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COPE asks SLBFE to repatriate stranded Lankan workers with its cash pile

Published

6 years ago

2021/01/28

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has instructed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to explore the possibility of repatriating migrant workers affected by COVID-19 by using its own funds.

COPE Chairman MP Dr. Charitha Herath made the suggestion when the Committee met to discuss the special audit report on the current situation in the field of foreign employment.

The Committee inquired whether there were any legal impediments to the repatriation of Sri Lankan workers from various countries by using the funds of the SLBFE, amounting to Rs. 14 billion.

SLBFE Chairman Kamal Ratwatte said that there was no obstacle to repatriating foreign workers registered with the Bureau at its expense.

Approximately 34,721 workers who lost their jobs due to the fall of oil prices in the Middle East (ME) and the COVID-19 pandemic have already requested the SLBFE to repatriate them. The COPE Chairman said the Bureau needed to have a strategy for the repatriation of migrant workers as the airport was already open.

It was revealed that Rs. 800 million had been spent in 2019 on welfare officers attached to Sri Lankan embassies abroad, and the Committee informed the officials that they should look into whether the expected services were being rendered by the welfare officers.

The COPE also focused on the training courses required for those leaving for foreign employment. These training courses are conducted by the National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), the National Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and the Sri Lanka Youth Corps and the SLBFE.

The COPE said a formal methodology for identifying training needs should be developed in line with the current job market and that an action plan for the next five years should be prepared and submitted.

It stressed the need to enter into agreements with the relevant parties and the importance of an insurance scheme that would ensure their safety and job security when sending Sri Lankan workers abroad. The COPE further stressed that the SLBFE should work together with the Foreign Ministry ensure the security and welfare of workers sent for foreign employment.

The COPE directed that a formal procedure should be followed in recruiting officers to work in Sri Lankan embassies abroad and stressed that various irregularities had taken place in the past due to noncompliance. It also directed the Ministry Secretary to obtain a suitable recruitment procedure from the Department of Management Services for the purpose.

Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera, State Ministers Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Indika Anuruddha, Members of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka, Nalin Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, officials of State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotions and Market Diversification, officials of State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovations, and officials of the SLBFE were also present at the meeting.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

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Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.