Fair Trials: Today (11), members of the European Parliament voted for a landmark ban on predictive policing and criminal prediction systems in the EU AI Act. The ban will be the first of its kind in Europe.
MEPs in IMCO-LIBE, the two Committees in charge of the flagship AI Act, voted to finalise the text of the act, in advance of the whole Parliament vote in June.
Fair Trials has been calling for a ban on these systems since 2021, on the basis that they reinforce and reproduce structural discrimination, and infringe upon fundamental rights.
Today, the European Parliament has taken an important step towards protecting people from harmful AI systems in law enforcement and criminal justice settings.
The road to a ban
Fair Trials first called for a ban in 2021 and has since built a coalition of more than 50 rights, lawyers and other civil society organisations across Europe, including European Digital Rights (EDRi), Access Now, Amnesty Tech, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe. Following Fair Trials’ campaigning, many MEPs also publicly supported a ban. Co-rapporteur of the AI Act, Dragos Tudorache, said: “Predictive policing goes against the presumption of innocence… We do not want it in Europe.”
‘Predictive policing’: Discrimination, surveillance and infringements on rights
There are numerous predictive AI systems currently used by law enforcement and criminal justice authorities across Europe. These systems can and have exacerbated existing structural discrimination, resulting in Black people, Roma and other minoritised ethnic people being disproportionately surveilled, stopped and searched, arrested, detained and imprisoned.
Fair Trials’ research found that attempts to ‘predict’ criminal behaviour with AI and automated-decision making systems: infringe fundamental rights, including the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence and the right to privacy; legitimise and exacerbate racial and ethnic profiling and discrimination; and result in the repeated targeting, surveillance and over-policing of minoritised ethnic and working-class communities. These discriminatory practices are so fundamental and ingrained that all such systems will reinforce such outcomes. This is an unacceptable risk. They must be banned.
Prohibition text and other amendments
The full text of the prohibition is below, within Article 5 of the Act, which comprises of a list of ‘prohibited practices’: “(da) the placing on the market, putting into service or use of an AI system for making risk assessments of natural persons or groups thereof in order to assess the risk of a natural person for offending or reoffending or for predicting the occurrence or reoccurrence of an actual or potential criminal offence based on profiling of a natural person or on assessing personality traits and characteristics, including the person’s location, or past criminal behaviour of natural persons or groups of natural persons;”
Fair Trials also supported several other amendments to the Act, which it was also pleased to see pass, including: a ban on remote biometric identification systems, such as face recognition surveillance, and measures to ensure transparency and accountability for other AI systems.
Next step, plenary vote.
The vote today is a landmark result, but the fight is not yet over. The AI Act will be subject to the plenary vote of the whole European Parliament in June.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in India collaborated with the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi on an exhibition of Buddhist art held at the Gallery to mark the month of Vesak. The month-long exhibition of Buddhist art titled Buddham Saranam Gachchami was ceremonially inaugurated by the State Minister of External Affairs and Culture of India Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi on 10 May.
The exhibition features a NGMA-owned collection of Buddhist art by eminent Indian painters including the legendary Nandalal Bose, and paintings loaned by the High Commission of Sri Lanka and the Embassy of Myanmar in New Delhi.
The High Commission has loaned the painting Maha Bo by the prominent contemporary Sri Lankan artist Prasanna Weerakkody to the exhibition. This large painting, which had been commissioned in 2012 by the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Prasad Kariyawasam to commemorate the 2600thSambuddhatva Jayanti and unveiled by the then Leader of Opposition of the Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj, is part of the High Commission’s art collection. Maha Bo depicts Emperor Asoka requesting his son Arahat Mahinda to set off to Sri Lanka from Sanchi in Vidisha with the message of Buddhism, and Theri Sanghamitta and the sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree being received by King Devanampiyatissa in Anuradhapura.
The Sri Lankan painting, which is displayed at a prominent location of the exhibition gallery, attracted a large number of visitors on the opening day.
The two historical events depicted in the painting mark the commencement of a Buddhist civilization in Sri Lanka and epitomize the strong and unbreakable civilizational bonds that exist between Sri Lanka and India.
Previously in April this year, as part of the ongoing programme to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations, photographs of two murals painted by the eminent Sri Lankan painter Solias Mendis in the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara depicting these two historical events were unveiled at the office of State Minister Meenakshi Lekhi.
In October 2021, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi presented two photographs depicting the same murals, to be installed at the newly inaugurated international airport in Kushinagar. Similar photographs were installed at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Headquarters in Nagpur in February 2022, and at the Ahmedabad International Airport in July 2022.
As part of the programme to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations, action has also been initiated to install similar photographs at other locations in India, including at the international airports in Buddha Gaya and Varanasi as well as the Chetiyagiri Vihara in Sanchi shortly, enhancing Sri Lanka’s cultural footprint at the level of the States of the Union of India.
