News

Detention of terror suspects, justice for Easter Sunday victims and arrest of web journalists on agenda

Published

5 years ago

2021/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

HRCSL Chairman Dr. Jagath Balasuriya addressing civil society representatives (pic courtesy HRCSL)

HRCSL-civil society powwow

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A civil society group has raised the issue of the detention of persons arrested during the conflict and post-war period in terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with the newly constituted Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL). Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.

Most of the suspects had fought for the LTTE and some had engaged in clandestine terror missions in the South, including political assassinations, former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, MP said. During his tenure as the Justice Minister, he insisted that there were no political prisoners or secret detention camps in the country. SLPP MP Rajapakse yesterday (22) emphasised that the current situation in the country couldn’t be compared with what was under the yahapalana administration. The change of government in Nov 2019 had completely changed the situation, the MP said.

The discussion at the HRCSL office took place on June 8 on the invitation of Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, Chairperson, HRCSL.

Appreciating an opportunity received by the civil society to make representations, Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council told The Island several issues, including the imprisonment of persons under the PTA and difficulties in obtaining bail for them, torture, the killing of persons in police custody, arrest of web journalists, the abuse of the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) Act, which provides for arrest without bail, surveillance of civil society groups and the exploitation of Free Trade Zone workers during the pandemic. The issue of arrests made in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks was also raised.

Dr. Perera underscored the importance of a dialogue between the civil society and the HRCSL though they might not be agreeing on many contentious issues.

The first meeting between the HRCSL and the civil society took place after the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) questioned the rationale behind the appointment of former Cabinet Minister Balasuriya as the HRCSL Chairperson. Would Balasuriya, whose son Tharaka represented the SLPP in Parliament be able to genuinely address human rights issues, asked SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in late Dec 2020, appointed the HRCSL comprising Jagath Balasuriya, Dr. M. H. Nimal Karunasiri, Dr. Vijitha Nanayakkara, Ms. Anusuya Shanmuganathan and H. K. Navaratne Weraduwa.

Dr. Deepika Udagama served as the previous head of the HRCSL.

Dr. Perera said that they had received an assurance from the HRCSL that the issues raised by the civil society had been taken up with the government. He quoted HRCSL members as having said that they expected a positive response from the government.

Dr. Perera said that during the discussion, the HRCSL had referred to reforming of the PTA and the issues raised by families of missing persons and persons suffering from prolonged periods of detention without recourse to judicial processes. “They also explained how they had set about strengthening the administration of the HRCSL such as clearing the backlog of cases and empowering officials who had been given acting appointments and making them permanent,” Dr. Perera said.

In his brief address to the gathering, Dr. Balasuriya assured that the HRCSL would act independently though being appointed by the President. Appealing to those present to trust the HRCSL, Dr. Balasuriya assured the civil society they would use their positions to protect and uphold human rights in the country.

Pointing out that the civil society had a positive engagement with the HRCSL, Dr. Perera said that the recent Court of Appeal decision in the Shani Abeysekera case had given them confidence that the HRCSL would act in a similar spirit to uphold the truth, the rule of law and human rights for the good of the country and all its people.

Dr. Perera said that the HRCSL intended to conduct separate meetings with small groups of activists due to the continuing threat posed by the raging Covid-19 epidemic. The second meeting scheduled for yesterday (22) was postponed.

The HRCSL has begun meeting civil society organisations.

Nihal Chandrasiri, Director – Research & Monitoring (Actg.), HRCSL said that talks with national level groups had been initiated as they could not hold the planned two-day national workshop with the participation of the representatives of regional and national-level civil society organisations in May 2021.

Those present at the June 8 meeting were Dr. Jehan Perera (National Peace Council), Attorney-at-law Lakshan Dias and Philip Dissanayake (Right to Life Human Rights Centre), Chamila Thushari (Dabindu Collective), Prabodha Rathnayake (Rights Now), Ms. Ranitha Gnanarajah (Centre for Human Rights & Development), and Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunatilleke (Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC).

The HRCSL was represented by Dr. Jagath Balasuriya, Commissioners Harsha Nawaratne, Anusuya Shanmuganathan, Nimal Karunasiri, Mrs. Hema Dharmawardena – Additional Secretary, HRCSL, Nihal Chandrasiri, Director – Research & Monitoring (Actg.), Mrs. Menaka Herath – Director- Education & Special Programmes, HRCSL, and Ms. Sulari Liyanagama, Director – Inquiries & Investigations (Actg.).

The Island could not clarify matters relating to the actual number of people held under PTA according to information available with the HRCSL as its spokesperson Nihal Chandrasiri did not answer his phone.

Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunatilleke, in his presentation, raised the issues pertaining to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The Church representative pointed out the inordinate delay in bringing those responsible for heinous crimes before justice. The Rev Father expressed concerns over the situation against the backdrop of the Catholic Church pressuring the government to take punitive measures and implement the Presidential Commission of Inquiry report on the Easter Sunday carnage.

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News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)