News

State Minister of Defence, Ruwan Wijewardene has commended President Maithripala Sirisena’s move to reinstate Brigadier Priyankara Fernando, Brigadier Priyankara Fernando, the Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.

Speaking at a public rally the Wijewardene said he was glad of the decision made by the President. He also approved of the Brigadier’s actions saying “My vote these days is for Brigadier Fernando for the gestures he showed the LTTE supporters”. The State Minister also thanked the Brigadier for his actions.

The Minister went on to say that he does not believe any member of the diaspora attending the protest on the day had visited Sri Lanka at any point and instead conducts these protests for their own financial betterment by using the people of the north. He made these comments during a public gathering held yesterday.

The Brigadier was suspended from his position on Sunday pending an inquiry after he was filmed making ‘throat-cutting gestures’ to alleged LTTE supporters who were protesting outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, on Sunday 4 February. He was once again reinstated in his position on the order of President Sirisena pending an inquiry by the Sri Lanka Army into the incident.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has initiated a programme to eliminate Corporal Punishment meted out to children in all settings. NCPA hopes to sensitize Principals and Teachers on the contents of the circular relating to the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment.

Awareness Raising methods such as street-drama, interactive workshops and discussions will be used to create public opinion on this mode as a cruel and degrading form of punishment.

NCPA has called on the general public to inform the Authority through its 24 hours child-line ‘1929’ if children are being subjected to this type of institutionalized and systematic violence.

The recently released concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Child highlights the need to combat corporal punishment in the home, in an alternative care setting, in penal institutions, as well as in schools.

A total of 65,758 Police and STF Personnel would be deployed for the Local Government Election duties to be held on Saturday, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

He said the security personnel would be assigned to the duties at polling stations, counting centres, mobile patrolling and roadblocks.

“5,984 Police Officers, 412 Women Police Officers, 4,381 Women Police Constables, 4,178 STF Personnel are among those deployed for duties,” he said.

SP Gunasekera said another 5,953 Civil Security Department (CSD) Personnel would also be deployed for assistance.

A total of 26,840 Police Personnel will be deployed at 13,420 polling stations, while 3,225 mobile patrolling units, comprising a total of 13,552 Police, STF and CSD Personnel will be assigned for the duty.

SP Gunasekera said military assistance would also be obtained on the day after the election if needed.

Visiting U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Daniel Rosenblum opened the Kandy YouLead office on February 2, which will expand employment opportunities for youth in the Central Province.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Central Province, YouLead is a 1.8-billion-rupee program ($12 million) launched in 2017 that creates a more market–oriented, skilled, and flexible Sri Lankan workforce. YouLead supports youth employability and self-employment opportunities and improves vocational skills and training initiatives in targeted sectors.

“In order for Sri Lanka to maintain inclusive economic growth, youth must have the skills and opportunities they need for successful careers that align with market demand,” Rosenblum said. “The U.S. Government, through the YouLead program, looks forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka, the Chambers of Commerce, business community, and the region’s public and private training institutes.”

YouLead works in the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Northern Provinces, which have some of the highest rates of youth unemployment. YouLead’s regional office in Kandy, located within the Chamber office, will work closely with Chamber members as well as public and private vocational training institutes in the region to develop partnerships and career development opportunities to support youth employment in the Central Province.

A Workshop to promote and highlight Sri Lanka’s amazing terrestrial and marine wildlife was organised by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou on 7th February 2018 with renowned Sri Lankan Wildlife Celebrity Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne as the Guest speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Gehan Wijeyeratne, an accomplished author and photographer with over 300 articles for national and international newspapers and journals on Sri Lanka’s biodiversity, conducted a very interesting and interactive session with the audience through his personal narratives and powerpoint presentations, mentioning that Sri Lanka is one of the best all round wildlife destinations in the world for a mix of big game and marine life.

Consul General of Sri Lankan consulate in Guangzhou Shanika Dissanayake said that Sri Lanka is keen on publicizing the rich and diverse wildlife in Sri Lanka and will host many events under its cultural and educational activities series.

Participants comprised of Chinese travel agents, industry specialists, government officials and members of the print and electronic media.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) agrees that a person who is convicted of corruption charges should be banned for life from contesting at a Presidential election or a General election, Chief Opposition Whip and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament yesterday.

