1. Minister of Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva says the loss incurred by SriLankan Airlines over the last few days due to flight delays is USD 6 mn: also says there’s no possibility to grant a salary increase to employees right now: further says it has been decided to let other airlines operate the flights of the carrier by granting them the ‘5th Freedom Rights’.
2. SLPP MP Professor Ranjith Bandara says the SLPP is set to unveil the identity of the Party’s candidate for the Presidential Election 2024 at the Party Convention in November’23: also says the person has a name with 3 letters.
3. NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says plans are afoot to sell Milco, Highland and the dairy farms owned by the National Livestock Development Board to India’s Amul Diary Company: also says Cabinet approval has already been granted to sell Milco while a Cabinet Paper has been finalised to sell Highland: further says NLDB’s dairy farms in Adigama, Ridiyagama, Narammala & Polonnaruwa are also included.
4. Central Bank says Exports in August’23 has recorded USD 1.12 bn, which is a decline of 8.7% YOY compared to USD 1.22 bn in August’22: Imports also declined 4% YOY to USD 1.43 bn in August’23, compared to USD 1.49 bn in August’22.
5. Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella says a decision has been taken to halt the emergency purchasing of medicinal drugs, with immediate effect.
6. Technology State Minister Kanaka Herath confirms that the tender to build the platform for SL’s digital national identity card project will be refloated after the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee disqualified the 2 Indian companies that had submitted bids.
7. State Minister for SME Development Prasanna Ranaweera says SL will work with the SME Foundation of Bangladesh to implement joint ventures.
8. Electricity Consumers’ Association lament that the Public Utilities Commission does not intervene sufficiently to prevent the Ministry of Power & Energy and CEB from violating policies regarding electricity tariffs: also accuses the Govt of violating policies that govern the rights of the electricity consumers.
9. State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Ministry is planning to recruit a group of Assistant Customs Superintendents and Customs Inspectors to increase the active contribution of young & talented officials to prevent tax evasion: also says the Govt had increased its revenue by 50% thus far this year, compared to the same period last year, although the progress is still not sufficient.
10. Sri Lanka’s Mixed Relay team comes second in the Mixed 4x400m event at the Asian Games, currently being worked off in China: however, the team has been denied the Silver Medal as it has been disqualified in the event due to a lane infringement.

Health Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, has announced the immediate suspension of emergency medicine procurement. This declaration came during a press briefing in Colombo on Monday (2).

In addition to his verbal statement, Minister Rambukwella also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to provide further details. He revealed the formation of a Medicinal Management and Strategizing Committee (MMSC), tasked with overseeing, evaluating, and regulating the entire medicine procurement process within the ministry.

Furthermore, the Minister’s online post highlighted a series of decisions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and transparency of drug procurement in Sri Lanka. These measures include the regulation and standardization of procurement practices, all designed to expedite the vital process of securing essential medicines for the nation.

Showery condition in the South-western part of the island is expected to be enhanced during next few days from today (03).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.

Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere, particularly in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

02 October 2023 (Internet Media Action): The draft for the proposed Online Safety Act in Sri Lanka, unveiled recently, is one we strongly condemn for several reasons, including its overreaching, and unclear provisions which present a grim outlook for online freedoms, and democratic discourse in Sri Lanka. Despite its portrayal as a means to safeguard individuals, particularly children, from online harm, we believe the draft is a draconian measure which aims to stifle dissent, and exercise authoritarian control over online content, and commentary.

The draft’s provisions are overbroad by design and in some parts, indecipherably misguided, leading to potential misuse under vague legal cover to suppress dissent which is inconvenient to Executive, and autocratic rule. Our concerns extend to how the draft law will build on Sri Lanka’s existing surveillance state framework, normalising pervasive, and invasive captures of private or privileged communications. Rather than fostering a nuanced discussion on online safety, the absence of meaningful consultations or corrective measures to address a climate already marred by impunity, violence, and surveillance, only serves to highlight the unfeasibility of the goals set forth by this legislation.

The draft reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of enforcement dynamics. For instance, expecting global, and leading social media firms to comply with arbitrary directives that could potentially implicate them in human rights violations is unrealistic, at best. The draft does little to address the real harms arising from coordinated inauthentic behaviours (CIB), which have been trialled, and perfected in Sri Lanka since 2013 – and for the most part, serving those in power. The draft’s language highlights a complete ignorance around the technical, and contextual understanding necessary to tackle complex CIB dynamics, which are also changing at pace. Relatedly, the draft also fails to address influence operations, particularly from China, which have been studied to have a significant imprint on Sri Lanka’s digital discourse.

Furthermore, experts have drawn worrying comparisons drawn between Sri Lanka’s draft law, and Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), pointing out the unsuitability of transplanting legislation without considering the vastly differing political, technological, and social contexts between the two nations. What critics have found problematic in the context of Singapore, we argue, will be completely catastrophic for human rights in Sri Lanka, already defined by a democratic deficit growing at pace.

The legislation, as proposed, is a serious threat to journalists, satirists, digital creators, and all citizens expressing dissent. If passed in its current form, this law will invariably become a tool for state-sanctioned suppression of dissent. We unequivocally reject the draft, and believe it is irredeemably flawed. As always, we advocate for a more balanced, grounded, meaningful, transparent, and inclusive approach to addressing online safety, upholding first principles, to more fully realise Sri Lanka’s democratic potential.

Sampath Samarakoon
Convener
Internet Media Action

Colombo (LNW): Following the continuity of heavy rainfall, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued landslide early warnings for several areas in eight districts, and urged the public to stay vigilant against the possibility of the occurrence of landslides, slop failures, rock falls, cutting failures and ground subsidence.

Accordingly, a Level 2 (Amber) advisory has been issued for several areas in Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara and Ratnapura districts until 05.00 p.m. tomorrow (03).

