January 31, Colombo (LNW): Media and civil society organisations have jointly appealed to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, requesting careful consideration before endorsing the recently passed Online Safety Bill.

Expressing concerns about potential violations of freedom of expression and constitutional principles, the collective urged the Speaker to ensure full compliance with the directives issued by the Supreme Court.

In a letter addressed to Speaker Abeywardena, the Media, Civil Society, and Trade Union Collective to Rise against Oppressive Laws emphasised the need for a thorough examination of the legislation.

The letter highlighted the perceived haste in passing the Bill on January 24, without adequate discussion with stakeholders and, notably, without incorporating the Supreme Court’s directives.

The collective, representing various media and civil society groups, contested the parliamentary process, with opposition MPs asserting that the Bill was passed without due consideration of the amendments and guidelines mandated by the Supreme Court.

These directives had emerged from a series of 45 fundamental rights petitions challenging the draft Bill.

Expressing concern that such a scenario might constitute a violation of the Constitution, undermining the sovereignty of the people and potentially leading to contempt of court, the collective voiced strong objections to the legislation.

They emphasised their commitment to continuing the fight against regulations that impede freedom of expression and potentially harm the economy.

The groups accused the government of expediting the passage of the Online Safety Bill to counter opposition ahead of upcoming elections.

They urged Speaker Abeywardena to uphold his responsibility in ensuring parliamentary orders are followed, insisting on the incorporation of Supreme Court-directed amendments into the Bill before granting his approval.

As citizen activists and proponents of democracy, the collective respectfully requested Speaker Abeywardena to withhold consent to the Bill until full satisfaction that the Supreme Court’s orders and guidelines are seamlessly integrated.

The letter signifies their dedication to defending democratic values and safeguarding the right to free expression against regulations they deem detrimental to both democratic principles and economic well-being.

1. Govt starts acquisition of lands, mostly privately owned, for the Adani-backed 250MW Mannar Wind Power Project.
   
2. Group of undergraduates storm the main administrative building of the Kelaniya University in protest against police attacks on them: on the previous night, the students had demonstrated opposite the university against an invitation extended by the university administration to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to open a new administrative building at the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
   
3. International investors of SL ISBs say they are “extremely frustrated” over alleged Govt’s lack of engagement for months: allege that claims by Govt that it is making “good progress” on external debt re-structuring is a “distortion” and damages credibility & image of SL: value of ISBs increases from USD 12 bn to USD 13bn due to the delay so far in finalising settlement.
   
4. Police fire water cannons & tear gas to disperse SJB protesters near the Public Library, Colombo: one person injured & admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.
   
5. SLAF spokesman says 2 SLAF & 2 SL Army paratroopers suffered minor injuries due to their parachutes getting entangled while landing during Independence Day rehearsals.
   
6. SL Telecom Chairman Reyaz Mihular and 3 other directors abruptly resign: no reasons given: inside sources have indicated that Mihular & the other directors were asked to resign by the Govt which is the controlling shareholder.
   
7. Police attached to the Women’s and Children’s Bureau arrest a group of Parliament employees for allegedly abusing a fellow female staff member: Parliament Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando says these employees have already been interdicted as they were found guilty during an internal inquiry.
   
8. Head of the Tsunami Division of GSMB – Seismologist Nilmini Thaldena says people need not panic because the probability of a tsunami striking the coastal areas of SL is very low: also says even an earthquake is unlikely in SL due to its geological position.
   
9. Point Pedro Magistrate sentences 10 Indian fishermen to 2-year prison terms suspended for 5 years for poaching in the SL waters: also orders the owner of the trawler to be present in Court on 24th Oct’24 when the case will be next heard.
   
10. West Indies Under-19 Cricket team beats SL Under-19 team by 3 wickets in their encounter in the ICC Cricket Championship held in South Africa: SL Under-19s – 231 in 50 overs: Dinura Kalupahana 53, Supun Waduge 31, Malsha Tharupathi 42; WI Under-19s – 232/7 in 49.3 overs: Dinura Kalupahana 2-39, Vishwa Lahiru 2-32, Sineth Jayawardena 2-39.

January 30, Colombo (LNW): In a recent development, law enforcement authorities utilised water cannons and deployed tear gas to disperse the protest organised by the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), near the Public Library in Colombo.

The protest, organised by the SJB, aimed to voice opposition to the government’s policies and actions. Law enforcement agencies intervened, resorting to crowd control measures to manage the gathering.

Water cannons and tear gas were deployed to disperse the protesters and restore order.

By: Editor (LGBTIQ)

January 30, Colombo (LNW): In a historic initiative, the National Police Academy inaugurated the first-ever series of training and sensitisation programmes aimed at educating in-service police officers on the Rights of people with diverse Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities, Gender Expressions, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC).

The opening ceremony of this pioneering programme was graced by distinguished guests, including Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), Supreme Court Justice LBT Dehideniya, and Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Asanga Karavita, on behalf of the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The event also saw the participation of Acting Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, HE Iwan Rugtens, DIG Renuka Jayasundara, Chief of the Police Women and Children Division, and Focal Point for the LGBTQIA+ Community.

Trainers leading the programme also joined hands with these eminent figures.

This initiative is hailed as a significant milestone in advancing the LGBTQIA+ movement within the Sri Lanka Police, signifying a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.

The comprehensive training programmes aim to raise awareness, enhance understanding, and promote respectful engagement with individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

The engagement of high-ranking officials and the commitment to such training initiatives underscore the evolving landscape of diversity and inclusion within the law enforcement community.

As advocates for inclusivity and human rights, the Sri Lanka Police Academy’s proactive approach is commendable, aligning with global efforts to create police forces that respect and protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This training initiative is poised to contribute significantly to the ongoing efforts to build a more equitable and tolerant society within the framework of law enforcement.

By: Staff Writer

January 30, Colombo (LNW): The new Anti-Corruption Act which is to be enacted this year contains provisions to strengthen the mechanisms for asset declaration.

Publication of Asset Declarations for senior officials (President, Prime Minister, ministers) on a designated website in line with Anti Corruption Law by July 2024, ministry of justice sources revealed.

The anticorruption framework is in the process of undergoing major changes. The recent adoption of the Anticorruption Act (ACAACA) introduced substantial improvements in the legal framework for anticorruption and organizational arrangements for confronting corruption.

The Act will go far in aligning Sri Lanka’s legal framework with international commitments and good practice standards.

The Bribery or Corruption Allegation Investigation Commission has issued a stern directive, setting a deadline for the submission of asset declarations from various high-profile figures, including the President, the Prime Minister, public servants, and media heads.

This move comes in accordance with the recently enacted Bribery or Corruption Allegations Act.

Under the provisions of the new legislation, approximately 150,000 individuals, comprising politicians, public servants, and media leaders, are mandated to submit detailed asset and liability statements to the Bribery or Corruption Allegations Commission on an annual basis.

The scope of the directive extends to individuals across thirty-one different sectors. The deadline for compliance with this mandatory disclosure is fixed at March 31st of each year, adding a sense of urgency to the process.

While these steps are critical, and will be reviewed in greater detail, accurate asset declaration mechanisms are only one element of an effective conflict of interest (CoI) system, sources said.

Equal attention must be placed on clarity in elaborating a definition what constitutes a conflict (which may extend well beyond ownership of assets), training officials in their obligations and responsibilities, and establishing procedures to provide rapid and consistent guidance on how to manage a conflict once it has been declared.

Public reporting on system performance is necessary to demonstrate the probity of officials, and officials found to have acted in non-conformity with CoI requirements must be appropriately and visibly sanctioned.

Approximately 90% of jurisdictions have legislation requiring some form of asset disclosure due to their potential value in helping promote a culture of integrity. Less evident is the fact that asset disclosures can also help public officials build trust in their work and, therefore, in public institutions.

Finally, asset disclosure systems can promote key partnerships with civil society and journalists.