News

SJB urges Cardinal to take up Easter Sunday issue in Geneva

Published

4 years ago

2021/09/13

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday said that no one was happy with the way the government was investigating the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, Kiriella said that there was nothing wrong with Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith contemplating going before the international community against the way the government was carrying out investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage.

“The Cardinal, the victims and we, in the Opposition, are calling for only one thing – that is the government should implement the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday carnage. The government should implement the recommendations of the final report of the presidential commission on the Easter Sunday attacks. Several international conferences are due to discuss resolutions against Sri Lanka. The current session of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva got underway yesterday (12) and the UN General Assembly sessions will be held in New York on Sept. 21. The results of these forums would be detrimental to our national interests if the government keeps bungling in this manner.

“It is incumbent Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa the one who internationalised Sri Lanka’s domestic issues in 1989. He went before the Geneva Human Rights Council with a list of names of disappeared persons. Since then this has become the norm for anyone who is not happy with the actions of any government to prevent human rights violations to go there. The UN Human Rights Council is at the disposal of any person or organisation that has exhausted all means in this country to get justice done. Even other countries could complain to that Council if they think Sri Lanka does not comply with human rights conventions that it has become a party to. So, there is nothing wrong with the Cardinal taking the issue of the Easter Sunday carnage to Geneva because the government is not dispensing justice.”

The Chief Opposition Whip said that people had been waiting for two and half years to see the government taking action against those who are responsible for the Easter Sunday terror attacks. “The Cardinal’s complaint is that justice has not been served. There is a serious allegation that justice is served selectively. It prosecutes only those who are opposed to the government. When legal action is taken against anyone in the government’s good books, the prosecution fails or makes errors in the judicial process so that the judges have no option but to give their rulings in favour of the culprits. A judge has to make his or her decision on the basis of evidence placed before him or her. When the prosecution fails deliberately to provide evidence, then justice is not done. So, the government could act against those who are opposed to them while safeguarding their friends.”

SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne also addressed the press.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

10 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

10 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

11 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.