1. Fitch Ratings downgrades the National Long-Term Ratings of local banks – BOC, People’s, ComBank, HNB, Sampath, Cargills, DFCC, NDB, Seylan and NTB: warns that a probable default on the sovereign’s local-currency obligations increases the
   risk of authorities imposing restrictions on banks servicing their local-currency obligations.
   
2. Former CB Governor Cabraal says Sri Lanka will get only USD 362 mn once in 6 months upto USD 2,900 mn in 4 years under the envisaged IMF programme: also says, as prior actions, Forex and Local creditors will have to suffer massive haircuts if the debt advisors and IMF have their way: stresses bilateral financing of USD 4,000 mn was received and a pipeline of USD 10,700 mn secured in the 6-1/2 months he served as Governor.
   
3. CEB sources say Sri Lanka is running out of time to bring 12 coal shipments to operate the Norochcholai coal power plant with full capacity of 900 MW before 20th April and manage the monsoon season from April to Sept.
   
4. Fort Magistrate orders Police to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa pertaining to the Rs.17.5 mn in cash found at President’s House when it was stormed by protestors on 9th July 22.
   
5. Chinese Communist Party Vice Minister Chen Zhou calls on President Ranil Wickremesinghe: hands over a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping; President Wickremasinghe says Sri Lanka looks forward to China’s support in restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt.
   
6. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says debt restructuring discussions with Japan have concluded and discussions are being held with China’s EXIM Bank this week: Indian Minister of External Affairs also due on 19th January to discuss debt restructuring.
   
7. Director General of Health Services says only DG Health Services is vested with the powers to issue COVID-19 protocols: asserts the protocols issued for inbound tourists by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority are void.
   
8. Condominium Management Authority to give approval for pet-friendly apartments: this approval to be given to newly built apartments only: in such instances, the Deed to contain a “pet-friendly” clause.
   
9. Energy Ministry sources disclose that another tanker of Murban oil is awaiting payment of USD 65 mn and is at the Port for more than 3 weeks with CPC unable to secure forex to make payment: CPC also in arrears of over USD 40 mn for the already used crude oil whilst over USD 60 mn worth crude is now in storage pending payment.
   
10. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he will look into the possibility of an extension of the debt moratorium to protect businesses and provide necessary relief: also says the CB Governor had been asked to look into this matter.

On the sidelines of the International Ombudsman Conference 2023, the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) of Sri Lanka and Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 January 2023 in Ankara.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Office Ombudsman of Sri Lanka and Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye was signed in the presence of the Speaker of the Parliament of Türkiye Mustafa Şentop, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, Ombudsman of Sri Lanka Justice (Retd.) K. T. Chitrasiri, and Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye Şeref Malkoç. Ombudsman of Sri Lanka Parliament and Chief Ombudsman of Türkiye signed the MoU. 

The main objective of the MoU is to focus on the role of the two institutions in Sri Lanka and Türkiye in the field of protection of human rights and remedies for injustices while protecting citizens from injustice and discrimination. It further creates organizational conditions for cooperation between the two parties in the field of protection of citizens’ rights, complaints and other activities related to the tasks and purposes of the work of each party and thus contribute to the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms within the powers vested by legislations. 

The International Ombudsman conference 2023 under the theme “The future of Human Rights in the 21^st Century” is funded by the European Union. More than 70 Ombudsmen participated from different regions Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East and shared the legal framework of Ombudsman in their own respective countries and their insights on protection of human rights. 

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Ankara

14 January 2023

 High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay undertook his first visit to Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL), Belihuloya on 11 January 2023. During the visit, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. R.M.U.S.K. Rathnayake for the establishment of ICCR Chair of Hindi Language at the University. The MoU will pave way for deputation of professors from India to teach Hindi language courses at the University.

2.     High Commissioner also announced High Commissioner’s Gold Medal for the best performing student under the newly-established ICCR Hindi Chair. He felicitated winners of Hindi Kavita (poetry) competition organized by the University in collaboration with Assistant High Commission of India, Kandy.

3.     The High Commissioner was also the Chief Guest at the first International Conference on Social Sciences and Languages (ICSSL) organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages, SUSL. ICSSL is an open forum for academics, researchers, students and professionals for presenting their research findings in the Social Sciences and Languages domains. The High Commissioner and the Vice Chancellor jointly launched the online portal of first ICSSL on the occasion.

