News

A new agenda for ONUR once led by CBK

Published

6 years ago

2021/02/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Suganthie Kadirgamar accommodated in newly-constituted outfit; Mujibur slams govt.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The SLPP government has reconstituted the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) in the run-up to the 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The ONUR, established in line with the prrevious Yahapalana goverment post-war reconciliation strategy, was headed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

The former President quit ONUR immediately after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory at the Nov 2019 presidential poll.

The Justice Ministry over the weekend announced the appointment of President’s Counsel Kushan de Alwis as the new Chairperson. Former District Secretary Sunil Kannagara received appointment as ONUR’s Director General.

The ONUR formed in terms of an agreement between the then President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe played a significant role in the post-war reconciliation process in the wake of their decision to co-sponsor an accountability resolution against the country in Geneva on Oct 1, 2015.

Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, last Friday (5), addressed the newly appointed ONUR members at the Justice Ministry; he explained the pivotal importance of post-war reconciliation process in achieving development. The minister said that achieving growth wouldn’t be possible without reconciliation.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa included senior lawyer Suganthie Kadirgamar, the wife of assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in ONUR. The LTTE assassinated Kadirgamar in August 2005 as he was engaged in deliberations with local and foreign parties in a bid to bring the warring parties back to the negotiating table.

The other members of the outfit are A.L. Susarith Mendis, Prof. Rizvie Hassen, Prof. M.M.A.D.S.A. Niriella, Samantha Ratwatte PC, attorney-at-law Janaka Ranatunga, Mano Sekaram, attorney-at-law Geethanjali Sumithraarachchi Dissanayake, Apsal Marrikkar and Senthil Thondaman.

Attorney-at-law Thushari Sooriyaarachchi has been named the Additional DG, ONUR. ONUR is expected to meet at its new office at Rajagiriya this week.

Political sources said that the ONUR would have to adopt an agenda suitable to the SLPP government’s policy especially against the backdrop of Sri Lanka quitting an accountability resolution 30/1 co-sponsored by the yahapalana government in 2015. The original ONUR was actually meant to ensure the successful implementation of the Geneva resolution. It played a significant role in the process leading to consensus among the Western powers, the then government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as regards a hybrid war crimes investigating mechanism. In fact, the proposal for hybrid mechanism was received by Mrs. Kumaratunga, in her capacity as Chairperson, ONUR, on behalf of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government.

Asked what would be the newly constituted ONUR’s agenda against the backdrop of the government quitting the Geneva process, Justice Minister Sabry said: “Nothing to do with the Geneva process. The new ONUR is meant to promote unity, social cohesion and understanding among communities at the grass-root level. The government is committed for sustainable and long lasting and dignified coexistence among the people.”

Minister Sabry emphasized that the ONUR would carry out the mission not to impress the world but to achieve genuine reconciliation. The minister emphasized urgent need to address the reconciliation issues.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Mujibur Rahman told The Island that the government had caused irreparable damage to overall reconciliation process. Colombo District MP Rahman questioned the rationale in constituting ONUR after having quit the Geneva process. The former UNP MP alleged that the SLPP administration had turned the reconciliation process upside down.

Enactment of the 20th Amendment at the expense of the 19th introduced in 2015 ruined everything, MP Rahman said, urging the government not to cause further trouble. The MP pointed out in addition to wartime accountability issues, the new Rajapaksa administration’s handling of the controversy over cremation of all Covid-19 victims regardless of religious concerns proved it didn’t care about minorities.

Lawmaker Rahman pointed out the Tamils and Muslims launching a protest march from Pottuvil to Jaffna demanding justice for war victims and to highlight other burning issues such as the cremation of Muslims. The MP pointed out that some sections of the international community had taken up the issue at hand with the government.

PIC SAVED AS KUSHAN AND Suganthie Kadirgamar

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.

News

TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will be required for a range of key transactions in Sri Lanka from November 1, 2026, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced.

The requirement, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, applies to transactions specified under Section 102(3) of the Inland Revenue Act.

Accordingly, individuals will be required to produce a valid TIN Certificate when opening an account at a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering or renewing the licence of a motor vehicle, registering land or title to land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka or obtaining a credit card.

In the case of share transfers, both the transferor and transferee will be required to provide TIN certificates.

The IRD said officials handling such transactions had been instructed to ensure that a valid TIN Certificate was submitted before processing or completing the relevant transaction.

The Department advised those who do not already have a TIN to obtain one in advance through its e-Services platform.

It said a printout of the TIN verification result showing the applicant’s National Identity Card number and TIN could also be accepted instead of the certificate.The IRD also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is mandatory for resident individuals aged 18 and above under the applicable provisions.