Category: News

Sri Lanka presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake will dissolve parliament immediately upon his election and temporarily send all “crooks” home until the public makes it permanent at a general election in one and a half months, the leftist leader said.

“Hand the country over to the National People’s Power (NPP) on September 21. We’ll start to change things one by one,” Dissanayake said speaking at an election rally in Thambuththegama on Monday September 09.

“Results will come on the 22nd. We won’t waste an hour. We will swear in instantly and immediately dissolve parliament.

“We won’t allow these thieves, criminals and frauds to spend another day in parliament,” he said.

Power will then transfer to voters, the NPP leader said.

“I will send them home temporarily. At the general election, you vote for permanently sending them home. We’ll give you a head start,” he said.

Dissanayake said the next parliament won’t have “frauds and corrupt people” and will instead be filled with honest, disciplined and “real” people with subject expertise.

“We’re certain that more than 150 of the current MPs will go home,” he added.

Dissanayake then went onto list out what voters can expect from an NPP government. He said rather than consolidate power the way successive governments have done, the NPP will begin to “let go”.

“The first cabinet decision will be to cancel MPs’ pensions.

“MPs get vehicle permits which are sold for 20, 30 million rupees. Remember, they don’t buy a vehicle with that permit. They take a vehicle from the government for their use and sell the permit. The NPP government will stop issuing permits to MPs, which is a bribe,” he said.

The NPP government’s cabinet will be selected scientifically and comprise no more than 25 ministers, according to Dissanayake.

“Today they create multiple ministries. Remember that agriculture, land, irrigation and animal husbandry is one ministry. Don’t you want such a government?

“There is no such thing as state ministers. You know people like Semasinghe? There is no such thing. That will all be stopped.”

The NPP will not provide housing to ministers, said Dissanayake.

“There will be no motorcades of seven, eight vehicles to travel behind ministers. Maximum one or two. Isn’t that good? Let’s begin.

“We’re not coming to grab it all. We’re coming to let go. For this country, public officials must let go a lot of things,” he said.

Pensions of former presidents will also be cancelled, said Dissanayake, in addition the MPs’.

“The government will take back houses given to former presidents. Mahinda Rajapaksa has three grown sons. They’ll take care of him. Why stay in the government house?

“This poor country cannot bear the cost of maintaining these MPs and ministers. But they care nothing about this,” he said.

The leftist leader also criticised President Ranil Wickremesinghe for having an ambulance as part of his motorcade, which is standard protocol for presidents.

“When Wickremesinghe is on the road there’s an ambulance behind him. There are no ambulances for hospitals. The same is true for Mahinda Rajapaksa and Dinesh Gunawardena. There’s an ambulance parked outside their house at night when they sleep. All of these ambulances will be distributed to hospitals that need them,” he said.

The Police confronted Tamil Presidential candidate P. Ariyanenthiran, during campaigning in Ampara.

The Police approached Ariyanenthiran when he came out of a Hindu temple in Ampara.

Senior Police officers advised the Tamil candidate that he cannot hold a walk or march with his supporters.

Ariyanenthiran responded saying he was not looking to violate election laws.

Two district branches of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) have decided to support the Tamil common candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election.

The Kilinochchi District branch of ITAK made this decision first, unanimously adopting a proposal during their District Committee meeting on 9 September, chaired by MP Sivagnanam Shritharan of ITAK. The branch has committed to actively campaigning for the victory of
P. Ariyanethiran, the Tamil common candidate, starting from 10 September.

This decision was in contrast to the ITAK Central Committee’s recent “unanimous” decision to support Sajith Premadasa, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB’s) Presidential candidate. Despite this, the Kilinochchi branch chose to support a different candidate.

Similarly, the Trincomalee District branch of ITAK has also adopted a resolution in favour of the Tamil common candidate and has commenced its own campaign efforts.

ITAK, a prominent political party representing Tamils in the North and East, had previously pledged support for Sajith Premadasa at the 21 September election. This support was announced on 1 September, while Shritharan was in the UK.

The ITAK Central Committee’s decision to support Premadasa, instead of Ariyanethiran, has led to a request for Ariyanethiran to withdraw from the race in an effort to address divisions within the Tamil electorate. Despite this, many ITAK members reportedly support Ariyanethiran personally and there is speculation that he may secure over 100,000 votes.

The leader of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP Mavai Senathirajah has stated that the final decision as to which candidate the party will support in the upcoming presidential election will be announced on September 15.

ITAK had initially decided on September 01 to support the presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya-led alliance, Sajith Premadasa, as communicated by ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran during a press briefing on the same day. Sumanthiran had pointed out that this decision was reached at the party’s Central Committee meeting.

However, the representatives of ITAK’s Kilinochchi branch had called a special meeting last Monday and reversed their decision to support Sajith Premadasa. They have now unanimously decided to support the Tamil common candidate, P. Ariyanenthiran.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had met with ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah at his residence in Kankasanthurai, Jaffna, on September 07 for a discussion.

Additionally, a special committee meeting of ITAK chaired by Mavai Senathirajah was held in Vavuniya yesterday (10).

Accordingly, it was decided that the final decision as to which presidential candidate the party will support in the presidential election will be announced on September 15, Mavai Senathirajah told Ada Derana.

As Sri Lanka approaches presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, the newly elected administration must commit to the concrete transformational changes needed to ensure accountability, justice and reconciliation, says the UN Human Rights chief.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Volker Türk, delivered remarks at the Interactive Dialogue on the OHCHR report on Sri Lanka during the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Monday (9), urging Sri Lanka to break from its past and chart a new path forward.

