Speaking to reporters at the UNP headquarters Monday June 03 morning, Bandara also claimed that neither opposition leader Sajith Premadasa nor National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake have spoken against his proposal.

“I have made no statement that’s undemocratic. My statement was in line with provisions of the constitution,” the former UNP parliamentarian said.

He quoted Section 86 of Chapter XIII of the constitution which says: “The President may, subject to the provisions of Article 85, submit to the People by Referendum any matter which in the opinion of the President is of national importance.”

Sections 87.1, 87.2 also elaborates on the matter and describes the parliament’s role, said Bandara.

“I spoke of a referendum and parliament’s duty. Neither of this is antidemocratic or unconstitutional. As per the constitution, priority should be given to ensuring people’s right to life,” he said.

“Some parties may be against what I proposed. They may criticse me. But what I ask them is to come to one position as political parties and make a statement on whether they’re ready to continue the ongoing economic programme,” he added.

Bandara claimed that, though thee has been much criticism of his proposal for a postponement of the presidential election, President Wickremesinghe’s rivals Premadasa and Dissanayake have yet to remark on the matter.

“I suggested that [Premadasa] make this proposal in parliament and for [Dissanayake] to second it. But I don’t see that either Premadasa nor Dissanayake is opposed to it. To date, I have not seen nor heard either of them utter a word against this. I believe they have no objection to my proposal which was made for the betterment of the country,” he said. (Colombo/Jun03/2024)

The Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) conducted by the Institute for Health Policy showed that, according to its Multilevel Regression and Poststratification (MRP) provisional estimates of presidential election voting intent, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Dissanayake and main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lader Premadasa were now neck and neck while United National Party (UNP) leader Wickremesinghe had made some gains. A generic candidate for the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had the support of 9 percent of the people surveyed, up 1 percentage point from March.

These estimates use the January 2024 revision of the IHP’s SLOTS MRP model. The latest update is for all adults and uses data from 17,134 interviews conducted from October 2021 to 19 May 2024, including 444 interviews during April 2024. According to the institute, 100 bootstraps were run to capture model uncertainty. Margins of error are assessed as 1–4% for April.

SLOTS polling director and IHP director Ravi Rannan-Eliya was quoted as saying: “The SLOTS polling in April suffered from a lower response rate owing to the New Year holidays, and we think this may have skewed the sample in favour of SJB supporters. The early May interviews partly compensated for this, and it’s possible that our June interviews may result in further revisions
to our model estimates.

Rannan-Eliya also noted that a number of other internet polls may be overestimating support for the NPP or its main constituent party the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) by about 10 percent.

“We’ve been asked about some other recent internet polls that showed much higher levels of support for the NPP/JVP. We think these over-estimate NPP/JVP support. SLOTS routinely collects data from all respondents on whether they have internet access, and whether they are willing to participate in an internet survey. These data show that NPP/JVP supporters are far more likely to have internet access and even more likely to be willing to respond to internet surveys, and this difference remains even after controlling for past voting behaviour. Our data indicates internet polls may overestimate NPP/JVP support by about 10 percent, and for this kind of reason we have previously decided that the time is not right to do internet polling,” he said.

According to the IHP, its SLOTS MRP methodology first estimates the relationship between a wide variety of characteristics about respondents and their opinions – in this case, ‘If there was a Presidential Election today, who would you vote for?’– in a multilevel statistical model that also smooths month to month changes. It then uses a large data file that is calibrated to the national population to predict voting intent in each month since October 2021, according to what the multilevel model says about their probability of voting for various parties (‘post-stratification’) at each point in time. The multilevel model was estimated 100 times to reflect underlying uncertainties in the model and to obtain margins of error, the institute said. (Colombo/Jun03/2024)

The report, supported by the Women in Work programme, a partnership between IFC and the Australian government, also highlights Sri Lanka’s leadership in board-level gender diversity, with women holding 27 percent of board positions, compared to 20 percent in Nepal and 14 percent in Bangladesh.

The IFC said in a statement on Monday June 03 that the report, Women’s Advancement in Banking in Emerging South Asian Countries, aims to optimise opportunities that enable women to advance to senior roles in the banking industry across South Asia. The multi-country study, among the first of its kind in the region, focuses on private-sector commercial banks in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, where women constitute 30 percent of the banking workforce compared to the global average of 52 percent, the IFC said.

Research conducted across seven leading private commercial banks in Sri Lanka, representing 41 percent of the market share, formed the basis of insights on Sri Lanka.

“While Sri Lanka’s banking industry is close to achieving parity in hiring women and is considerably ahead of other countries in terms of women’s share in the workforce, women’s progression does not match their career aspirations or progression rates for men. Representation drops from 40 percent at entry-level to 27 percent in middle management and further to 20 percent in senior management roles,” the IFC said in its statement.

