News
HRC seeks clarification over Emergency as protesting trade unions complain
IUSF vows to lay siege on Parliament
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Justice Rohini Marasinghe, has sought an explanation from Defence Secretary, General Kamal Gunaratne, IGP C. D. Wickremaratne and Secretary to the President, Gamini Senarath, against the backdrop of trade unions affiliated to political parties and civil society groups, challenging the government over the declaration of emergency with effect from midnight May 07,
The HRC consists of Justice Marasinghe, Venerable Kalupahana Piyarathana Thera, Dr. M.H. Nimal Karunasiri, Dr. Vijitha Nanayakkara and Ms. Anusuya Shanmuganathan.
Justice Marasinghe yesterday (08) told The Island that the HRC had felt the urgent need to seek a clarification on behalf of the public, of the reasons for the controversial proclamation as protests have been largely peaceful and within the domain of normal police operations. “We sincerely hope that freedom of speech and assembly, the rights associated with arrest and detention as well as other fundamental rights and freedoms, will not be affected or diminished during the period of the emergency.
Addressing a hastily-arranged media briefing on Saturday, trade union activist Ravi Kumudesh declared their intention to lay siege to Parliament when sittings resumed on May 17.
Kumudesh warned lawmakers would be allowed to enter the Parliament without hindrance but wouldn’t be permitted to leave until public grievances were addressed.
Former JVP lawmaker Wasantha Samarasinghe, former UNP MP Saman Ratnapriya and JVP trade union activists, Mahinda Jayasinghe (education) and Ranjan Jayalal (electricity) joined Kumudesh in declaring what they called a national protest week.
Top Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Duminda Nagamuwa told a separate media briefing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would soon regret not leaving the executive presidency when he could.
Recalling how the President recently regretted his disastrous sudden decision to change the agriculture policy and the inordinate delay in seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (OMF), the breakaway JVP faction said that the government had lost its bearings. Similarly, the President would soon regret him hanging onto executive power regardless of public demands for him to resign.
Justice Marasinghe emphasised that the HRC was seriously concerned about further deterioration of the situation.
Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige last Friday (06) declared that they would surround Parliament on 17 May. The IUSF affiliated to the FSP involved in the ongoing Galle Face protest campaign issued the warning following two tear gas attacks on them and the public blocking the main entrance to the Parliament.
FSP’s Pubudu Jagoda said that they were quite surprised by the government’s response to the growing public discontent over the shortage of essential items and services as well as political instability. The declaration of emergency only strengthened our resolve to chase the corrupt lot out whatever the consequences be, Jagoda said, frequent disruption of traffic on major roads in Colombo and its suburbs and the provinces reflected the collapse of law and order.
Jagoda pointed out the emergency wouldn’t be a deterrent at all as the public were out on the streets in large numbers. Law enforcement authorities couldn’t cope with such a large-scale public protest campaign by declaring emergency, Jagoda said, drawing the government’s attention to the public response to imposition of the countrywide curfew on April 03 to thwart the protest campaign. People simply moved into streets, violated curfew and simply ignored the presence of the police.
By declaring an emergency, the government has now set the stage for an unprecedented showdown between the public and the police, Jagoda said. “We are in a critical stage that may influence public disobedience campaigns. There is no turning back now. The confrontation outside the Parliament on 17 May cannot be tackled by political jugglery,” Jagoda said.
It has been reported quoting police sources that the death toll from the renewed unrest at the Negombo Prison which this morning, has risen from nineteen to twenty five (25).
A clash initially broke out between two groups of inmates (a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates serving sentences) at the Negombo Prison at around 1.00 p.m. on Sunday (05).
Two inmates died in yesterday’s clash, while around 40 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at hospital.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the children of Sri Lanka are well capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical ways of thinking, and that the Government is committed to equipping them with the required knowledge and modern technologies necessary to realize their full potential.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the opening of the ’Arumasiya’ Exhibition and the occasion of laying the foundation stone for a new three-storey building at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, on the 4th of July.
During the visit, the Prime Minister officially declared open the exhibition showcasing the students’ innovations and creative talents and commended them for their remarkable achievements. The Prime Minister also participated in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of the College’s new three-storey building.
Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“It is a pleasure to participate in this special event at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, the school where Sri Lanka’s first female Prime Minister received her education
I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition featuring the outstanding creations and innovations of the students. What I witnessed was a group of talented young people who have moved beyond textbook learning and are capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical thinking.
We are introducing a new education reform process that moves away from a rote-learning, examination-oriented system towards a practical and skills-based one. The Government is now systematically completing all the necessary preparations to implement the new education reforms scheduled to commence in 2027.
Our objective is to ensure that every child leaving school has access to vocational and technical education that matches their individual talents and meets the demands of the modern labour market. We are committed to transforming vocational education into a field that enjoys the same dignity and recognition as university education.
Finally, I commend the Principal and the academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College for organizing this exhibition, and to the students and parents whose dedication made this event a success.”
The event was attended by Members of Parliament for Ratnapura District Wasantha Pushpa Kumara and Sunil Rajapaksha, the Mayor of Balangoda and members of the Municipal Council, the Zonal Director of Education, the Principal and academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, parents, and students.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
The appointment of a Special Parliamentary Ombudsman (SPO) to inquire into the complaints against the Attorney General, as promised in the NPP manifesto, is on hold, pending the establishment of an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
Authoritative sources told The Island that the Justice and National Integration Ministry was awaiting the recommendations, regarding the new legislation for the establishment of such an Office, from a Committee of Technical Experts, chaired by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.
Responding to a query raised in Parliament by SJB lawmaker Ajith P. Perera about the delay in appointment of SPO, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government couldn’t take a decision until the Kodagoda Committee made recommendations.
Nanayakkara said that the positioning of the SPO couldn’t be decided before they differentiate the powers of the Attorney General and the an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
According to the NPP manifesto, provincial Sub Officers were to be established under a senior Additional Solicitor General.
Opposition sources pointed out that the relevant Cabinet decision was taken on 7 May 2025. According to the Cabinet Office, the government decided to establish an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers in line with a proposal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her final report on Sri Lanka, submitted in September, 2024.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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