Category: News

GENEVA (22 August 2024) – A UN Human Rights Office report issued today identified renewed threats to fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka, evidenced by new or proposed regressive laws, erosion of democratic checks and balances, ongoing threats and intimidation against civil society and journalists, and recurrence of serious human rights violations of the past.

“As the country approaches presidential and parliamentary elections, it has an opportunity to recommit to the transformational changes demanded by a broad cross-section of Sri Lankans, including accountability and reconciliation,” UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said.

The report points to several laws and bills introduced by the Government since 2023, giving security forces broad powers and significantly expanding pre-existing restrictions on freedoms of expression, opinion and association. “This trend is particularly concerning as the country is in an important pre-election period,” the High Commissioner said.

Authorities have continued to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act to arrest and detain people, despite a promised moratorium, the report says. It also highlights, recent cases of arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and deaths in custody.

The report also details ongoing effects of the 2022 economic crisis and subsequent austerity measures, in particular on the poor, especially women.

“Decisions on economic policies must be guided by Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, including by ensuring adequate social protection,” Türk said. “Sri Lanka’s creditors should provide the Government with the fiscal space needed to realise economic, social and cultural rights.”

Meanwhile, impunity and lack of accountability persist for crimes committed during and after the civil war that ended in 2009, the report says. “The Government elected next month should recommit to address the root causes of conflict and undertake fundamental constitutional and institutional reforms to address the accountability gap and work towards reconciliation,” Türk said.

“Failure of the Sri Lankan State to recognise victims’ suffering, to acknowledge security forces’ role in the commission of gross human rights violations, and to address violations committed in the past and present, has entrenched impunity and allows serious violations to recur,” Türk said.

The report also describes a long-standing pattern of intimidation and harassment of journalists and civil society actors, especially those working on enforced disappearances, land disputes and environmental issues. Families, particularly of those forcibly disappeared also face intimidation, arrest and surveillance by security services in their attempts to seek the truth, or even commemorate the absence of their loved ones.

“Crimes and violations committed during and after the civil war, including the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, must not go unpunished. They must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible held to account,” the High Commissioner said.

In the absence of willingness or ability of the Sri Lankan State to prosecute and punish perpetrators of crimes, the report urges the international community to pursue complementary strategies to support accountability in Sri Lanka, including appropriate use of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions against credibly alleged perpetrators and other available measures, consistent with international law.

To read the full report, click here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/reports/ahrc5719-situation-human-rights-sri-lanka-comprehensive-report-united-nations

USS Stockdale of the United States Navy arrived at the port of Colombo on a replenishment visit today (22nd August 2024). The Sri Lanka Navy warmly welcomed the ship upon its arrival. The USS Stockdale is the third US Navy ship to dock in Colombo this week.

USS Stockdale, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer stretching 155.3 meters in length, is operated by a crew of 332 personnel. The ship is under the command of Commander Lauren Johnson.

Following the completion of replenishments, she is scheduled to depart the island on 23rd August.

USS Okane of the United States Navy arrived at the port of Colombo on a replenishment visit on Wednesday (21).

USS Okane, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer stretching 154 meters in length, is operated by a crew of 328 personnel. The ship is under the command of Commander Richard Ray.

Following the completion of replenishments, she departed the island on Thursday (22)

Earlier this week, USS Spruance of the United States Navy arrived at the port of Colombo on a replenishment visit.

USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer stretching 160 meters in length, is operated by a crew of 338 personnel. The ship is under the command of Commander Thomas Adams.

Following the completion of replenishments, she departed the island on 20th August.

Namal Rajapaksa, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate, delivered a speech to supporters, highlighting his commitment to policy-driven governance and addressing the nation’s challenges.

Drawing on the legacy of his father, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal pledged to modernize the agricultural policies from 2005-2015, aiming to integrate technology with agriculture and cultivate a generation of tech-savvy farmers.

Rajapaksa also vowed to strengthen the economy through the Samurdhi movement while promising not to grant land and police powers to provincial councils. He further assured that his government would alleviate the burden of excessive taxes without selling state property.

“We will not allow the formation of border villages, nor will we give land rights and police powers to provincial councils,” Rajapaksa said.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that the President, as the Minister of Finance, and then members of the Election Commission have violated the fundamental rights of the poeple through the postponement of the 2023 Local Government Elections.

Accordingly, the court has ordered the Election Commission to take measures to hold the Local Government Elections as immediately as possible.

The Supreme Court issued this verdict today (22) after concluding the hearing of the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against the postponement of the 2023 Local Government elections.

The relevant FR petitions were filed against the postponement of the 2023 Local Government elections, which was initially scheduled to be held on March 09, 2023.

Several groups including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), had filed the petitions, seeking an order declaring that the fundamental human rights of the people have been violated by the failure to hold the 2023 LG elections, as previously scheduled by the Election Commissions.

