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Minister Wimal Weerawansa has met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for a one on one discussion in the wake of the recent controversy within the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) over Weerawansa’s statement on the party leadersjip.

A source familiar with the matter said the meeting between the Prime Minister and Weerawansa was held to iron out differences between the two party. It is learnt that the meeting was cordial and ended on an amicable note.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa, commenting on Weerawansa’s remarks, recently said he understood the “essense” of the Minister’s statement.

In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, Weerawansa said President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be made the leader of the SLPP without isolating him at the Presidential Secretariat. The statement, however, drew severe criticism from SLPP MPs who asserted that Weerawansa had no right to express opinion on the SLPP leadership as it was an internal matter of the party.

The Director General of Health Services has confirmed 08 more Covid-19 related deaths bringing the death toll in the country due to the virus to 430.

01. A 67-year-old woman from Dematagoda who had passed away at home on February 16. The cause of death is cited as Covid-19 pneumonia and high blood sugar.

02. 58-year-old male from Colombo 08 who had passed away at the Maithri Sevana Treatment Center in Anuradhapura on February 17. The cause of death is reported as heart disease with Covid-19, serious kidney damage and high blood pressure.

03. 43-year-old male from Meegoda who had passed away at the Homagama Base Hospital on February 16 due to respiratory failure caused by Bronchitis and Covid-19 pneumonia.

04. A 20-year-old female from Ridimaliyadda who had passed away at the Badulla General Hospital on February 17. The cause of death is cited as Covid-19 pneumonia and respiratory failure.

05. 52-year-old male from Dekatana who passed away at the Homagama Base Hospital on February 18 due to Covid-19 pneumonia, high blood sugar, high blood pressure and asthma condition.

06. 86-year-old female from Colombo 10 who had passed away at home on February 17 while the cause of death is reported as Covid-19 pneumonia, lung infection and asthma condition.

07. 74-year-old woman from Keselwatte who had passed away at the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital on January 22 owing to Covid-19 pneumonia.

08. 81-year-old male from Wattala who had passed away at the Mulleriyawa Hospital on January 20 due to heart and raspatory failure.

India has denied claims the Trincomalee Upper Tank Farm deal with Sri Lanka has been scrapped.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that there is no truth to reports in some sections of the media that the understanding between India and Sri Lanka on jointly developing and operating the Upper Tank Farm at Trincomalee has been ‘scrapped’.

“These reports did not correctly portray remarks made by the Minister of Energy of Sri Lanka at an event on 17 February 2021. The Minister has himself clarified the matter in detail today through a press briefing,” the Indian High Commission said.

The Indian High Commission said that as indicated in the Minister’s briefing, the two Governments have consulted each other to explore mutually acceptable modalities for jointly developing and operating the facility in accordance with existing bilateral understandings, including the MoU of 2017.

India looks forward to formal discussions on the matter, and expeditious implementation of their outcome to mutual benefit.

Hundreds of vehicles drove from Toronto and Montreal drove to the Parliament Hill in Ottawa to urge Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide Committed Against Tamil People by the Sri Lankan State.

Only five days left for the UN meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau’s administration have been silent on this important human rights issue, despite being a member of the powerful Core – Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

“If Canada wants it can Refer Sri Lanka to International Criminal Court (ICC)” said one of the organizers of the Car rally.

“We will know whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Administration is taking Tamil’s unified request seriously or saving Sri Lanka from facing international justice for killing tens of thousands of Tamils and sexually assulting and raping Tamil women.”

* Recently, Michelle Bachelet, the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in her Report dated 12th January 2021 urged UN Human Rights Council Member States to take steps toward the referral of the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

* Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2011, boycotted Commonwealth Conference (CHOGM) held in Sri Lanka to protest mass killings of Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government.

* Last week, Heather McPherson MP, for Edmonton Strathcona and deputy house leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) authorized an e-petition 3168 s highlighting the UN High Commissioner’s report in its preamble and the High Commissioner’s recommendations in its prayers.

