Ven. Theripaha Siridhamma Thero who commenced a fast unto death at the Galle Face Protest Premises has been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital this morning (22) due to illness.
He was taken to the hospital by an ambulance and later Ven. Wimaladeva Thera of Matara and Ven. Malabe Seelarathana Thera returned to the protest site and resumed their fast unto death.
It has been 03 days since this fasting process.
Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament has submitted a motion to the Speaker to repeal the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and re-enact parts of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
It was introduced in Parliament by President’s Counsel Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa and is referred to as the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
Rajapaksa had handed it over on behalf of the independent SLFP and SLPP MPs in Parliament.
The Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has left for Rome this morning (22) with the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings at the invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis.
About 60 victims, including close relatives of those killed in the Easter attack, are said to have taken part in the visit.
Earlier in the day, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith was visiting the Vatican at the invitation of the Pope.
If Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is removed from the post of President, as there is a risk of Basil Rajapaksa becoming the acting President, says Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa.
“The first thing is that the Prime Minister and his cabinet should resign. We need to create a new regime that can build trust and stability. Some say Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should also leave. But if Gotabhaya leaves another person who has the 113 majority will become the acting president. What if Basil Rajapaksa, who is now in hiding, comes out and wins 113? Then Basil will become the acting president. Is that what you want?
He said that what needs to be done now is to get Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to agree to a collective decision-making program and to establish a stable government that will recover from the problems faced by the country.
Wimal Weerawansa stated this addressing a conference held yesterday (21).
PAFFREL is paying strict attention to the death of a youth and the significant number of people injured due to the police firing during the public unrest in Rambukkana yesterday (19th April).
These protestors were not engaged in an anti-government struggle, but as participants in a campaign to ensure that they were provided with the facilities necessary to meet their daily living needs, or the right to life, as a result of the economic pressure on the poor and incompetent economic management of the government.
PAFFREL strongly condemns the shooting of a group involved in such a protest. Also, according to the pictures posted in the media, no one in a civilized society would approve of the protesters being chased and shot. According to media reports, the police have failed to take the necessary steps to control such a protest. Therefore, we request on the IGP and the Human Rights Commission to conduct a speedy, formal, and transparent investigation into this incident.
We would also like to emphasize that it is the responsibility of the IGP to provide proper guidance to the police as they have the primary responsibility of maintaining law and order at a time of public unrest throughout the country. We also request on all security forces, including the police, to reconsider their position before firing on civilians protesting for the right to life.
We also emphasize that it is the inalienable responsibility of police officers to act in a manner that does not provoke the public during protests and that there are many examples in the past of officers being held personally liable through the execution of illegal orders.
At a time when the country is in a serious economic crisis, such incidents will not be prevented in the future in an environment where the support of the international community, including the International Monetary Fund, is sought, but the international crisis will only exacerbate the crisis in the country.
PAFFREL kindly urges all to carry out public protests and struggles as peacefully as possible, to act in a manner that does not cause any damage to public or private property, and to protest so that the oppressed people who are part of the struggle themselves no longer suffer.
We accentuate to the government that it is its responsibility to address the issues that are causing the public protests and that the violent crackdown on them will only aggravate the public unrest. Finally, we emphasize that ensuring the right to life of all citizens and the right to freedom of expression is a fundamental responsibility of the State.
Rohana Hettiarachchi
Executive Director
Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has challenged the opposition to file a case against him or his family members if they have illicit amassed wealth in any country in the world.
He said that during the period 2015-2019, the then government even tried to imprison and prosecute him and his family, but all those allegations were false and he was acquitted by the court itself.
Rajapaksa said it was unfair for him to be repeatedly accused of false allegations in parliament and instead of insulting him, he asked to find out if they have amassed wealth in any country in the world under the guise of parliamentary privileges. He added that he is prepared to face prosecution if they can prove those.
He also said that the recent Bitcoin allegation against him was as false as the previous allegations.
Namal Rajapaksa stated this addressing the Parliament yesterday (21) in a special statement.
Sources say that the CID has informed President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that there is enough evidence to arrest SSP K.B. Keerthiratne who was in charge of the Kegalle division.
SSP Keerthiratne had ordered the firing to disperse a public protest in Rambukkana on April 19. One person was killed and three others were seriously injured and are still receiving treatment in hospital. More than 20 people were seriously injured.
Sources say that the CID has informed the President that there is enough evidence to arrest the SSP based on eyewitness and video evidence received so far regarding the incident.
The public has also criticized the police for not arresting any police officers in connection with the murder except for the transfer of three persons including Keerthiratne. In particular, the fact that SSP Keerthiratne is a close relative of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief Security Officer has further intensified the current anti – Rajapaksa sentiment in the country.
Shooting these protesters has also attracted international attention and the government is being pressured internationally. Sources said that the Sri Lankan government, which is at risk of a severe dollar crisis as well as an impending food shortage, risks not receiving the much-needed international humanitarian assistance to the country in the next moment if all efforts are made to rescue these police officers.
The ‘Radical Centre’ had organized a programme titled ‘Satyakriya : An Act of Truth’, which held on April 21 at the Independence Square in Colombo.
According to the Radical Centre, the event mark the birth anniversary of the late Mangala Samaraweera in the hopes of taking a step towards creating an inclusive Sri Lanka he envisioned, one which would function as a democracy based on the principle of ‘Unity in Diversity’.
Representatives of the Radical Centre said the event was held with the purpose of ending the Rajapaksa brand of politics as per the wishes of the thousands of protestors across the country and to build consensus between representatives of political and civil society organizations to establish a government that is responsible and accountable to the people.
The Radical Centre is an apolitical movement launched by the late Mangala Samaraweera comprising a group of multifaceted, multi-ethnic youth calling themselves as #truepatriots.
Protestors have occupied the entrance to the President’s Office for the tenth consecutive day on Monday (18), demanding Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign over the debt-ridden country’s worst economic crisis in memory.
Geetha Kumarasinghe, the new Minister of State for Cultural Affairs, questions whether the protests, which are blocking main roads and railways, are not ‘terrorism’.
“I take this opportunity to talk about the current situation in the country. Young children come to the Galle Face and grab the board to get rid of the mental turmoil that has befallen their lives. We’re really heartbroken about that. Who closed the railway and other main roads? What is expected of these? Isn’t this terrorism? Do innocent people do this? I say in this House today, stop saying Gota Go Home immediately. When his time comes he will leave. Then let’s go for a poll!”
Geetha Kumarasinghe said this while addressing Parliament yesterday (21) for the first time since receiving a ministerial post.
The British Tamils Forum (BTF) is releasing a 20-minute documentary film “Continuous Cycles of Violence and Genocide in Sri Lanka” to the Members of British Parliament and distinguished guests in Westminster Hall, British Parliament, London at 6:30pm on 27 April 2022.
This documentary depicts a succinct of the atrocity crimes inflicted on Tamil people since Sri Lanka attained its independence from British in 1948. Please invite your Member Parliament to participate this event.
BTF will release this documentary in YouTube to the public after 27 April 2022.
British Tamils Forum