Category: News

“The matters presented here in ‘Black July 1983: the Charge is Genocide’ constitute, at the lowest, prima facie evidence, sufficient to warrant an indictment for genocide against the Sri Lanka authorities for the crimes committed against the Tamil people in June, July and August 1983.

Paul Sieghart Q.C. in his  Report of a Mission to Sri Lanka on behalf of the International Commission of Jurists and its British Section, Justice, March 1984, concluded:   “Clearly this was not a spontaneous upsurge of communal hatred among the Sinhala people.. It was a series of deliberate acts, executed in accordance with a concerted plan, conceived and organised well in advance. But who were the planners?… Communal riots in which Tamils are killed, maimed, robbed and rendered homeless are no longer isolated episodes; they are beginning to become a pernicious habit.” [see 1956, 1958, 1961, 1974 and 1977]

The International Commission of Jurists Review declared in December 1983 – “Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, acts of murder committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such are considered as acts of genocide. The evidence points clearly to the conclusion that the violence of the Sinhala rioters on the Tamils (in June/July/August 1983) amounted to acts of genocide.”

The Election Commission announced that the opportunity has been provided for voters to cast their votes at an alternative polling station other than their designated station during the forthcoming Presidential Election.

Publishing an extraordinary gazette notification in this regard, the Election Commission has declared that a person who is reasonably fearful that he will not be able to go to and cast the vote at the given polling station, may request to be facilitated to vote at another polling station.

Furthermore, the gazette notification highlighted that the provisions of Section 119B of the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981, as amended by the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 1988, have provided in this regard.

The relevant applications to cast vote at an alternative polling station must be forwarded to reach the Election Commission, Office of the Election Commission, Sarana Mawatha, Rajagiriya within 7 days of the nomination notice, which is on or before 01 August 2024, the Election Commission said.

The applications can be obtained from offices of all District Returning Officers or District Election Offices.

Meanwhile, the election regulatory body emphasized that it is a mandatory requirement to quote the National Identity Card Number of the applicant on the application which must be certified by the relevant Grama Niladhari where the applicant resides.

Applications without the certification of the Grama Niladhari will be rejected, according to the Election Commission.

The applicants must furnish relevant information based on the valid consolidated electoral register for polling 2024 and such registers are available at all the District Secretariats/ “Kachcheris” and District Election Offices or the website of the Election Commission www.elections.lk.

The Presidential Election is scheduled to be held on 21 September, 2024 and Nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024.

While welcoming the announcement of the Presidential election, the United States said they look forward to free and fair elections that empower Sri Lankan citizens to determine their future.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jullie Chung said in a post on X “We welcome the Election Commission announcement of the September 21 Presidential election, affirming Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to democracy. We look forward to free and fair elections that empower Sri Lankan citizens to determine their future.”

As many as 12 candidates have so far expressed readiness to contest the upcoming presidential polls.

Main among they are incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

SLFP’s minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MJP leader Dilith Jayaweera, businessman Dhammika Perera, former PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake, former minister Roshan Ranasinghe and chief incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Thera are the others.

Also, Tamil parties and the FSP-led Jana Aragala movement have declared intentions to field candidates.

Political analysts believe this could be the presidential election with the highest ever number of candidates.

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe has deposited the candidate’s fee for the upcoming presidential election.

The country’s Election Commission announced that the poll will be held on September 21.

Wickremesinghe was the first candidate to pay the deposit. He will be contesting as an independent candidate.

Two others declared their candidacy yesterday: retired army chief Sarath Fonseka, and current justice minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.