Colombo (LNW): In an effort to enhance the inclusion of differently-abled persons in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, a few selected groups of the staff and Members of Parliament went through basic sensitisation sessions from Aug 18 to 23, 2023.

Parliamentary Task Force for Disability Inclusion, the Media Division and Public Outreach Division of the Communications Department of Parliament, and the Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discrimination and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka participated in this.

This series of sensitisation sessions is the very first step in the long-term process of strengthening the capacity of parliament on the inclusion of differently-abled.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka is taking steps to make the whole of parliament – including physical, digital and social spaces – friendly for the differently-abled. In the beginning of this year, a comprehensive assessment of parliament’s accessibility to persons who are differently-abled was conducted. The report recommended a number of areas for improvement including physical constructions, making the parliament website and digital spaces friendly for the differently-abled and capacity development of the staff and Members of Parliament.

As a result, the Secretary General of Parliament appointed a special Task Force on the inclusion of the differently-abled to work on this in a consistent and sustainable manner. The Task Force comprises Heads of Departments and is chaired by the Assistant Secretary General of Parliament. Further, in response to the recommendations of the assessment report, a training manual is developed with modules focused on different aspects of the inclusion the differently-abled in the context of parliament and the parliament secretariat. This manual will be vernacularised and will be used for capacity strengthening in future.

It was emphasised that a person with impairment coupled with environmental, attitudinal and institutional barriers will experience being differently-abled, thereby allowing them to in society as equal citizens.

Therefore, if we remove the barriers, we will not have to draw a line between those who are differently-abled and those who are not. As society and institutions, what we need to strive for is to remove these barriers so that persons who are differently-abled can participate in society like any other person without impairments.

During the sessions, the participants engaged in practical activities to help them experience and hence better understand the realities of persons who are differently-abled. An international consultant with years of experience on the subject conducted the sensitisation sessions while a pool of local trainers joined the training session as observers. These efforts of parliament are supported by the National Democratic Institute and funded by USAID.

PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined an ambitious vision for Sri Lanka’s economic future during his address at the centenary celebration of Al Mubarak Central College in Malwana. He emphasised the replication of the Biyagama Free Trade Zone’s success as a blueprint for modern commercial industrialisation to be implemented nationwide. This strategy aims to propel the country towards rapid development within the next 15-20 years.

President Wickremesinghe noted the significant progress made in the Biyagama region since the establishment of the trade zone and highlighted the nation’s potential to become a thriving investment hub. He unveiled plans to open up several new investment opportunities on a global scale, paving the way for Sri Lanka to emerge as a prominent investment destination.

The President’s remarks were delivered during the centenary celebration ceremony, where he also revealed that several areas, including Bingiriya, Hambantota, Kandy, Trincomalee, and the Northern Province, have been earmarked for the establishment of industrial estates. These areas are set to undergo rapid development, transforming into vibrant commercial cities.

Furthermore, President Wickremesinghe stressed the commitment of local representatives to attract investment opportunities for the advancement of their respective districts. He cited the example of the Biyagama investment zone, which has evolved into the premier trade zone in South Asia. President Wickremesinghe asserted that replicating the success of industrialisation seen in Biyagama and Katunayake across all provinces is crucial for alleviating economic pressures.

President Wickremesinghe also highlighted the government’s dedication to strengthening the country’s economy while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for the nation’s youth.

During his visit to Al Mubarak Central College, President Wickremesinghe was warmly welcomed by students. He inaugurated a new three-story building at the college and issued a commemorative stamp to mark the centenary celebration. This historic visit marked the first time a sitting President had visited Al Mubarak Central College. The President also left a commemorative note in the special guest book and inaugurated the college’s centenary memorial. Additionally, he recognised students who exhibited exceptional skills with awards and certificates.

Minister of State for Education Aravinda Kumar also addressed the ceremony, while State Ministers Prasanna Ranaweera and Kader Mastan, along with Principal of Al Mubarak Central College Malwana Mr. S.H.M. Naim, staff, students past and present and other officials were present to mark this significant occasion.

Colombo (LNW): Efforts are being made to provide effective service to Sri Lanka by modernising the Civil Security Force, said Defence State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, addressing the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence held recently.

There was a discussion at length regarding the Civil Security Force and the MPs present held that they will receive high support from the officials of the Civil Security Force to alleviate the human-elephant conflict.

The provision of fuel facilities and other facilities required by the said officials was also discussed at the Committee meeting held.

Forest fires were reported in large numbers during the past and a programme will be initiated to prevent such occurrences, Tennakoon commented.

Moreover, there was a discussion regarding the security faculty and the hospital in Kotalawala.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, MPs Buddhika Pathirana, Kins Nelson, Dr. Maj. Pradeep Undugoda, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Isuru Dodangoda, M.W.D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksa were present at the Committee meeting.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Endorsing the recent ‘Channel 4’ disclosure on the 2019 Easter Sunday Massacre, Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith making an exclusive statement with the media this (06) evening urged Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the government of Sri Lanka to immediately commence a thorough international probe regarding the speculated conspiracy behind the attacks.