IFC’s Regional Director for South Asia Imad N Fakhoury was quoted as saying that investing in the potential of women leaders isn’t just about equality, it’s about unlocking the full spectrum of talent and driving sustainable growth–exactly what Sri Lanka needs for a resilient economic recovery.

“Addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by female bankers requires comprehensive and collective action, rather than isolated interventions. We must tackle these barriers—whether policy, process, or culture–related—in a targeted manner, creating an inclusive banking sector and driving greater economic growth,” he said.

The report underlines how barriers such as lack of fair evaluations, sociocultural constraints and non-conducive work environments curtail women’s growth prospects in the Sri Lankan banking industry. While banks and policymakers have initiated several steps to improve women’s participation and career progression, stronger commitment from leadership is essential to create inclusive workplaces. According to the IFC, the report reveals skepticism among many employees, including senior leaders and more than 50 percent of middle managers, regarding the importance of female leadership for businesses to be competitive.

Previous research indicates that commercial banks with at least 15 percent of women in senior management achieve up to 33 percent higher return on equity. A growing body of evidence further links an increase in women’s representation in organisations to better performance on business metrics, the study found.

“This comprehensive, data-based report is a strong starting point for the banking sector to improve long-term policies allowing women and men to achieve their potential. The sector – as well as other organisations – should take note of findings that show an increase in women’s representation in senior manager or higher roles delivers higher returns and stronger business outcomes,” Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Paul Stephens  was quoted as saying.

The report also recommends targeted efforts in Sri Lanka to bolster women’s participation and advancement in commercial banking. These include establishing organisational commitment and accountability for gender diversity, building equitable and safe workplaces, and developing supportive ecosystems, networks, and professional development opportunities. These findings and recommendations aim to guide industry actors—C-suite leaders in commercial banks, policymakers, industry bodies, and investors—towards increasing women’s representation in leadership in the banking industry, the IFC said. (Colombo/Jun03/2024)

Under BIMReN Split-Site Doctoral Fellowships, doctoral candidates in BIMSTEC member countries get a research grant of up to 1 million Indian rupees and the opportunity to pursue studies at Indian research labs for 6-12 months.

The full statement is reproduced below:

Government of India has launched BIMReN (BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network), a joint-initiative of MEA and the Bay of Bengal Programme-Inter Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO), to facilitate sustainable development of blue economy by networking researchers and research institutions in BIMSTEC countries.

2. BIMReN aims to enable PhD students from BIMSTEC countries to conduct doctoral research in India and facilitate collaborative research among scientists / academicians from BIMSTEC countries through:

i. BIMReN Split-Site Doctoral Fellowships, which offers doctoral candidates in BIMSTEC member countries a Research Grant of up to INR 1 million and the opportunity to pursue studies at Indian research labs for 6-12 months.

ii. Twinning Research Projects, aimed at facilitating collaborations between institutions and individuals from BIMSTEC member countries, to work together on research programmes of regional interest, with an associated grant of up to INR 5 million per project of tenure of 24 months.

3. Researchers and academic institutions engaged in research in fisheries, marine or ocean sciences from across the BIMSTEC region would stand to benefit from the program. Call for the first round of entries is open until 30 June 2024. Detailed information, including features of the program and guidelines for application may also be found at: https://www.bobpigo.org/pages/view/bimren

4. For any clarifications, the following nodal point may be contacted: Dr. P Krishnan, Director, Bay of Bengal Programme – Inter Governmental Organisation, Email: info@bobpigo.org, Telephone: +91 44 42040024.

Trump is expected to be sentenced on July 11 but Trumps lawyers are also expected to appeal the decision.

Trump slammed the judge as ‘corrupt’ and claimed he was a ‘very innocent man’ after the jury delivered the verdict.

The trial should have been held in a different location where there were more Republicans instead of the New York, where he did not win, he said.

However many Trump businesses had been based for years in New York.

Reporters in the courtroom said the jury was widely expected to go home for the day for further deliberations and those present were ‘stunned’ by the verdict that came at the end of the day.

Trump is the first ex US president to be convicted.

He will still be the Republican candidate for president.

Trump’s fund-raising website crashed in what the Republican activists said was a rush by his supporters to donate.

Trump is also facing trials for inciting a ‘riot’ in Washington. (Colombo/May31/2024)

“Sri Lanka is working closely with the Government of Russia to repatriate Sri Lankans who are in the front lines. We are optimistic that we will be able to resolve this matter swiftly with close cooperation between both governments.”

The first meeting with Sri Lanka diplomats and Russian officials is to be held today.

