Category: News

The People’s Republic of China has agreed to provide the total amount of around 11.82 million meters of fabric required to be provided for schoolchildren as uniform materials for the year 2025.

Thus, after testing the sample sent to the Ministry of Education in relation to the relevant stock of fabric by the Sri Lanka Textile and Garment Institute (SLITA), it has been recommended that the fabric is suitable for use by school students.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Education, Science and Technology to accept the Chinese Government’s grant for providing uniforms to all school students for the year 2025.

Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake confirmed that preparations for the general elections on November 14 are well underway.

In a media briefing, he assured the public that all electoral officials, including assistant and deputy commissioners, are actively working to ensure a smooth election process. He expects around 1.7 million voters to have the chance to cast their votes at polling stations on that day.

Ratnayake emphasized that the elections will follow the regulations outlined in the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981. Despite facing some legal challenges, he confirmed that there will be no delays in the election schedule.

He added that any citizen who feels they have been treated unfairly has the right to file a petition for their fundamental rights. However, unless directed by the courts, election preparations will continue as planned.

The Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka R.M.A.L. Rathnayake states that the 2024 General Election will be held on 14 November 2024 as scheduled, as the petition challenging the election date was dismissed by the Supreme Court without taking into consideration.

Furthermore, Rathnayake mentioned that 60 polling stations which were slated to be established at Buddhist Temples were shifted to other locations, owing to ‘Katina Pinkama’ ceremonies and several other reasons.

Commenting regarding the matter, the Election Commission Chairman said that several parties had raised concerns on holding the election using Buddhist Temples as polling stations during the period when ‘Katina Pinkama’ ceremonies are being held.

As a result, Rathnayake said that the election regulatory body inquired regarding the matter from the chief prelates of each Buddhist Temple to be used as polling stations. He said that out of 2,263 Buddhist temples slated to be used as polling stations across the island, 45 temples expressed concerns regarding holding the ‘Katina Pinkama’ ceremonies and 15 other temples due to miscellaneous reasons.

Accordingly, the 60 polling stations in question were shifted to other locations, according to the Election Commission Chairman.

Meanwhile, he also highlighted that the distribution of official polling cards will be carried out until 07 November 2024.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the core ally of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP), ruled out any coalition, or national government after the General Election.

In response to a question by Daily Mirror whether the NPP would opt for coalition governance, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said such a necessity would not arise because the party is certain of a clear majority at the November 14 General Election.

He made these remarks in the wake of reports that some parties in the north are planning to team up with the NPP to form a coalition government after the election.

Mr. Silva said that the government would hold talks with anyone interested but it would not form any coalition government. He said the NPP is not keen to accommodate those who held responsibilities in previous governments.

Any party that secures more than 113 seats of 225–member Parliament can form a government of its own. A simple majority is required to pass legislation including annual budgets. Two–thirds majority is only required for special purposes, such as the enactment of constitutional amendments.

Since 1994, only on two occasions, the governments enjoyed a two-thirds majority. The Mahinda Rajapaksa administration between 2005 and 2015 enjoyed it. After that, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government had two-thirds in the House between 2020 and 2022.

On 29th October 2024, the Director-General (Legal) at the Presidential Secretariat, Attorney at Law JM Wijebandara, representing the Government stated that the issue was not the PTA’s existence as our law, but rather its misuse to detain civil activists, journalists, and others. He stated that the Government would not allow such misuse and that the PTA would only be applied based on “credible intelligence information, and it will not be used for political revenge”. On the same day, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Vijitha Herath stated: “There is a discussion on abolishing the PTA. We can only talk about changing the Act when the new Parliament is elected.” The Lawyers’ Collective expresses its grave concern regarding statements indicating that the PTA will be retained.

The National People’s Power (NPP), in its Election Manifesto of August 2024, commits to the “Abolition of all oppressive acts including the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and ensuring civil rights of people in all parts of the country” (p.129). During the recent presidential election campaign, and even before, the NPP actively advocated against the PTA and the abuse of its powers and has also opposed new laws that are similarly oppressive. It is of serious concern therefore, that after the people endorsed a mandate to repeal the PTA at the recent Presidential elections, the recent statements of the NPP government undermine the commitment made to the people.

The PTA, enacted in 1979, is well known as a draconian piece of legislation with broad emergency-like executive powers, but enacted for use in ordinary times as well. The provisions and scheme of the PTA fail to protect fundamental rights such as freedom from arbitrary arrest, freedom from torture and freedom of expression. The PTA, as implemented by successive governments since its enactment, has caused unmeasurable human suffering in the form of torture, long-term detentions and instilling fear in minorities and those critiquing the government. The PTA has a record of being used as a weapon and continue to be used against any citizen with impunity. The call for its repeal has been resounding from within the country as well as internationally. There has been wide support for its repeal by political parties in recent years, but successive governments have continued to retain it after taking office.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake must honour the commitment to repeal the PTA. The statement made on behalf of the government by Director General (Legal), Presidential Secretariat, J M Wijebandara must be unequivocally clarified, and a clear commitment to repealing the PTA be made public. This clarity and leadership are necessary to build public confidence that the government stands for the repeal of the PTA.

The Lawyers’ Collective also calls on all political parties to commit to multi-partisan support in the next Parliament to repeal the PTA. Parties must commit to ensure that Sri Lanka’s counter-terrorism legal framework complies with human rights safeguards. If emergency measures are needed in a given situation, all emergency powers must be strictly confined to periods of a declared state of emergency. These measures will strengthen the rule of law, democracy and human rights in the country and in turn, boost confidence in governance.

Yours faithfully,

On behalf of the Lawyers’ Collective

Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, President’s Counsel

Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, President’s Counsel

Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Geoffrey Alagaratnam, President’s Counsel

Mr. M.A. Sumanthiran, President’s Counsel

Mr. Saliya Pieris, President’s Counsel

Mr. M.M. Zuhair, President’s Counsel

Mr. S.T. Jayanaga, President’s Counsel

Professor Deepika Udagama

Professor Camena Gunaratne

Rev. Fr. Noel Dias, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Srinath Perera, Attorney-at-law

Ms. Ermiza Tegal, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Sandamal Rajapakse, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Manoj Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Amila Egodamahawatte, Attorney-at-Law

Mr. Jayantha Dehiaththage,Attorney-at-Law