He said that as the Bond Commission report recommends that the law should be amended preventing those convicted of corruption contesting at the Presidential Election or a General Election although the existing law prevents them only for seven years. “We agree that the law should be amended since it is a flaw,” MP Dissanayake said.

He made this observation joining the adjournment debate on the Bond Commission report and on the Presidential Commission report on Serious Crimes and Abuse of Power (PRECIFAC) moved by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MP Dissanayake also pointed out that Parliament is not an organ that sentences people, and that the JVP objects to punishing someone by depriving him of his civic rights based on a political decision.

MP Dissanayake commencing the speech stated that the Premier did not speak of the real gravity of the Treasury Bond issue. He added that the previous government took over SriLankan Airlines and the loss from this is Rs 125 billion, cancellation of the four aircraft incurred a loss of Rs 18 billion. “Since the previous regime bought treasury bonds in Greece, the loss incurred was Rs 8 billion,” MP Dissanayake said. “The Avant Garde loss is Rs 11 billion.”

He also said that although the Good Governance government came to power to punish corrupt politicians, it delayed the investigations, and later protected them and attempted to share the misused money during the previous regime. Later the members of this government too engaged in corruption through this Bond issue.

He also said that the Commission report includes 34 frauds.He also said that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa had created a loss of Rs 1,100 million through his domestic air travel and for additional vehicles. During that period, money had been granted to allies of politicians indirectly. He added that the expenditure for the opening and water filling ceremony of the Hambantota Port was Rs 170 million.These should be changed.

He added that the loss incurred by the ITN through the advertisements during the previous regime at the Presidential Election was Rs 230 million and the sixth respondent of it is former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.There’s a dialogue to remove his civic rights. It should be done through proper legal channels and not based on a political decision.

Source : Daily News

Four government officials left for Dubai last night (07) in order to ensure the repatriation of Former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga who was arrested at the Dubai Airport.

Accordingly, Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda, Head of the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) Senior DIG Ravi Waidyalankara and Senior Director General of Legal, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs C.H.A.M Wijeratne has left to Dubai yesterday and will go on to Abu Dhabi thereafter sources said.

Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested on February 4 when attempting to board a flight to the USA at the Dubai Airport using a cancelled Sri Lankan Passport.

Avoiding courts :

The Colombo fort magistrate had issued a warrant for his arrest to the INTERPOL a year ago. The warrant was issued for avoiding courts without supporting the investigations into the MIG aircraft deal and financial misappropriation during the previous regime.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Fort Magistrate also issued an injunction order prohibiting the sale, pawning and transfer of property belonging to Udayanga Weeratunga recently.

However, Weeratunga has always refuted the allegations being levelled against him.

Allegations

Udayanga Weeratunga has been accused of failing to comply with the request made by the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID), to provide a statement regarding the alleged irregularities in the MIG deals.

According to legal experts some claim there is a danger he may be released after he arrives in Sri Lanka and provides a statement to the FCID.

However, a senior police officer said that he will be subjected to two more charges with the recent arrest.

Among the new allegations are not handing over his diplomatic passport after the end of his stint as ambassador to Russia, and attempting to travel using a cancelled passport, sources said.

In an apparent rejection of international scrutiny, Sri Lanka has failed to answer questions raised by the United Nations more than a year ago on the role of the country’s spy chief on torture allegations during the bloody civil war and its aftermath.

Chief of State Intelligence Sisira Mendis came under the heavy questioning by the UN committee against torture (UNCAT), when he represented Sri Lanka in Geneva, at its 59th session.

He doggedly sat through two days of grilling without giving any answer to a series of crucial questions on being involved in torture and abuse of detainees by police units under his administration.

At the conclusion of the meeting in December 2016, Sri Lanka was requested to provide detailed information on Sisira Mendis’s role and responsibilities with regard to allegations of torture while he was head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Deadline

The UN informed JDS that Sri Lanka has not provided the requested information almost a month past the deadline.

“The Committee’s concluding observations (CAT/C/LKA/CO/5, para. 49) requested the State party to provide by 7 December 2017 further information on specific areas of concern identified in paragraphs 14(b), 16 and 18,” UN Human Rights Officer Javier Leoz Invernón told JDS in response to a request.

“However, the Committee has not received yet any follow-up report from Sri Lanka.”