“Today in Moscow, there will be a meeting in the Defence Ministry, between the diplomatic mission and defence attaché, with high-ranking military officials,” Russia’s ambassador to Colombo Levan Dzhagaryan said in Colombo in a joint press conference with the state minister.

“That would be the first step, in the continuous efforts to settle the situation.”

Sri Lanka was also planning to send a delegation to meet Russian defense officials.

Returnees have said about 600 to 800 Sri Lankans may be at the warfront working for Russian private military companies.

So far 26 have returned and 14 are ‘missing’, Minister Balasuriya said.

Returnees have said they were promised high salaries and told that they would be camp helpers or guarding captured territory.

Instead, they were sent immediately to the frontline which were killing fields teeming with Ukraine drones.

Some have got into debt to pay agents to go to Russia and are not being paid the full salaries, Minister Balasuriya said.

“Whenever they are getting paid their salaries are getting deducted and some of these people have come and complained to us,” he said.

Several agents including retired senior military officers have been arrested by the Police for trafficking of persons. (Colombo/May30/2024)

Sri Lankans are among 36 countries added to a list of 57 countries that would get 60 day stays under the scheme, The Bangkok Post reported.

The new countries eligible for ‘Destination Thailand Visa’ include Albania, Cambodia, China, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Romania and Uzbekistan.

Visitors who want to work and visit tourist destinations will be able to get five-year visas valid for 180 days, extendable for another 180 days, the government spokesman Chai Wacharonke was quoted in the news report.

The visa will allow foreign students of higher education to stay for one year after graduation and work, instead of having to leave the country immediately after finishing their course.

“They can find work during the extended period, especially in the fields that we need,” the spokesman said.

Visitors over 50 years who want long-stay visas currently need to have health insurance coverage worth 3 million baht. This has now been reduced to 440,000 baht (400,000 for inpatient treatment and 40,000 for outpatient cover).

The cabinet also approved the expansion of e-visa application services at Thai consulates and embassies from 47 to 94 locations, commencing in September. (Colombo/May30/2024)

The United Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution in March 2021 that has given mandate for the global body to establish a mechanism to gather evidences outside the country over alleged human rights violations during and after a 26-year war ended in 2009.

The resolution has allowed the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) “to collect, consolidate, analyse and preserve information and evidence and to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction”.

The resolution was approved despite strong protest by the Sri Lankan government which said the move was infringing its sovereign rights.

Sarath Weerasekera, a legislator and retired Navy Admiral as well as the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security said he has “summoned” representatives of Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, chief of all three forces, and attorney general to review external mechanisms that has been established as per resolution 46/1 in Geneva about the evidence gathering mechanism.

“It is a mechanism to gather evidence against the leaders of such military and elected leaders who gave orders,” Weerasekera told reporters at a media briefing on Wednesday in Colombo.

INTERNATIONAL JURISTICTIONS

“Though our government and Foreign Ministry had rejected this mechanism, this process is now on. According to this mechanism, legal cases can be filed in different countries under international jurisdictions against the military leaders and those officials who gave orders to the military,” he said.

“Already the UN Human Right Commissioner has looked into if legal actions can be taken by various countries against those involved. If that happens they can take our military and political leaders to International Court of Justice ( ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC). We have that threat now.”

“That will have an impact on the country’s national security because such step will demotivate our military.”

Since the end of the war in 2009, Sri Lanka has strongly rejected any human rights violation and said it had maintained zero casualties in its final war.

However, the UN has repeatedly said it has found credible evidence of nondiscriminatory killing by both Sri Lanka military and the fighters of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the final phase of the war.

The new move comes as the island nation is likely to face another resolution to pressure Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses at the next UNHRC meeting in four months, right groups say.

Already select Sri Lankan military and political leaders are facing some targeted travel bans and freezing of financial assets mainly by some Western nations.

TRAVEL BANS 

A new OHCHR report released on May 18 has already recommended targeted sanctions on officials responsible for disappearances in Sri Lanka since 1970 and has called for justice outside the country for the families of victims.

A limited number of Western nations have already imposed targeted sanctions, including travel bans for some Sri Lankan political and military leaders, after finding credible information about human rights violations.

The United States has imposed a travel ban on former Army Chief Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members, Navy intelligence officer Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, army officer Prabath Bulathwatta, and former Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda, citing human rights violations, the recent UN report said.

Canada last year imposed financial sanctions to freeze the assets of former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, citing rights abuses.

Some top Sri Lankan military officials have been deprived of taking part in lucrative UN Peacekeeping Missions due to human rights allegations during the war.

Human rights analysts say some Sri Lankan political and military leaders are still unaware that they have been blacklisted by Western nations for rights abuses and will only become aware of such measures when they request visas from these countries.

Weerasekera admitted that there is a travel ban for senior retired military leader Shagi Gallage and the current defence secretary Kamal Gunaratne as well.