Galle District – Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Division
Kalutara District – Ingiriya Divisional Secretariat Division
Kandy District – Pasbage Korale Divisional Secretariat Division
Kegalle District – Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala Divisional Secretariat Divisions
Matara District – Kotapola and Pitabeddara Divisional Secretariat Divisions
Ratnapura District – Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Eheliyagoda, Kiriella and Kuruwita Divisional Secretariat Divisions

Meanwhile, a Level 1 (Yellow) warning has been issued for the following areas:

Colombo District – Seethawaka Divisional Secretariat Division
Galle District – Elpitiya Divisional Secretariat Division
Hambantota District – Walasmulla Divisional Secretariat Division
Kalutara District – Agalawatta, Mathugama, Bulathsinhala and Walallawita Divisional Secretariat Divisions
Kegalle District – Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota and Kegalle Divisional Secretariat Divisions
Matara District – Mulatiyana and Athuraliya Divisional Secretariat Divisions
Ratnapura District – Kolonna and Imbulpe Divisional Secretariat Divisions

The Sri Lankan Parliament is set to consider two significant draft bills this week: the Online Safety Bill (OSB) and the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB). These bills have raised concerns from national and international agencies due to their potential implications. Following the ARAGALAYA protests, the Sri Lankan government has severely restricted freedom of assembly and expression, ostensibly to meet austerity requirements set by the International Monetary Fund. However, these measures are unlikely to contribute to economic or political stability.

All governments need to manage hate speech and disinformation. However, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act of 2007 was misused by the government and its security agencies as a tool to curb dissent and public debate. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Bureau of Rehabilitation Act (BRA) were used to curb the human rights of many civil activists. Such misuse does not instil trust and the proposed two acts could be used to abuse the newly gained powers.

The Online Safety Bill aims to regulate online communication, granting wide-ranging powers to the Online Safety Commission and experts. Critics fear it will curtail freedom of information and expression, enabling punishment for views contrary to the government’s stance. The vague definitions in the bill allow for broad interpretations, potentially stifling dissenting voices.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has asked the OSA to be withdrawn or amended through meaningful consultations with relevant stakeholders as the bills in draft form will have ‘a serious impact on the community’.

Similarly, the Anti-Terrorism Bill, despite claimed revisions, remains contentious. Its vague definition of terrorism, limited judicial oversight, and excessive powers granted to the President are concerning. Detainees can be held for sharing information supporting terrorism, shifting the burden of proof to the accused. Previous laws, like the Prevention of Terrorism Act, were misused, and the new legislation appears to continue this trend, allowing state agencies to exploit these provisions.

Both bills are viewed as tools to suppress opposition, targeting the working class, civil society, and organizations. The Sri Lankan government’s actions, coupled with austerity measures and restructuring of public enterprises, have led to higher unemployment and public discontent. These bills can consolidate dictatorial powers, stifling anti-government opposition and violating fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to information, dissent, assembly, and peaceful protest.

Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka (AAGGSL) reiterates its position that the Government has the prime duty and responsibility to enforce the Rule of Law while protecting all fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Sri Lanka. That includes people’s right to information, dissent, assembly and peaceful protest.

Signed

Dr Lionel Bopage
President, Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka Melbourne, Australia

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Minister of Ports and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva has revealed that the recent delays of eight flights have caused losses to the tune of US$ 06 million to the national carrier SriLankan Airlines.

A special discussion pertaining to the recent repeated SriLankan Airlines flight delays and cancellations was held this morning (02), chaired by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

SriLankan Airlines management and all affiliated trade union representatives, at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation attended the meeting.

Hundreds of passengers faced severe inconvenience yesterday (1) morning when two SriLankan Airlines flights, scheduled to take off for Nepal and India, from the BIA, were cancelled due to technical problems, airline sources said.

Airline pilots’ guild of Sri Lanka noted that the passengers’ safety is the utmost priority for them and the reason of the flight delys was the technical issue in the plane dengerous to fly Nepal, with mountainous terrain and frequent fog. 

Flight UL-180 scheduled to depart for Kathmandu, Nepal, at 8:20 a.m. was delayed and over 200 passengers were stranded including State Minister Sisira Jayakody.

During the discussion, the representatives of the engineers’ trade unions stated that the recent flight delays were caused by the technical failures in several aircraft, however, the authorities of Sri Lankan Airlines have claimed that this situation arose as a result of certain trade union actions.

Following inquiries by the officials and trade union representatives, the Aviation Minister expressed that there are about 260 pilots for the 21 aircraft currently in operation with the airline and that accordingly, 12 pilots can be assigned per aircraft in rotation, and that this is in line with international standards.

Furthermore, Minister de Silva, who highlighted that a flight officer must fly 100 hours per month according to international regulations, pointed out that in general, a SriLankan Airlines pilot has flown only around 60 hours per month as per the available data.

 He also claimed that if one pilot of the airline flew at least 80 hours per month, such an issue would not have arisen.

Moreover, the minister also drew attention to the fact that there is an issue within the trade unions regarding their salaries and allowances.

However, the Aviation Minister claimed that SriLankan Airlines Ltd. has to pay back loans amounting to a total of USD 1.2 billion as well as their interest.

Meanwhile, the losses incurred during the recent few days due to the delays in nearly 08 flights were USD 06 million, the minister said, emphasizing that it was therefore neither possible to make any allowance nor any salary increment for the employees at the time.

The minister, however stressed to the trade union representatives that nevertheless, if the productivity of the airline is increased, certain payments can be made based on their productivity.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, who claimed that he holds a great responsibility to provide high-quality service to air passengers as the aviation minister, asserted that accordingly, he decided to hand over the right to operate these flights for other airlines while protecting the rights of SriLankan Airlines.