In the "specific areas of concern" referred to by the UN Human Rights Officer, Sri Lanka was requested to provide "information on follow-up to the Committee’s recommendations on the role and responsibilities of Mr. Mendis when he was Deputy Inspector General of the Criminal Investigations Department from March 2008 to June 2009 with regard to torture that allegedly occurred during his mandate".

In 2016, organisations including JDS provided UNCAT with details of torture and abuse of detainees under DIG Mendis.

Judicial mechanism

The UN committee had also requested information on the establishment of a judicial mechanism with a special counsel to investigate allegations of torture, enforced disappearances and other serious human rights violations; and the establishment of an independent, effective, confidential and accessible complaints mechanism for victims of torture and the revision of the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act.

To date, Sri Lanka has not provided any information requested by UNCAT in 2016.

The funeral of the Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Most Ven Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Anu Nayaka Thera will be held at 3 pm at the University grounds today. The Thera’s remains will lie at the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya till 12 noon today for the public to pay their last respects.

At 1 pm, the funeral procession will leave the temple, taking the route that falls through Boralesgamuwa junction, the Rattanapitiya junction and on the University road to the entrance of the university. There, it will be received by the Vice Chancellor, academic staff, non-academic staff and students of the university, who will then conduct the procession towards the university grounds for the funeral.

The Chief Prelates of the Three Chapters, the Maha Sangha, representatives from the Government, foreign diplomats and dignitaries, Chancellors, Vice Chancellor's, the academic and non-academic staff of universities, students and the public will be in attendance. Leaders of other religions are also due to attend the funeral, symbolising Ven.Wimalarathana’s efforts to bring peace and understanding among all religions in Sri Lanka.

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that the AB-21 road joins Kankesanthurai to Point Pedro, will be opened for the first time since June 20, 1990, for the public.

The President made these remarks addressing a public rally held in Jaffna.

‘Opening this road will help to reduce the 50-kilometre distance people have to travel’ the President said, adding that as the President, he will fulfil his responsibilities irrespective of differences to deliver the benefits of the development in a fair manner to people in Jaffna too.

President Sirisena emphasized that he is committed to building national reconciliation and peace in the country and further said that he is ready to do whatever sacrifice to achieve this objective.

‘The people in the North as well as in the South elected him as the President of this country with the aspiration of creating a free and democratic society,’ the President said. He added that during the past three years he has done significant work in this regard.

Already 75% of the process of releasing the lands to the displaced persons in Jaffna has been completed and the remaining lands will also be released to the people shortly, he said.

Addressing the gathering, the President recalled the voices raised by people about the missing persons said that he is committed to bringing about justice in this regard.

The President further said that he is ready to provide assistance to family members of the missing persons to ensure their wellbeing and assured that upon their requests he is ready to hold discussions at any time.

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and JDS have condemned the reinstatement of the Sri Lanka military diplomat who threatened to slit the throats of protesting Tamils in London.

Military attaché Priyanka Fernando who was filmed making the threatening gesture was initially suspended by the Sri Lanka ministry of foreign affairs, only to be reinstated by a presidential directive in less than 24 hours.

“Sri Lanka is a textbook case of impunity and this latest incident in London is just another symptom of that impunity,” said ITJP executive director, Yasmin Sooka in a joint statement with JDS.

“Impunity is a conscious policy of the state and this latest decision is just another manifestation of the disregard for victims of the conflict who are still waiting for criminal accountability,” said JDS in the joint statement, fully reproduced below.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE: What Vetting of Sri Lankan Diplomats?

7 February 2018 | Johannesburg: The UK, the UN and the international community have an obligation to step up their screening and vetting of Sri Lankan public and security officials for alleged involvement in atrocities during and after the civil war. This should include all military engagement and training.

“We believe a number of military officers who were active in the final phase of the Sri Lankan war are still posted as diplomats abroad,” said the ITJP executive director, Yasmin Sooka, “It’s time the vetting requirement of UN HRC Resolution 30/1 is enforced by the international community, even if Sri Lanka itself flouts it, despite being a co-sponsor of the resolution. Surely this is the very least we owe victims even if criminal accountability is a distant prospect”.

On 4 February, Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, the defence attaché in the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, was filmed thrice making slitting throat gestures at Tamil protestors . Given his war record in command of frontline combat troops around Mullaitivu for the 59 Division, Brigadier Fernando’s threats of violence are particularly disturbing. More so factoring in the ongoing surveillance of Tamil events abroad and the continued use by the security forces of photographs of these events during interrogations that involve very brutal torture and sexual violence.