* In 2019 NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle tabled a motion in the house of commons calling the UN to investigate allegations of genocide by the Sri Lankan state, which passed unanimously the Trudeau govt, so far has not adopted any resolution to that effect.

INFORMATION ON WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND GENOCIDE COMMITTED AGAINST TAMIL PEOPLE BY THE SRI LANKAN STATE:

1) According to the November 2012 Report of the UN Secretary-General’s Internal Review Panel on UN Action in Sri Lanka, over 70,000 people were killed during the last six months of the war that ended in May 2009.

2) Several were killed when Sri Lankan forces repeatedly bombed and shelled an area designated by the Government as No Fire Zones (Safe zones). Even hospitals and food distribution centers were bombed. Several also died of starvation and bled to death due to lack of medical treatment.

3) International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) in February 2017 handed over details to UN of Sri Lankan Military run “Rape Camps”, where Tamil women are being held as “sex slaves.”

4) According to UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office report on April 2013, there are over 90,000 Tamil war widows in Sri Lanka.

5) Thousands of Tamils disappeared including babies and children. UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances stated that the second highest number of enforced disappearance cases in the world is from Sri Lanka.
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The Sri Lankan Government has launched a renewed crackdown on dissent that is severely curtailing civil society freedom and obstructing efforts to deliver justice for conflict-era crimes under international law, said Amnesty International, in a new report published today.

The report, Old ghosts in new garb: Sri Lanka’s return to fear, exposes how the Sri Lankan government has targeted human rights organisations, media, lawyers, political opponents, and law enforcement officers in a concerted bid to suppress opposing voices and hamper the transitional justice process for crimes committed during the country’s 30-year armed conflict.

“Over the past year, the Sri Lankan government has radically transformed the country’s civic space, which is now defined by an increasing hostility and intolerance towards dissenting voices,” said David Griffiths, Director of the Office of the Secretary General at Amnesty International.

People from all walks of life have been threatened, intimidated, harassed and jailed, simply for expressing views or doing their jobs in ways that displease the authorities
David Griffiths, Director of the Office of the Secretary General at Amnesty International

“People from all walks of life have been threatened, intimidated, harassed and jailed, simply for expressing views or doing their jobs in ways that displease the authorities. The Sri Lankan government must cease this campaign against dissent and respect its obligations under international law to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, the right to personal security, and freedom from arbitrary detention.”

Since withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council-driven justice and reconciliation process for conflict-era crimes in February 2020, the authorities have cracked down on those pursuing justice while deliberately hindering ongoing efforts to secure justice and accountability.

Amnesty International is calling on the UN Human Rights Council to implement the recommendations of a damning report on Sri Lanka published by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights last month, when it meets from 22 February to 23 March. This includes more robust monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, and the collection and preservation of evidence for future prosecutions.

“The international community must not turn a blind eye to the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka, which is being abetted by the government’s regressive moves on justice and accountability. The Human Rights Council must take steps to end the cycle of impunity by holding the Sri Lankan government fully to account, and launching a new internationally agreed justice process,” said David Griffiths.

Justice and Accountability

Amnesty International’s findings reveal a pattern of targeting those who have played an active role in investigating, documenting, litigating, or reporting on human rights violations and abuses, and advocating on behalf of the victims, including at least six incidents where lawyers were targeted.

The country’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act was used, among others, against Hejaaz Hizbullah, a prominent minority rights advocate and lawyer, who has been detained for 10 months, without a shred of evidence of wrongdoing produced before a court.

Attorney Achala Senevirathne, who appeared on behalf of families of the disappeared in an enforced disappearance case, has been threatened with violence and sexualized abuse not only on social media but also by officials accused in the case.

Criminal investigators who pursued justice for crimes under international law have also come under increased scrutiny. The former director of the Criminal Investigations Department was demoted and later arrested for allegedly fabricating evidence in a case. He remains in custody and believes he is being targeted in reprisal for leading investigations in cases of abuses allegedly committed by the armed forces.

