News

SLACT: Curtailing dissent through violence creates atmosphere of fear and authoritarianism

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/25

The Sri Lankan Collective Against Torture (SLACT), a group comprising of 28 civil society organisations and 12 human rights activists, says that curtailing the right to protest through violence is a grave human rights violation that also places democracy in jeopardy and creates an atmosphere of fear and authoritarianism. The SLACT has said it condemns the brutal attack of protestors at GotaGoGama, journalists, lawyers who intervened in their professional capacity, and bystanders, on 22 July 2022.

“The use of violence was unprovoked and unjustifiable as video evidence and testimonies of victims illustrate that the armed forces approached or chased people who were walking or standing peacefully and subjected them to brutal assault. They also destroyed tents and personal property of the protesters on site.

“It is evident from video evidence that many attacks were carried out by several members of the armed forces who gathered around a person or persons and beat them mercilessly with batons. There were also men in civilian clothing working alongside the military and it is one such person who assaulted the BBC journalist. Two journalists were taken away by armed forces and their whereabouts were unknown for several hours after the arrest.

“When they were found they were severely injured and had to be hospitalized. Their testimonies and that of others who were taken along with them state they were tortured for hours, including by being ordered to walk on gravel on their knees and assaulted on their heads.

“The injuries sustained by some victims are on the back, indicating they were chased and hit while fleeing. This would constitute torture, which is an offence under the Convention Against Torture Act. “Furthermore, it is also a violation of Article 11 of the Constitution which prohibits torture, or cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment. It is alarming that despite protesters publicly stating on 21 July that they would vacate the location by 2 pm that very day (which was reported in the media), brutal force was used during the early hours of the morning to chase them, indicating an intent to send a warning to and punish protesters.

“SLCAT reiterates the importance of protecting the right to expression and assembly, especially the right of journalists to engage in their duties without fear of intimidation, harassment or violence. The attacks on journalists are a violation of the right to expression enshrined in the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

“SLCAT holds President Ranil Wickremesinghe responsible for the attacks and demands that he acknowledge responsibility, apologize, compensate those affected by the violence and give a public assurance that such conduct by the armed forces and police will not be repeated against protestors. SLCAT demands that the State of Emergency, which is unwarranted and under cover of which such violence took place, be withdrawn with immediate effect. Those responsible for the violence should be held accountable and the commanders of the forces that participated in the attacks must likewise be held accountable according to the principle of command responsibility.

“The right to protest is an integral part of a functioning democracy and one of the ways in which citizens exercise their civic duty of holding elected representatives accountable.

“Curtailing it through violence is a grave human rights violation that also places democracy in jeopardy and creates an atmosphere of fear and authoritarianism.”

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Italian Naval Vessel ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ arrives in Colombo

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/9

Priyan

The Italian Naval Vessel ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ arrived in Sri Lanka today, 9 September 2026, on a replenishment visit.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in accordance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.

‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ is a 180m long Landing Helicopter Aircraft Vessel commanded by Captain Marco GUERRIERO.

During the ship’s stay in Sri Lanka, the Commanding Officer of ‘ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi’ is scheduled to call on the Commander Western Naval Area.

News

Bangladesh bank on bowlers in bid to bring India down

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/9

Priyan

Bangladesh will look to curb Shafali Verma's aggression [cRICINFO]

If Bangladesh take the route of seeking inspiration from the past to bring down heavyweights India on Thursday, they will have to squint their eyes and go back to pre-Covid times for their last victory against them in the Women’s Asia Cup. India have had the better of their neighbours over their last eight meetings, and last lost to Bangladesh in a T20I three years ago, when a very similar-looking Indian batting line-up was kept to 102 for 9.

Before that, Bangladesh had shocked India with back-to-back wins that culminated in their maiden Asia Cup title, by again stifling India to an underwhelming 112 for 9.

The Bangladesh team of today – as their recent fights have shown over the last two World Cups – is a version far improved from the ones of 2018 and 2023. They have scared teams like Australia and England (ODI World Cup) and India (T20 World Cup) in the last 12 months and they recently beat the higher ranked Pakistan in the UK by keeping them to 100 for 8.

It is this bowling strength that Bangladesh must bank on to try and bring down India, whose batting has stuttered every now and then, including a collapse of 8 for 46 against Thailand earlier in the tournament. India have had middle-order issues for a while now – it’s one of the things that kept them from a knockout berth in the last T20 World Cup – and Bangladesh will be itching to strike while the iron is hot.

They have laid the foundations in the last 10 days by routing Indonesia for 58, making Sri Lanka sweat in a chase of 115, and suffocating UAE’s batters to 69 for 9 with semi-finals qualification on the line.

Pratika Rawal, India’s No. 3 for this tournament in place of the injured Jemimah Rodrigues, hasn’t quite shown the promise in this format that she has in ODIs. Her 36 runs in three innings have come at a strike rate of just 109.09, against some of the lower-ranked teams in the world. Now into the knockouts, the time is ripe for Rawal to step up against one of the stronger bowling attacks of the tournament, especially if one of the openers doesn’t get going.

Swing bowler Marufa Akter is doing Marufa Akter things at this Asia Cup. She has struck in her opening spell in each of her three games so far – including the big scalp of Chamari Athapathuthu for 1. She has made the ball talk with her prodigious swing, and is the top wicket-taker in this Asia Cup among pace bowlers, with an economy rate of 3.27. She will hold the key for Bangladesh as they come up against a top order comprising Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Rawal.

Team news

After constant chopping and changing during the T20 World Cup in the UK, India have gone unchanged in the three games of this tournament. They will be expected to field the same XI again.

India (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma.

Bangladesh have used 14 players, in comparison, including a debut for 17-year-old allrounder Farjana Easmin. They may not make too many changes this time as the two players who came into the XI on Tuesday – Rabeya Khan and Sharmin Akter – played starring roles in beating UAE.

Bangladesh (probable): Juairiya Ferdous, Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), Sobhana Mostary, Dilara Akter, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Sharmin Akter, Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun.

[Cricinfo]

News

Establishment of National Trade Negotiation Committee (NTFC) and Trade Policy Consultation Committee.

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/9

Priyan

Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 24-08-2026 to implement the recommendations submitted by the committee appointed to review Sri Lanka’s current Free Trade Agreements and future course of Free Trade Agreements in Sri Lanka.

Taking into account these recommendations, it has been
recognized the necessity of establishing a National Trade Negotiation Committee and Trade Policy Consultation Committee enabling Sri Lanka to follow a more targeted, sequential, and evidence-based approach in conducting negotiations for Sri Lanka’s future Free Trade Agreements and to ensure a sustainable and meaningful stakeholder consultation process.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commercial, Food Security, and Cooperative Development to act as follows.

• Establishment of a National Trade Negotiation Committee to guide trade discussions conducted with potential bilateral or regional trade partners
• Appointment of the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development as the Chairman of the National Trade Negotiation Committee and
the Chief National Trade Negotiator.
• Establishment of 12 subject specific sub- committees with the required technical working groups under the National Trade Negotiation Committee
• Appointment of Trade Policy Consultative Committee comprising of trade experts, researchers engaged in research relevant to trade field, business community, unions, civil societies and relevant public officers to instruct the National Trade Negotiation Committee on active and technical sectors, to submit the policy recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the matters relevant to the trade agreements, to inquire sustainable ideas regarding the Free Trade Agreements, and to ensure the communication mechanism.
• The Minister in charge of the Subject international trade and the Minister in charge of the subject of Industry to serve as Co-Chairpersons of the Trade Policy Advisory Committee.