Elaborating further the Cardinal underscored the importance of an inquiry that is ‘unbiased, transparent, comprehensive and fair,’ spearheaded by an independent international group, with the backing of all the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials who had previously been thrown out of the picture due to political interference.

The Cardinal made this appeal in response to a recent controversial documentary aired on Britain’s Channel 4 supposedly revealing the master plan behind the terrorist attack that took away more than 250 lives in April, 2019, which stirred controversy.

The documentary quoting statements from witnesses and high-ranking whistleblowers of the Sri Lankan government proposes that the 2019 Easter Sunday Massacre was carried out as part of a political conspiracy, paving the way for a certain candidate to win the subsequent Presidential Election.

GENEVA (6 September 2023) – Sri Lanka suffers from a continuing accountability deficit – be it for war crime atrocities, more recent human rights violations, corruption, or abuse of power – which must be addressed for the country to move forward, according to a UN Human Rights Office report published on Wednesday.

“More than a year ago mass protests demanded better governance and an inclusive vision for Sri Lanka – in short, a renewal of the social contract. But the potential for a historic transformation that would address long-standing challenges is far from being realised,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Fourteen years since the end of the war, tens of thousands of victims and their families continue to experience the pain and agony of seeking truth, justice, and remedy. While the Government has proposed a new truth-seeking mechanism, the report stresses that the groundwork needs to be laid by genuine efforts to create the enabling environment for any transitional justice process to succeed.

This starts through meaningful and transparent consultations with victims and civil society on the current truth-seeking proposal and includes an end to all forms of harassment and unlawful and arbitrary surveillance against human rights defenders and victims’ groups, as well as support for initiatives to acknowledge and memorialize the experience of victims.

“Truth-seeking alone will not suffice. It must also be accompanied by a clear commitment to accountability and the political will to implement far-reaching change,” Türk said.

Among other recommendations, the report calls on the authorities to accelerate investigations and prosecutions into emblematic cases of human rights violations, as well as the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The High Commissioner has previously urged an independent investigation with international assistance to pursue further lines of inquiry into the full circumstances of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The report provides an update on the work of the accountability project established by the UN Human Rights Office pursuant to resolutions 46/1 and 51/1. The High Commissioner repeated his call for the international community to support accountability initiatives, notably through investigations and prosecutions using universal or extra-territorial jurisdiction, with other complementary measures.

The report also details a number of concerns with proposed new laws, including a new Anti-Terrorism Bill and legislation to regulate broadcasting.

The report notes that the President has set a different tone in advancing reconciliation initiatives and has promised to stop land acquisition for archaeological, or security purposes, which has been an increasing source of local conflicts and tension. At the same time, the UN Human Rights Office continued to receive reports of disputes over land, particularly in the North and East of the country.

The continuing impact of the economic crisis of 2022 and the global downturn on people’s human rights and well-being is highlighted in the report, including a dramatic increase in Sri Lanka’s poverty rate which doubled from 13% in 2021 to 25% in 2022. Food insecurity is affecting a significant proportion of the population, in turn impacting the right to health and increasing the risk of school dropouts.

The High Commissioner said the international community, including international financial institutions, should support Sri Lanka in its economic recovery and in meeting its international obligations, while pressing for genuine progress in governance, transparency, and accountability.

“I urge the Government and Sri Lankan political parties to strive for and deliver on the urgent need for renewal, deeper institutional reforms and tangible progress on accountability, reconciliation and human rights,” Türk said. “This would be particularly appropriate in this year that marks both the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

Click Here to view the full report 

Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Philippines, Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila on 04 September 2023.

After the religious and traditional observances, the Ambassador-designate addressed the staff and emphasised the importance of team work in achieving Sri Lanka’s diplomatic goals including further strengthening and elevating the friendly relations with the Philippines to the next level.

An officer of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service Dr. Talpahewa came first in the country at the SLFS recruitment examination. He has served in the Sri Lanka Missions to the United Nations (New York), the Maldives, Turkey and the United Kingdom. He served in the United Nations (UN) as the Head of Agency of United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He has also served as the Assistant Secretary (International Relations) to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. In addition, he has private sector experience.

Dr. Talpahewa obtained his PhD in Politics and Internationals Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK and was awarded the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship, Developing World Education Fund Scholarship & Smuts Scholarship in Commonwealth Studies. He obtained MPhil in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge and MBA, MA (IR), MDS and BSc. degrees from the University of Colombo. He was admitted to the Bar as an Attorney-at-Law in 1992. He has also been a visiting lecturer to many universities and higher education institutions in Sri Lanka.

An outstanding sportsman, he is the first Sri Lankan rowing captain. He has represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games, won medals at South Asian Games and currently holds two Sri Lanka records.

Dr. Talpahewa has presented papers at numerous research conferences and has contributed articles to many research journals. He has authored Peaceful Intervention in Intra-State Conflicts: Norwegian Involvement in the Sri Lankan Peace Process (Ashgate, UK 2015 and Routledge, UK 2016) and co-authored A Quick Guide to Plants in the Maldives.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Manila
04 September 2023