Island wide curfew will be imposed with effect from 6 pm today (02), until 6 am Monday (04).
The decision has been taken in accordance with the powers vested in the President under the provisions of the Public Security Ordinance.
MIAP
Public Security Minister’s statement on upcoming protests
Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara has made a special announcement on upcoming protests, stating that although the government will not take away the democratic right to protest, stern legal action will be taken against those who damage public or private property under the guise of protests.
The Minister also urged the people to be patient and not to be deceived by saboteurs as the government has fostered a programme to solve the people’s problems.
MIAP
Curfew to be imposed from this afternoon?
Unconfirmed reports claimed that plans are underway to impose curfew this afternoon in order to prevent the anti-government protests that are set to take place tomorrow (03).
The government imposed police curfew from midnight yesterday to 06 am today.
The discussion chaired by the President with the Ruling Party MPs yesterday (01) also paid focus on imposing an islandwide curfew with effect from April 03, sources told LNW, but the President had not responded to this request.
MIAP
Sri Lanka president declares public emergency after protests against economic crisis
Declaration comes after hundreds of protesters clashed with police and the military
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a nationwide public emergency, following violent protests over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
Rajapaksa said in a government gazette notification late on Friday that he took the decision in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and essential services.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police and military on Thursday outside Rajapaksa’s residence in a suburb of the capital, Colombo.
Police arrested 53 people and imposed a curfew in and around Colombo on Friday to contain sporadic protests that have broken out over shortages of essential items, including fuel and other goods.
The Indian Ocean island nation of 22 million people faces rolling blackouts for up to 13 hours a day as the government scrambles to secure foreign exchange to pay for fuel imports.
The country’s lucrative tourism industry and foreign workers’ remittances have been sapped by the pandemic, and public finances were hit further by deep tax cuts promised by Rajapaksa during his 2019 election campaign.
Ordinary Sri Lankans are also dealing with shortages and soaring inflation, after the country steeply devalued its currency last month ahead of talks with the International Monetary Fund for a loan programme.
An alliance of 11 political parties has urged Rajapaksa to dissolve the cabinet and form a government with all parties to deal with the crisis, local media said, in a nation where both India and China are competing to build influence.
Police used teargas and water cannon to disperse crowds near Rajapaksa’s residence on Thursday, after they torched several police and army vehicles.
At least two dozen police personnel were injured in the clashes, an official said, declining to comment on the number of protesters hurt.
Tourism minister Prasanna Ranatunge warned such protests would harm economic prospects. “The main issue Sri Lanka is facing is a forex shortage, and protests of this nature will hurt tourism and have economic consequences,” Ranatunge said.
The United Nations representative in the country, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, called for restraint from all groups involved in the clashes. “We are monitoring developments and are concerned by reports of violence,” she said on Twitter.
Arrests can be made without charge in State of Emergency: Prathiba Mahanamahewa
Arrests can be made without a charge being pressed under the Public Security Act on the condition of a state of emergency being imposed for the Public Security Act will come forward, overriding all the laws and regulations of the country in such a state, said Senior Advocate Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa.
However, the Public Security Act has no capacity of overriding the Fundamental Rights Chapter of the Constitution 1978, Mahanamahewa emphasised, speaking to a briefing held in Colombo today (02). Accordingly, the people’s Right to Speech, Right to Assembly and Right to Protest are protected despite a state of emergency being imposed, he added.
Although the Police and the Military are capable of making arrests without pressing charges on the condition of a state of emergency, any person arrested without a warrant or a charge is protected from being tortured under the Constitution, he further noted.
MIAP
Hirunika Premachandra raids temple of spiritual advisor ‘Gnanakka’ (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)
Former MP Hirunuka Premachandra together with the Samagi Vanitha Balakaya the women’s wing of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has raided the temple dedicated to a deity belonging to spiritual advisor Gnana Meniyo, or commonly known as ‘Gnanakka’.
The Samagi Vanitha Balakaya has launched a march from Point Pedro to Dondra Point to protest against the current regime led by the President and has surrounded Gnana Meniyo’s temple in Anuradhapura.
MIAP
Social Media activist abducted!
Social media activist Thisara Anurudhdha Bandara, a leading voice of the recent peaceful protests against the government, has been abducted by a group who had claimed themselves to be Modara Police and raided his house at midnight yesterday (02). The abductors were in plain clothes at the time of his abduction.
However, as Bandara’s friends and journalists inquired the matter, the Officer in Charge of the Modara Police said that no such arrest was made.
The Sri Lanka Association of Young Journalists has also lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).
MIAP
Ship carrying diesel arrived on March 22 not yet paid!
The ship carrying diesel arrived at the Colombo Port on March 22 is still anchored as the stocks have not yet been unloaded due to not being paid, in a continuous fuel crisis which has driven the country to a point where many fuel stations are closed.
The country has to rely entirely on fuel stocks arriving in the country backed by the debt facility provided by India, but there were no dollars to pay off the ship.
The country is suffering from a huge dollar crisis that even a ship carrying fuel cannot be paid off.
In the backdrop. power generation using fuel has come to a complete standstill.
MIAP
Roshan Ranasinghe to resign from his ministerial portfolio
State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Roshan Ranasinghe has announced he will be resigning from his ministerial portfolio with effect from May 01.
His resignation has been informed to the President in a letter.
MIAP
‘Siddhalepa Vedamahattaya’ Victor Hettigoda passed away
Dr. Victor Hettigoda, the chairman of “Siddhalepa Group” has passed away at the age of 84.
The Chairman of the Hettigoda Group of Industries, better known as the Siddhalepa Group was initially trained by his father Hendrick Hettigoda in Ayurveda and enriched his knowledge by studying Ola Leaf manuscripts and ancient Ayurveda.
Dr. Hettigoda was also conferred “Deshabandu – Class I” in 1990 by then-President Ranasinghe Premadasa, in recognition of his contribution to Ayurveda and the industry. He has received many national and international awards including a listing among the 50 greatest Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs after the independence.