News
FUTA condemns state violence against protesting students
The illegitimate government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe continues to resort to State violence in suppressing peaceful protests with impunity. On March 8 the State used brutal police force to disperse a peaceful protest march led by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF), even invading the University of Colombo to do so, the Federation of University Teachers (FUTA) said in a statement last week. Full text of the statement: The Police was not content to disperse the protesting students using tear gas and water cannons, but also forcibly entered the University of Colombo premises without any lawful authorization and indiscriminately and arbitrarily attacked students who were in the university, some of whom had taken no part in the protest march, thereby blatantly disregarding any semblance of respect for the rule of law.
Students, academics and other bystanders were gratuitously targeted during this unprecedented and vicious attack carried out within the premise of an university. The conduct of the Police is a deliberate and flagrant violation of university autonomy — a cherished principle upon which our university system has been built, and which has been upheld by successive regimes in the past.
Not chastened by the fact that such state terror resulted in the death of one person who was attacked within the university premises, the Police continued to target protesters outside the University of Kelaniya on March 9 as well.
The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) vehemently condemns the ruthless and unprovoked behavior exhibited by the Police in attacking students. The perpetrators of these cowardly and unlawful acts, as well as those whose orders were being followed by these perpetrators, must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
The right to peaceful assembly and association is a fundamental right of all citizens, which is well recognized by the supreme law of our land. The country has witnessed a systematic assault on these very rights during the past few months, ever since Ranil Wickremesinghe was “elected” President by Parliament in July 2022.
The Government has adopted an illegal zero-tolerance policy towards any organized protest march and has repeatedly used violence, in the extreme, in dispersing street demonstrations.University students, trade unions, including FUTA, and even major political parties have been subjected to this inhuman repression in the recent past.
Peaceful demonstrations have been an integral part of our democracy ever since the country obtained independence. Citizens of this country have exercised their right to dissent through collective demonstrations whenever they were dissatisfied with government policies. These demonstrations took different forms, from street marches to pada-yathras or janagoshas that lasted for days.
The conduct of the current regime to impose an absolute ban on any mass demonstration is without precedent in our history, without merit within the law, and, moreover, it contravenes the fundamental values of a democratic society. We are living in times where ruthless and unjust economic reforms are imposed on the masses. The lower- and middle-income populations in the country are disproportionately burdened due to the so-called austerity measures the Government has imposed on them.
Arbitrary and unfair increase of taxes, the escalation of electricity and fuel prices due to the removal of subsidies, again disproportionately affecting the poor, high interest rates, and the suspension of state expenditure, have severely impacted the livelihoods of millions of citizens.
These measures are imposed by a President who was never elected through a popular mandate. To make matters worse, the President also refuses to conduct elections that are legally due, and therefore continues to govern without the consent of the governed.
This tendency of rising political authoritarianism accompanied by a harsh economic austerity that is oriented towards a neoliberal ideology poses a fundamental threat to the democratic fabric of this country. Prohibiting demonstrations, attacking protesters, illegally preventing elections, the use of repressive laws to restrict trade union activities, are all part and parcel of a larger authoritarian drive that should be vigorously and steadfastly challenged.
FUTA calls upon all citizens, organizations and forces that value democracy and basic civil liberties to oppose the illegitimate and inhuman conduct of this government. We wish to warn the Government that as the trade union federation representing the academic community in the country, FUTA will stand in solidarity with the people to the very end in order to defeat all such acts of state terror and injustice.
We recognize that in attacking peaceful protesters the Government is demonstrating the fact that it feels threatened by our voices and collective strength. They fear the inevitable triumph of justice over brute force. We are not afraid, nor will we back down.
Hence, this use of the Police as a weapon in the Government’s arsenal of terror must stop immediately. Impunity and utter callousness of this kind must be halted both by legal challenges and public outrage. FUTA pledges its commitment to stand up and fight against an illegitimate government’s illegal agenda and seeks the public’s continued support to ensure victory.
The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) has backed the campaign by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka against the government’s effort’s to extend the retirement ages of judges of the Superior Courts.
T.L Yap, President of LAWASIA, in a statement dated 26 June, has expressed concern over the NPP government’s move in the wake of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent statement in Parliament on the delay in making the appointments.
The text of the statement: “LAWASIA shares the concern expressed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) on 25th May 2026 in a letter to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka regarding the prospect of the Government of Sri Lanka introducing an amendment to the Constitution which would increase the retirement age of the Judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
LAWASIA supports the sentiments expressed by BASL in its letter of 25 May, namely: “Extending the retirement age of the sitting Judges of these Courts at this point of time is likely to be viewed by the public as a blatant attempt to interfere with the judiciary… The independence of the Judiciary and the public confidence reposed in it, are indispensable pillars of the rule of law and the democratic framework of (Sri Lanka).
