Category: News

The US has imposed sanction on another Sri Lankan military officer, Major Prabath Bulathwatte who was arrested on suspicion that he had assisted in the abduction and torture of senior Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008.

The US took this action on Friday on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day as part of its actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world.

According to the State Department, the US imposed sanction Prabath Bulathwatte, former head of a clandestine Army platoon, known as the ‘Tripoli Platoon.’

Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the Department of State is designating Bulathwatte for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights, namely torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008, the office of the spokesperson of the US Department of State said.

According to the office, On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the United States is taking the actions to promote accountability for corruption and human rights abuse around the world.

These actions include financial sanctions, using Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Act, and four additional country-focused Executive Orders. The actions also include visa restrictions pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022 (Div. K, P.L. 117-103), as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 (Div. A, P.L. 117-180) and pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

All property and interests in property of individuals or entities designated under E.O.s 14024, 13818, 13722, 13687, or 13553 that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt, all transactions by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Section 7031(c) provides that in cases where there is credible information that officials of foreign governments have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States and must be either publicly or privately designated. INA Section 212(a)(3)(C) provides grounds for the Secretary of State to exclude any alien whose entry he determines would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

In February 2020, the US had also imposed sanctions on former Army Commander and Cheif of Defence Staff Genaral Shavendra Silva for alleged war crimes committed at final stages of the conflict against the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

International Monetary Fund chief Kristlina Georgieva said she had a “fruitful exchange” with her Chinese counterparts this week on her repeated calls for accelerating debt treatments for countries like Zambia and Sri Lanka.

Georgieva, World Bank President David Malpass and other financial leaders met in person in China’s Anhui province this week with officials from the People’s Bank of China, China’s finance ministry and its EXIM Bank and China Development Bank.

Georgieva said the discussions touched on the common framework for debt treatment set up in late 2020 by China, the United State and other Group of 20 major economies, as well as some specific cases of countries seeking debt relief.

Implementation of the common framework process has been halting, with only one country, Chad, having completed the debt treatment process, and its agreement not resulting in any actual reductions of the country’s debt.

Zambia is pushing hard to finish its debt restructuring in the first quarter of 2023.

“We need to build on the momentum of the agreement on Chad’s debt treatment and accelerate and finalize the debt treatments for Zambia and Sri Lanka, which would allow for disbursements from the IMF and multilateral development banks,” Georgieva said in a statement.

Georgieva said other countries also faced mounting debt distress given tightening global financial conditions.

“We talked about how we can prevent individual cases of debt distress from triggering a global debt crisis,” she said, calling again for quicker, more predictable progress on debt treatments and expansion of the framework to more countries.

Malpass, in his remarks at the meeting, said the discussions focused on the urgent need for more rapid progress on debt issues, adding, “Changes in China’s positions are critical in this effort.”

He welcomed support voiced by Premier Li Keqiang for a “systematic engagement on debt” during the meetings, and underscored the need for transparent disclosure of China’s loan contracts, and removal of non-disclosure and non-restructuring clauses and hidden collateral and escrow arrangements.

“Greater transparency will help investors make informed decisions, build trust, and accelerate the debt reconciliation and restructuring processes,” he said.

Georgieva said she saw “space for a platform for more systematic engagement on debt issues, where China can play an active role,” but gave no further details.

Source: Reuters

Tamil leaders have decided to propose a federal solution based on self-determination rights at talks proposed by the president to resolve the ethnic issue.

TNA chief R. Sampanthan has spoken about this in an interview with India’s ‘Frontline’ magazine.

He said he was against a division of the country in any form, adding that the situation cannot continue despite their support for an undivided Sri Lanka.

Spokesman for the TNA M.A. Sumanthiran said that they would not lay down any condition for the discussion tipped to take placed in Colombo December 11.

Changes to the constitution for maximum devolution of powers, a federal solution with self-determination rights, holding the provincial council polls and a halt to the takeover of private land in the northeast will be among the matters to be raised, he said.

However, EPRLF ledader Suresh Premachandran called for solutions to issues in Tamil civilian life before the commencement of the talks. Seventy-five years of talks, agreements etc. brought nothing, he noted.

No to unitary state & call for third party involvement

TPA leader C.V. Vigneswaran said the president should be informed in writing before the talks that constitutional amendments or a new constitution were not possible within a unitary state.

TNA MP S. Sritharan stressed the need for a third party involvement to minimize attempts at deception.

Secretary of the Association of relatives of victims of enforced disappearances K. Rajkumar accused the president of deceiving Tamils, Sinhalese and the rest of the world by his call for talks.

He said Tamil leaders should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to be cheated for 75 years.

EPDP leader and minister Douglas Devananda said the Tamils wanted provincial councils empowered through the 13th amendment since they rejected the district development councils (DDCs) introduced in 1981.

Ex-president Maithripala Sirisena has backed the DDCs system, and his sentiments were echoed by incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MP Govindan Karunakaran said the president could set up DDCs for the south, but that Tamils should be given a federal solution with power devolution.

Speaking along similar lines, both TNPF leader Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam and TULF secretary V. Anandasangaree said it was pointless to discuss Tamils’ issues with a president rejected by the majority. The final say lies with India, said the latter.

TELO leader Selvam Addaikkalanathan said attempting DDCs was not a solution as it has already been rejected by his community.

The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with five fundamental rights petitions filed by five individuals part of the people’s struggle claiming their rights were violated during the attack on the protest site in Galleface on the 9th of May.

Accordingly, notice was issued to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Sanath Nishantha, Johnston Fernando, Prasanna Ranathunga, Senior DIG in Charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon, the Inspector General of Police and several others who have been cited as respondents in the petitions to be present in Court on the 22nd of June 2023.

The petitions were taken up for consideration before justices Vijith Mallalgoda and Janak de Silva.

Following lengthy considerations the bench ordered the petitions to be taken up for examination.

The petitioners charge that affiliates of the respondents carried out the attack on the protest site on the 9th of May and violated their rights.

The petitions call for an order to be issued to the IGP to compile a guideline to prevent such attacks on peaceful protests.

Attorneys representing the petitioners today (9) informed Court that they do not intend on continuing to include former Army Commander Shavendra Silva as a respondent and he was therefore released from the case.

The National Election Commission (NEC) says that it will cost approximately Rs. 10 billion to conduct the local government elections.

The Commissioner General of the NEC Saman Sri Ratnayake said the cost was approved via the budget that was passed in Parliament.

The Commission announced on Thursday (8) the nominations for the Local Government Elections will be called for during the final week of December.

The NEC in a statement said that the nominations will be called for as per the provisions of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act.

The Election Commission said that the preparation of the 2022 voter list at the local government level is complete.

Accordingly, the Election Commission said that voter lists were prepared for 341 local government bodies.