It is reported that Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe will be sworn in today (13) as the Acting President.
The vote in the Parliament to elect a new President is scheduled to be held on July 20.
The names of Ranil Wickramasinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Dallas Alahapperuma have been suggested for that and one of them will be appointed as the next president on that day.
It is reported that President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa have left the island.
They left in a military plane and unconfirmed sources say that they went to the Maldives.
Sources said that the Indian government has intervened and facilitated their departure from Sri Lanka with the support of the Maldives government.
Sources added that their destination is yet to be revealed and is likely to be Dubai.
Internet Media Action (IMA) Statement on Internet, web and social media disruption during peoples’ protest on 9 July 2022
12th July, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Internet Media Action (IMA) firmly believes that peaceful protest is a fundamental right and an integral part of a democratic nation. As tens of thousands of civilians flocked to Galle Face in Colombo on the 9 July 2022, from across the island, calling for the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, many experienced significant disruptions to web and Internet services. As a result, those who were part of the protest movement in Colombo experienced difficulties in communication including using social media, such as sharing live videos, uploading pictures, videos and updates.
IMA is aware that network saturation brought about by unprecedented demands on telcos infrastructure in areas with the greatest density of protestors would have contributed to these disruptions. We believe that anticipating for surge demand on infrastructure, based on widely shared information and media coverage about the protests for weeks prior to 9 July, Sri Lankan telcos could have better planned for uninterrupted communications, and data throughput.
We are more concerned about alleged attempt at sending a letter to telcos to restrict services only to voice communications, cutting off all data. We are aware of instances where signal jammers were used to disrupt communications during mass protests since March 2022.. IMA believes a context allowing for network disruptions because of high saturation, leading to cascading effects including the disruption of data communications, was created deliberately to undermine the right to freedom of expression, right to assembly and association, the right to information, and the right to political and public participation, which constitutionally guaranteed and of crucial importance to bear witness to, know about, and engage with the socio-political developments in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan state, and the Rajapaksa government have a long, blemished record of officially disrupting internet, web and social media, including as recently as a few months ago, in addition to unlawful, unofficial edicts and directives to telcos. Disruptions to communications, restricting the freedom of expression also impedes the production and distribution of life-saving information, in a context where the military opened fire using live ammunition against unarmed protestors. It is not just the mobilization that is affected, but acts of journalism by protestors, mainstream media coverage, and urgent updates that provide information on areas to avoid, or where urgent medical attention is needed. We reiterate that unfettered access to internet, web and social media are integral to and inextricably entwined with Sri Lanka’s social, political, economic, cultural life, and developments, offline. There is a growing international recognition of digital rights as human rights. As noted in the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan's report to the General Assembly on 20 April 2022 , “Any restriction of freedom of expression should adhere strictly to the requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and legitimate aim set out in article 19 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and acknowledge the public interest role of journalists.” IMA calls on relevant authorities and the government to ensure that fundamental rights of speech and dissent are preserved, promoted and protected. The laws of the land should be observed and implemented without violating the rights of the people, especially at a historic moment with citizens mobilizing to more fully realize Sri Lanka’s democratic potential.
Sampath Samarakoon
Convener | Internet Media Action[IMA]
48 Governments Recommended Unsafe Products During Pandemic, Evidence Shows
(New York, July 12, 2022) – The overwhelming majority of education technology (EdTech) products endorsed by 49 governments of the world’s most populous countries and analyzed by Human Rights Watch appear to have surveilled or had the capacity to surveil children in ways that risked or infringed on their rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch released technical evidence and easy-to-view privacy profiles for 163 EdTech products recommended for children’s learning during the pandemic.
Of the 163 products reviewed, 145 (89 percent) surveilled or had the capacity to surveil children, outside school hours, and deep into their private lives. Many products were found to harvest information about children such as who they are, where they are, what they do in the classroom, who their family and friends are, and what kind of device their families could afford for them to use for online learning. This evidence underpins the May 25, 2022 report, “‘How Dare They Peep into My Private Life?’: Children’s Rights Violations by Governments that Endorsed Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
“Children, parents, and teachers were largely kept in the dark about the data surveillance practices we uncovered in children’s online classrooms,” said Hye Jung Han, children’s rights and technology researcher and advocate at Human Rights Watch. “By understanding how these online learning tools handled their child’s privacy, people can more effectively demand protection for children online.”