Initially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka announced the suspension of the defence attache for what it called “offensive behaviour” pending an investigation . Today the media says the Sri Lankan President reversed that decision, reinstating the Brigadier in his diplomatic position in London.

“What we see in Sri Lanka is a perpetual state of denial,” said Bashana Abeywardane of Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS), “Impunity is a conscious policy of the state and this latest decision is just another manifestation of the disregard for victims of the conflict who are still waiting for criminal accountability”.

Sri Lanka’s investigation into Brigadier Fernando’s actions in London is to involve the Army but media reports say the Army Commander, Mahesh Senanayake, has been praising Brigadier Fernando for his war record . This yet again raises the question of the army’s lack of independence and impartiality as a body to investigate its own personnel. To date the Sri Lankan Army has been unable to show it can investigate any human rights violation credibly, including serious allegations of sexual exploitation by its UN peacekeepers and videos showing extrajudicial executions by soldiers of naked bound Tamil prisoners obtained by JDS .

“The UK should never have accepted the credentials of a man like Brigadier Fernando,” said Ms. Sooka. “A brief examination of his past would have revealed he had frontline combat experience in the final war and therefore should have been vetted, based on criteria used by OHCHR for Sri Lankan peacekeepers. The ITJP and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka produced a brief on Brigadier Fernando’s war record - research that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should have done before accepting his credentials”.

The Sri Lankan army commander says Brigadier Fernando was a commander of a unit of the 59 Division, who “saved” Tamil civilians during the recapture of Mullaitivu. The notion that civilians were ‘saved’ is a travesty given the 2015 UN investigation detailed repeated attacks on the Mullaitivu Hospital in August, October, December 2008 and January 2009. The UN said multi barrelled rocket launchers were fired at the hospital from Sri Lankan army positions south of the town – from where the 59 Division was advancing.

This is not the first time a defence attache has been posted in the UK who was involved in the final war in Sri Lanka. Major Genreal Prasanna Silva, who is named in the UN investigation for his role as the commander of the 55 Division, was also accredited as Sri Lankan defence attache post war .

In August 2017, using the provisions of universal jurisdiction, the ITJP filed four law suits in Brazil, Peru, Chile and Colombia against Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Latin America, General Jagath Jayasuriya, accusing him of command responsibility for war crimes.

“The Government of Sri Lanka has failed to take action against General Jayasuriya despite his superior officer, Field Marshall Fonseka, who is now a cabinet minister, corroborating some of the allegations we levelled against him and saying he’d be willing to testify in a court”, said Ms. Sooka. “Sri Lanka is a text book case of impunity and this latest incident in London is just another symptom of that impunity”.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday argued against the initiation of criminal proceedings against former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris PC and Court of Appeal Judge A.H.M.D Nawaz.

Addressing a press conference at the BASL Auditorium its Secretary Amal Randeniya said the Executive Committee and the Bar Council of the BASL unanimously resolved to “view with grave concern” the initiation of criminal proceedings against former CJ, Mohan Peiris and Justice Nawaz.

The BASL was of the opinion that criminal proceedings against the former CJ and Justice Nawaz on the basis of professional advice given by them in their former capacities as the Attorney General and Deputy Solicitor General affects the "independence of Judiciary, rule of Law and the interests of the public at large”.

The Bribery Commission on January 18 filed a corruption case in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court against former CJ, Peiris and Justice Nawaz over an allegation that they conferred a wrongful or unlawful benefit, and favour or advantage on the perpetrators who had been accused of misappropriating funds belonging to Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited (LECO).

Responding to questions by journalists, Randeniya said the BASL has decided to make a submission at the Magistrate's Court, when the case is taken up again on March 8, to voice their concerns.

However, Randeniya took special pains to emphasize that the BASL “do not intend to obstruct or interfere with the course of justice or the right of law enforcement institutions to carry out their functions”.

“Our concern stems not from the stand point of the individuals concerned. The AG and Solicitor General are duty bound to give advice and their opinion on legal matters.An opinion could either be right or wrong. The professional advice given by the AG and Solicitor General or their deputies should not be a cause to initiate criminal proceedings. If not, the individuals holding such office would hesitate to discharge their functions.It would not set a good example,” he commented.

Source : Daily News