June 19, Colombo (LNW): oPresident Ranil Wickremesinghe issued an apology for the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to enforce cremations during the COVID-19 pandemic, a policy that disregarded the religious beliefs of Muslim and Christian communities. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, the President emphasized that every citizen should have the right to choose how their final rites are conducted.

“In this country, any person should have the right to determine whether he or she is buried, cremated, or given to the medical faculty,” President Wickremesinghe stated.

The President referenced the controversial mandate implemented by the previous Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government, which required the cremation of COVID-19 victims, including Muslims and Christians, despite their religious objections. This decision faced widespread criticism from the United Nations and various human rights organizations.

In February 2021, following sustained protests from Muslim and civil rights groups, the Government rescinded the regulation initially introduced in March 2020. President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the suffering caused by the policy, particularly among the Muslim community, but also among Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians who prefer burial rites.

“During this time, there was a lot of pain, witnessed mainly by the Muslims, but there are also Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians who also like to bury. We would like to apologize to them for what has happened,” he said.

President Wickremesinghe recounted that many countries initially halted burials as a precautionary measure, and the World Health Organization (WHO) subsequently reviewed the practice. In Sri Lanka, a committee recommended against allowing burials, and the Supreme Court upheld this decision, leaving the Government no choice at the time.

“But now all this is over,” the President affirmed.

With the issue now resolved, the Government plans to introduce legislation that will guarantee the right to burial, cremation, or body donation to medical institutions. President Wickremesinghe expressed his hope that the House will support the implementation of this Bill, ensuring respect for the diverse religious and cultural practices regarding final rites.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): A minor tremor was reported in the Vavuniya area late last night, according to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). The tremor, which measured 2.3 on the Richter scale, occurred between 10:55 p.m. and 11:10 p.m. on the 18th of June.

Residents in Vavuniya and Medawachchiya felt the tremor, which was recorded at seismic stations in Pallekele, Mahakanadarawa, and Hakmana. No significant damage or injuries have been reported as a result of the tremor.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): Japan is experiencing a record surge in cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a dangerous and highly fatal bacterial infection. As of June 2, the Health Ministry has reported 977 cases, surpassing last year’s record of 941 preliminary infections, marking the highest numbers since statistics began in 1999. This year alone, 77 deaths were recorded between January and March.

STSS, with a mortality rate of up to 30%, is a rare but severe infection that can escalate rapidly, causing fever, muscle pain, vomiting, low blood pressure, swelling, and multiple organ failure. Despite treatment, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that as many as three out of ten individuals with STSS may die from the infection.

Most cases of STSS are caused by group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteria, commonly responsible for fever and throat infections in children. In rare instances, the bacteria can produce toxins that enable it to invade the bloodstream, leading to severe illnesses like toxic shock. Strep A can also result in necrotizing fasciitis, a “flesh-eating” disease, which may necessitate limb amputation. Patients with compromised immune systems, such as those with cancer or diabetes, are particularly at risk.

The surge in invasive group A strep infections follows the relaxation of Covid-19 control measures like masking and social distancing, which had previously helped curb such infections. Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported 97 deaths from STSS last year, the second-highest in the past six years. Experts have yet to determine the exact cause behind the recent rise in cases.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): Rizly Illyas, former president of Sri Lanka Rugby, asked the Sports Ombudsman to take action against the officials who illegally facilitated the issuance of passports to three foreign rugby players Fijian Emori Vakaulagi, Joseph Dunn, and Apisai Nakaliwa in order to represent Sri Lanka. It is reported that a request has been made to Chulananda Perera.

Since Chulananda Perera is a former immigration controller who understands the seriousness of this legal offense, internal sources at the Ministry of Sports indicate that the Minister, along with officials from the Sports Ministry and the Sports Development Department, will also be informed about the actions to be taken regarding this offense. Asanga Seneviratne (then President), Lasitha Gunaratne (Vice President), Nalin De Silva (Secretary), and Rohan Gunaratne (Executive Director) of the Sri Lanka Rugby Union were involved in issuing the licenses at the time and are held responsible for this offense. These names were also mentioned by Illyas. In this regard, no legal action has yet been taken by the parties involved in the rugby field or at the level of the Sports Ministry. Illyas indicated in his complaint that the International Rugby Federation imposed a fine of £50,000 for the offense of preparing passports to falsely represent Fijians as citizens of Sri Lanka, allowing them to play for Sri Lanka. Additionally, the officials responsible for this violation have not taken action to settle the fine. Therefore, since Sri Lanka Rugby was unable to pay the fine, World Rugby deducted the fine proportionately over the years from the annual grants or funds allocated for the island’s development activities. This further hampered the progress of the country’s sport, as Illyas points out, referring to the impact on the game of rugby.