“Terrorism is no more local or regional. It is global and transnational. Therefore there has to be a concerted effort from the part of the international community to address this menace,” he said.

“We in fact defeated a terrorist group that has been banned by 32 countries. So other countries should support us. The denial of visa is wrong. We see it as a move opposing our anti-terrorism moves.”

“This is a violation of Geneva act. This is an act totally demotivating our armed forces.”

The Rajapaksas and military leaders have denied any wrongdoing, and successive governments have rejected an independent international investigation into alleged human rights violations, citing infringement on the country’s sovereignty.

Tamil families have been waiting for justice and accountability from successive governments since 2009. Rights groups say the Sri Lankan government has been dragging most of the local probes of such human rights abused accusations including thousands of forced disappearances. (Colombo/May 30/2024)

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday May 29, Gunawardena said the date for the presidential election are for 2024 and that the constitution provides for the election commission to call elections.

“According to the constitution, it is the election commission that has the power to call a presidential election within the due dates. It cannot be called early or later. The provisions are there in the constitution,” he said.

“The dates are this year,” he added.

Responding to questions on safeguarding democracy, the prime minister said the government had in fact restored democracy.

“We have restored democracy since the night it was destroyed,” he said.

“A group that came to shut down and destroy parliament were chased away and a multi-party government was established. Do not forget that. That was done for democracy,” he added.

Gunawardena said the current parliament can continue till August 2025.

“If needed they can go home early. Or they can declare themselves that they want to go home. There is a system to do that,” he said.

Parliamentary, provincial and local government elections will all follow the presidential election, according to Gunawardena.

“What anyone says without responsibility, something that was not discussed at the government at any moment, hurriedly expressed to get the country worked up will not be allowed in a democratic government and parliament,” he said.

The prime minister was referrering to a statement made by UNP general secretary Palitha Range Bandara earlier Tuesday morning, callig for a referendum to postpone both presidential and parliamentary elections by two years to extend President Wickremesinghe’s term to continue ongoing economic reforms.

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara also distanced himsel from the UNP general secretary’s statement.

Related:

Sri Lanka govt distances itself from UNP call for postponing elections

(Colombo/May29/2024)

Sabry met the Russian Ambassador in Colombo Levan S Dzhagaryan on Wednesday.

“We addressed the urgent situation of Sri Lankans being deployed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and agreed on immediate steps to resolve these issues,” the minister said on social media platform X (twitter).

“Russia will now require Sri Lanka Defence Ministry clearance for visit visas of ex-servicemen.”

The upcoming visit to Russia will enable further discussions to find a solution to this matter, Sabry said.

A Sri Lankan delegation including State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne will leave to Moscow “soon” to have discussions over concerns over hundreds of the island nation’s ex-solders now joined Russia-Ukraine war, Sabry said earlier.

At least 16 Sri Lankans are reported to have been killed and around 600 likely to have joined as combatants mainly to Russian side, taking risk for higher salary.

Related stories

Sri Lanka delegation to visit Moscow soon for discussions over ex-soldiers in Russia-Ukraine war

Over 200 Sri Lanka ex-soldiers dead in Russia-Ukraine frontline as drone fodder, escapee says

Returnees have said hundreds of Sri Lankan ex-soldiers and others are serving in Ukraine-Russia frontlines with most being duped that they were sent for support work as camp helpers. (Colombo/May29/2024)

A person of Sri Lankan descent or “whose citizenship of sri Lanka has ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act” as well as a foreign spouse would be eligible to apply after six months of marriage under the new regulations.

However, if the marriage is dissolved before 5 years, the PR status would automatically cease.

A person of Sri Lanka descent is someone whose parents, grand parents or great grand parents were born in or are still citizens of the island.

A fee of 1,000 dollars would be charged. Children would also be allowed PR status at 400 dollars.

In Sr Lanka regulations issued by gazette (subsidiary legislation) by most laws, usually have to be presented to parliament before they are implemented by the agency concerned.

Ex-Sri Lankans earlier had to apply for dual citizenship, which was not allowed by some countries.

Download Permanant Residence 2383-17-sri-lanka-permanent-residence-visa-regulations-EN.

However permanent resident status is provided by many countries.

Sri Lanka’s PR status allows persons to work, run businesses, buy or inherit property.

There are large numbers of Sri Lankans who have obtained citizenship in foreign countries who have not applied for dual citizenship.

Sri Lanka also does not have a naturalization path unlike Western nations which leads to them exiting whatever assets they have in this country and investing it in the new countries.

A controversy has also arisen at the moment with legislators losing their parliamentary seats due to being foreign citizens. (Colombo/May29/2024)

“A delegation will leave and will include the State Minister, parliamentarians, and Defence Secretary,” Sabry told EconomyNext after he held discussions with the families of the Sri Lankans deployed as combatants in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Tuesday.

