News

Gender-based violence often shrouded in silence

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/12

Launch of ‘Fatalities’: A Publication on Accidents, Suicides and Femicides of Women & Girls in Sri Lanka

The UNFPA last week commissioned a study, which is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, to understand the contributory factors of unnatural deaths that women and girls by analyzing accidents, suicides and femicides in Sri Lanka from 2013-2015.

Conducted by the University of Kelaniya, the study focused on unnatural female deaths in five provinces in the country. Evidence from the study found that 62% of homicides – out of the studied sample of 243 killings between 2013 and 2015 – were perpetrated by intimate partners, ex-partners and family members.

Further, out of the 243 homicides reviewed, 128 of the cases identified the perpetrator as the legal husband. Moreover, 69% of such incidences go unreported, which is a cause for alarm.

This indicates that gender-based violence is often shrouded in silence. In light of this, the study aims to describe the problems associated with the judicial processes and outcomes relating to unnatural female deaths. It further aims to provide policy inputs and guidelines to address problems associated with the investigation and judicial processes relating to the issue.

The Study, officially launched and handed over to Hanaa Singer Hamdy, Resident Coordinator, UN Sri Lanka, was launched on Tuesday in the presence of Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control and Chairperson of the Select Committee of Parliament to ensure gender equity and equality and chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus in Parliament, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Member of the Select Committee of Parliament to ensure gender equity and equality, and member of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus in Parliament, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Member of the Select Committee of Parliament to ensure gender equity and equality, and member of the Women Parliamentarians Caucus in Parliament, Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Janaki Hewawawisendi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe, Chair Professor of English and Senior Professor, University of Kelaniya, and Prof. Anuruddhi S. Edirisinghe, Professor of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and the principal investigator of the study.

Speaking at the event, Sharika Cooray, Officer in Charge, UNFPA Sri Lanka stated “Femicide, is the intentional sex/gender-related killings of women and girls that does not occur in isolation, it is fueled by a culture of impunity and norms that accepts any form of violence against women and girls. These are crimes that can be controlled & prevented and are sinister in nature as these are not only harmful to the victims and survivors but those of their families and society as a whole. We must work together to break the silence around issues pertaining to gender-based violence. We must position this issue nationally, thus ensuring a violence-free Sri Lanka for women and girls.”

Highlighting the methodology and findings, Prof. P. Anuruddhi S. Edirisinghe, Cadre Chair and Professor of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya stated “This book engages with the roles and influences of the medical/legal/judicial processes, the media, and the community in such deaths including the possible social, cultural, gender and other norms and ideologies that may influence, delay and prevent judicial redress and media coverage. Most importantly, it also considers the ways in which some of these deaths could have been prevented.”

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News

Navy divers restore sluice gate of Bomburuella Reservoir

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/23

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully conducted a diving operation on 19 Jan 26 to inspect and restore the sluice gate of the Bomburuella Reservoir.

Acting on a request from the Department of Irrigation, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed a specialized diving team from the Western Naval Command, for the urgent requirement.

Through concerted effort, the Navy divers successfully cleared accumulated debris, including a significant quantity of wooden fragments, which had impeded the sluice gate mechanism.

News

PM holds High-Level meetings with EU, UNDP, and corporate leadership at World Economic Forum

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday [January 21] on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, engaging with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and the global private sector.

The Prime Minister met with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During the meeting, she expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the support extended by the European Union and its member states following Cyclone Ditwa. The Prime Minister also briefed the Commissioner on the key findings of the World Bank’s GRADE report and requested continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s development and recovery efforts.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Alexander De Croo, representing the United Nations Development Programme. She expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations and acknowledged the UN’s support in flood relief and livelihood assistance. The Prime Minister noted that, following the mandate received at the parliamentary election, the government is focused on meeting public expectations through national rebuilding grounded in public trust and good governance. She further reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

In addition, the Prime Minister met with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding. The discussion focused on engagement with the private sector and potential areas of collaboration.

These meetings reflected Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with international partners and global stakeholders to support recovery, development, and long-term economic stability.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Opposition slams sitting HC judge’s appointment as Justice Ministry Additional Secretary

Published

11 hours ago

2026/01/23

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

… alleges Prez trying to control judiciary

Opposition grouping ‘Mahajana Handa’ has accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of trying to exercise control over the judiciary by appointing a sitting High Court judge as Additional Secretary to the Justice and National Integration Ministry.

Addressing the media at Dr. N. M. Perera Centre, Punchi Borella, on Tuesday (20) top Opposition spokesman and former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris warned the High Court judge D.M.D.C. Bandara’s appointment was nothing but a direct executive intervention in the judiciary.

Responding to The Island queries, Prof Peiris asked how the government could compel courts to deal with a sitting judge who functioned as Secretary to the Justice and National Integration Ministry.

Prof. Peiris explained that the latest move by the Executive should be examined taking into consideration the attacks on Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jr, PC., the deliberate delaying of the appointment of Auditor General and the controversy over the process of promotions of Judicial Officers, Judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Sri Lanka. Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) had raised those controversial promotions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

D.M.D.C. Bandara, Senior Assistant Secretary, Judicial Service Commission, was among altogether 18 High Court judges appointed by President Dissanayake in early Sept this year. The group consisted of 17 Special Class Judicial Officers and a Senior State Counsel serving in the Attorney General’s Department.

Referring to a recent meeting ‘Mahajana Handa’ representatives, including him had with the Mahanayake theras of the Asgiriya and Malwatta Chapters in Kandy, Prof. Peiris said that they had received the blessings of the Mahanayakes to go ahead with what he called a programme of action meant to address major issues.

Prof. Peiris said they would initiate talks with other like-minded political parties and groups in this regard soon. Referring a protest held at the Hulftsdorp on Wednesday (21) demanding the removal of the AG Ranasinghe, Prof. Peiris emphasized that the government’s hand in that demonstration was very clear. President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed him as the AG in July 2024 with the unanimous backing of the Constitutional Council.

Prof. Peiris said that action was yet to be initiated to appoint new civil society representatives to the Constitutional Council. That issue hadn’t received sufficient public attention, Prof. Peiris said, urging President Dissanayake to come down from his high horse.

Asked whether the President could appoint a sitting judge as an Additional Secretary to a Ministry without consulting the Chief Justice and President of the High Court Judges Association, sources familiar with the issues at hand said that certain appointments could be made on secondment. However, that has to follow the proper procedure, sources said.

The Island sought a response from the Justice and National Integration Ministry to the accusations made by Prof. Peiris on behalf of ‘Mahajana Handa,’ but did not receive one until this edition went to press.

By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️