News
Julie, Tiran discuss govt’s response to protest movement
BASL fires letter to police chief
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday (11) said that there was absolutely no issue with regard to the launch of peaceful political protests. “We haven’t interfered at all with such protests,” Minister Alles said. He however said law enforcement authorities have no option but to deal with violent situations accordingly.The SLPP National List MP said so when The Island sought his views on the current situation in the wake of US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung taking up issues relating to ongoing protests, police operations and related matters.
Having met Minister Alles at the Public Security Ministry on August 10, Ambassador Chung tweeted: “Good meeting with Security Minister Tiran Alles today. I reiterated that respect for rule of law and due process are at the heart of any secure democracy. Those basic tenets protect both citizens and their leaders, and ensure security for all.”
The meeting at the Public Security Ministry took place close on the heels of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) warning Inspector General of Police C.D Wickremaratne over the operations undertaken by law enforcement authorities targeting protesters.Minister Alles said the meeting had been very cordial. He warned that threats would be dealt with appropriately whereas peaceful protests were acceptable in any part of the country.
BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC, and BASL Secretary Isuru Balapatabendi in a letter dated 09 Aug urged the police chief to ensure his officers and men adhere to Sri Lanka’s international obligations as regards preventive enforced disappearances.Some lawyers have challenged the BASL stand on measures adopted by the government to control protests.
The Public Security Ministry Spokesperson said that the discussion covered several pertinent issues namely the pivotal importance of protecting human rights, duties and responsibilities of law enforcement authorities, ongoing political protest campaign and the need for the government and the NGOs to work together. The spokesperson said that the US Ambassador expressed satisfaction that contrary to claims incidents didn’t take place on August 09.
The following is the text of the BASL’s letter to the IGP: We draw your attention to complaints received by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) from its members relating to arrests and detentions being carried out without adherence to due process in a manner akin to abductions.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has received complaints from its members and the Colombo Magistrate’s Court Lawyers’ Association on the arrests of persons by police officers dressed in civilian clothing and without possessing any identification.
It is alleged that persons so arrested have been taken away in unidentifiable vehicles and kept for several hours at undisclosed locations. On these occasions no receipts of arrest have been issued nor an opportunity given to the persons arrested to inform relatives, friends or lawyers of their whereabouts. On these occasions they have been deprived of access to Attorneys-at-Law or the Human Rights Commission for a few hours.
In one such instance a suspect named Anthony Veranga Pushpika de Silva had been taken away by persons in civilian clothing and his whereabouts were unknown for six hours. He was eventually found by Attorneys-at-Law to be in police custody. In another instance a suspect named Mangala Maddumage had been taken into custody by two persons in civilian clothing and his whereabouts known only a few hours later. In a third instance a student studying at the Kelaniya University had been abducted and questioned for nearly three hours before being released.
We are also informed that on several occasions Attorneys-at-Law appearing for suspects were not properly informed or given misleading information on suspects in custody and on the time that they will be produced in Courts. These have resulted in them being deprived of legal representation and due process especially when they were produced at the residence of a Magistrate during late hours.
We draw your attention to some of the provisions of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Act, No. 5 of 2018. Section 15 of the said Act provides as follows:
15. (1) No person shall be held in secret detention.
(2) Any person deprived of liberty shall have the right to communicate with and be visited by his relatives, attorney-at-law or any other person of his choice, subject only to the conditions established by written law.
(3) Law enforcement authorities, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, shall have access to the places where persons are deprived of liberty.
Section 16 of the said Act states as follows:
16. (1) Any relative of a person deprived of liberty, the representative of a person deprived of liberty or
an attorney-at-law of a person deprived of liberty shall have the right to access the following
information:-
(a) the person or authority that ordered the deprivation of liberty;
(b) the date, time and place where the person was deprived of liberty and admitted to the place of
deprivation of liberty;
(c) the authority responsible for supervising the deprivation of liberty;
(d) the whereabouts of the person deprived of liberty, including, in the event of a transfer to another place of deprivation of liberty, the destination and the authority responsible for the transfer;
(e) the date, time and place of release;
(f) information relating to the state of health of the person deprived of liberty; and It is therefore of utmost importance that police officers carrying out arrests identify themselves at the time of arrest and afford persons so arrested an immediate opportunity to communicate with their relatives, friends or their Attorneys-at-Law of their whereabouts. We request you to ensure that adequate access is given to Attorneys-at-Law and the relatives of such suspects without delay.
Given the numerous instances in the past of persons being subject to arbitrary arrests, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances and in consideration of Sri Lanka’s international obligations on preventing enforced disappearances, we call upon you as Head of the Police Department to immediately ensure that all arrests are carried out strictly according to procedures established by law and that instructions are given to all police officers in respect of the above.”