4.    In his remarks as the Chief Guest, the High Commissioner listed out India’s achievements in sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he underlined that important steps towards sustainability such as reuse, recycle, re-design, remanufacture etc have been a part of India’s cultural ethos. Highlighting that Sri Lanka has abundant renewable energy potential, he mentioned that India will continue to invest in Sri Lanka to generate more power from sustainable sources of energy.  He also pledged the High Commission’s continued support to the University.

5.     Education has been a key area of cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. Recently, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has commenced extension of their Masters Courses in Sri Lanka Technical Campus. In addition, hundreds of fully-funded scholarships are offered to Sri Lankan students, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral studies across disciplines every year. Financial assistance schemes are separately offered to students from economically weaker sections pursuing their studies in Sri Lanka. 

***

Colombo

13 January 2023

In a historic decision, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, announced (Jan. 10, 2023) that Canada was imposing sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act against Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The sanctions were also imposed on Sri Lankan Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake and Navy intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi. Sanctions imposed on Sri Lankan state officials – Canada.ca

The same two military officials were previously sanctioned by the US (Dec. 2021) for serious human rights abuses. Additionally, US sanctioned two more Sri Lankan military officials in the past – former army commander Shavendra Silva (Feb. 2020) and head of a clandestine army platoon Prabath Bulathwatte (Dec. 2022).

GTF congratulates and appreciates the actions of the US and Canadian governments and for standing up for justice, rule of law and democratic principles including accountability. GTF is also grateful to all concerned including political and non-political persons and organisations, human rights activists in Sri Lanka and overseas, Tamil diaspora organisations and many others who are working very hard for justice for victims of war.

Clearly a pattern is emerging. After more than a decade of inaction by the Sri Lankan authorities to address war time accountability, the international community is starting to take unilateral initiatives. But what distinguishes the Canadian action is the inclusion of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the list. They were the President and the Defence Secretary during the last phase of the war (which ended in May 2009), with command responsibilities.  

Sri Lankan civil war was one of the most brutal in the recent history, with UN reporting killings of 40,000 to 70,000 civilians in the last phase alone (other estimates place much higher figures), which was attributed mainly to the brutality of Sri Lanka’s military strategies, and unlawful killings and disappearances.

The Canadian Foreign Minister was emphatic, stating “These sanctions send a clear message that Canada will not accept continued impunity for those that have committed gross human rights violations in Sri Lanka.” Undoubtedly, the walls of impunity Sri Lanka painstakingly built around its leaders have started to crumble.

The timing of the sanction appears to reflect the lack of faith on the new Wickremesinghe Administration to reverse course (from that of its predecessor) on human rights and accountability. Human Rights Watch in its latest World Report (Jan. 12, 2023) argued that ‘the change of Presidents of Sri Lanka in 2022 did not lead to any improvement in the country’s human rights record”, further reinforcing the hopeless situation the country finds itself in.

It is important to highlight the plight of many victims and their families who have been waiting for more than thirteen years without accountability or justice, and the many who have passed on without knowing what happened to their loved ones. The Canadian action provides a sense of relief and perhaps even hope that justice may one day be possible.

Equally important is the message the Canadian sanction conveys to the people and leaders of Sri Lanka – hoping that with diversionary and delaying tactics the accountability concerns will disappear over time is doomed to fail and the better course of action would be to deal with the past openly and honestly, to build a strong and prosperous country for all its communities.

Canadian action also sends clear warning signs to many political and military leaders across the world that serious human rights abuses and unaccountable governance practices will have consequences – irrespective of the time it takes or the high positions the concerned individuals may have occupied.

Respect for human rights and effective universal accountability mechanisms are fundamental building blocks for a rule based world order and green shoots appearing across different countries in this regard provide hope for the emergence of a more decent world in the future.

It is in this context that the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) welcomes the historic decision by the Canadian government to sanction two former Sri Lankan Presidents, and calls upon other progressive countries, including India, the US, EU, UK, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand, to consider appropriate actions that will resonate with the Canadian initiative.

Parliament will meet from January 17 to January 20, the Committee on Parliamentary Business declared.

Accordingly, Parliament will meet on the said dates at the Committee chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, said Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake.

Parliament meets every day at 9.30 am and every day except Friday 20th 9.30 am – 10.30 am has been allotted for questions for oral answers. On next Tuesday 17 th from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm the regulations published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2307/12 and 2308/26 under the Import and Export (Control) Act and Regulations in the Gazette No. 2308/51 under the Foreign Exchange Act are to be approved following the debate held, the Secretary General said.

After that, the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill (No. 126) presented by MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar and the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill (No. 160) presented by MP Premnath C. Dolawatta as private member’s bills are to be referred to the Legislative Standing Committee following the second reading.