Colombo (LNW): INSEE Ecocycle, INSEE Cement’s waste management arm continues sustainable waste management and environmental services marking two decades in its mission this year to become Sri Lanka’s foremost provider, towards a cleaner and greener Sri Lanka.
Since 2003, INSEE Ecocycle has sustainably managed over 1 million metric tons of industrial waste in collaboration with over 1,000 customers, including corporates, Government authorities at the central and local level, and recycling partners, it said in a media release.
INSEE Ecocycle, INSEE Cement’s waste management arm, is a one-stop shop for total waste management solutions, from collection and pre-processing to sustainable co-processing in full compliance with all regulatory requirements.
The company was the first to offer co-processing to Sri Lanka and has paved the path for sustainable waste management through its circular economy-based solution of cement kiln co-processing and other resource recovery-based waste management solutions.
“Co-processing in cement kilns is globally recognized as one of the preferred methods to safely dispose of a wide range of hazardous and non-hazardous materials.
It also is a key driver of our sustainability ambition,” said Jan Kunigk, Chief Executive Officer of INSEE Cement Sri Lanka.
“Through co-processing, we’ve reduced our dependency on virgin raw materials and lowered our carbon footprint by using mineral components from other industries, replacing 40 percent of fossil fuel generated energy in cement production.
He said We are also helping significantly reduce the amount of waste ending up in Sri Lanka’s landfills.”
Through co-processing, alternate fuel and resources derived from waste are channeled into the production process, which burns as fuel and provides mineral components.
Very high temperatures in the cement kiln burner and the long residence time create ideal conditions to completely destroy these materials with no harmful residues.
“A key achievement for Ecocyle over the years has been the expansion of our collaboration with local authorities to manage sorted non-recyclable and non-biodegradable municipal solid waste.
We are working with over 100 municipal councils across Sri Lanka to collect, segregate, pre-process, and safely co-process municipal solid waste,” noted Sujith Gunawardhana, General Manager of INSEE Ecocycle.
“Each month, Ecocycle receives over 1,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste that would otherwise be in landfills, which is then channeled for co-processing in the INSEE Cement kilns.”
To mark the 20th anniversary of operations, INSEE Ecocycle partnered with the Marine Environment Protection Authority and Parley Sri Lanka to conduct a beach cleanup along the Dikkovita coastal area.
Colombo (LNW):The European Union and Expertise France signed an agreement to set up a Green Policy Dialogue Facility (GPDF) and support Sri Lanka’s ambition in developing a green and circular economy and ensuring its long-term macro-economic stability.
In response to the pressing global environmental challenges and current economic and financial crisis in Sri Lanka, the European Union (EU) and its Team Europe partners will shortly launch the Green Policy Dialogue Facility (GPDF).
The new Facility was discussed with Sri Lankan authorities during the Development Working Group and the Joint Commission meetings that took place on 8th and 9th of May 2023.
A series of high level annual meetings was held between Sri Lankan authorities and high ranked EU officials of the European Commission and the European External Action Services, who visited the country to discuss matters related to EU-Sri Lanka relations in trade, human rights and development cooperation.
Mario Ronconi, Head of Unit for South and South East Asia, Directorate General for International Partnerships, leading the mission of the European Commission, explained that “this four-year initiative will be implemented by Expertise France.
It was part of the AFD group (French Development Agency) and a member of the Team Europe Initiative in Sri Lanka, will accompany Sri Lankan authorities and society to lay down the foundation for a transition towards a green and inclusive economy and society.
Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka, added that “promoting a more sustainable lifestyle is at the core of European policies and would also offer new economic opportunities, reduce dependencies and ultimately provide much needed macroeconomic stability and resilience in the country”.
The Facility will support policy implementation to achieve a green and blue economy that is circular, carbon neutral and respectful of biodiversity resources and it will be implemented in partnership with Sri Lankan public institutions, in particular the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Finance, as well as government institutions focusing on SMEs.
The objective is to create a technical assistance platform where the European Union and Sri Lanka can share their policy experience and ultimately promote transfer of technology between European and Sri Lankan companies, facilitating investment in innovative solutions in response to our global environmental challenges.
With a 5 million euro budget, the Facility will be part of a series of financial assistance to be rolled out between 2021 and 2027 under the Team Europe Initiative on Green Recovery, which will mainly focus on the circular economy in the food industry and on valuing and protecting Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity.
It will also support EU Member States in developing, financing and implementing additional initiatives in the country.
Jérémie Pellet, CEO of Expertise France, announced that this will be the first project implemented by Expertise France in Sri Lanka. “
UK’s Conservative MP Dr. Mathew Offord on Thursday (11) moved a motion in the UK Parliament on the economic situation of Sri Lanka and how the UK could assist proactively.
