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Prof. Peiris as Vice Chair of IORA at its 21st Council of Ministers meeting calls for collective action

Published

5 years ago

2021/11/20

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, accepting the charge of the Vice-Chair position of the Indian Ocean Rim Association at the 21st Council of Ministers Meeting held in Dhaka called for collective action to safeguard the maritime shipping lanes and ocean space from pollution related disasters.

Referring to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster in May 2021, involving plastic nurdles, hazardous and noxious materials, Minister Peiris said that the environmental impact was not only felt in Sri Lanka but with possible long-term repercussions on marine environment beyond Sri Lanka waters. Emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in maritime safety and security, Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka would take the lead in proposing collective action that could avert or mitigate such disasters that have long term repercussions not only on the environment but also livelihoods – a critical concern for all Member States. He also called on the global community to establish a fund to recover environmental damage and losses considering the magnitude of the consequences of such incidents. He thanked all Member States who extended their support to mitigate the environmental impact of the disaster.

Congratulating the Government of Bangladesh on the assumption of leadership of IORA, Foreign Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka unreservedly had placed its confidence in Bangladesh leading IORA in the next two years which is crucial given the ongoing pandemic. He also thanked the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its excellent work and resilience in steering IORA during its tenure. He also thanked the outgoing past chair, the Government of South Africa for enriching collective decisions as a member of the Troika and the Acting Secretary General and his staff for their tireless work done during the absence of a Secretary General.

The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, commenting on the theme selected by Bangladesh for the period of its Chairmanship: “Harnessing opportunities of Indian Ocean sustainably for inclusive development”, stated that the Indian Ocean was the third largest, covering an area of more than 70 million sq km, and that the world was witnessing mounting competition in the Indian Ocean rim over oceanic resources. He stated that it highlighted the need for regional mechanisms, which could guide countries in the region to cooperate and engage peacefully in harnessing the prospects in a more sustainable manner and IORA was working on an overarching vision on this key thematic area, which was imperative for the promotion of a sustainable ocean economy.

The Minister alluding to “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor”, the vision statement of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, stated that the use of ocean resources in a sustainable manner under the concept of a blue-green economy was a cornerstone of Government policy. Referring to a speech made by the President at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-26) in Scotland, the Minister said that sustainability was at the heart of Sri Lanka’s national policy framework, and was shaped by Lord Buddha’s teachings, which placed great value on environmental integrity.

Speaking on COVID-19, the Minister stated that Sri Lanka remained deeply concerned by the unprecedented challenge for the whole of humanity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to catastrophic health impacts and devastation of economies, especially in the tourism sector.

He said that Sri Lanka had embarked on a new journey to resuscitate tourism, and had opened its doors for tourists, while taking every possible measure to ensure the wellbeing of the people. He acknowledged that tourism had immense potential for growth and development and contributed to the economies of Member States. He said Sri Lanka was confident that the global community would come together to address the challenges posed by the pandemic and build economies in dynamic ways.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.