The government expects to slash the number of Sri Lanka Army personnel to one hundred and thirty five thousand from two hundred thousand by next year, revealed State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon.

“The number of Sri Lanka Army personnel is 200,783. We expect to slash the number of estimated Sri Lanka Army personnel to 135,000 by the year 2024. In addition, by 2030 we expect to maintain our Army by about 100,000 personnel. This decision has been taken following a thorough study and an understanding,” Thennakoon said.

The Minister went on: “National Security and Economy are two sides of the same coin. Every country prioritises National Security. Accordingly, every government considering that priority allocates the highest amount from their budgets for National Security. As long as National Security exists the country’s Economy strengthens. Therefore, we as a government give priority to National Security always.”

Despite the number of military personnel being slashed the move will not affect National Security whatsoever, he added.

MIAP

The United People’s Party (UPP) of which Public Security Minister Tiran Alles is the Secretary General will be contesting the upcoming Local Government Election, Party Media Coordinator Chaminda Gunasinghe revealed.

The UPP has the symbol of a Mobile Phone, and expects to contest the Local Government Polls covering the entire island, including the North and the East.

Many popular political activists and social activists have already expressed their interest to contest the polls from the UPP, the Party Media Coordinator said.

Candidates can submit their applications and interviews have already commenced, Gunasinghe added.

Connect from here to apply.

MIAP

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Mr. Stephen Twigg, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his official visit to Sri Lanka.

The meeting was held at the President’s office this morning (13).

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff of the President Mr. Sagala Ratnayake was also present on this occasion.

PMD

1. Central Bank’s “fixed exchange rate policy” since 12th May 2022 now enters the 9th month with the Sri Lankan Rupee being “fixed” in a range around Rs.370 per USD: analysts expect a “floating exchange rate policy” to be introduced soon once again by the IMF: Rupee likely to depreciate sharply thereafter in keeping with weak international trade figures and very low forex inflows.
   
2. State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon says the Army cadre will be slashed to 135,000 from the current approved cadre of 200,783, by 2024: a cut of almost one-third in 2 years: cadre to be halved to 100,000 by 2030: analysts warn of the danger of rendering almost 100,000 well-trained young persons jobless, in a time of acute economic uncertainty.
   
3. Acting Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hu Wei hands over 8,862,990 meters of cloth as a grant from China: the grant to fulfill 70% of the school uniform requirement for 2023.
   
4. Cardinal Ranjith hails Supreme Court verdict ordering compensation to Easter Sunday victims: says it reflects that any high-profile person including the President has no protection from the law if they have committed a crime: stresses it would be a good precedent to future leaders and officers.
   
5. Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam requests Office for Reparation Chairperson Dhara Wijetillake to establish a “Victim Fund” to award sums ordered as compensation in a fair and equitable manner to the victim families as per the Supreme Court judgement re. the Easter Sunday attacks.
   
6. Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena says 30 short-distance train journeys will be suspended from 16th Jan’23 onwards: explains the move is aimed at reducing costs.
   
7. Political alliance formed between arch-rivals Vinayagamurthy Muralidaran (Karuna Amman) and Sivnesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan): new alliance to contest every Local Government Body in the North at the upcoming LG election.
   
8. Sri Lanka Tourism says new Covid-19 protocols and procedures will be henceforth applicable to all inbound tourists who must possess vaccination cards: tourists who are not vaccinated to submit a PCR report obtained 72-hours prior to arrival: no exceptions.
   
9. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the authorities’ inability to get debt assurances from bilateral creditors has delayed the bailout by IMF: asserts such inability is taking a heavy toll on the people: on 3rd May 22, CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe indicated the economy will be stabilised within 3 months of that day.
   
10. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera says the Petroleum Development Authority will recommence work on exploration of petroleum resources in about 900 blocks identified around the country: authority prepares to issue 2-year oil and gas exploration licenses to suitable investors.

A young 23 year old woman has filed a historic FR petition against the Sri Lanka Police, for discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

In the petition, the woman cites several incidents of violations of her fundamental rights by the Welisara Mahabage Police, on the basis of her sexual orientation. 

Other respondents to the case include Tiran Alles, the IGP and the Attorney General.

This is the first case of its kind in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court. The petitioner is represented by Attorneys Thishya Weragoda, Pulasthi Rupasinha and Stefania Perera.

Woman was locked up and abused at home for weeks

The adult and working woman highlights her weeks of forced confinement at home and abuse by her parents after she revealed her sexual orientation to them.  

When a complaint was filed with the Welisara Mahabage Police, against her forced confinement and ongoing abuse, the petitioner cites the Police had conducted an inquiry into the woman’s sexual orientation instead and confiscated her phone and laptop to “find evidence of her homosexuality”. 

Mahabage Police attempted to force the woman have JMO conduct physical examination to find proof of homosexuality

The Mahabage Police later forced the petitioner to meet with a psychiatrist (an appointment personally made by the OIC) and attempted to send her to a Judicial Medical Officer (“JMO“) for a physical examination. 

LGBT people in Sri Lanka are often subject to forced psychiatric evaluations. Physical examinations by JMOs include forced anal and vaginal examinations, conducted to find “proof” of homosexuality. 

Forced anal and vaginal exams

In 2020, the Daily Mirror exposed that LGBT+ Sri Lankans were subject to routine police torture, include forced anal and vaginal examinations by JMOs. In these examinations, fingers are inserted into the vagina or rectum of an LGBT+ person in order to find “evidence” of homosexuality. 

In this petition, the petitioner highlights police attempts to subject her to a similar examination, including after filing a case against the petitioner at the Welisara Magistrate Court, because she was a lesbian. The Welisara Court dismissed the police case, agreeing with the defence counsel’s submissions that homosexuality was neither a crime nor a mental illness. 

Discrimination against LGBT community is unconstitutional

Since 2014, Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has re-iterated that discrimination against LGBT+ persons is unconstitutional and that no law can be applied in a manner that discriminates against the LGBT+ community. 

However, despite the AG’s constant repetition at UN forums, no steps have been taken in Sri Lanka by the AG to address horrific violations against LGBT+ Sri Lankans. 

Police often attempt to prosecute LGBT+ people by using sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code. The offences criminalise “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” and “gross indecency between any persons”. Neither offences mention the word “homosexuality” but they have historically been used to prosecute LGBT+ persons.

Recently, Courts  have used their powers of interpretation and held that consensual same sex relationships are neither unnatural nor grossly indecent. Rights activists have long held that reinterpretation or reading down the provisions by the Supreme Court will go a long way in ending gross abuses against the LGBT+ community.

Last year SLPP MP, Premnath Dolawatte, submitted a private members bill to amend sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code. Parliament is yet to debate the Bill.

Relief sought

The petitioner has asked for several reliefs from the Supreme Court, including that several of her Fundamental Rights, including the Right to Equality, Freedom of Thought and Conscience, Freedom from Cruel and Degrading Treatment and Freedom of Lawful Occupation, have all been denied by the State. 

The petitioner is also pleading with the Supreme Court for an order for Sri Lanka Police to issue directions to other police officers not to arrest or detain individuals or subject them to forced medical evaluations purely because of their sexual orientation.