Few governments checked whether the EdTech products they rapidly endorsed during the Covid-19 pandemic were safe for children to use. Many governments put at risk or violated children’s rights directly. Of the 42 governments that provided online education to children by building and offering their own EdTech products for use, 39 governments made products that handled children’s personal data in ways that risked or infringed on their rights.
Human Rights Watch found that the data surveillance took place in educational settings where children could not reasonably object to such surveillance. Most companies did not allow students to decline to be tracked, and most of this monitoring happened secretly, without the child or their family’s knowledge or consent. In most instances, it was impossible for children to opt out of such surveillance without giving up on their formal education during the pandemic.
The evidence includes easy-to-view privacy profiles, which are designed for parents, teachers, and others to help them understand how government-recommended EdTech products may have handled children’s data and their privacy at the time of analysis. Human Rights Watch invites experts, journalists, policymakers, and readers to test and engage with the data and technical evidence.
Human Rights Watch has initiated a global campaign, #StudentsNotProducts, which brings together parents, teachers, children, and allies to demand protections for children online.
“Children are priceless, not products,” Han said. “Governments should adopt and enforce modern child data protection laws to stop the surveillance of children by actors who don’t have children’s best interests at heart.”
The privacy profiles and technical evidence are available at: https://www.hrw.org/StudentsNotProducts.
“‘How Dare They Peep into My Private Life?’: Children’s Rights Violations by Governments that Endorsed Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic,” is available at:
https://www.hrw.org/node/382003
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on children’s rights, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights
For more Human Rights Watch reporting on technology, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/topic/technology-and-rights
Human Rights Watch
The Air Force in a statement denied reports that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is currently staying in a house belonging to Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshan Pathirana, emphasising that they are completely false.
Retired Police Officer Ajith Dharmapala, who is the President of the International Organisation for the Liberation of Sri Lanka Police from Politicisation, released a video on his Facebook, claiming that he knows there current whereabouts of President Rajapaksa.
Responding to the claim, the Air Force accused certain parties of spreading such false news to disrepute the Air Force and the Air Force Commander and spreading hatred and anger among the public. The Air Force urges the public not to be misled by such false propaganda.
MIAP
Many people visited Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence, which was set on fire two days ago, today (12) for observation.
Among the visitors were a group of Buddhist monks closer to the Prime Minister.
As of this moment, the remnants of the burnt house are being restored and several items including books were saved before the blaze.
Meanwhile, a group of assailants have also caused damages to the house of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s brother nearby and stolen some items.
MIAP
The United States rejected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s recent request for a visa, The Hindu learns from a top official, amid growing speculation over the besieged leader’s “attempts to flee” the country after promising to quit office.
Mr. Gotabaya, formerly a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and the U.S., gave up his American citizenship ahead of the 2019 elections because of a law that barred foreign nationals from running for the presidency. He won the election with a thumping majority but became, arguably, the country’s most unpopular leader mid-term, amid a severe economic meltdown that is stifling citizens.
“He sought a safe passage to the U.S. after the recent events, but it was denied,” the Colombo-based official said on Tuesday. Mr. Gotabaya’s reported attempt to leave the island follows his decision to resign, prompted by a sensational citizens’ protest on Saturday. Resisting his failed response to the unprecedented economic crisis gripping the island, a wave of protesters stormed the Presidential Secretariat and residence in Colombo in a dramatic escalation of months-long protests demanding that Mr. Gotabaya “go home”. He was evacuated from his official residence hours before the incident, officials said. However, his whereabouts remain unknown since.
