News
SLMC urges govt. to release records of Muslims cremated during pandemic
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem urged the government yesterday in Parliament to release the records of individuals, particularly Muslim patients, who had been cremated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hakeem criticised the government for allegedly concealing information about those victims, asserting that transparency was a prerequisite for public accountability.
“Do not hide behind the provisions and limits of the Right to Information Act (RTI). We request you to provide information of Muslim patients who died of COVID-19 and were cremated. This must be openly discussed,” Hakeem said, refering to the mandatory cremations as a stain on the country’s health authorities and held the previous government responsible for what he described as an injustice. Hakeem further emphasised that the newly elected government was expected to rectify the wrongs of the past administration.
Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa refuted claims of concealment, stressing that the issue revolves around medical ethics rather than withholding information. “This is not an issue of concealing information; it is about medical ethics. Under the RTI, divulging patient details is not permissible, and we have no right to withhold this information,” Dr. Jayatissa said.
Dr. Jayatissa pointed out that the Cabinet decisions made by the previous government had not been based on scientific evidence, a factor that led to the controversial policy of cremating COVID-19 victims, including Muslims, which had sparked widespread criticism.
Hakeem countered the Minister’s defence, asserting that releasing the names, addresses, and family details of those cremated was not an ethical issue. “How can that be an ethical issue? It is true this was a mistake of the previous government, but I don’t understand how it can be considered an ethical issue,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the families and communities affected by the decision should be compensated for the grave injustices they suffered due to the policy.
Hakeem also called for official inquiries into the actions of certain officials involved in the committee that made decisions regarding COVID-19 cremations. He pointed out that some of those individuals had since been promoted to higher positions “At least conduct a departmental inquiry. Those people must be penalised,” Hakeem urged.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
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