According to Daily Mirror, Offord told the UK Parliament that the economic situation in Sri Lanka has been dire and remains so and that he was grateful to have secured this debate on the UK’s economic aid to Sri Lanka.
“We are fortunate that the UK is already heavily involved in, and a large contributor to, many of the organisations assisting in Sri Lanka, such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the World Bank. As a permanent member of the Paris Club, the UK will be heavily involved in the debt restructuring process. I hope the UK can support an early agreement on bilateral restructuring, which would release resources to revive the Sri Lankan economy,” he said.
He said it is increasingly vital that the UK uses its global influence in these organisations to assist in securing the best possible economic support for Sri Lanka and to provide debt sustainability.
“The UK must play a constructive role on the executive board of the International Monetary Fund during the full implementation of the extended fund facility, particularly during the biannual reviews,” he said.
Full Statement:
I am grateful to have secured this debate on the UK’s economic aid to Sri Lanka. It is a great pleasure to see the Minister in his place.
My constituency is home to many members of the Sri Lankan diaspora, many of whom still have family in the country. Therefore, the economic and political circumstances of Sri Lanka are important to many of them and, indeed, to me. I thank all the constituents who regularly make contact to update me on the situation in the country. I have also been fortunate to be in contact with many sections of the Sri Lankan community and charities across the UK, such as the Sylvia Lanka Foundation, through my chairmanship of the all-party parliamentary group on Sri Lanka.
It goes without saying that the economic situation in Sri Lanka has been dire and remains so. The roots of the problem go beyond the global economic situation created as a result of the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. For some years now, Sri Lanka has been undergoing severe macroeconomic stresses. Pre-existing conditions have simply been exacerbated by international circumstances. At points, the economy has been overvalued. Unnecessary populist reforms by the previous Government were mishandled, with significant tax cuts leading to a huge decrease in tax revenues, with an estimated loss at one point of over £1 billion. A severely misjudged ban on the import of chemical fertilisers led to a 30% annual drop in farming yields. Despite a reversal of the ban following protests, the damage was already done. In the throes of an economic crisis, the short-lived ban led to food shortages and heightened inflation.
A particularly important industry affected by the economic crisis has been tourism. Tourism to Sri Lanka once contributed 5% of the country’s GDP, and it saw a peak of over 2.25 million visitors in 2018. However, in 2019 the dreadful Easter bombings claimed more than 250 lives, and tourism struggled as a result. Before the industry had an opportunity to recover covid-19 struck, and visitors have slumped to just over 700,000 this year. Estimates put its contribution to the economy as low as 0.8%. That has impacted hundreds of thousands of jobs. The UK is Sri Lanka’s third largest source of tourists. I hope that UK tourism will increase, allowing a full return and boosting that vital sector.
All that, combined with congestion at ports in Colombo that has led to a lack of essential supplies such as pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, means that the situation in Sri Lanka is extremely worrying. Despite Sri Lanka taking great strides to reduce overall poverty over many years, the World Bank’s latest report in April estimated that the economic situation has led to the worst poverty levels since 2009, with the lower-middle income poverty rate going from 11% in 2019 to 27% today.
Currently, there are few signs of economic recovery. The International Monetary Fund predicts that the Sri Lankan economy will contract by 3.1% this year, on top of an 8.7% decrease in GDP last year. The global response has been mixed. It is the view of many that the Toggle showing location ofColumn 551Sri Lankan Government should have approached the International Monetary Fund much sooner than it did. In May last year, Sri Lanka defaulted on its debts, failing to pay back £63 million in interest payments. After lengthy negotiations, and hard work by the international community and the Government of Sri Lanka, in March the IMF approved a £2.4 billion fund to restore stability to the Sri Lankan economy and assist in unlocking its growth potential.
So far, the UK’s initial response has rightly been focused on humanitarian assistance. I am pleased that Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon announced a £3 million package of support at the UN General Assembly in September last year. I know the provision of pharmaceutical and medical supplies has been a great relief to many.
Beyond that, we are fortunate that the UK is already heavily involved in, and a large contributor to, many of the organisations assisting in Sri Lanka, such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and the World Bank. As a permanent member of the Paris Club, the UK will be heavily involved in the debt restructuring process. I hope the UK can support an early agreement on bilateral restructuring, which would release resources to revive the Sri Lankan economy. Will the Minister give an update on the UK’s involvement on that front?
It is increasingly vital that the UK uses its global influence in these organisations to assist in securing the best possible economic support for Sri Lanka and to provide debt sustainability. The UK must play a constructive role on the executive board of the International Monetary Fund during the full implementation of the extended fund facility, particularly during the biannual reviews.
