Category: Featured Headlines

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, commemorated the 39th anniversary of Black July, when hundreds of Tamils in Sri Lanka were killed and their homes were destroyed.

Full statement:

“Today, we remember those who lost their lives or were displaced during the horrific and violent events of Black July.

“In July 1983, anti-Tamil pogroms erupted in Colombo, following decades of unrest and rising tensions across the country. Known as Black July, these deadly events triggered an armed conflict that lasted 26 years, cost tens of thousands of lives, destroyed homes and businesses owned by Tamils, and sent hundreds of thousands into exile.

“In the months that followed the events of Black July, the Government of Canada implemented a Special Measures program to respond to the violence in Sri Lanka, which helped more than 1,800 Tamils resettle in Canada. I have had the privilege of meeting many Tamil Canadian survivors of Black July and have been moved by their harrowing experiences of loss, displacement, and resilience. Canada is now home to one of the largest Tamil diasporas in the world, and we thank Tamil Canadians for contributing so greatly to making Canada the strong, vibrant, and inclusive place it is today.

“Today, we acknowledge the people of Sri Lanka, who are suffering during this current economic and political crisis. Following the recent election of the new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, by the Sri Lankan parliament, Canada strongly encourages Sri Lanka’s government to promote democracy and human rights and maintain the rule of law as it works to address this crisis, and undertake the necessary reforms for a peaceful, prosperous, and reconciled Sri Lanka. Canada also reiterates the need to ensure that the rights to protest and a free press are protected during these difficult times.

“On this day, our thoughts are with all those who suffered and lost family, friends, and neighbours during Black July and the conflict that followed. We are committed to working together to help build a better future for everyone.”

The parliamentary debate regarding the incident of attacking protesters and removing them from the protest grounds is scheduled to be held the day after tomorrow (July 27).

The Chief Opposition Whip, MP Lakshman Kiriella, had requested Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena for a parliamentary debate on the incident.

Although a request had been made to hold the debate today (25), due to the impact of the fuel crisis in convening parliament today and calling MPs, the government has decided to hold the debate on the date of the next parliamentary session.

Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms said that the 22nd constitutional amendment bill, which was prepared by repealing the 20th amendment and incorporating the positive clauses of the 19th amendment, will be submitted to the parliament on the 27th, Wednesday.

Thus, according to parliamentary standing orders, the bill can be debated one week after the first reading if it is not challenged before the Supreme Court.

The cabinet has approved the 22nd constitutional amendment bill. After that, the bill was published in a gazette on 24th June.

The ability of a person holding dual citizenship to be involved in governance activities has been blocked by this constitutional amendment bill. The amendment also states that a Sri Lankan citizen who is a citizen of another country should not be elected to the Parliament by popular vote.

It also states that if the Prime Minister resigns by sending a letter to the President with his own signature or if he is no longer a Member of Parliament, he is not eligible to hold his office.

The 22nd Amendment bill states that the Prime Minister will hold his position as long as the Cabinet remains active.

It also states that if the President is of the opinion that Parliament has lost confidence in the Prime Minister during the period starting from the effective date of this Act and when the Parliament is to be dissolved, the Prime Minister can be removed from office.

The 22nd Amendment states that the President should not make any appointment or assign or change subjects and tasks without consulting the Prime Minister.

It is stated that a minister can be removed by a letter sent under the signature of the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and any minister can resign from office by a letter with his signature sent to the President.

Chief Organizer of the ruling party, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, has said that President Ranil Wickramasinghe has instructed to submit the 22nd constitutional amendment to Parliament.

Accordingly, he said that the draft bill will be included in the parliamentary agenda.

The Archaeology Department is continuing its work at the temple ruins in Kurundumale in Mullaitivu following a reversal of a Court decision issued last week, The Sunday Morning learns.

“The Judge reversed his judgement as he saw that we were only doing conservation activities and nothing more. He came with us to the site and observed that there were no new construction activities. He understood that we were only doing preservation work,” Archaeological Department Director General Anura Manatunga told The Sunday Morning.

Earlier last week the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court ordered the suspension of any new construction activities at the Kurundumale ancient holy site. The location holds remnants of a Buddhist shrine as well as those of a Hindu kovil.

The conservation work at the site has drawn criticism from local residents and activists, who claim that Hindu devotees have been restricted from entering the site.

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran told The Sunday Morning that he had filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition at the Supreme Court over the prevention of Tamil devotees worshipping at the location as well as the damage being done to the Hindu kovil.

“The Hindu worshippers had a trident, which has been broken and thrown away somewhere. In addition, the Hindu worshippers have been prevented from going there. I’m handling this FR case and it is to be taken up next week. Now the worshippers have been allowed in after the case was filed, but we may request that the trident be replaced as well,” Sumanthiran said.

Several civil society groups raised concerns about a social media video released by a young Buddhist monk last week critiquing the Court’s decision to halt construction activities on the controversial site.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Jaffna is in a constant battle with the authorities to secure fuel for the agriculture and fisheries sectors and essential commodities for people hit by the economic crisis, the Jaffna Chamber Chairman Vignesh Kularatnam told the Sunday Observer Business last week.

We have been having discussions with the Governor of the Northern Province and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the LIOC to set up consumer points for fuel distribution, he said.

According to the chamber head many large scale industries have closed down due to operations coming to a standstill.

Most industries are unable to sustain operations due to cash flow issues and payment of salaries to employees for the past four months, Kularatnam said.

According to media reports there had been a surge in the number of people in the North and the East taking refuge in South India during the past months. Many had to pay a huge amount to cross the Palk Straight through boats.

Jaffna is home to a large segment of the population who earn a living either in the fisheries or agriculture sector. Around one-third of the families of the Northern province depend on agriculture including livestock and home gardening.

The Jaffna chamber is grateful to chambers in Colombo and many concerned people who always inquire about the people in the North and are willing to extend a helping hand, Kularatnam said.

The situation in the country today is nothing new to the people in the North East who had gone through enormous struggles for over three decades during the battle against terrorism but the crisis is adding on to the misery of people who had not been able to raise their head even after a decade since the end of terrorism, said the Past Chairman of the Chamber K. Poornachandran.

He said around 60 percent of businesses operate and added that if the situation worsens there would be a complete shutdown.

The tourism industry, another vital sector that provided employment to youth has been adversely affected by the crisis.

He said people in the North and East have been used to tough situations and learnt to live a simple life from the decades-long terrorist activities that forced them to such a lifestyle.

Transportation has not been an issue as young and the old cycle to work and school. Most people here neither had fuel nor electricity during the battle against terrorism.

They had to put up with either lamps or candles. Many could not afford kerosene due to the high prices and it was in short supply, he said.

However, the chamber officials said they are one with the people in the South going through unprecedented problems.

We have always been in solidarity with the rest of the country whenever there has been problems and this time to feel with them, Poornachandarn said.