Then from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm, the debate at the adjournment time is scheduled to be held according to the motion moved by the Opposition.

It has also been decided to hold the debate on the second reading of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill on Wednesday, January 18 from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. 22 motions regarding the Annual Reports of various statutory institutions which were approved by the Ministerial Consultative Committees of Parliament are also scheduled to be submitted for approval.

Then time has been allotted for the questions at the adjournment time from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm. Meanwhile, it has been decided to hold a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business on the 18th at 1.00 pm and if the committee decides, the second reading debate of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill is to be taken on the 19th from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Then from 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm, the debate at the adjournment time is scheduled to be held according to the motion moved by the government. On Friday, January 20, from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, the time has been set aside for the Vote of Condolence on the late Parliamentarians. Accordingly, the condolence will be expressed for the late members Upali Marvyn Senarath Dasanayake, Dr. Neville Arthur Fernando, Gunaratne Weerakoon and Raja Collure.

The decision made by the Canadian government to impose sanctions on two former presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Staff Sergeant, Sunil Ratnayaka, and Lt. Commander, P Hettiarachchi for gross and systematic violations of human rights during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), and supreme court decision in favour of petitioners regarding the failure on the part of the then president Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP Pujitha Jayasundara, former defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando, former national intelligence director Nilantha Jayasuriya, and former director of the State Intelligence Service Sisira Mendis who were all ordered to pay heavy damages to the victims for failing to prevent the act of terrorism caused on the Easter Sunday 2019, marks important recognition of the very serious collapse of the rule of law system in Sri Lanka and its failure to provide the required protection to the citizens. While greatly appreciating these decisions, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) hopes that these will create much delayed debate on the grave crisis of rule of law and law enforcement in Sri Lanka.

AHRC wishes to highlight the following passage of the supreme court judgement and call upon everyone including the parliament to pay due attention to the following observations and recommendations: “Before we proceed to summarize the compensation payable and part with the judgment, we must express our shock and dismay at the deplorable want of oversight and inaction that we have seen in the conduct of affairs pertaining to Security, Law and Order and Intelligence. There are glaring examples of a lack of strategic co-ordination, expertise and preparedness that need a critical examination as to the way forward. The failures that eventuated in the Easter Sunday attacks and the concomitant deaths and devastations have left behind an indelible blot on the security apparatus of the Country and this Country which is blessed by a multi-cultural and multi religious polity cannot be left to the vagaries of these follies and made to suffer leading to violence, fear, apprehension and uncertainty. These events must recede into oblivion but they remind us starkly of the necessity to effect legislative, structural and administrative changes.

It is evident from the evidence placed before us that there is an urgent need to place the National Security Council (NSC) on a statutory footing and its composition specified with clarity so that there are no maneuvers to manipulate hostile exclusions and selective inclusions. The affidavit testimonies and the large volume of documents we have perused highlight the necessity to revamp the security systems and intelligence structures so that the expanding threats of terrorism and emerging challenges could be nipped in the bud and arrested as this Country cannot descend into anarchy once more. The course of conduct we have scrutinized demonstrates a woeful lack of expertise in intelligence gathering and dissemination among important individuals entrusted with the task. For instance, the office of Director, SIS and CNI must be occupied by individuals with necessary skill and expertise and the conduct of the Respondents who held the office, upon receiving sensitive intelligence, shows a lack of awareness and understanding of strategic vision. We recommend that the duties and functions of the office of Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) must be stipulated with definite certainty and the office should be occupied by a person having the necessary expertise, training and qualification”.

The decision by the Canadian government and the judgement of the supreme court have brought a severe verdict on 3 of former executive presidents of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Perhaps this may be the first time in world history that 3 of the heads of states in a single country has been brought into such a severe condemnation. Such condemnation though made against 3 individuals who held these posts, it also proves the correctness of the critics who have consistently held that the executive presidential system is an unsuitable political institution for democracy and rule of law in Sri Lanka and this institution poses perhaps the single most danger to all aspects of Sri Lankan life including security of its people. As the supreme court has pointed out, Sri Lanka is very much in need of legislative, structural and administrative changes.

Perhaps the single most important debate that should occupy the parliament as well as media and popular discussion should be the way to supplement such recommendations for legislative, structural and administrative changes.

We hope a serious debate will now at least begin on most important issues that affects the nation and every effort will be made to achieve such systemic changes which alone can ensure the rescue of Sri Lanka from falling into further abyss.

Asian Human Rights Commission