Rizly Illyas also points out that the debt load on rugby is 55 million rupees, relating to the season under Asanga Seneviratne and Lasitha Gunaratne. He requests that the allegations presented to the ombudsman be directed to a forensic audit. Rizly Illyas, who expects justice to be served by presenting these allegations, points out that Sports Minister Harin Fernando has made good progress since taking over the Sports Ministry. Rizly Illyas, who views the appointment of the ombudsman as a quality measure, has submitted his allegations in anticipation of a fair decision regarding the irregular administrative decisions and poor financial management that have affected the existence and growth of Sri Lanka Rugby. However, the ombudsman does not need to emphasize the gravity of bringing the country into international disrepute by contributing to the violation of immigration laws outlined in this indictment. It is also unnecessary to underscore the seriousness of misleading immigration control and engaging in improper actions that undermine the department’s processes as part of this scandal. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the course of action in this regard, as the ombudsman holds the position based on his tenure as a controller who implemented significant reforms within the immigration department.

However, it is a bitter truth that due to the intertwined relationship between Sri Lanka’s politics and high society, there exists a social classification where some people are affected by numerous legal matters while others are not. Hence, those who have violated immigration laws in rugby have not been punished but privileged so far. The official appointed to facilitate the rehabilitation of the disbanded rugby administration is the same official targeted by these accusations. But in recent times, we have seen court rulings coming to the effect that even a minister who supported the government under this law lost her parliamentary representation. Therefore, the request for this intervention presents an opportunity to instill some hope, given the esteemed responsibility of someone who has extensive experience as an immigration controller and understands the situation very well.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): State Minister for Indigenous Medicine, Sisira Jayakody, announced that the internship training for Ayurveda graduates, which had been halted due to the ongoing crisis in the country, has recommenced. He shared this update at a press briefing titled ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ held at the President Media Centre (PMC) on June 18.

Jayakody highlighted that the internship program provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 67,500, with the government allocating Rs. 320 million to support this initiative. He revealed that, as of June 3rd, internship training has started for 207 graduates of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine. Furthermore, training for an additional 153 graduates is scheduled to begin by August 12th, bringing the total number of graduates receiving training to 418.

The State Minister also mentioned that the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine and the Department of Ayurveda are actively working on expanding the registration of traditional and indigenous medicine in the country. Applications for registration are open until June 30th.

Jayakody also addressed the issue of trade union actions, criticizing some unions for prioritizing their privileges over national duties, which he argued contributes to the country’s bleak future. He remarked on the inconsistencies in public expectations, pointing out that while some advocate for emulating Japan’s work ethic and Australia’s education system, they often resist implementing similar standards in Sri Lanka. He noted that many parents are willing to sell their properties to fund their children’s education abroad, citing disruptions caused by student unions and protests as barriers to educational reforms.

He urged the public to approach these issues with greater understanding and cooperation.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena highlighted the critical need to protect wetlands as a vital resource to address future flood prevention challenges in Colombo. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the First Wetland Link International (WLI) Asia-Oceania Conference 2024 at Water’s Edge, the Prime Minister stressed the collective responsibility of safeguarding urban wetlands.

Addressing the conference attendees, the Prime Minister urged academics to develop common solutions for wetland management, recognizing the universal nature of the issues affecting urban wetlands.

“This conference is of utmost importance as wetlands are fundamental to the well-being of residents in major cities, and Colombo is no exception. Even the most degraded wetlands provide a range of benefits that contribute to human well-being in the city. The Colombo wetlands complex spans six local authorities, including the Municipal Councils of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Colombo, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Maharagama, and Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia,” the Prime Minister stated.

He noted that urban wetlands in these areas have been integrated into the city’s development planning. The 150-year-old wetlands have been reclaimed and managed to ensure their sustainability for another 150 years. As both the Minister of Local Government and the Prime Minister, Gunawardena expressed his special interest in this subject.

