News
Geneva 51 session: Wimal questions legitimacy of India’s call for implementation of 13 A
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The National Freedom Front (NFF) has urged the government and the Opposition to resist a move by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to haul up the war winning Sri Lankan military before foreign judges.NFF leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa also raised the issue of India reiterating its demand for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, forced upon the country by Delhi in 1987 and now its full implementation at the ongoing 51 regular session of the UNHRC.
Weerawansa questioned the legitimacy in a member state exerting pressure on another to amend its Constitution. He the Indian move was not only contrary to the Vienna Convention but exceeded the mandate of the UNHRC.Strongly condemning the UNHRC move against the Sri Lankan military and India playing politics at Geneva session, MP Weerawansa said that all local stakeholders should condemn these moves in the strongest terms.
Lawmaker Weerawansa said that the government delegation at Geneva hadn’t countered the measures that had been proposed against the Sri Lankan military. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, leads the delegation. Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva C.A. Chandraprema are included in the delegation.
Responding to a query raised by The Island, MP Weerawansa said that Sri Lanka should have asked for an opportunity to counter accusations after having denounced the unsubstantiated allegations.Sri Lanka co-sponsored Geneva Resolution 30/1 in Oct 2015 during Maithripala Sirisena presidency.
The former minister said that successive governments hadn’t properly countered war crimes allegations though over the years authorities received information by way of studies undertaken by the government, Lord Naseby’s disclosures and WikiLeaks revelations.MP Weerawansa asked whether Geneva was only interested in Sri Lanka’s accountability.Having sponsored terrorism here, India was pursuing a strategy inimical to Sri Lanka, the former minister said.
News
Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that the necessary financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces. She emphasized that these funds must be utilized effectively for school development and requested that relevant authorities submit proposals to address existing shortcomings in school infrastructure.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a cordial meeting with Muslim women in the Wellawaya area on 1st of March.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with the Chief Sanghanayake of the Uva Wellassa region and the Chief Incumbent of Yudaganawa Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Most Venerable Galtemwatte Nandarathana Nayaka Thero, and briefed him on the current progress of the new education reforms.
She further stated that, while ensuring due recognition for vocational education, steps are being taken to develop 50 vocational training centers equipped with modern courses, covering all 25 districts of the country. She also noted that new education reforms will be introduced for Grade 6 starting in 2027, and that the printing of new textbooks will be entrusted to the Educational Publications Department of the Ministry of Education.
The occasion was attended by Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijewardene, local government representatives, the Buttala Divisional Secretary and the District Secretary.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Department of Immigration and Emmigration has decided effective from 28th February 2026, to grant a free fourteen (14) day visa extension to all tourists who are unable to leave Sri Lanka due to flight cancellations. 
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee arrived at the Port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 02 Mar 26. The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions.
The ship is a 48.9m long Offshore Patrol Vessel which is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Nafiu Mohamed.
Meanwhile, the ship’s crew is scheduled to visit several tourist attractions in the city of Colombo, during their stay in the island.
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