Highlighting concerning trends over the past two years, Türk emphasized the need for the continued attention and support of the international community.

“Two years have passed since mass protests demanded democratic reforms and an end to corruption and the abuse of power. Today, despite promises of a new beginning, those demands remain largely unfulfilled. And while 15 years have passed since the end of the devastating civil war, victims and their families are still waiting for truth, for justice, and for reparation,” he said.

Further, he warned that the persistent sense of impunity hampers progress and perpetuates violations and corruption.

The economic situation in Sri Lanka remains dire, with the poverty rate doubling between 2021 and 2023, forcing many households to make difficult choices between basic needs like food, healthcare, education, and energy, he said.

As Sri Lanka approaches presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, Türk called on the new administration to commit to transformative changes that ensure accountability, justice, and reconciliation.

“Those in power must protect fully the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly prior to, during, and after the upcoming elections. And the international community must support this transformation. It is important for Sri Lanka’s creditors to provide the Government with the fiscal space necessary to realize all human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights,” he said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed particular concern over new and proposed laws that grant broad powers to security forces and restrict civil liberties.

“One such example, the draft NGOs Registration and Supervision Bill, has a range of problematic provisions – including broad discretion given to authorities to deny registration of civil society organisations – which carry major risks threatening civic space.”

He further said that reports of persistent harassment, surveillance, and intimidation of journalists, civil society actors, victims and human rights defenders are unacceptable.

Türk highlighted the absence of accountability for both past and present violations, noting a lack of progress in emblematic cases such as the 2006 massacres of humanitarian workers in Muttur, the killing of five Tamil students in Trincomalee, and the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge in 2009.

Additionally, the criminal investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings has seen limited advancement. Türk pointed out that individuals allegedly responsible for gross violations continue to be appointed to senior positions, further entrenching impunity.

Addressing enforced disappearances, the High Commissioner lamented that the fate and whereabouts of tens of thousands of people remain unknown, leaving their families in anguish.

He stressed that acknowledging past violations, the state’s responsibility, and the legacy of these atrocities is crucial for rebuilding trust and addressing polarization in Sri Lanka.

“This must change, and that would start with a formal acknowledgement of the serious violations that occurred during the war, of the responsibility of the State and security forces for the conduct of their own personnel, and of the legacy of those atrocities for victims and communities. A clear, public change of narrative along these lines would help to re-establish trust in the authorities and begin to address the deep polarization in the country,” he said.

A public change in narrative would support processes of truth, reconciliation, and healing, ultimately helping to rebuild the social contract.

Further, Türk underscored the broader implications of failing to address past violations, noting that the lack of accountability for international crimes can renew old conflicts and sow seeds for future unrest.

He stated that without accountability, the cycle of violence will continue. However, he offered hope, suggesting that a path paved with justice and accountability could lead to healing, reconciliation, and peace.

He urged Sri Lanka to pursue an inclusive national vision that addresses the root causes of conflict and undertakes fundamental reforms to strengthen democracy and advance accountability and reconciliation.

Türk called on the Sri Lankan government to implement significant security sector reforms and hold accountable those implicated in serious violations. He also urged the government to take immediate steps to prevent future human rights violations.

“The Government must implement significant security sector reform – including holding to account those individuals implicated in serious violations. And it must take immediate steps to prevent human rights violations.”

He assured that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stands ready to support Sri Lanka on its journey toward change, reflecting the voices of Sri Lankans from all communities who desire progress.

“My Office is not here to point the finger, but to lend a hand. We are reflecting what Sri Lankans from all communities are telling us. They want change, and my Office is ready to support Sri Lanka on that journey. In the meantime, it is important for this Council and UN Member States to continue to address the accountability gap in Sri Lanka – including by supporting the work of my Office.”

Türk emphasized the role of the Human Rights Council and UN Member States in closing the accountability gap in Sri Lanka. He encouraged States to take action through their domestic systems and international forums to support meaningful accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

The High Commissioner concluded by acknowledging the prolonged distress experienced by Sri Lankan communities and stressed that it is time to bring closure to the past, break the destructive cycle of violence, and begin an inclusive journey toward a just and sustainable future for all Sri Lankans.

China has commended Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote and protect human rights during a recent session.

It representative to the UNHRC criticized a Human Rights Council resolution, which calls for an evidence collection and accountability mechanism, arguing that it disregards Sri Lanka’s efforts and achievements.

Li Xiaomei, Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of China to the UN in Geneva highlighted Sri Lanka’s establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, cooperation with human rights mechanisms, anti-terrorism measures, protection of vulnerable groups, economic recovery initiatives, and improvements in living standards.

“China appreciates Sri Lanka’s efforts to promote and protect human rights,” Li stated. She reaffirmed China’s steadfast support for Sri Lanka in maintaining political stability, focusing on economic construction, achieving national independence, and fostering sustainable development.

Li emphasized China’s advocacy for addressing human rights differences through dialogue and cooperation, opposing the politicization of human rights issues.

She criticized Human Rights Council Resolution 51/1, which calls for an evidence collection and accountability mechanism, arguing that it disregards Sri Lanka’s efforts and achievements, the will of its people, and interferes in the country’s internal affairs under the guise of human rights.

“This is a typical case in point of politicisation of human rights issues,” Li remarked. She urged other countries to respect Sri Lanka’s independently chosen path of human rights development, abandon practices of interference and political pressure, and return to dialogue and cooperation.