Such influence is vital to counter the sway of nations such as China. I, in common with many of my colleagues, am increasingly concerned about the economic influence of China, which is using investment as a means of control. As the country’s biggest bilateral lender, China is owed some $7 billion by Sri Lanka. Many of the projects that were invested in by China have yielded little return for the country. Despite that, investments in major ports, such as Hambantota, have allowed China to have increasing access to trade in the Indian ocean, and a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said that the priority for Chinese diplomacy
“lies in China’s neighbouring countries”.
That is the very definition of what has been called debt- trap diplomacy.
I believe that the UK could always do more with regard to economic support, whether directly or indirectly through organisations such as UNICEF. Would the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office consider setting up a disaster emergency fund to ease the immediate crisis and assist the World Bank in reinvigorating the Sri Lankan economy?
Indeed, our own economic support to Sri Lanka can go far beyond humanitarian and direct financial support. Free trade is a global force for good and countries such as Sri Lanka thrive on the ability to trade their many goods across the globe. Sri Lanka has signed free trade agreements with countries including India and Singapore and is in the process of negotiating such an agreement with China.Toggle showing location ofColumn 552
Total UK imports from Sri Lanka increased by about 17% last year, to around £1 billion. While that is a promising sign, there remains an untapped market which would be hugely beneficial to the people of the UK and Sri Lanka. Now that the UK has reforged its way in the world as a global trading nation and is seeking new trading opportunities, I gently suggest that we focus on old friends, particularly those in the Commonwealth.
I am aware that this is not necessarily a matter for the FCDO. However, I would be interested to hear what conversations the Minister may have had, if any, with his counterparts in the Department for Business and Trade about how the UK can operate an aid-for-trade system with Sri Lanka. By using our aid as a mechanism to bolster Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, for example its ports, we can boost trade for the benefit of businesses, but also finance the ability to import essential supplies.
Beyond trade, Sri Lanka has an endless opportunity for the UK to invest. A long-standing and personal interest of mine is the environment and climate change, particularly investment in sustainable energy sources. I know from discussions with the former governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka that overall investment in climate-related projects in Sri Lanka is lacking, despite Sri Lanka having ambitious targets for transitioning to a green economy.
As a small island and a developing nation, Sri Lanka is acutely at risk when it comes to climate change and rising sea levels. There is a perfect opportunity for the United Kingdom to invest in something that is in the interest of us all: protecting the planet for future generations. Without the correct financial support, countries such as Sri Lanka will not be able to achieve the sustainable development goals set out in 2015. I know the Minister is passionately concerned about this area.
I am delighted that this Government have made a fantastic start on this. Through the UK’s climate action for a resilient Asia initiative, the FCDO has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance to implement the Climate Finance Network. The network will focus on climate change-aligned budgeting and increasing direct access to international climate change finance. Importantly, it will also focus on ensuring peace and reconciliation in the country, which I will touch on in a minute. Will the Minister update the House on the progress of the Climate Finance Network and on what discussions the Department has had with the high commission in Colombo on helping Sri Lanka secure its climate future?
I believe that more can be done in terms of direct investment, particularly in areas such as renewable energy. Some 98% of Sri Lankan households are dependent on an already unreliable national grid. The Ceylon Electricity Board is being unbundled into 14 units, and foreign support is required in the form of capital and technological knowledge.
I would also like to see UK action on maintaining and boosting biodiversity in the country. Sri Lanka’s unique island biodiversity is facing decline through pollution, river diversion, habitat loss, and even man-made natural disasters such as the X-Press Pearl incident in 2021. I know the UK has taken great strides in helping developing countries to meet the 30 by 30 target, but I would be interested to hear what financial assistance the Government are providing to Sri Lanka to help to protect its habitats.Toggle showing location ofColumn 553
Finally, I wish to touch on the need for continued peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. I do not need to lecture the Minister—who knows better than many Members —on the intricacies of Sri Lanka’s political history. However, it goes without saying that Sri Lanka lies in a delicate balance, which the economic and humanitarian situation in the country risks tipping. Food shortages can lead to conflict anywhere they occur in the world, so it is vital that the UK plays its part in assisting the country to achieve food security.
The situation in Sri Lanka is undoubtably complex. A complex financial history has been worsened by populist politics. An economic crisis has spiralled into a political crisis and is quickly creating a humanitarian one. Of course, all this is made even more complex by the remnants of a long-standing conflict still lingering in the country. Economic aid to Sri Lanka should of course focus primarily on alleviating the humanitarian situation out there, such as by providing medical supplies, as I mentioned on earlier. However, we must not doubt Sri Lanka’s ability to stand on its own two feet, and the UK can play a role in helping our friends to achieve that.