At least 16 Sri Lankans are reported to have been killed and around 600 likely to have joined as combatants mainly to Russian side, taking risk for higher salary.

Returnees have said hundreds of Sri Lankan ex-soldiers and other are serving in Ukraine-Russia frontlines with most being duped that they were sent for support work as camp helpers.

Sri Lankan ex-soldiers have been recruited by several teams of people on the promise of high salaries for working as camp helpers. Sri Lanka has already arrested two military officers who were involved in one recruitment team.

Returnees from the frontlines around Donetsk oblast has said over 200 Sri Lankans may have died and more are dying from a sophisticated drone warfare unleashed by Ukraine.

Ukraine has developed so-called Kamikaze drones as well as larger one (Baba Yaga) which can shoot RPGs and other weapons at ground targets. (Colombo/May 29/2024)

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara responding to questions from journalists on Tuesday May 28 said all political parties represented in parliament are free to make proposals, but the government would have to make a final decision.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe currently stands as an independent candidate, according to Nanayakkara, though he has yet to formally declare his candidacy.

“The president is an independent person. Yes, the UNP is his party. The UNP can make such a proposal. When a party makes such a proposal, it can be considered. When an early parliamentary election was proposed, we considered it and decided whether to hold that or the presidential election,” said Nanayakkara.

“Similarly a new proposal has been made. We don’t know how that will be considered, but the government would have to decide,” he added.

Nanayakkara was responding to a question about a statement made by UNP general secretary Palitha Range Bandara earlier Tuesday morning, callig for a referendum to postpone both presidential and parliamentary elections by two years to extend President Wickremesinghe’s term to continue ongoing economic reforms.

“Is Mr Palitha Range Bandara the government? He is the UNP secretary,” the minister said.

“The SLPP says parliamentary elections should be held. Will that be so because they have proposed it?” he added.

Nanayakkara reiterated that Bandara’s statement was not one from the government.

“The UNP can make statements, as can the SLPP or any other party. But let’s see what happens in the end,” he said.

Nanayakkara crossed over from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to support Wickremesinghe. He had said earlier in the week that would definitely win the presidential election.

“President Wickremesinghe will definitely win the election,” he said, adding that the president has provided much relief and that the economy continues to recover having fallen to its lowest point. (Colombo/May28/2024)

UNP general secretary Palitha Range Bandara called on the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the leftist opposition formation National People’s Power (NPP) to support the move.

At a press conference on Tuesday May 28, Bandara said postponing the two elections would not be undemocratic as it would be the result of elected representatives in parliament passing a motion, followed by a referendum.

Update: The government has distanced itself from a statement by President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) calling for delaying elections by two years.

Sri Lanka govt distances itself from UNP call for postponing elections

Defending the proposal, he recalled the controversial decision by then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to postpone elections in the 1970s, which resulted in the decimation of her Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)-led alliance.

Bandara said that all parties must understand that now is not the time for elections as the economy has yet to emerge from bankruptcy and that President Wickremesinghe must be permitted to carry out his reforms which have already brought stability.

The UNP’s latest statement is a far cry from its pronouncements as recently as last weekend that the presidential election would definitely be held between September 17 and October 18 this year, followed by the parliamentary elections in early 2025.

UNP spokesmen also boasted that Wickremesinghe would not only contest the presidential poll but would also win it.

Tourism and Sports Minister Harin Fernando told reporters that Wickremesinghe would definitely contest the election, in response to some speculation that the president may opt to sit out.

“I think President Wickremesinghe will himself reveal his plans next week or one of these days,” said Fernando.

“He will definitely contest. I said he would for sure. Not only will he contest, he will also win,” he added.

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara concurred.

“President Wickremesinghe will definitely win the election,” he said, adding that the president has provided much relief and that the economy continues to recover having fallen to its lowest point. (Colombo/May28/2024)

The MP claimed that the SLPP has strategically considered the possibility that President Ranil Wickremesinghe will not win the presidential election scheduled for this year, which is why they are in a hurry to hold the parliamentary polls before.

“But if it’s held after the presidential election, they will be wiped out. They have understood this politically. That’s why they want the parliamentary elections first, so they can get at least 25 seats,” Rahuman said speaking to reporters.

However, government spokesmen continue to be emphatic that a presidential election will be held first. Wickremesinghe himself had said on several occasions, as recently as this week, that parliamentary elections will be held after.

Tourism and Sports Minister Harin Fernando told reporters that Wickremesinghe would definitely contest the election, in response to some speculation that the president may opt to sit out.

“I think President Wickremesinghewill himself reveal his plans next week or one of these days,” said Fernando.

