Author: TELO Admin

A peaceful protest against state suppression is to be held in Colombo today (2).

Trade Unions, and Students Movements, supported by political parties will march from Maradana to Fort, where a rally will take place.

Participants will march from Elphinstone Theatre to central Colombo. Potential stops or endpoints include De Soysa/Liberty Circus intersections, Galle Face Green, and Fort Railway Station.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka reiterates that the Police must NOT use the provisions of the Police Ordinance to violate the fundamental rights declared and recognized by the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The HRCSL made this statement in response to a letter submitted to the Commission by trade unions and mass organizations, informing that the Police had illegally notified them to obtain permission for the peaceful protest set to be held on Wednesday (2).

The HRCSL highlights that peaceful protests are permitted according to Section 77 of the Police Ordinance.

It warned the Police that the Constitution of Sri Lanka is the supreme law of the country, adding that violating fundamental rights would result in serious consequences.

The HRCSL also reminds the Police to pay attention to the recommendations made by the Commission to the Public Security Minister on the 28th of September.

According to the statement, a team attached to the Human Rights Commission will also be deployed to monitor the peaceful protest march.

Six major business chambers in Sri Lanka have called for the halting of anti-government protests that they say could undermine efforts taken to stabilize the economy.

In a joint statement, the chambers added that negative publicity could seriously derail actions that are being taken to revive the economy, particularly the efforts taken to revive tourism.

‘Any act of destabilization taking place at this time and any negative publicity arising from it would seriously derail actions that are being taken to revive the economy including the efforts being taken to promote tourism’ the statement read.

Pointing out that a few airlines have agreed to commence flights to Sri Lanka and given the high cost of energy in Europe during the winter, Sri Lanka will have an ideal opportunity to attract tourists which will support the Hospitality industry, the Chambers say that any instability can affect the recovery process for exports and foreign investment too.

‘We appeal to all parties to divert their energies and resources towards encouraging positive reforms and focus on how we recover as a nation instead of engaging in acts that can further damage the economy and place more burdens on the people of this country the statement mentioned.

This statement has been issued by the following Chambers:

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC)

Chamber of Young Lanka Entrepreneurs (COYLE)

Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)

International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL)

National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE)

Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC)

As the 21st amendment was passed in Parliament recently, the question which has now hit the House by storm is which MP is a dual citizen? While silent whispers and internal talks continue among the parliamentarians, no name has still come to light with almost all departments remaining tight lipped over it.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration launched a special investigation last week following a request made under the Right to Information Act, to identify which MPs are dual citizens.

The Department is yet to finalize its investigations stating that the probe was conducted based on a document containing the date of birth, name and National Identity Number referred by Parliament.

Sources within the Parliament however said they had no idea as to who the MPs are who are dual citizens as such information was not required to be registered by Parliament.

There was no legal provision for it, and none of the 225 MPs have declared themselves to be dual citizens to the House.

The only name that became publicized in recent months is that of Basil Rajapaksa who is no longer an MP and due to his firm belief to remain an American will not have any place to contest in a Sri Lankan election or hold a parliamentary seat in the future.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena who has been under pressure to divulge the names is yet to get any indication from the Immigration and Emigration Department.

Sources close to the Speaker told Daily Mirror that Abeywardena will seek a legal notice to obtain the names from the Immigration and Emigration Department and will also seek the advice of the Attorney General and the Justice Ministry.

After this, the names are likely to be made public. According to sources, it is possible that over 6 names of MPs may surface once the probe is completed but to date the names are running on speculation only.

MP Udaya Gammanpila has already alleged that State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage was a dual citizen as she was a UK citizen to which Diana has challenged Gammanpila to go to court to prove his claim that she was not a Sri Lankan citizen.

Rumors were also afloat that some MPs from within the TNA may also be dual citizen holders but this allegation was shot down by senior TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who stated that there were no dual citizens within the TNA.

He however said that they had heard there were many dual citizens in Parliament and if so this should be investigated and action should be taken to remove them.

Some FR petitions are also likely to be filed in the coming weeks to get more information on who the possible dual citizens are and according to sources those MPs who are likely to be exposed are also preparing to challenge their stand.