The Human Rights Council must take steps to end the cycle of impunity by holding the Sri Lankan government fully to account, and launching a new internationally agreed justice process
David Griffiths, Director of the Office of the Secretary General at Amnesty International

Members of the military leadership that were in command during the last phase of the war, when allegations of human rights and humanitarian law violations are widespread, were rewarded with promotions and positions of power under the new administration, including to civilian positions. This has had a chilling effect on victims demanding justice.

The report also details how legislative amendments brought by government have undermined any credible avenues locally available for justice, and how President-appointed Commissions of Inquiry are attempting to reverse accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations.

Assault on civic space

The Sri Lankan government did not waste any time in introducing new instruments and techniques to muzzle dissent.

State actors have led smear campaigns against NGOs and human rights organisations, while journalists have received death threats and have been summoned for investigations and interrogations after exposing human rights abuses.

Visits by state security officials to the offices of human rights NGOs have increased over the past fourteen months. Amnesty International recorded 18 such visits in that period, during which officials made enquiries about registration details, staff and donors’ bank details. Some staff members were even visited at their private residences.

Laws are also being misused to stifle free speech, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, which was used to arrest and detain Ramzy Razeek for more than five months without charge or proper access to a lawyer, for a Facebook post in which he criticised the forced cremation of COVID-19 victims and called for an ideological struggle using the pen and keyboard as weapons.

Background

The report, Old ghosts in new garb: Sri Lanka’s return to fear, is available here. Sinhala and Tamil versions of this press release are available here.

The OHCHR report, published on 27 January 2021, is available to download here. The Human Rights Council will meet for its 46th session from 22 February to 23 March, during which Canada, Germany, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the UK – the current core group of states leading on Sri Lanka – are expected to present a resolution in follow-up to the OHCHR report.

Amnesty International published an assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka, setting out clear expectations for HRC action, in January 2021.

Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz has criticized the Sri Lankan government for “backing away from ending the discriminatory cremation policy” pertaining to victims of Covid-19 infection.

In a tweet, the ambassador said she is “disappointed to see that the Government and PM are backing away from ending discriminatory cremation policy.”

She stressed that “people, including loved ones recently passed, deserve more respect for their rights from a democratic government.”

In response to a question raised during parliamentary session held last Thursday (February 10), Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said permission will be granted for the burial of Covid-19 victims.

His assurance was welcomed by Premier of Pakistan Imran Khan and foreign envoys including the US ambassador and British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sara Hulton.

However, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told media yesterday that cremation of Covid-19 victims is still in effect as it has become a law through a gazette notification.

There is a necessary procedure to be followed if this is to be amended, he said further.

Several months after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Sri Lankan government amended a law to make cremation compulsory for those who fall victim to the novel coronavirus with the intention of preventing any potential threat.

The Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance (Chapter 222) was accordingly amended by an extraordinary gazette notification issued by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

The decision sparked debate locally and internationally, as concerns were raised stressing that it is against the dictates of Muslim community’s faith.

US Ambassador, in a virtual round-table discussion held last month, stated that people of all faiths should have the opportunity to see their loved ones off in a way that represents their faith, traditions and culture. She also stressed on the need to mutual respect for traditions of all communities while accounting for public health.

Former Minister and Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen and several former Muslim parliamentarians meanwhile petitioned against the government’s decision, arguing that there is no scientific evidence to support the conclusion that cremation is safer than burial to prevent the infection from the coronavirus.

The topic was also brought to the attention of the Cabinet of Ministers on several occasions. However, the Cabinet decided to refer the matter back to the experts’ committee to look into the possibility of burying Covid-19 victims in a remote, dry area.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Ms Hanaa Singer wrote to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, reiterating the concerns of the United Nations with the existing Health Ministry guidelines, which stipulate cremation as the only method for the disposal of bodies suspected of COVID-19 infection.

In her letter, Singer had noted that the common assumption that people who died of a communicable disease should be cremated to prevent spread is not supported by evidence.

Meanwhile, UN human rights experts also urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, saying that it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country, and could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence.