January 23, Colombo (LNW): 955 more suspects have been apprehended under the ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice) Operation within the last 24 hours, ending at 12.30 am, the Ministry of Public Security disclosed.

Accordingly, 187 grams if heroin, 126 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) and 136 narcotic pills have been taken into custody, the Ministry added.

The Yukthiya Operation was launched in December last year to crackdown illicit activities across the island.

1. “Experts” of the UN express alarm at the security-driven approach of SL’s drug response: call on authorities to suspend & review “Operation Yukthiya” and focus on health & human rights policies: say “drug users have human rights & deserve to live lives with dignity”: lament the repression against suspected drug offenders is deeply worrying.
   
2. SJB National Organiser & MP Tissa Attanayake says the SJB would not legalise prostitution if they assume power: condemns NPP’s pledge to legalise prostitution under a future NPP administration: charge that such an inappropriate act would create cultural disputes & erode society.
   
3. Electricity Board Engineers’ Union says Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara is attempting to generate public anger towards the CEB staff: condemns the Minister’s statement that two-thirds of the loan interest paid by CEB employees is being reimbursed by the public through their electricity bills.
   
4. Dept of Census & Statistics says the overall rate of Inflation, as per the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) increased to 4.2% in December’23, compared to 2.8% in November’23: Food inflation increased to 1.6% in December’23 compared to -2.2% in November’23.
   
5. Death toll from the daring day-light shooting incident in Beliatta increases to 5: several Police teams deployed to investigate the shooting: Leader of the “Ape Janabala Party” (AJP) Saman Perera among the 5 persons shot dead: Ven Athureliye Rathana Thera is the MP nominated by the AJP.
   
6. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara files petition against the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill which the party claims is being introduced in an election year to repress opposition parties.
   
7. SL welcomes 142,162 tourists in the first 21 days of January’24: the country received 1,682 tourists in Jan’21 while the number rose to 82,327 in Jan’22.
   
8. Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana admits more doctors are leaving the country despite the so-called “recovery in the economy with higher tax revenue”: data shows that many professionals in health & education sectors leave the country in search of better remuneration mainly after the tax hikes.
   
9. Secretary General of Parliament Ms Kushani Rohanadeera says reports that there is constant sexual harassment towards female staff members and female MPs in Parliament and that proper investigations and measures are not being taken, are completely false.
   
10. ICC names SL Women’s Cricket Team Captain Chamari Athapaththu as the Captain of the “ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year” for 2023.

January 23, Colombo (LNW): Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera refuted claims of constant sexual harassment towards women staff and Members of Parliament within Parliament.

In a statement, she emphasised that impartial investigations are conducted under the guidance of the Speaker in response to reported incidents of disciplinary violations.

Addressing a specific case of sexual harassment, she confirmed the suspension of the implicated chief officer and the submission of the investigation report.

Additional investigations have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for legal action, she noted.

Rohanadeera dismissed false reports regarding the Leader of the Opposition being notified of harassment without proper action, stating that no such letter was received by the Leader of the Opposition.

As a woman heading the Parliament Secretariat, she highlighted the conducive environment allowing women to work without undue influence or violence.

The Secretary General expressed disappointment at the publication of baseless information aimed at damaging the reputation of the Parliament and the Speaker, condemning such reports.

January 23, Colombo (LNW): Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe announced a monthly welfare allowance of Rs. 2,000, starting from January 2024.

The disbursement will be facilitated through district secretaries and will benefit approximately 16,146 institutionalised individuals who have previously availed themselves of the ‘Samurdhi’ programme.

This initiative encompasses clergy in Piriven, residents of children’s homes, elderly care facilities, and individuals with disabilities residing in caregiving homes.

The move aims to provide ongoing support to vulnerable populations within institutional settings.

January 23, Colombo (LNW): Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana revealed a remarkable 91 per cent measles vaccination rate among children, showcasing the nation’s commitment to proactive healthcare amidst a recent resurgence of the disease post-eradication.

Addressing the media on Monday (22), Dr. Pathirana outlined key health priorities for 2024, with a central focus on disease prevention, strengthening primary healthcare services, and enhancing efficiency for patients’ prompt access to essential resources.

Despite this success, the Minister acknowledged the persistent challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Over 20 per cent of Sri Lankans grapple with diabetes, and the country holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest prevalence of high blood pressure among over-35s in South Asia.