The IMF deal is just the beginning of the journey for Sri Lanka. The challenge now is to help implement the IMF deal successfully, to assist Sri Lanka in restructuring its debt, to provide the right economic support to strengthen its national growth, and to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for the island. The people of the island deserve that, as it is a member of the Commonwealth and has been a friend to us over many years. I leave the Minister with one final point: the UK Government should not, as V. V. Ganeshananthan writes in her new novel “Brotherless Night”, leave in their wake
“peoples divided by colonial powers, ancestral angers, and bullheaded pride.”
PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that in 25 years when the country has reached the path of success, the youth could proudly claim that, “It was the step taken by us today that led to the system change which paved the way for the country’s success.”
He made this statement while addressing the orientation workshop for youth representatives of the Sectoral oversight Committees of Parliament held at Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla May (13).
The President mentioned that the opportunity has been provided to the youth to contribute to the journey towards a developed Sri Lanka in 2048. He noted that providing the youth representatives the chance to participate in the Sectoral Oversight Committees of the Parliament is a novel approach and emphasized that it has not yet been done in any country in the world.
The President also expressed his confidence that this is the system change that the youth demanded and that they will take maximum advantage of this opportunity.
The Orientation workshop was organized by the Parliament of Sri Lanka with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa also expressed their views during the occasion.
Following the publication of a newspaper advertisement, these youth representatives were chosen for the Sectoral Oversight Committees related to 17 subject areas established in the Parliament. Accordingly, among the applications received by the Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, nearly 550 eligible youth representatives between 18-35 years were invited to this workshop.
These Sectoral Oversight Committees function with the participation of Parliamentarians representing all political parties in the Parliament. According to the provisions of the amended standing orders passed by the Parliament, the Chairperson of a Committee can call five youth representatives each to assist the Committees regarding the inquiries led by these Committees, so it is expected that the youth representatives will be selected in relation to each Committee.
Speaking further President Ranil Wickremesinghe said;
Today there are 535 youth Parliamentary representatives present on this occasion. Today you all come here to participate in the functions of the Parliament; not as an observer, but as young representatives in the Parliamentary Committees. I think this has happened for the first time in the world.
Only the MPs can participate in a Parliamentary Committee, a US Senate Committee, or a Congressional Committee. But under the standing orders made by our Prime Minister, Speaker and Leader of the Opposition, you have been given the opportunity to participate as youth representatives in the Parliamentary Committees.
As mentioned by the Prime Minister, apart from the report of the members of the Committee, you too get the opportunity to include your views in it. We only see debates and Q&A sessions inside the Parliamentary Chamber. But today the function of any Parliament is done through Committees. There are many Committees such as Oversight Committees and Finance Committees.
If we approve funds for certain work, there are Oversight Committees to look into the spending of those funds. There are Oversight Committees to look into the implementation of law and there are also a number of Committees like the Committee on Public Finance. Therefore, you get the opportunity to participate in all activities in the Parliament other than speaking, voting and attending the Chamber. This has happened for the first time in the world.
When we started this program, some said that this is useless and a waste of time. Some had a big question as to what this was. But a group of youth submitted their names fearlessly. We have selected the best 535 of them for this purpose.
After all of you participate in this program and make this program a success, we can select the others for the next program. Although selecting youth representatives was not a problem this time, it will become a big challenge in the future as we expect more applications for the next program. It is on these programs that we should focus our attention on.
You have got this opportunity today. Only a few people in history got this opportunity. I was lucky enough to get a Deputy Minister position in Parliament at the age of 28. Before that, as I came to the Parliament with then the Leader of Opposition Mr. Jayawardene, I was able to know how the Parliament functioned. But many do not get that opportunity. Today you have got that opportunity. So I would like to say to you, to get the full advantage of it.
How did this system come about? Last year there was a big confusion in this country. It was at that time that I discussed with the former Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya as to how we could answer this issue.
There was no answer to confusions before this. All 225 members of the Parliament were asked to be thrown into the Diyawanna Lake. Doing so will only harm the environment. Anyway, other Party Secretaries will appoint another 225 here. So it is not really a solution. Burning houses or surrounding the Parliament and trying to capture it, are not solutions either.
There were issues then. Why did we go bankrupt? What happened to our economy? Those questions have to be answered. When I was a child, Sri Lanka was second only to Japan. But where are we today? These issues cannot be solved like this.
Accordingly, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya and I discussed together how we can change this system. He was the one who later called me and said that we will include youth representatives in the Oversight Committees and other Committees. I told him to give me a report about it and I gave it to the Speaker. Whether you take the party leaders or the Cabinet, now all of you are included in this. We should especially thank him for submitting this proposal.
I don’t think anyone else will have the opportunity you have. When the economy had collapsed, the country had gone bankrupt and when everyone thinks that this system cannot be continued, a major restructuring is being carried out. Our economy is being restructured, costs are being cut, and new systems are on the way. Now the fuel is distributed based on price formulas. At the same time, many of our corporations have to be restructured. We are thinking of a new education system.
