Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and International Court of Justice judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to international law and efforts to promote peace, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced in Oslo on Friday.

Announcing the award, committee chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes said Pillay had “significantly enlarged the scope and impact of international law” and helped advance “a more comprehensive global legal order” with exceptional courage. He also praised her long career, which began as a lawyer confronting deep-rooted discrimination in South Africa, and described her as a person with a “firm moral compass”.

Pillay, 85, served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014. Her tenure brought her into sharp focus in Sri Lanka, particularly over her assessment of the country’s human rights situation in the aftermath of the decades-long civil war.

During an official fact-finding visit to Sri Lanka from August 25 to 31, 2013, Pillay travelled to areas including Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Trincomalee, where she met civil war survivors, families of the disappeared and local communities.

Following the visit, she warned that Sri Lanka was moving towards authoritarianism and highlighted what she described as a persistent climate of fear.

She also reported intimidation and harassment of people who had sought to meet her during the mission.

Pillay urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international inquiry mechanism to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both government forces and the LTTE during the final stages of the 26-year civil war.

Her observations and recommendations became a significant part of international scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s post-war human rights record.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee received 287 nominations for this year’s Peace Prize, slightly more than a quarter of them being organisations. The committee traditionally considers efforts to promote peace, international fraternity and institutions that contribute to lasting stability.

Last year, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the prize for her campaign for a democratic transition in Venezuela. She was praised as a woman who kept the flame of democracy burning amid growing darkness.

The 2026 award marks the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize, first presented in 1901. Over its history, the prize has recognised prominent figures and organisations involved in advancing peace, human rights and international cooperation.

Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, has welcomed observations made by the Indian Supreme Court calling for Tamil Nadu fishermen to be educated on the need to avoid entering Sri Lankan waters illegally.

In a statement, the Minister said the court’s observations, made during hearings on petitions seeking the return of Katchatheevu Island to India, highlighted the importance of respecting the internationally recognised maritime boundary between the two countries.

According to the statement, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar stressed the need to provide clear instructions to Tamil Nadu fishermen to prevent them from crossing the maritime boundary and fishing in Sri Lankan waters, particularly around Katchatheevu Island.

“We welcome the observations made by the Indian Supreme Court regarding the need to educate Tamil Nadu fishermen to refrain from illegally entering Sri Lankan waters for fishing,” Chandrasekar said.

The Minister said protecting Sri Lanka’s marine resources and environment remained a key government responsibility.

He expressed concern over illegal and destructive fishing practices by foreign vessels, particularly methods that damage the seabed and threaten the livelihoods of fishing communities in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

Chandrasekar also reiterated Sri Lanka’s position on the bilateral agreements signed with India in 1974 concerning Katchatheevu and in 1976 regarding maritime boundaries and fishing rights.

He said the agreements were based on longstanding diplomatic understandings between the two countries and stressed the importance of respecting maritime boundaries while protecting fishermen’s livelihoods.

The Minister further emphasised the need to pursue sustainable solutions through bilateral discussions and diplomatic mechanisms.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, Justice Sanjay Kumar also referred to his observations during a visit to Sri Lanka, praising the public’s commitment to maintaining clean beaches and public spaces and protecting the environment.

The Indian Supreme Court has not delivered a final ruling on the legal validity of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka. Further hearings in the Katchatheevu case have been postponed until February 2027.

The Minister said the court’s observations were significant for protecting fishing communities, conserving marine resources and strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India.

A no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, signed by 44 Opposition MPs, was formally handed over to Secretary-General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera on Friday.

The 12-page motion contains around 50 allegations against the Speaker, including alleged misconduct, misuse of public funds and State property, financial irregularities, conflicts of interest, abuse of authority and violations of parliamentary procedures.

The Opposition has called on Wickramaratne to step down, accusing him of biased and undemocratic conduct in handling parliamentary proceedings, particularly matters relating to Opposition lawmakers.

The allegations also include claims that the Speaker granted privileges to his personal secretary outside established procedures and acted partially in dealing with matters connected to parliamentary sittings.

The motion further raises concerns over the use of official residences, parliamentary vehicles and fuel, expenditure on personal staff and alleged breaches of parliamentary Standing Orders.

It also accuses the Speaker of interfering with bribery investigations, among other alleged improprieties.Concluding that Parliament no longer has confidence in Wickramaratne, the motion calls into question his conduct and suitability to continue in office.