The First WLI Asia-Oceania Conference began at Diyasaru Park on June 16 and will continue until June 22 under the theme “Wetlands and Wetland Centres for Ecotourism.” The event features representatives from wetland centers in over 15 countries, including members of the Ramsar Regional Centre East Asia (RRC-EA) and the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) from the UK.

The conference is organized by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) in collaboration with the Western Province Tourist Board and the Climate Change Office of the Presidential Secretariat.

June 19, Colombo (LNW): Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Ministry Secretary M. N. Ranasinghe announced on Monday that the country’s dispute settlement process outside of court has been significantly strengthened, with an impressive settlement rate of nearly 70%, gaining international recognition.

At a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre, Ranasinghe detailed several initiatives aimed at improving access to justice. The Judicial Zoning Committee has proposed the establishment of new courts to serve rural areas. Consequently, a Tourism Court has been set up in Morawewa, with plans for additional courts in Medawachchiya, Kahatagasdigiliya, Nochchiyagama, Kalavanchikudi, Narammala, and Kalawana. Over the past two years, several new courts have been established.

Ranasinghe emphasized that from 2022 to 2024, Sri Lanka has seen unprecedented legal reforms, with 59 reforms passed in Parliament and more in progress. The Legal Draftsman Department prepared 273 drafts in 2022 and 299 drafts in 2023, supporting various ministries.

Efforts to digitize the judicial system have been highlighted as a major solution to expedite legal processes and foster economic development. The amendment of the Constitution increased the number of Supreme Court judges by 14, and 76 judicial officers were recruited in the last two years. Additionally, 34 individuals were promoted to High Court Judges, facilitating the establishment of new courts.

Significant legislative actions over the past two years include the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Bill, the Hydrology Bill, and amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The recently enacted Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill mandates that candidates report their expenditures within 21 days of election results.

Additional Secretary (Legal) Piyumanthi Peiris noted that the Commercial High Court now allows proceedings entirely in English, and online hearings are underway. A new arbitration law has been submitted for approval to resolve cases outside traditional court settings.

Further advancements include the implementation of a Court Community Platform software and electronic systems for bail applications and payments. Digital display boards have been installed in several Colombo courts to manage courtroom crowds effectively.

Additional Secretary (Engineering) S. A. K. Subasinghe reported significant budget allocations for judicial infrastructure, resulting in the opening of court complexes in Ratnapura, Welimada, and Teldeniya, among other projects.

Government Analyst D. Seneviratne highlighted substantial increases in report issuances, reflecting departmental growth. Prisons Commissioner General H.M.T.N. Upuldeniya noted successful prison reforms aimed at reducing overcrowding and modernizing facilities.

The press conference underscored the Ministry’s commitment to legal reforms and the digitization of the judicial system, which are expected to enhance efficiency and support economic development in Sri Lanka.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles announced in Parliament that a total of 58,304 individuals were granted dual citizenship in Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2020. This announcement was made in response to a question posed by SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilaka.

Minister Alles provided detailed statistics on dual citizenship applications and approvals over the six-year period:

• 2015: 17,126 applications received, 16,184 granted.
• 2016: 14,802 applications received, 13,933 granted.
• 2017: 9,549 applications received, 8,881 granted.
• 2018: 9,750 applications received, 8,747 granted.
• 2019: 8,702 applications received, 7,405 granted.
• 2020: 3,988 applications received, 3,154 granted.

In total, 63,917 applications were submitted for dual citizenship during this period.

The Minister also addressed issues related to the passport application process, highlighting that while a one-day service is available for a fee of Rs. 20,000, standard passport issuance under normal procedures takes about two weeks. He noted challenges in the online application system, such as incorrect contact details and unmonitored email addresses, which can cause delays.

Minister Alles emphasized the importance of accurate data entry and communication to ensure a smooth and timely passport application process.

June 19, Colombo (LNW):The prevailing rainy conditions in the southwestern part of the island are expected to intensify over the next few days, starting from today (19th).

Showers will occur intermittently in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces, as well as in the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Matara. Some areas in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, along with the Galle and Matara districts, may experience fairly heavy showers exceeding 75 mm.

In the evening or night, showers or thundershowers may occur in a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces.

Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph are expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, as well as in the Northern, North-central, and North-western provinces, and in the Trincomalee, Hambantota, and Monaragala districts.