Bell 212 accident during passing out parade kills six military personnel, injures six others
A Bell 212 helicopter, belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir yesterday morning, killing six forces personnel and injuring six others. The helicopter was on a routine mission in support of a Special Forces passing-out parade when it encountered technical difficulties and attempted an emergency landing.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:17 a.m., after the helicopter took off from the SLAF Base Hingurakgoda, at 6:47 a.m., and picked up Army personnel in Maduru Oya around 7:08 a.m. According to the SLAF, the aircraft was conducting a heli-rappelling drill as part of a military demonstration when it suffered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft was carrying 12 individuals—six from the Army and six from the Air Force, including two pilots. Initial rescue efforts led to all passengers being retrieved alive and transported to the Aralaganwila Regional Hospital, with eight later transferred to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital due to the severity of their injuries.
Despite emergency medical care, six of the personnel succumbed to their injuries—four Army Special Forces soldiers and two Air Force members. Among the deceased were helicopter gunmen and elite Special Forces troops.
In the wake of the tragedy, both the Army and Air Force have launched separate investigations to determine the cause of the crash. Air Force Commander Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe has appointed a nine-member inquiry committee, while Army Commander Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo confirmed that expert teams have been dispatched to the crash site to gather evidence.
Air Force spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said the crash occurred during a drill demonstration at the training school and that the exact cause of the accident remains unknown at this time.The remaining six injured personnel are still receiving treatment, with their conditions being closely monitored.
By Norman Palihawadane
Nearly half a century has passed since the Catholic Church last had an Italian Pope. In the hallowed corridors of the Vatican, as the Conclave began deliberations to elect a successor to Pope Francis, several Italian names were whispered with increasing frequency. Chief among them was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, a seasoned diplomat, and well-known among the electors. Others, like Cardinals Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Matteo Zuppi, also had their share of admirers.
Yet, when the white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, it was not an Italian who emerged. Instead, the Cardinals turned to an unheralded American – Robert Francis Prevost, a canon law professor and lifelong missionary – electing him as successor to St. Peter. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.
Though born in the United States, Pope Leo’s spiritual and pastoral heart lies in Peru, where he spent much of his life in missionary service. His elevation comes as a surprise to many as he had been made a Cardinal just two years earlier, appointed by Pope Francis himself. A relative newcomer in the College of Cardinals, he was seen by many as a wildcard – yet perhaps that’s exactly what the Church needed.
At 69, Pope Leo is poised for what could be a lengthy pontificate – time enough, perhaps, to carry forward the reforms initiated by his predecessor. It’s no secret that Pope Francis saw in him a leader fit for the challenges of global Catholicism. When Prevost returned from Peru to head the Augustinian Order – a role he held for 12 years – it was Francis who sent him back across continents, appointing him Bishop of Chiclayo and entrusting him with pastoral care once more in Peru.
Those close to the new Pontiff describe him as deeply spiritual, a steady hand, and a bridge-builder, qualities sorely needed in a Church increasingly split between traditionalists and reformists. He is expected to offer a more measured, balanced approach on key issues, fostering dialogue rather than division.
In many ways, this Conclave echoed the dramatic scenes of October 1978, when an unknown outsider from Poland – Karol Wojtyla – was chosen as Pope John Paul II. Like then, the Cardinals have once again looked beyond the obvious front-runners. But, unlike 1978, when it took eight ballots to break the deadlock and settle on a compromise, this time it took just four.
That speed speaks volumes. The Cardinals were not merely settling – they were convinced that here’s the man to take the Church forward. In Cardinal Prevost, they found a shepherd capable of steering the Church through a time of transition, someone who could temper Franciscan reform with pastoral wisdom and unite a divided flock under the banner of faith and humility.
By Rex Clementine
The Court of Appeal on Thursday issued a writ order nullifying the appointment of S.M.P. Suriyabandara as the Director General of the Road Development Authority (RDA), citing a breach of proper procedure. The Court found that the selection process was in violation of established appointment guidelines.
The Court directed the RDA and the Minister of Transport and Highways to appoint K.W. Kandambi to the post, with effect from 5th March 2024. Kandambi, a civil engineer with 23 years of service at the RDA, had outperformed Suriyabandara in the official interview process, scoring 61 marks compared to Suriyabandara’s lower score.
President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha, representing Kandambi, argued that appointing a candidate with fewer marks was unlawful and requested the Court to invalidate the appointment.
Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Mohamed Lafar Tahir, ruled that the respondents had violated the law in their selection process, thus issuing the writ order to correct the appointment.
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
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