In particular, the Government has planned to bring 05 laws on climate change and several laws on women’s rights. There are many other new laws underway. Therefore you will get the opportunity to discuss these and express your views.
You will get to know how the money is spent, why the money is allocated to certain subjects and why money is not allocated to other subjects. There is currently a Research Department in Parliament to help you. In addition, we will establish a new office called the Parliamentary Budget Office. Support can be obtained from other Ministries. We have planned to convert the J. R. Jayawardene Centre into a political education institution. Then you will get the opportunity to take full advantage of this.
As members of the Parliament, as Chairpersons, we must do that work. We never turned this into a conflict of opinion in the Parliament Chamber. In some cases, there were conflicts between parties and MPs. The Chairpersons and Councilors of this Oversight Committees have a duty to hold those meetings, as well as participate in them and to discuss not only the daily affairs but important matters.
I suggest to the Speaker that these Committees should meet every month. If the Committee meetings are not held, the Chairperson should be inquired. If MPs do not attend the meetings, it should be looked into. If they fail to attend for two months, change them. Otherwise, the opportunities available to this group will be lost.
Take full advantage of this opportunity. This is a historic moment. For the first time, a Parliament appoints representatives like this. This has not happened anywhere. Our Parliament is also an old Parliament. Its history dates back to 1835. How many Parliaments are older than ours? They are the Parliaments in UK, USA, Denmark and Switzerland.
Various programs have been carried out in this Parliament. Today there is a new system. The Commonwealth Parliamentary group can also be informed about this initiative and they can also be invited to come. And I will also inform the International Parliamentary Union. We can get support from the UK Parliament and US Congress to continue this program. Those responsibilities have been entrusted to you.
Members of Parliament and youth representatives should join together and carry out this work. We will not end this work here.
How can we become a developed country? We cannot always remain to be a developing country. We want a better future. For that, there should be a good economy and the law should be implemented. Give your views on it.
In particular, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya is bringing the Jana Sabha Act to establish a Jana Sabha in every Grama Niladhari division. That would be another special opportunity for youth to participate. The selections for the youth Parliament have now become very limited. The National Youth Service Council is discussing with all the youth organizations at divisional secretariat levels about these selections.
There are a number of other new measures. This system should be changed. It can be done in accordance with the constitution. Instead of waiting for the next Parliament to be appointed, now is the opportunity to get together and do this work. So let’s accept this challenge. Let’s provide successful solutions. In another 25 years, all of you can say that Sri Lanka has become a developed country now, because of the steps we had taken today.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena
As we enter a special phase in our country’s development, I am reminded of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s pledge to fulfil a task that we have now been able to implement. Today, more than 500 youth representatives are present for 17 Sectoral Oversight Committees, ushering in a new era of participatory democracy. It is both our responsibility to create a new political chapter through this approach.
Reflecting on the past, it’s been 60 years since the youth were given the right to vote. Before that, we did not have a voice in shaping our country’s future. Unfortunately, due to the improper utilization of our country’s resources, we’ve witnessed a huge wastage over the years.
Without proper supervision, our country’s resources were not being utilized effectively. This is where the contribution of educated and intelligent young people is critical, not only to discuss proposals but to implement them. If Parliament’s Standing Orders have necessary deficiencies, they should be open to discussion. Only then can this program be successful in establishing the country’s law, creating political stability, and moving the country forward with a new economy.
I see it as a national task to provide clear participation in building the future of Sri Lanka. The United Nations Development Program has been providing great support to our country, making it possible to bring the results of new participation. We have many challenges to overcome, but with enthusiasm, commitment, and determination, we can overcome them.
We need to embark on a new journey through creativity, not just focus on the challenges ahead. We must also think about the young generation who drop out of education and fail in general and advanced-level studies. We need to think about this problem anew. The President is taking steps to provide them with the necessary training and technical knowledge. Let’s shift from traditional thinking and make the opinions held by Oversight Committees and the suggestions of the youth a great strength for our country’s progress.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena
As I sit here in Parliament, I feel proud to be part of a turning point in our country’s political history. This is the first time that such a program has been implemented, and it’s an honor to be part of it. The President’s idea of using youth representation for this purpose is a testament to his belief that the ideas and suggestions of the youth are necessary for the governance of the country. He established the Youth Parliament and the National Youth Service Council in the distant past to further this belief. The General Secretary of the Parliament also played a key role in making these activities successful.
Our country has faced some unfortunate eras, including two youth rebellions and a thirty-year war. We’ve experimented with various solutions to restore the affairs of the country, and recently, we faced a big crisis. Some people thought of fighting and burning houses as a solution, but it only led to more problems. It’s after such a difficult time that we’ve come to where we are today.