United National Party (UNP) Chairman Vajira Abeywardena today hinted that incumbent Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will continue to be the Premier if the incumbent President emerges victorious at the Presidential election this year.

“Late Ranasinghe Premadasa was the Prime Minister when late President J.R. Jayewardene won the Presidential election in 1982, and Premadasa continued as the Premier.

“The late Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was the Prime Minister when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga won the Presidential election in 1999.

“Wickramanayake continued as the Prime Minister even after Ms. Kumaratunga formed her second Cabinet in 1999.

“Therefore, it becomes the norm for the person who holds the Prime Minister’s post when an incumbent President emerges victorious at a Presidential poll to continue with the same post,” Abeywardena said in response to a question raised by a journalist.

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Ministry and officials in charge of immigration are violating the country’s Supreme Court order on a visa deal involving IVS-GBS and VFS Global, key opposition legislators said.

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on August 2 suspended the contract given to private consortium IVS-GBS and VFS Global to deal with visa issuance in an interim order after 8 Fundamental Rights (FR) cases were filed against giving the deal without a competitive tender.

Though the court ordered the earlier system operated by state-owned Mobitel be restored until hearing of the case is completed, the Department of Immigration and Emigration has yet to restore the system.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has said that the country’s Attorney General will file a motion in the apex court requesting a date to explain matters that hinder Immigration officials from reverting to the Mobitel-run electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system that was in operation before a disputed e-visa mechanism was introduced on April 16, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has said.

“Serious impact has been caused to tourism arrivals in the country,” Opposition legislator Rauf Hakeem told reporters at a media briefing in Colombo.

“The excuse that has been given [by the Immigration Department] is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the ultimate effect of the interim order and thereby causing serious reputation loss for the country, serious loss of probable tourism arrival for the winter seasons.”

“Tourism industry stakeholders are all worried that there is going to be heavy cancellation because of the attitude of the Ministry and the Immigration Department.”

He said Mobitel has already written to the Department, expressing their readiness in resuming the services as it was before the VFS deal from April 16.

The apex court suspended the decision of the cabinet to go ahead with the private consortium and the operation of the outsourcing agreement with the companies, while restraining the respondents from taking any further steps on the agreement entered into.

Opposition legislators Patali Champika Ranawaka, M A Sumanthiran and Rauf Hakeem along with Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) are among the 8 petitioners who filed fundamental rights cases against the Minister of Public Security and the government, alleging a scam over the visa deal.

The political parties of Ranawaka and Hakeem are backing opposition candidate Sajith Premadasa, while the Tamil minority party of Sumanthiran has yet to decide who it will support as a presidential candidate.

NAMES EXPOSED

Ranawaka named three officials in the IVS-GBS and said he will expose them during the court hearing.

“They [IVS-GBS] charged 25.77 dollars from each tourist. We would like to know how much is going to the VFS. The VFS is doing a similar service in Brazil for less than $4 per visa,” Ranawaka told reporters.

“So why are they charging 25.77 dollars? Who is getting the remaining part? We have clearly told the Supreme Court there was no proper due diligence on these companies.”

The petitioners called for action against the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of IVS-GBS and VFS Global to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

They also said there was a lack of transparency and non-adherence to guidelines in the decision-making and procurement processes that impact the tourism industry, the national economy and national security.

Among the respondents, petitioners named the Minister of Public Security, the Controller General of Immigration, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, GBS Technology Services & IVS Global- FZCO, VFS VF Worldwide Holdings LTD, the Cabinet of Sri Lanka and the Attorney General.

The petition raised concerns over improper and irregular selection of private entities as authorized representatives for issuing visas, entering into agreements with private parties in a manner that could lead to severe financial losses and damage to the tourism sector, and an incident at the country’s main airport in May 2024 that highlighted the problematic appointment of private entities for visa processing among others.

“Violating citizens’ fundamental rights will have consequences,” opposition legislator M A Sumanthiran said, referring to not implementing the Supreme Court’s interim order.

“The Minister, Controller of Immigration and Emigration have got the temerity to violate the order of the Supreme Court. It might take time, they might come to court to explain various things. This high hand attack will be met with severe consequences.”

The USS O’kane of the United States Navy arrived at the Colombo Port on a replenishment visit on Wednesday (21), Sri Lanka’s Navy said.

“The Sri Lanka Navy warmly welcomed the ship upon its arrival,” the Navy said. “Following the completion of replenishments, she is scheduled to depart the island on 22nd August.”

USS O’kane is an 154-meter Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operated by a crew of 328 personnel. The ship is commanded by Commander Richard Ray.

The warship follows the USS Spruance which arrived at the Colombo Port on Aug 19.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are warships that can conduct various mission sets, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and anti-surface warfare.

The USA has been moving military craft to the region in anticipation of a broader war in the middle east/west Asia, foreign media have reported.