on Monday addressing an event held for the inauguration ceremony of the proposed project for carpeting the road from Gabbela to Kalal Ella-Ambalanwatte road in Ratnapura District at a cost of Rs. 500 million.

The Justice Minister added that the incumbent government assumed power when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had left them with a debt of more than Rs 10,000 million. 

"We will reveal in due course who were behind the formation of these Thowheed Jama'ath organisations and how they mushroomed over the years and who funded their operations. I read yesterday about a statement made by Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament about how they never interfered with the media even at the height of the war. Yes, they never interfered with the media. They just abducted them. Then there is no need to interfere with the media. What about Lasantha Wikramatunga and Prageeth Ekanaligoda? How many journalists left the country at that time? We would like to remind Mr. Rajapaksa that we want to create a civilised society where everyone can live in harmony," the Justice Minister said.

The Presidential Secretariat has not been able to issue the relevant gazette notification to ban the National Thawheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) of Sri Lanka, despite the ban being imposed on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena.

President Sirisena, using the power vested upon him, under Emergency Regulations No. 01 of 2019, took steps to ban NTJ and JMI of Sri Lanka on April 27, the two organisations linked to the Easter Sunday attack as disclosed by State Intelligence. However, 16 days have elapsed since President Sirisena announcement and a gazette is yet to be issued banning the two extremist organisations.

A top official at the Presidential Secretariat said that the President’s Office was still waiting for the Attorney General’s Department to send the drafted gazette. 

“We have sent all necessary documents to the AG’s department and we understand that a few changes are to be made. I think they will send the Gazette document soon and we will be able to issue the gazette early this week,” he said.

Contrary to those comments, a high level official at the AG’s department denied that the gazette draft was still in their possession.

Leader of the Mahason Balakaya Amith Weerasinghe has been arrested over the violent clashes that erupted in Kuliyapitiya and Minuwangoda.

Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunesekara said Weerasinghe was arrested by a special team in teh Theldeniya area today. 

A Muslim man, reportedly a carpenter by profession was killed by a mob on Monday, Police said, in a violent backlash against last month's bombings.

The 45-year-old died of injuries sustained when a crowd stormed his carpentry workshop in the Puttalam district and slashed him.

Update: A police curfew has been imposed with immediate effect until 4 a.m. tomorrow in the Rasnayakapura and Kobeigane areas as well, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.

Police curfew was imposed in the police divisions of Kuliyapitiya, Bingiriya, Hettipola and Dummalasuriya.

Curfew will start from 2 p.m. today (13) and will remain in effect till 4 a.m. tomorrow (14), the Police Media Unit said.

Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunesekara said that temporary curfew was declared to ensure a peaceful situation in the areas.