“He will definitely contest. I said he would for sure. Not only will he contest, he will also win,” he added.

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara concurred.

“President Wickremesinghe will definitely win the election,” he said, adding that the president has provided much relief and that the economy continues to recover having fallen to its lowest point.

Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election is expected to be held between September 17 and October 17. President Wickremesinghe has yet to formally announce his candidacy though he is widely expected to seek a mandate for his ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed economic reforms.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and leader of the leftist alliance National People’s Power (NPP) are the two other top contenders, with Dissanayake consistently leading at least one opinion poll.

The SLPP has not yet made an official announcement on whether they will back Wickremesinghe or field their own candidate. Businessman Dhammika Perera’s name has also been linked to the SLPP in connection with the presidential poll. (Colombo/May27/2024)

The new outfit, named Sarvajana Balaya which translates to ‘universal people’s power’ and possibly alludes to ‘universal franchise’, was launched Monday May 27 morning.

Other parties in the alliance are MP Vasudewa Nanayakkara’s Democratic Left Front, the Communist Party, MP Gevindu Kumaratunga’s Yuthukama National Organisation and a collective of ‘independent’ MPs led by MP Channa Jayasumana.

Leaders or representatives of all parties signed an agreement at Monday’s event. Notably, all leaders were key members of the government led by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as previous Rajapaksa-led governments or oppositions. Most, if not all, are known for their nationalist bend.

Jayaweera, who runs a successful broadcast, print and web media network and is said to be a presidential hopeful, launched the MJP in October 2023. The MJP includes seasoned politicians Sarath Amunugama and Hemakumara Nanayakkara, the party’s chairman and ‘senior leader’ respectively.

According to the party’s official website, the MJB’s objectives are “dynamic nation-building”, an equitable Sri Lanka, “empowering the youth and supporting the elderly, and national sovereignty.

Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election is expected to be held between September 17 and October 17. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has yet to formally announce his candidacy though he is widely expected to seek a mandate for his ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed economic reforms.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and leader of the leftist alliance National People’s Power (NPP) are the two other top contenders, with Dissanayake consistently leading at least one opinion poll.

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has not yet made an official announcement on whether they will back Wickremesinghe or field their own candidate. Businessman Dhammika Perera’s name has also been linked to the SLPP in connection with the presidential poll.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has also thrown his hat in the ring on the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ticket. (Colombo/May27/2024)

“We will establish the Sri Lanka Institute of Strategic Studies, which will offer military tactics education to those in the armed services, retirees, and civilians,” Wickremesinghe was quoted as saying by his media division.

“Interested individuals can participate in these programs. This initiative will coincide with the on-going restructuring of the security force.” The President was speaking at the inauguration of the headquarters complex of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Association, ‘Home of Veterans,’ in Battaramulla.

The president said it was undeniable that retirees bore the brunt of the challenges during the recent ‘difficult period’. “We need to explore what concessions can be offered to each sector.”

“We’ve also directed our attention towards those who are retiring from service. It’s crucial for them to explore avenues for creating new sources of income. Regrettably, some have opted to seek opportunities in Russia due to the lack of opportunities domestically.”

“It’s imperative that individuals, according to their capabilities, are provided opportunities to earn a sustainable income, whether within the country or abroad.” Wickremesinghe said the Ministry of Defence and the Ranaviru Seva Authority would collaborate on proposing a special program to address this.

Sri Lanka needs to focus on the future of the armed forces and national security, the President said. “A separate advisory committee has been appointed to develop the necessary security program through 2030.”

“By 2030, we must be prepared to address emerging national security challenges. The responsibilities of the Tri-forces should be clearly defined and the country’s resources should be utilized according to a well-structured plan.

“The establishment of the National Security Council, as highlighted in the Easter Sunday commission, is essential and will be legalized along with the appointment of the Armed Forces Committee.

“While we currently face economic difficulties, we are confident in our ability to recover within the next two years.

“Our retiring military personnel possess unique skills and talents. As the country’s economy continues to develop, it’s essential to offer them new avenues for growth. Today, we have the chance to foster economic development thanks to the sacrifices made by the war heroes of the past.

“Just as in times of war, where swift strategic action is imperative to achieve victory, we must adopt a similar approach in revitalizing our economy.

“Just as in times of war, where prolonging conflict is deemed detrimental and strategic resolution (Shock treatment) is imperative, we must apply similar principles to both warfare and economic development.

“The economic growth resulting from these initiatives holds promise for enhancing people’s income. I extend my gratitude to all retirees for their steadfast efforts and wish the Ex-Servicemen a prosperous future.” (Colombo/May22/2024)

“This is a significant year for Sri Lanka, marking 15 years since the end of the three-decade long internal armed conflict that left tens of thousands of people injured, dead, displaced, or forcibly disappeared. But it is not just successive governments that have failed the victims and the people of Sri Lanka. All those in positions of leadership, from elected officials to opposition leaders, the religious establishment and the national media, have failed to hold the line on the fight against impunity,” a statement quoted Callamard as saying at the conclusion of a five-day visit to Sri Lanka.