Addressing these health concerns and their associated complications such as heart disease and stroke is vital for Sri Lanka’s long-term well-being, he emphasised.

In response to an aging population, Sri Lanka is proactively combating the rise of NCDs like memory impairment, eye diseases, and bone diseases through dedicated programmes.

Dengue fever, another pressing issue, is receiving special attention, with an urgent call for increased public collaboration alongside support from health and security departments.

Pathirana went on saying that combatting the rapid spread of dengue fever is a top priority, and asserted that the government is calling for all hands on deck.

While the government is working closely with health and security departments, public cooperation is crucial to curbing this outbreak, he added.

Acknowledging the existing drug shortage, the government is actively importing essential medicines, witnessing gradual reductions in shortages, he stressed.

The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to develop an online platform, in collaboration with the IT Departments of Moratuwa and Colombo Universities, aiming to bring transparency and efficiency to the entire medical supply and procurement process.

January 23, Colombo (LNW): United Nations experts expressed serious concern on Monday (22) over Sri Lanka’s aggressive security-centric approach to its drug response, calling for the immediate suspension and review of Operation ‘Yukthiya’ and urging authorities to adopt policies grounded in health and human rights.

The above concerns appear amidst the surfacing of allegations of human rights violations in the Yukthiya Operation, which was commenced in December last year to crack down illicit activities across the island.

The experts pointed out the fundamental human rights of drug users, emphasising their right to a life of dignity without encountering discrimination and stigmatisation.

They decried instances of arbitrary arrests affecting thousands of drug offenders from marginalised socio-economic backgrounds, with hundreds detained in mandatory military-operated rehabilitation centres.

Reports of torture and ill-treatment during Operation ‘Yukthiya’ were also noted.

“The current environment of severe repression against suspected drug offenders is deeply troubling,” the experts asserted.

They underscored the importance of rehabilitation being approached from a harm reduction perspective, respecting the autonomy and informed consent of drug users, including their right to refuse medication.

The experts recommended the immediate closure of compulsory rehabilitation centres, advocating for their replacement with voluntary, evidence-based, rights-oriented, and community-based social services.

They further expressed readiness to offer technical cooperation in this regard.

Calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and violations of due process and fair trial rights, the experts stressed the need to probe irregularities in the judicial process leading individuals to rehabilitation centres.

Furthermore, the UN experts urged the government of Sri Lanka to reassess its current legislation on drug offences and cease the involvement of armed forces in drug control and treatment activities, aligning practices with international human rights law and standards.

Concerns about Sri Lanka’s legislation on the treatment of suspected drug offenders were previously communicated to the government in a letter sent in 2023. The UN experts include Priya Gopalan (Chair-Rapporteur), Matthew Gillett (Vice-Chair on Communications), Miriam Estrada-Castillo, and Mumba Malila from the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; and Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the Right of Everyone to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health.

January 23, Colombo (LNW): The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Saman Dissanayake, has been designated as the Acting Defence Secretary, effective immediately and until the return of Defence Secretary (Rtd) General Kamal Gunaratne.

The Presidential Secretariat has clarified that this acting appointment is concurrent with Dissanayake’s regular responsibilities as the Additional Secretary (Civil Security and Development).

January 23, Colombo (LNW): The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) continued their investigation at the centre of the human immunoglobulin scam for the second consecutive day.

Acting under a court order, officials conducted a thorough search of the premises, seizing several computers and medicine samples for further examination.

The plant, owned by Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt) Ltd. in Amandoluwa, Seeduwa, was revisited as the primary suspect, Sudath Janaka Fernando, failed to cooperate during the initial inspection on January 8.

The second visit, conducted today, involved officials from various agencies, including engineers from the Lanka Electricity Company in Seeduwa, Scenes of Crime Officials (SOCO) in Seeduwa, Negombo Police, and Seeduwa Police.

The LECO Engineers facilitated the connection of the factory premises to the main electricity supply, resolving the non-cooperation encountered during the first visit when the chief suspect refused to reveal the principal switchboard.

During the recent operation, samples of an unidentified liquid medicine stored in bottles and vials were collected from refrigerators, suspected to be the same substances previously supplied as human immunoglobulin with fraudulent labeling.

Seven computers from the plant office of the main suspect were taken into custody by CID officials, with some hard disk drives already missing at that point.

The search operation, lasting approximately five hours, concluded with the NMRA officials sealing the plant, and the suspect was escorted back to the Welikada Remand Prison.

The case is scheduled to be presented before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today (23).