I have been appointed as a guest representative of the Sectoral Committees, which strictly supervise every act and law passed in the country. Deficiencies are discussed before being adopted in Parliament and it’s the responsibility of the youth to provide an intellectual dialogue based on their studies. It’s expected that the future program of the country will be prepared, corrected, and well-implemented based on these discussions.
The opinions of all these people are important for our country. We’ve faced rebellions and wars, and our economy has collapsed. But we have strength, we have a valuable environment, and we have intelligent people. We should not kneel before another country. It’s time for us to come together and work towards a better future for Sri Lanka.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa
It is often seen politics there is a huge gap between declaratory policy and action policy. Many are talking of ‘walk the talk’. I believe that today will be a turning point in our country if what has been announced is implemented, the beginning is optimistic, and if this is implemented in a cultured and an efficient manner.
As the opposition, we see this process in a positive aspect. As an opposition, even if the shortcomings of the Government are pointed out, in a cultured political system, when something correct, optimistic, substantive and positive happens, it is impossible to look away without praising it. One must have the guts to appreciate good as good.
This decision taken by the President and all of you is very optimistic. If something good happens to the country in the process of recovering the bankrupt Sri Lanka from that bankruptcy, it should be appreciated. The tripartite Governance of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary is recognized in the democratic system. There should be distribution of powers. Protection and balance between these three institutions is very important. Today, 530 youth representatives participate in 17 Sectoral Oversight Committees in this country to properly implement that protection and balance process.
If this action is taken as a ranking when comparing the steps taken today with other countries in the world, Sri Lanka is in the first place. This can be called the best process in the world that listens to the youth and gives the youth participation in the democratic process. It is a matter of great joy. There have been many youth riots in this country. Even if we don’t recall that unpleasant past, we should learn from it. The time has arrived to come together for the common duty of the country, even though we are on various contradictions on policies, theories and philosophies. It should add value to the country and not to share positions. Unconditional support is given to continue the optimal steps taken.
Ms. Azusa Kubota Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka
I’m pleased and deeply humbled to be part of the orientation program for youth representatives of the Sectoral Oversight Committees in more than 60 countries. UNDP supports parliamentary strengthening initiatives because we firmly believe in the important role played by the legislature in fostering democracy and promoting sustainable and inclusive development.
Our global collaboration with the parliaments around the world focuses on strengthening all core functions of the Parliament. These functions include lawmaking, oversight, representation and budget scrutiny. While doing so, we hope to further enhance the inclusivity and representation of the peoples. We promote a greater oversight of transparent governance processes and to improve the effectiveness of its functioning. The current program we have with the Parliament of Sri Lanka is one of such flagship partnerships in the Asia Pacific region.
For over a decade, UNDP has been supporting Sri Lanka’s parliament to strengthen responsiveness, inclusiveness and representation. Its lawmaking processes. For example, working together with our fellow parliamentary development partners. We have continued to strengthen its public relations and communication functions. One concrete result is inclusion of hearing impaired segments of the society in the Parliament process through the provision of real time sign language interpretation services.
In an ideal world, the look of the parliaments on the world should reflect the diversity of the society they represent. However, we know societal barriers and systemic factors often make equal and inclusive representation in its follower’s forms impractical or impossible in many countries. Attaining an equal representation of women in the parliament continues to face notable challenges. Here in Sri Lanka, it remains as a little over 5% of the seats represented by women.
Bringing about changes will require bold policies, such as the introduction of a quota and long term transformation in systems and norms. Therefore, innovative mechanisms such as the one being launched today are catalytic in fulfilling the existing gaps in representation and inclusivity, at least as a short term measure. We in UNDP greatly value the importance of youth representation and participation in the work of the Parliament.
All religious leaders led by the Maha Sangharatna and Ministers, Parliamentary Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Deputy Chairman of the Committee MP Angajan Ramanathan, Chairman of the “Parliamentary Caucus for Youth” Hesha Withanage and a group of invited guests and youth representatives attended the event.
Colombo (LNW): Workers’ remittance inflows continued their strong run in April as well with migrant Sri Lankan workers sending over US$ 450 million to their families who are undergoing difficult times. Accordingly, the remittances for the month of April 2023 was recorded as US$ 454 million.
Worker remittances sent by Sri Lankan expatriates jumped to a new high of over 83 percent in April, as more workers channeled their foreign earnings through formal banking channels, central bank data showed.
Taking to Twitter, Minister of Labour and Foreign employment Manusha Nanayakkara said that it’s an 83.4 percent increase compared to April 2022, where the remittances figures were recorded as US$ 248.9 million.
The remittances, the top foreign exchange earner, recorded $437.5 million in the first month of 2023 compared to $259.2 million in January last year, the central bank data showed. .Further, the Minister stated that total remittance for this year stands at US$ 1867.2 million.
