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Power centralisation under Rajapaksa family underscores S. Lanka’s democratic backsliding: Analyst
Sri Lanka is witnessing a democratic backsliding with the Rajapaksa government's hardline posture offering little hope of addressing minority concerns or pursuing a genuine reconciliation process promised since the end of the civil war, according to an analysis.
In an opinion piece in South Asian Voices, Asanga Abeyagoonasekara, an international security and geopolitics analyst and strategic advisor from Sri Lanka, said Colombo was not invited to Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy and the failure to receive an invitation reflects the ongoing democratic backsliding under the “semi-autocratic rule” of one family.
“The centralisation of power under the Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka underscores the democratic backsliding in the country which continued throughout 2021,” writes Abeyagoonasekara.
“Amidst concerns of extremism and internal instability, the Sri Lankan government’s hardline posture offers little hope of addressing minority concerns or pursuing a genuine reconciliation process promised since the end of the civil war, according to an analyst,” he adds.
The analyst noted that the majoritarian regime was formed in 2020 with a quick constitutional amendment to remove critical checks on executive power and bring more legislative controls under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Minority communities, including Sri Lanka’s Muslim and Tamil populations, have been troubled by multiple events over the past year, points out Abeyagoonasekara says.
“In 2021, the government expanded the powers of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has repeatedly been used to justify arbitrary arrests. The arbitrary detentions are likely to trigger extremist sentiments, and Sri Lankan prisons could become breeding grounds for extremism. Three years after the brutal Easter Sunday attack, the government’s ultra-nationalist posture with the military at the forefront has triggered more insecurity,” he added.
The author also pointed out that China has made considerable inroads into Sri Lanka in 2021 and Projects including the terminal project in Colombo and several large-scale loan packages have made China the most important bilateral player.
“Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s foreign policy has so far been similar to the foreign policy of the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration. While the national policy framework of the present government espoused a policy drawing on nonalignment principles, it has in practice taken a “China bandwagon” approach to geopolitics,” he said.
(ANI)
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.
Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday’s agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said he was “deeply hurt” by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a “lasting accord” between India and Pakistan, and wished for a “authentic, true and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
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May this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings – PM
In her Vesak day message, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya wished that this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings
The full text of the prime ministers vesak day message:
“It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.
Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.
This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.
I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.
May all of you have a blessed Vesak!”
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Special waste management programme launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” during the State Vesak Festival
Parallel with the State Vesak Festival that commenced on Saturday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit Nuwara Eliya during the Vesak Week, from May 10 to 16, this initiative is aimed at preserving the cleanliness and beauty of the area.
The programme will focus particularly on areas around the Gregory Lake, a key tourist attraction, and the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, the venue for the State Vesak Festival.
In addition, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative urges visiting devotees to refrain from bringing non-biodegradable material such as polythene and calls on all citizens to act responsibly by properly disposing of waste only at designated locations, while maintaining the sanctity and cleanliness of the environment.
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