News
GTF questions credibility of Sri Lankan commissions, pushes for Geneva solution
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) spokesperson Suren Surendiran said that the Tamil community did not believe in commissions appointed by the government of Sri Lanka to address post-war reconciliation issues. In an interview with the BBC Sinhala service, Surendiran said that the Tamil community expected the UNHRC to address their grievances.
(BBC) Sri Lanka is facing a new UN resolution calling on it to hold human rights abusers to account and deliver justice to victims of its 26-year civil war. Britain and others have circulated a draft of the resolution among UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) member states. It is expected to be adopted at the end of the four-week UNHRC spring session in Geneva.
Is this a progressive step?
(GTF) There have been seven resolutions passed since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The last three of the seven were passed as consensus resolutions, which the Sri Lankan State co-sponsored, meaning, willingly accepted and agreed to take corrective measures. All these resolutions (not just the last 3) highlighted human rights failings, discriminatory practices, laws that are incompatible with international standards and best practices, weakening of democracy and governance and above all alleged breaches of international laws including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Whether there are resolutions passed or not, unless these are fixed and/or willingness to fix is shown and progress has been shown in fixing, (1) victims and victim communities will continue to suffer, (2) achieving political stability becomes a near impossibility as if you don’t serve justice to victims, the conflict will continue (3) internationally, Sri Lanka will continue to be isolated (4) foreign and even local investors will be reluctant to invest (5) economy will suffer (6) will result in shortages of goods and services, price hikes and unemployment.
If the Government of Sri Lanka agrees to fix these identified issues, for the sake of all people of Sri Lanka, the UN and the international community will help to get these fixed and most of the above listed repercussions will be by and large eliminated or the impact reduced.
Instead of dealing with these issues like any mature progressive country will and should, the government of Sri Lanka creates a false narrative that these resolutions are undermining the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and that the international community, especially the powerful western countries are undermining Sri Lanka and her people and their war heroes. Government of Sri Lanka falsely claims that these resolutions are against Sri Lanka and her people.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a body created by all countries who are members of the United Nations, including Sri Lanka for the purpose of creating a peaceful and harmless world where human rights of all people will be respected.
(BBC)
Lord Ahmad said the resolution was a vital step towards reconciliation and peaceful relations among all of Sri Lanka’s diverse communities and faith groups. Do you agree?
(GTF)
Indeed!
(BBC)
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has also set up a three-member commission to look into this matter. Why can’t they bring the justice through an internal process?
(GTF)
There have been at least 3 separate commissions set up internally since the end of the war. This is another one which is being set up literally four weeks before the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights submitted her findings and recommendations at the 46th session of the UNHRC. This “Commission” is set up to review recommendations made by the previous commissions without a mandate to address the key issues identified in the resolutions passed by the UNHRC. When such farcical and sham “commissions” are set up, which reasonable thinking body of countries will accept?
I do not envy the current President’s and Prime Minister’s positions as they held command responsibility for some of the alleged heinous crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity that were committed, how can they be expected to set up a just mechanism to serve justice to the victims?
(BBC)
The war ended nearly 12 years ago. Communities seem to have grown even a far apart. What is your suggestion for reconciliation?
(GTF)
All people of Sri Lanka should be told the truth of the past with evidence. Majority of the Sri Lankans are reasonable people and if a transparent process was set up to explain for all people to understand how dealing with the past, introducing permanent solutions will enable creating a peaceful and mutually respectful society and that in turn will create a peaceful and prosperous country, I believe permanent reconciliation between communities can be achieved for all to live as equals.
(BBC)
Does the GTF do economic and social related programs? Is the GTF involved in political organizing, both from civil society and political parties, in the North and the East of Sri Lanka?
(GTF)
GTF doesn’t directly involve in politics in Sri Lanka. We work very closely with the elected members of our community and others. We engage with civil society organisations and representatives from a cross section of all communities in Sri Lanka and reflect the ground reality in Sri Lanka to overseas stakeholders. On social programs, Canadian Tamil Congress, one of our member organisations, recently delivered food parcels and essential items to Covid-19 affected communities. In July 2017 GTF sent several medical professionals to the South of Sri Lanka including Galle and Matara where we served floods affected Sinhala communities in partnership with Sarvodaya Movement. The then Yahapalanaya government welcomed this effort as an initial step of trust building between communities.
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.
The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.
Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.
Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.
Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.
The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.
Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.
Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.
Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.
The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.
Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.
The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.
The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.
SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.
Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.
The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.
GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.
Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.
(SF)
Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation
Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-central and North-western provinces
Shafali, Mandhana power India to eighth Asia Cup title
Tharanga wins Ultimate Javelin title
CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process
GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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