The remittances fell sharply from October 2021 as most workers sought to send money via unofficial hawala and undiyal methods after the central bank clamped down on paying higher premiums for Vostro trassfer as the rupee came under pressure from money printed to keep an artificial interest rate.
Even after the currency was allowed to depreciate sharply from 200 rupees per dollar to 360, worker remittances were down, as credit pressure continued.
The inflows fell 31 percent last year to $3.8 billion from the previous year’s $5.5 billion, the latest central bank data showed.
Though a record 311,269 people left the country as migrant workers last year in the face of an unprecedented economic crisis, the worker remittances were not found to rise proportion to the outward labour movement.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has launched a new mobile app from May 1 to facilitate foreign remittances with an aim to boost foreign inflows from migrants.
The new app ‘Lanka Remit’ will see some duty concessions at the main airport for Sri Lankan migrant workers as incentives.
“This relief is implemented under five categories and workers who have sent an amount between $2,400 and 4,799 dollars can get an additional duty relief of 600 dollars,” Manusha Nanayakkara, the Foreign Employment Minister told a media briefing.
Workers remitted between $4,800 and $7,199 will receive an additional duty relief of $960, while between $7,200 and $11,999 receive an additional duty relief of $1,440.
Workers who remit between $12,000 and $23,999 are eligible for an additional $2,400 duty waiver while those who remit $24,000 or more are eligible for an additional $4,800 duty concession.
“Anyone who has sent the relevant money to the country within a period of one year can avail this relief,” Nanayakkara said.
The Minister said the move was part of the government’s goal to boost the monthly remittances to $1 billion.
Colombo (LNW): Cash starved Sri Lanka’s claim of US $ 6.4 billion to be obtained from the ship insurer for the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster has opened a can of worms amidst allegations of taking $250 million bribe to delay the filing of a case and attempts by some high officials in relevant state institutions.
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, said the Attorney General’s (AG) Department, on behalf of the Government, filed a lawsuit in Singapore for Xpress Pearl compensation.
“The AG’s Department had consulted three top legal firms before filing the case in Singapore. One of the expert firms from Australia advised the AG’s Department to file the case in Singapore, and based on their advice, the case was filed there,” the Minister said.
He noted that the AG had hired a legal expert from the UK to remove the limitation of liability in the Xpress Pearl compensation case filed in Singapore.
Claiming that not only legal factors were instrumental in filing the case in Singapore, NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that filing the case by the insurer of the X-Press Pearl in the UK to limit the compensation and filing the case by Sri Lanka in Singapore to claim compensation were inter-connected.
He told Parliament that the insurer of the X-Press Pearl has filed a case in a court in the UK to limit the compensation to US$ 26 million and that the Attorney General’s Department in Sri Lanka has not made any intervention in the case for the last one and half years.
He raised doubts over the AG’s Department’s actions and questioned in parliament as to why the AG’s Department has failed to make any intervention even though the case was very important in Sri Lanka’s attempt to claim compensation.
Dissanayake said the case filed by the insurer in the UK court is more important than the case filed by Sri Lanka in Singapore to claim compensation.
He said Singapore and the UK have signed a convention over limiting the compensation in shipping disasters and that filing the compensation case in Singapore by the Attorney General was questionable.
“Even though the insurer obtained a verdict limiting the compensation in the UK court, it is essential for them to get the compensation case filed in Singapore court to get the benefit of the verdict.
So, filing the case in Singapore by the Attorney General and the case in the UK limiting compensation are interconnected. There has been a questionable transaction between the two incidents,” he told parliament.
PMD: Acknowledging the global shift towards a knowledge revolution propelled by technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, President Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged the government’s willingness to assist the Colombo University in its development, contingent on the university’s presentation of a 10-year development plan that aligns with the changing times.
The President said this while addressing the meeting of the 2023 Alumni group of the Colombo University held at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo on the 12th.
The meeting also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the University of Colombo Alumni Association, where a pinnacle awards ceremony was held. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was awarded the first award, which recognizes former scholars who have made unique contributions to the country, society, and the university.
Venerable Dimbulkumbure Vimaladhamma Thera, Member of Parliament Professor G.L. Peiris, Prof. Deshmanya J.B. Dissanayake, Tilak Karunaratne, and 11 others also received the award.
The President also acknowledged the need for innovation in the entire university system and urged the Colombo University Alumni Association to seek immediate solutions to the challenges facing the education sector. He further requested the Colombo University graduates to commit themselves to the preparation of a 10-year development plan as soon as possible, warning that the University of Colombo would miss out on opportunities to contribute to this special process if they fail to rise to the challenge.
The event was attended by Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe, Colombo University Vice Chancellor Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, President of the Alumni Association Mr. J.M.S. Bandara, and many others.