Legislation such as the Online Safety Act and a proposed nongovernmental organisation (NGO) law are worrying evidence of the dangers currently confronting Sri Lankas’s vibrant civil society, she said.

“We are further concerned about the crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including through the use of ICCPR Act provisions, to make arbitrary arrests, These are often carried out under multiple accusations without formal charge or evidence and has led to lives being lived in limbo. This must end,”

Callamard said her visit provided insights into various challenges Sri Lanka is confronting 15 years after the end of the war that has “fractured and polarised Sri Lankan society”.

“I am deeply grateful to all those who engaged with us, recounting their pain and grief, sharing their views and concerns, and voicing their hopes, fears and demands for the present and the future. Amnesty International stands ready to support all genuine efforts and commitments to confront long-standing impunity, address the violations and grievances of the past and present, and put an end to discrimination and the repression of fundamental freedoms,” she said.

Callamard thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the opportunity to engage in a “constructive dialogue over the human rights challenges facing Sri Lanka”.

“As the home of our South Asia Regional Office, Sri Lanka is vital to our work and we appreciate the government’s continued support and commitment to our cause,” she said.

Following the meeting with President Wickremesinghe on Thursday May 16, an Amnesty International delegation travelled to Mullaithivu on Friday to meet families whose loved ones were forcibly disappeared during the war. Callamard took part in the commemoration on May 18 at Mullivaikkal marking the 15^th anniversary of the end of war and the “suffering endured by the Tamils in the lead up to 18 May, before returning to Colombo to meet representatives of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, human rights defenders,  protestors, members of civil society organizations, members of the international community and government representatives.”

She also commented on the upcoming elections.

“The elections slated in the coming months will also have a major impact on the future of Sri Lanka and human rights considerations for years to come. The political leadership of the country must implement trust building measures that will address divisions, encourage inter-ethnic solidarity, and provide avenues for meaningful healing. It is imperative to address past wrongs; and make a conscious effort to create an enabling environment for redress while the government considers the establishment of a new Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“A seemingly lack of political will, along with complacency in delivering justice, prevents reconciliation, feeds grievances, and promotes instability. There should be no room for complacency. We urge the international community to work with the national authorities to secure truth and justice for all victims of the war and of on-going human rights violations and lay the foundations for a freer and fairer Sri Lanka,” she said. (Colombo/May22/2024)

The Government Chief Whip, Prasanna Ranatunga said President Raisi recently came to Sri Lanka to open a multi-purpose dam project.

A helicopter carrying President Raisi crashed into a hillside as he was returning from opening a dam at the border with Azerbaijan.

Related Sri Lanka, Iran Presidents inaugurate Uma Oya hydro-electric project

On April 24, President Raisi and Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe opened the 514 million dam built by an Iranian engineering company. (Colombo/April22/2024)

Released last week, just before the 15th anniversary of the war’s end and four months ahead of the next UN human rights session where Sri Lanka is likely to face a new resolution, the report has sparked significant attention from rights groups.

The report, titled “Accountability for Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka,” urged justice for all Sri Lankan ethnic groups, including Sinhalese and Muslims, during the war and other insurrections, rather than focusing solely on ethnic minority Tamils as in the past.

Sri Lanka ended a 26-year civil war in 2009 with the state military defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who fought for an independent state in the island nation’s North and East. The civil war was rooted in 35 years of discrimination against ethnic minority Tamils by the majority Sinhalese.

Tamil families have been waiting for justice and accountability from successive governments since 2009 to find their relatives disappeared during the final weeks of the conflict, amid failures from global rights bodies, including the UN.

On Saturday (May 18), the island nation witnessed two commemorations: Victory Day, mostly in the southern part of the country, and Remembrance Day for the Tamils in Sri Lanka’s North.

London-based rights group Amnesty International has estimated the number of disappeared victims in Sri Lanka between 60,000 and 100,000, although the Sri Lankan government has repeatedly disputed these figures. There is no credible numbers recorded by the government.

“Impunity remains entrenched,” the OHCHR said in its report, expressing dissatisfaction with the Sri Lankan government’s measures over the last 15 years.

“Notwithstanding steps such as the criminalization of enforced disappearances and the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office for Reparations, these have not translated into concrete results that would satisfy victims’ rights to truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence.”

UN investigations have found credible evidence of crimes under international law and other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides of the conflict.

The government has strongly and repeatedly rejected such allegations, and there has been little to no independent or impartial national inquiry into these serious crimes.

