Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda said that he is still waiting for the government’s response to the UK sanctions imposed on three ex-military officers, including him, and a former member of the LTTE.

The former Navy Chief said so in response to The Island query whether he was aware of the position taken by a three-member ministerial committee, consisting of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen (retd) Aruna Jayasekera.

The government named the committee in the wake of the UK declaration of travel bans and asset freezes in respect of Karannagoda, General Shavendra Silva, General Jagath Jayasuriya and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, also known as Karuna. Maj. Gen. Jayasekera said that they inquired into the issue at hand.

Karannnagoda said that he would like to know the government’s recommendations if the ministerial committee briefed the Cabinet as per a decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers. Karannagoda said that the issue should have been taken at the highest level as various interested parties continue to humiliate the war-winning military by targeting selected individuals.

Other sources, familiar with the issues at hand, told The Island that the government was yet to announce its stand.

Sources pointed out that the Opposition has been silent on what they called a matter of utmost national importance.

Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa is on record as having described the UK move as a unilateral move and that committee was formed to examine the developments and recommend appropriate measures to the Cabinet.

Foreign Minister Herath told The Island the government was not successful in getting the British to withdraw sanctions. Describing the UK decision as unilateral, the Miniser said that the government conveyed its concerns but the UK didn’t change its stand.

The Island raised the issue with Minister Herath and Admiral Karannagoda in the wake of British MP of Sri Lankan origin, Uma Kumaran requesting the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to expand on the government’s sanctions imposed on the four above-mentioned persons.

During a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on 16 December, the MP for Stratford and Bow highlighted the lack of accountability and political will from the current Sri Lankan government to address war crimes and mass atrocities committed in Sri Lanka.

Sources said that David Lammy, who served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs at the time of the declaration of sanctions, had no qualms in declaring that the action taken against four Sri Lankans was in line with a commitment he made during the election campaign to ensure those responsible wouldn’t be allowed impunity. The UK government statement quoted Lammy as having said that this decision ensured that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses were held accountable.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Shobini Gunasekera recently presented a conceptual framework of seven key vectors that defined contemporary international relations and facilitated dialogue among States. She made the presentation at XI Moscow International Financial and Economic Forum held under the theme “Building Bridges: Partnership without Borders”.

In her address, the Ambassador emphasised that these vectors represent the channels through which ideas circulate, trade expands, and peace is strengthened, serving as guiding principles for cooperation amid global uncertainties. The seven key vectors highlighted were economic ties as a foundation for long-term stability; political choice and diplomacy through dialogue and multilateral engagement; security cooperation to address cross-border threats; cultural linkages through education, tourism, and professional exchanges; technological advancement, particularly in digital systems and artificial intelligence; environmental stewardship through collective action on renewable energy and climate change; and humanitarian obligations, including disaster relief and development cooperation.

 Drawing on Sri Lanka’s experience, the Ambassador illustrated the practical application of these principles by highlighting the country’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, its role as a trade and logistics hub, and its active engagement in regional groupings such as BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, where the Russian Federation serves as a Dialogue Partner.

 The potential for enhanced Sri Lanka–Russia bilateral cooperation was underscored, particularly through complementarities between Russia’s technological and energy expertise and Sri Lanka’s logistical capabilities and maritime infrastructure. She noted that such synergies could support joint initiatives in trade, innovation, tourism, and logistics, while cultural and scientific exchanges would further strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries.

Concluding her remarks, the Ambassador stated that sustained progress requires dialogue, mutual respect, and forward-looking partnerships capable of shaping a shared and stable future.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has admitted that there were limitations in the testing process conducted at the laboratory of National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

A statement issued by the Health Ministry says Minister Jayatissa, at a meeting with senior health officials, stressed the need for a project to streamline and expand the drug testing process. The Minister has also explained the need to explore ways and means of utilising the available resources at other government-owned facilities to improve the capacity until a permanent solution could be found.

Officials present at the meeting held at the Ministry were from the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology – SLINTEC), Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology – SLIBTEC), Industrial Technology Institute – ITI), Sri Lanka Standards Institution – SLSI, NMRA and Medical Research Institute (MRI).

The government is under fire over the deaths of two persons and severe reactions in others after receiving Ondansetron, an anti-nausea injection from an Indian manufacturer. The use of this drug and nine other injectable medications from the same company has been temporarily halted.

Minister Jayatissa emphasised the need to address the issues at hand without disrupting the supply of medicine while drawing the attention of those present to deal with what he called problematic medicine.