News
Political crisis: SLAAS calls for calm and tolerance
By Ifham Nizam
The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), which comprises more than 6,000 active members, and is the apex learned society of the scientific community, have observed with dismay the dire economic situation in the country, which has steadily worsened over the last several months, and is deeply concerned about the accompanying social unrest and political instability.
The SLAAS, representing the scientific community and an important part of the network of scientists in the country, says it stands ready to advise and assist President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government in any way necessary to achieve this transition, and as scientists and researchers, to do what is necessary to make that transition a success.
Prof. Manuj C. Weerasinghe, General President of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, urged all sides to act with calm and mutual tolerance, without confrontation.
“With all due respect, we especially urge Your Excellency’s government and its agents to respect the rights of protesters and demonstrators to express their views in a non- violent manner. At the same time, we urge the demonstrators to act with patience, responsibility, and restraint in this volatile situation,” he said in a statement.
He said that they believed that if solutions, whether immediate or long term, were to be found for the grave crisis and wanted inputs from the best brains in the country.
“We respectfully urge that such professionals be swiftly identified, perhaps with the help of their respective professional institutions, and appointed to key positions, as well as boards and panels which will be entrusted with the responsibility of making well-reasoned and transparent recommendations regarding the courses of action to be followed. We further urge that those recommendations then be followed, unless valid reasons can be given for not doing so.”
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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