The OHCHR said the latest report was prepared with “a series of consultations with victims exploring the impacts of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka and their perspectives on accountability.”

It held bilateral interviews with 39 victims and convened focus groups involving 43 victims, with a higher ratio of women to compile the report.

TARGETED SANCTIONS

A limited number of Western nations have already imposed targeted sanctions, including travel bans for some Sri Lankan political and military leaders, after finding credible information about human rights violations, the OHCHR said.

The United States has imposed a travel ban on former Army Chief Shavendra Silva and his immediate family members, Navy intelligence officer Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, army officer Prabath Bulathwatta, and former Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda, citing human rights violations, the report said.

Canada last year imposed financial sanctions to freeze the assets of former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, along with Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi and Sunil Ratnayake, citing rights abuses.

Human rights analysts say some Sri Lankan political and military leaders are still unaware that they have been blacklisted by Western nations for rights abuses and will only become aware of such measures when they request visas from these countries.

“Consider further targeted sanctions, consistent with international law, against those who are credibly alleged to have been responsible for enforced disappearances and other gross violations and abuses of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the OHCHR said.

The Rajapaksas and military leaders have denied any wrongdoing, though successive governments have rejected an independent international investigation into alleged human rights violations, citing infringement on the country’s sovereignty.

Alan Keenan, London-based International Crisis Group’s Sri Lanka Senior Analyst, said the latest report broadens the time horizon to include the disappearances of Sinhala youth during the insurrections led by Marxist group Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) as well.

“It’s an issue that all Sri Lankans have been affected by, which goes to the core of the legal system and the failure of multiple governments, basically every government since the 1970s, to deal with,” Keenan told EconomyNext.

“So I think this report is important in that it reminds everybody in the international community and in Sri Lanka of the depth of the problem that Sri Lanka faces in terms of its lack of effective institutions of the rule of law and the many decades of impunity for the most serious violations of international human rights law and, during the war, international humanitarian law.”

“What’s also positive is that the range of recommendations in the report potentially benefits all communities—Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, men, and women, rich and poor.”

He noted that human rights issues are often presented by the government in the media as being anti-Sri Lankan and anti-Sinhala majority, favoring only Tamils, Muslims, Christians, or other minority groups.

“This report shows that acting on accountability, holding people accountable, setting up new institutions to make that possible, bringing out the truth, and reforming and strengthening the institutions of justice and the rule of law is everybody’s issue. It should benefit all communities. That’s what’s most interesting and important about this report.”

INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION

The OHCHR has urged the international community to engage with Sri Lanka due to an “accountability gap at the domestic level,” with victims urging prosecution in a third State due to “widespread impunity in Sri Lanka.”

Citing examples of some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) filing legal actions against former Sri Lankan military leaders in Brazil, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, the OHCHR noted that no state has yet issued an arrest warrant or prosecuted any Sri Lankans suspected of involvement in an enforced disappearance.

“A key stumbling block has been the immunities afforded to persons who remain in high office or have subsequently been appointed to diplomatic posts,” it said.

“Use all potential forms of jurisdiction, including under accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction, to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law committed in Sri Lanka, strengthen coordination in relation to ongoing investigations, and consider support for other avenues of international justice.”

International Crisis Group’s Keenan explained that cases targeting alleged perpetrators in Sri Lanka could also be pursued in other countries.

Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard, who witnessed the Remembrance Day by the Tamils in the final battlefield of Mullivaikkal, said the Sri Lankan government is best placed to provide answers to the victims, though past “domestic mechanisms to establish accountability in the last 15 years have been mere window dressing.”

“UNWARRANTED, PREPOSTEROUS” REPORT

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the UN report, stating that no member country had given a mandate to the OHCHR to compile such a report at a time when Sri Lanka was commemorating the 15th anniversary of the war’s end.

“This is unwarranted,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman told EconomyNext.

“The timing of the release is politically motivated and seems to be targeting the 15th anniversary of the end of the war. The content is unsubstantiated, not credible, and unfounded. It has just interviewed a few victims and targeted our senior officials and military personnel.”

He accused the United Nations Human Rights body of deliberately targeting a small country like Sri Lanka to “draw attention away from human rights violations elsewhere in the world.”

“It has asked to probe disappearances from 1970–2009. This is almost 40 years, covering a substantial period of post-independent Sri Lanka. This is totally preposterous.”

Sri Lanka will respond to the UN Human Rights High Commissioner on the content of the report through its Geneva envoy, he said.

Sri Lanka has admitted to some human rights violations but has strongly rejected any foreign probes into the allegations. Despite the island nation’s protest, the UN rights body has passed two resolutions to conduct an independent investigation with its own officials. (Colombo/May 21/2024)