The Hindu sought a comment from the American Embassy in Colombo but is yet to receive a response. In a statement on Sunday, American Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung called upon all parties “to cooperate to achieve a peaceful, democratic transition of power”. It signalled a clear shift from the U.S.’s position just a month ago, when President Gotabaya appointed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier, disregarding widespread citizens’ agitations, to prolong the life of his government that a majority of Sri Lankans had deemed untenable. “Look forward to working w/ @RW_UNP. His appointment as PM, and the quick formation of an inclusive government, are first steps to addressing the crisis & promoting stability. We encourage meaningful progress at the IMF & long-term solutions that meet the needs of all Sri Lankans,” the Ambassador said in a tweet on May 12.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gotabaya, expected to resign officially on July 13, is said to be exploring other options, according to sources in Colombo. It was widely rumoured that Mr. Gotabaya was headed to a West Asian country on Monday for immediate safety, fearing further reprisals in Sri Lanka. AFP on Tuesday reported that he was “stuck” in Colombo on Tuesday, his last day in the country’s top office with presidential immunity.
Mr. Gotabaya was unable to depart, following a standoff with immigration staff at the airport, who resisted his attempt to leave for a safe location abroad, reportedly a Gulf capital. Immigration officials suspended their services in the VIP suite.
“The President and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main international airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the United Arab Emirates,” AFP said in its report. When contacted, an official attached to the Presidential Media Division declined comment on the President’s current location.
Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena earlier told the BBC that the President was in a “nearby country”, but swiftly withdrew the comment calling it “a mistake”.
Mr. Gotabaya’s youngest brother and ex-Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was also prevented from leaving the capital after immigration staff refused to stamp his papers. Mr. Basil is a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and the U.S.
The option of fleeing appears to have got harder for Mr. Basil and his older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, two-time President and former Prime Minister, following a motion filed in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Tuesday. Petitioners have sought a travel ban on them, along with others, “responsible” for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
The price of bread and other bakery products will increase from midnight today (12), said All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association.
Accordingly, the price of a loaf of bread will surge by Rs. 20 and other bakery products, Rs. 10, the Union revealed.
MIAP
Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has printed another Rs.123 billion during the week ended 8th July 2022.
Therefore, so far, in the 94 days of Governor Nandalal, the total “money printing” has now reached a staggering Rs.504 billion.
What’s worse is that there is NO END in sight.
That amount of “money printing” is Rs.5.36 per day, which is NEARLY TWO AND A HALF TIMES of what was printed during the 2 previous Governors.
Presumably, this “money printing” is his strategy to bring down inflation which is today at 80%!
Central Bank Executive Officers’ Union yesterday expressed its fullest support to the people’s movement held on 9 July against the futile regime, which should be directly responsible for destroying the Sri Lankan economy, and as promised, emphasise that the failed President and Prime Minister must bow down to the people’s verdict and vacate their offices.
Today, we as a country are experiencing the adverse consequences of mismanagement of the economy mainly based on narrow political agendas, aside from the professional and technical advice of Central Bank officials.
Due to lack of progressive political vision, weak political leadership and political instability, Sri Lanka has found it difficult to get any kind of financial support from the international community and as a result, the present and future of the entire country is faced with tragic consequences.
Even under such a situation, we believe that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has taken all possible efforts that are within its scope to prevent the economy from collapsing and will take the necessary policy measures in accordance with the future developments in the economy.
Nevertheless, it must be emphasised that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka alone cannot get the country out of this economic crisis.
In particular, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka cannot find sustainable solutions to the existing economic crisis through monetary policy in isolation, and for that the Government must make necessary structural changes in the fiscal policy and especially when the economy is in the verge of a severe collapse, all relevant economic policies should be implemented with a strong coordination between the monetary and fiscal policy.
Several rounds of technical discussions have been held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) thus far, and a staff-level agreement is close to being reached.
Also, necessary activities are underway for debt restructuring, which is a prerequisite for an Extended Fund Facility that to be obtained from the IMF.
Therefore, Central Bankers said they strongly believe that any party that comes to power in the future will not hinder this process of reaching an agreement with the IMF, which is the primary way to save the economy from this calamity.
Furthermore, the IMF has already emphasised that in order to continue the program, political stability must be established in the country very soon.
Therefore, they request all the political parties representing the Parliament to act promptly within the existing constitutional provisions and ensure that there is no anarchy in the country.
Aside from prioritising their party or personal political agendas, they should work in due urgence to create the political and social stability that must prevail in the country.
We believe that the President and the Prime Minister, who have expressed their agreement to relinquish power, will not undermine the aforementioned constitutional procedure in any way and the Central Bank Executive Officers’ Union will closely monitor the developments and respond accordingly.
