News

BASL files FR petitions in SC over economic crisis

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/26

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has filed two fundamental rights applications in the Supreme Court yesterday on the present economic crisis in the public interest.

The applications were filed by the President of the BASL, Saliya Pieris PC; Deputy President, Anura Meddegoda PC; Secretary, Rajeev Amarasuriya; Treasurer, Rajindh Perera; and Assistant Secretary, Pasindu Silva.

The BASL has said in a media stateement: “The Petitioners have claimed that their fundamental rights under Articles 11, 12(1), 13(4), 14(1)(g), 14(1)(h) and 14A of the Constitution are being violated or are in imminent danger of infringement by the actions and/or inaction of the State including the Respondents. The Petitions have made the Attorney General, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries to several Ministries, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation as Respondents.

“The Petitioners have made the application as People of Sri Lanka in whom sovereignty is reposed and as People of Sri Lanka in whom is also imposed several Fundamental Duties, under Article 28 of the Constitution for and on behalf of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, which is the apex professional body in Sri Lanka for Attorneys-at-Law and is committed to upholding the Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights, the Independence of the Judiciary and justice in Sri Lanka, in the public interest.

“The Petitions state that the Country is at present witnessing long queues for the purchase of essential supplies, mass protests and public unrest due to acute short ages and the sharp increase in the cost of goods and services including food, fuel and travel costs.

“The Petitioners complain that Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented economic and financial crisis resulting in acute shortages of fuel, electricity, gas, food, milk powder and medicines. The Petitioners complain that they are compelled to come into court due to the severe shortages in essential goods and services that are considered vital for the survival and existence of the citizens of the Republic in whom is guaranteed the fundamental right to equality, equal protection of the law and the right to life under the Constitution.

“The Petitioners state that in view of the growing unrest and public protests witnessed across the island, they verily fear that there is a substantial, real and grave threat of a breakdown in the law-and-order situation of the Country and a substantial threat to the Rule of Law, which should be addressed through timely and proportionate measures within the legal framework of the country.

“The Petitioners are seeking orders from the Supreme Court:

“1. Directing the Cabinet of Ministers, and/or any other Respondents to immediately consult with all the relevant stakeholders and independent experts to formulate and implement policies to provide uninterrupted access to and to provide concessions in relation to the prices of essential goods and services to the people including LP gas, fuel, electricity, milk powder, medicines and food and to report to the Supreme Court of the policies formulated on the above;

“2. For directions on the Respondents to immediately formulate and implement short term policies and measures to ensure that the people have adequate access to such essentials as well;

“3. To seek directions on the 1” — 28’ Respondents which comprise the Cabinet of Ministers and/or any other Respondents to immediately consult with all the relevant stakeholders and independent experts including the International Monetary Fund to formulate and implement policies to provide uninterrupted access to essentials and report such findings/recommendations and their implementation to the Supreme Court;

“4. Seek directions to formulate mid-term and long-term policies to ensure that the People have uninterrupted access to essentials such as inter alia, food, medicine, fuel, gas and electricity and to formulate medium and long-term policies to provide concessions in relation to the prices of such essential goods and services;

“5. Directions on the Cabinet of Ministers to formulate an urgent national policy to provide immediate relief to the people and businesses affected by the present financial and economic crisis and to formulate and implement urgent policies to prioritize projects and programmes, to alleviate the foreign exchange crisis, guarantee uninterrupted supply of goods and services, control inflation and reduce the cost of living;

“6. Directions on the Cabinet of Ministers to formulate and implement urgent policies to promote the production of local agriculture, dairy farming, and animal husbandry to ensure food security;

“7. Directions on the Respondents in consultation with stakeholders, to formulate new systems, processes, rules and regulatory frameworks which assure transparency and good governance practices in respect of future public debt management.

The Petitioners will be represented by Dr. K. Kanag Isvaran PC, Uditha Egalahewa PC, Suren Gnanaraj and Pulasthi Hewamanne instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam.”

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News

Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games underway

Published

6 mins ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Antonio Tajani

February 06 :Milano–Cortina 2026 will be a-global event, bringing to Italy 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries, competing in 304 events, with an estimated worldwide audience of three billion people. Today’s opening ceremony in Italy will also be attended by around 50 Heads of State and Government from across the world.

Milano–Cortina 2026 will not be solely about sport; above all, it will represent development, innovation and a forward-looking vision. With an estimated economic impact of EUR 5.3 billion, the Olympic Winter Games will leave a lasting legacy in terms of infrastructure and territorial development. They will also serve as a powerful instrument of soft power, delivering a durable strengthening of Italy’s international positioning.

For the first time in history, the Olympic Winter Games will “diffuse”: two emblematic cities—Milan and Cortina—and an entire system of territories—Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige—united by a sustainable and inclusive vision. This constitutes a first, clear political signal.

The Winter Games generate effects that extend well beyond the sporting dimension, influencing infrastructure, territorial development, industrial value chains and the international standing of Italy.

The organisational framework of the Olympic Winter Games foresees the involvement of approximately 18,000 volunteers, alongside a dedicated diplomatic task force bringing together young officials, institutions and local communities. This commitment confirms Italy’s capacity to successfully host events of global scale, as demonstrated most recently by the Jubilee.

AN INTEGRATED STRATEGY

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has accompanied the arrival of the Olympic Winter Games with an integrated strategy, launched two years ago with the establishment of the Office for Sports Diplomacy and developed through an international roadshow across Europe, North America and Asia, involving athletes, media and businesses.

The strategy has pursued a twofold objective: to promote the territories and communities involved and to strengthen Italy’s image as an innovative, sustainable and welcoming country. The Olympic Winter Games have featured prominently in numerous initiatives, including Expo Osaka 2025, international Business Forums and the Italian Sport Day around the world.

For these reasons, Italy has chosen to invest decisively in sports diplomacy, making it a structural component of its foreign policy action. The Olympic Games embody values such as fair and peaceful competition among young people from across the world and have always stood as universal symbols of peace, respect and inclusion. In an international context marked by conflict, sport remains a credible space for dialogue. The Olympic Games were born in the name of peace.

Italy has reaffirmed this commitment by facilitating the adoption of the United Nations Resolution on the Olympic Truce, supported by the Holy Father and the President of the Republic—an appeal for sport to contribute to silencing the weapons.

In the past year alone, more than 233,000 people have been killed by armed violence, resulting in over 123 million displaced persons worldwide. Italy continues to play a leading diplomatic and humanitarian role, working for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, while also addressing less visible conflicts, such as in Sudan, where millions have been forced to flee. Through humanitarian initiatives such as Food for Gaza and Italy for Sudan, Italy remains at the forefront of efforts to protect civilian populations, particularly children, who are among the most affected by the consequences of war.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Milano—Cortina 2026 therefore represents a unique opportunity to reaffirm Italy’s identity and core values. Through these Olympic Winter Games, Italy seeks to address the world as a builder of peace, growth and international cooperation. The “Games of Peace” will be a shared commitment, embraced collectively.

by Antonio Tajani, Foreign Minister of Italy

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.