News
GL assures Delhi-resident ambassadors that SL was engaging cordially with UN
“We oppose excessive interference and special mechanisms”
Sri Lanka would continue to engage purposefully and cordially with the UN but opposes excessive interference into the internal affairs of the country, Foreign Minister G. L Peiris last week told a group of 17 visiting ambassadors/high commissioners in Colombo but objected to the setting up of a ‘special mechanism’ by the UN whose sole purpose, he said, was to collect data to use against Sri Lanka.
There was no way of knowing what such data was and therefore we had no opportunity to test the truth in these allegations, he explained.
The meeting followed the presentation of credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the envoys, mostly non-resident Heads of Mission based in New Delhi and concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said.
Prof Peiris welcomed them and stated that the Sri Lankan Government looked forward to strong and substantial relationships with them all.
During his previous tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government felt that there was insufficient representation in the African continent and deliberate efforts were made to strengthen relations with the African countries.
The present Government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also looking towards forming close bonds with the African nations as well as consolidating relations with the African Union, Peiris said.
He briefed the Ambassadors on the current situation and developments in Sri Lanka saying the country had achieved substantial successes even after its planned structural strategies, priorities and frameworks were disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic.
Ninety percent of people over 30 have been double vaccinated and the country is now providing booster shots, he said. We had an efficient health care and delivery system supported by the armed forces who made that sure vaccines reached even remote areas of the country.
The Ambassadors were briefed on the resilience of the private sector which adapted to post-covid needs. The apparel industry, for instance, began producing face masks and PPE kits to meet global demand ensuring that the country’s export income remained stable and jobs were not lost.
In the case of remittances, the minister acknowledged they were affected due to a large number of Lankans working abroad returning home due to the pandemic. He stated that the Government was in discussions with many countries since many now want to return to their jobs.
The Foreign Minister also explained that the country was ravaged by a 30-year conflict saying a conflict of such magnitude is bound to leave residues. It has taken other countries decades to recover and Sri Lanka has made every effort to deal with residual problems.
He listed mechanisms like the Office of Missing Persons, Commissions of Inquiry, ONUR, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka saying that all these were working towards tackling the remnants of the conflict.
On commitment to gender empowerment and gender equality, Peiris said the Human Rights Commission is headed by a former female judge of the Supreme Court and that Sri Lanka is working towards more female representation in decision making.
He called for the empathy of the Ambassadors and High Commissioners present and their backing on international platforms stating that it was important for the UN to support the efforts made by a country to get back on its feet and not pull it down.
Local institutions must be given the space and time to find solutions that sustain the culture and ethics of an individual country Pieris concluded by inviting the mission heads to join the upcoming National Day celebrations in February 2022 and stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to stronger bilateral relations and cooperation in the UN arena.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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