Relatives of missing persons yesterday (1) said that only the international community could ensure accountability to their long-standing grievances, and pointed out that they do not want to accept the compensation and certificate of absence provided by the relevant local authorities.

Association for the Relatives of Enforced Disappearances Jaffna District Leader Sivapatham Ilankothai told The Morning yesterday that only the international community could ensure accountability in the issue of missing persons.

“We held a protest at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Monday (31 October) to show that we are not happy with the recent comments made by the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Chairman that there is no evidence that our relatives were handed over to the Security Forces during the end of war. At the same time, we want to convey the message to the Minister of Justice President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that we do not want any compensation or a certificate of absence. We want to know the whereabouts of our loved ones. It is quite disheartening when such moves are being taken by the Government to just end this issue,” she added.

She further noted that for many years, the relatives of missing persons were waiting patiently, hoping that the OMP would resolve the issues.

“We went before many commissions appointed by the Government for many years. There was no solution. We waited for many years; now, we feel that there is no justice to our long-standing issue, and therefore, we have decided to appeal to the international community,” she added.

Ilankothai also said: “Initially, the Government proposed to give Rs. 100,000 as compensation, and then raised the amount to Rs. 200,000. Do not cheat us. We want justice. Find the whereabouts of our loved ones. That is why we protested on Monday.”

On Monday, the relatives of missing persons staged a protest and forcibly entered the Jaffna District Secretariat premises, showing their displeasure against the Government and the OMP during the visit of Dr. Rajapakshe. The protestors shouted slogans such as “We don’t want the OMP and we don’t want Rs. 200,000 compensation, we need an international mechanism”.

Protestors also claimed that the OMP is cheating and disappointing the relatives of missing persons. They also raised slogans against Dr. Rajapakshe who participated in the mobile service launched by the Ministry of Justice to issue birth and other certificates to returnees from India, at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Monday.

Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party) MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera stated yesterday (1) that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not the answer to Sri Lanka’s present crisis, claiming that it has not succeeded in saving a single country over the past few years, and that it will therefore, not succeed in saving Sri Lanka either.

“From 2015 to date, the IMF has not been able to save a single country. The result of dealing with the IMF will be that any independent strategy that is available to Sri Lanka to emerge from this crisis will be blocked.”

The monk observed that one such independent strategy is printing money, and pointed out that the IMF cannot impose any conditions on countries like Myanmar, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and Cuba, because they print their own money.

“I am not in favour of a military Government, but Myanmar does not face starvation, addictive drug problems, or the collapse of the State machinery. I am not saying that we need to form a Government like Myanmar, I am only saying that there are countries surviving without the conditions of the IMF.”

Rathana Thera also indicated that the IMF targets countries like Sri Lanka because of its inability to control the US and all countries belonging to Europe excluding England that print their own money.

“Does the IMF give permission to America to print US dollars? What right does America have to maintain the US dollar at such a high rate? The IMF cannot impose any conditions on the use of Euros in Europe, because that authority lies with the European Parliament.”

He also noted that while it was possible for the IMF to limit and impose restrictions on countries like Sri Lanka three decades ago, it is no longer possible to do the same because they do not hold the monopoly power anymore.

“The IMF cannot restrict or control countries like us anymore because they can no longer rely on the support and empowerment of the US and Europe because they are economically struggling. Organisations like the World Health Organisation and other financial institutions are gradually becoming Asian-based, as they are relying on Asian funding.”

The Government of Sri Lanka is currently engaged in debt restructuring negotiations with creditors in hopes of obtaining IMF Board approval for a $ 3.9 billion bailout programme, for which it has only reached a verbal staff-level IMF agreement.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (02) ordered the acquittal of Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who was named a suspect in a case filed over Easter Sunday terror attacks, from the case in accordance with the instructions of the Attorney General.

The magistrate issued the order when the magisterial inquiry related to the case was taken up again today.

The former Minister and Wanni District Parliamentarian was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka Police on 24 April 2021 and remanded under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for over six months until he was granted bail on 14 October 2021.