News
NLC 2023: Chung invited in recognition of US support for BASL
By Shamindra Ferdinando
President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Saliya Pieris, PC, yesterday (10) said that US Ambassador Julie J. Chung had been invited as the Guest of Honour to a two-day National Law Conference (NLC) 2023 in recognition of the continuous support received by BASL from the US. Agency for International Development (USAID) over the years.
The President’s Counsel said so in response to The Island query why the BASL invited Ambassador Chung, amidst continuing controversy over her role in the protest campaign that led to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster and subsequent developments.
Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Law Conference, themed ‘Navigating through the crisis: The Role of the Law.’
The opening ceremony will be held at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, at 8.45 am tomorrow (12). Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, will be the Chief Guest, whereas the Ambassador attends the event as Guest of Honour.
The outgoing BASL Chief said that this was not the first time an Ambassador was invited for a BASL event.Pieris said that over the years the USAID supported several legal education programmes, conducted by the BASL, under the Effective & Efficient Justice (EEJ) Programme, and several other programmes.
“The EEJ programme supports several stakeholders in the justice sector. The programme is supervised by a Project Steering Committee, jointly headed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, and the Country Director of USAID,” PC Pieris said.
Declaring that USAD assistance, during this time the country was experiencing severe economic crisis, ensured that critical legal education programmes were continued without interruptions. Therefore, the US Ambassador was invited to the National Law Conference, as a courtesy, in recognition of vital USAID support.
Responding to another query, Pieris said that Ambassador Chung would make a brief address.
Lawmakers Sarath Weerasekera and Wimal Weerawansa have questioned Ambassador Chung’s role. They have alleged that the US envoy discouraged ousted President from responding to the threat posed by the protest campaign, launched on March 31, 2022. Some have alleged that the protest campaign received foreign funding and the backing of the expatriate Sri Lankan community.
Asked whether the US provided sponsorship for the National Law Conference, the BASL chief said the annual event received USAID backing on several occasions, including this year. Pieris said that he would participate in several more events as the BASL President. He said so when The Island asked whether the National Law Conference would be his last public event.Several high profile speakers, including Supreme Court Judges, senior legal practitioners, an economist, bankers and businessmen, are scheduled to address the sessions, at the two-day conference.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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