In that regard it is of paramount importance that the Judiciary must not only remain independent in fact but also must be seen by the public to be wholly independent, impartial, and free from even the slightest perception of influence, favour, accommodation, or impropriety”
The Constitution of Sri Lanka recognizes the independence of the judiciary and its importance in preserving and maintaining the rule of law. The retirement age of senior judges is presently fixed by Article 107(5) of the Constitution. Constitutional amendment in any jurisdiction is a serious matter which must not be undertaken lightly. LAWASIA’s principal concern is that the proposed constitutional amendment has the appearance of an ad hoc initiative without adequate public consultation. This in turn has the potential to undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
An independent, competent and respected judiciary is the cornerstone of any democracy. LAWASIA has long advocated the fundamental importance of this principle.
The essence of LAWASIA’s formal position in relation to the independence of the judiciary lies in the Beijing Statement of Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary in the LAWASIA Region, adopted at the Conference of Chief Justices held in Beijing in 1997 and subsequently signed by 32 Chief Justices from across the Asia-Pacific.
The Beijing Statement in essence emphasizes the fundamental importance of the independence of the judiciary, and comments on a range of related issues including the objectives of the judiciary, the appointment of judges, the tenure of judges, judicial conditions and the relationship between the judiciary and the executive.
Endorsing the concerns raised by another international organization, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, LAWASIA accordingly calls upon the authorities in Sri Lanka to:
• refrain from proceeding with the proposed constitutional amendments seeking to increase the
retirement age of members of the Judiciary;
• resist piecemeal and ad hoc amendments to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
• adhere to due process of consultation and stakeholder engagement in constitutional reform;
• desist from taking any steps which would undermine confidence in the Judiciary and
irreparably diminish the independence of the judiciary; and
• ensure adherence to the rule of law and respect for the independence of the judiciary.
A total of 7,300 young people, below the age of 21, had been arrested on suspicion since the launch of the nationwide ‘Ratama Ekata’ anti-drug operation, DIG in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau, Ashoka Dharmasena, told The Island yesterday.
DIG Dharmasena said the suspects included about 150 females under the age of 21. He added that more than 214,000 suspects had been taken into custody since the commencement of the national anti-narcotics operation.
The operation was launched with the primary objectives of disrupting the supply of narcotics across the country, reducing the demand for illegal drugs and rehabilitating those addicted to narcotic substances, he said.
DIG Dharmasena said law enforcement authorities had so far seized more than 15,000 kilogrammes of narcotics, including cannabis, during the ongoing operation.
He also noted that police had achieved considerable success in intercepting narcotics smuggled into the country by sea, contributing significantly to efforts to curb the illicit drug trade.
The Police Narcotics Bureau said the nationwide operation would continue as part of the government’s broader strategy to dismantle drug trafficking networks and minimise the social impact of narcotics.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
Leader of the Abhinava Nivahal Peramuna, Amit Weerasinghe, was yesterday ordered to be remanded until July 3 by Teldeniya Magistrate Kamal Sanjaya Jayatilake over allegations that he defrauded state officials and businessmen of approximately Rs. 120 million by promising to construct cabana holiday resorts in Ella and Digana.
The suspect was produced before court by the Teldeniya Police Headquarters following his re-arrest on fresh complaints. The Magistrate also ordered an investigation into the suspect’s assets and properties, imposed a travel ban, and directed authorities to freeze his bank accounts.
The Teldeniya Police informed the Magistrate that 26 complaints had been received against the suspect so far and that investigations had revealed a large-scale financial fraud.The Magistrate further directed the police to hand over investigations into the alleged fraud to the CID in Colombo by the next court date.
Weerasinghe had previously been granted bail by court but was arrested again following the receipt of additional complaints.
Investigations are being conducted by Teldeniya Police Headquarters OIC CI D. M. Chandrapala and Teldeniya Division SSP Harsha Amarasinghe under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake and DIG Sudath Masinghe.
by SK Samaranayake ✍️
Roach’s 300th wicket headlines West Indies’ innings win over Sri Lanka
Showers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.
LAWASIA warns against ad hoc initiative to increase judges’ retirement ages
Countrywide drug bust:7, 300 youths arrested
ANP leader further remanded
Fine for child labour to be enhanced
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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