News
SW asks if mishandling of Rambukkana incident led to May 09 violence
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (05) said that over a year after the killing of eight persons, including SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale and his police bodyguard and destruction of approximately 150 private properties the government was yet to conduct a proper inquiry into the incidents.
The former Public Security Minister also emphasized that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government hadn’t so far probed as to why law enforcement authorities and the military did absolutely nothing during the systematic violence unleashed by organized gangs in Colombo, its suburbs and the provinces. Polonnaruwa District lawmaker Atukorale and his police bodyguard had been lynched in Nittambuwa in broad daylight in spite of the presence of contingent of armed troops there. In fact, the contingent declined to intervene even after the local police sought its assistance, the former Navy Chief of Staff said.
The Colombo District MP said so in response to The Island query regarding SLPP MP Chandima Weerakkody raising a privilege issue with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena over MP Weerasekera, in his capacity as the Chairman of the SOC writing to State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon in this regard. MP Weerakkody, who is also a member of the SOC on National Security has declared that the Chairman couldn’t have written to the State Minister without the consensus of members.
In a letter to Speaker Abeywardena, MP Weerasekera, has asked whether the arrest of SSP Kegalle K.B Keerthiratne over ordering police to open fire on a mob that tried to set fire to a fuel bowser on April 19, 2022 discouraged law enforcement authorities and the military. One person died as a result of police firing while several police officers suffered injuries.
Pointing out that SSP Keerthiratne, now on bail, had been forced to meet his legal expenses, lawmaker Weerasekera has warned the Speaker of dire consequences of such a disastrous government policy.
Would any officer dare to issue instructions to quell mob violence when he realized the catastrophic consequences in the absence of political backing for security measures, MP Weerasekera asked. According to him, the bone of contention is that MP Weerakkody felt that he shouldn’t have drawn the State Defence Minister’s attention to a discussion chaired by him in Parliament on Oct 05, 2023. “Lawmaker Weerakkody also found fault with me for commenting on US Ambassador Julie Chung’s behaviour during last year’s troubles,” MP Weerasekera said.
“The US Ambassador misinterpreted developments. She intervened and in the process misled all, including her own government,” MP Weerasekera said.
Referring to the findings made by the Committee of Experts appointed by the Human Rights Commission to investigate the Rambukkana shooting, MP Weerasekera said that at the time he wrote to the State Defence Minister he hadn’t been aware of the existence of such a committee.
MP Weerasekera said that SOC wouldn’t under any circumstances endorse that committee’s recommendation that disciplinary action be taken against SSP Keerthiratne as the police officer didn’t violate any law. If not for the timely action taken by Kegalle police on the orders of the senior officer in charge, a massive disaster would have happened, the former Public Security Minister said.
At the time of the Rambukkana incident, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga served as the Public Security Minister. Rambukkana violence erupted close on the heels of Weerasekera’s resignation as Public Security Minister.
MP Weerasekera said that SSP Keerthiratne’s issue hadn’t been resolved yet. The failure on the part of the government to address this issue posed quite a threat to national security as both police and military would hesitate to take tangible measures in emergency situations.
Having dismissed MP Weerakkody’s concerns over violation of certain Standing Orders pertaining to the operation of SOCs, MP Weerasekera said that no one could find fault with him for bringing a matter of utmost importance to the notice of the State Minister. The ex-Navy Chief of Staff asserted that perhaps the former minister had no idea whatsoever regarding the subject of national security.
Responding to another query, MP Weerasekera said that the government owed an explanation regarding the outcome of investigations. The retired Navy officer noted that lawmakers who had moved court against the failure on the part of police and military to save their property later withdrew their case on the promise fresh investigation would be conducted. “We are yet to hear anything about the progress of this fresh investigation,” the MP said.
Under the guidance of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, implemented as a key government initiative is set to launch 34 new projects this year, and work on many of these projects is scheduled to commence by the end of this April.
In line with this, a one-day workshop was held on Thursday (10) at the “Clean Sri Lanka” Secretariat located in the Lotus Building at the Temple Trees, under the leadership of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The workshop provided technical guidance on preparing project proposals in accordance with the formats required by the Department of National Planning for submission and approval.
The “Clean Sri Lanka” programme aims to foster social, environmental and ethical transformation across the country, with the active participation of all stakeholders. A sum of Rs. 5 billion has been allocated from this year’s national budget for its implementation.
Once the Department of National Planning grants approval for the proposed projects, detailed action plans will be developed in line with prescribed formats. It was agreed that projects deemed ready for implementation will commence before the end of April.
During the workshop, Secretary to the President outlined the government’s expectations and the intended outcomes of the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme.
Senior officials representing the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Ministry of Digital Economy, Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sri Lanka Police, and the Western Provincial Council were in attendance.
Also present were Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka Programme) and G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs), along with other senior officials.
[PMD]
The Government of Sri Lanka has extended financial assistance amounting to USD 01 Million to provide relief to the people of Myanmar affected by the recent earthquake.
The relevant cheque was officially handed over by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, to the Ambassador of Myanmar to Sri Lanka, Marlar Than Htaik.on Thursday (10) at the Presidential Secretariat.
Despite the prevailing economic challenges in Sri Lanka, the Ambassador of Myanmar expressed her deep appreciation to President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the Government of Sri Lanka for this gesture of solidarity and support towards the disaster-stricken people of Myanmar.
Furthermore, the Ambassador extended her gratitude for Sri Lanka’s decision to deploy relief teams and medical personnel during this difficult time. She also noted that such acts of compassion further strengthen the longstanding religious and cultural friendship between Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
The Ambassador also briefed the Secretary to the President on the current situation in Myanmar following the earthquake.
Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, along with officials from the Embassy of Myanmar, Winh Wint Khaus Tun and Ms. Lei Yi Win, were also present at this occasion.
[PMD]
…of seven SOCs only one constituted so far
Sri Lanka’s controversial MoU on Defence Cooperation with India was unlikely to be taken up any time soon in Parliament in spite of the House Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection that has been assigned defence, authoritative sources told The Island.
Of the seven SOCs only one was activated with the recent election of Dr. Najith Indika, MP, as the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice, and Civil Protection of the Tenth Parliament.
The inaugural meeting of the current parliament was held on 21 Nov., 2024.
Sources said that the parliament had met for the last time yesterday (10) before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday. It is scheduled to meet again on May 8.
The UNDP that has financially backed the establishment of the SOC system to help strengthen the role of the parliament recently reached a consensus with the government to reduce the number of SCOCs from 17 to seven. The Island, in writing, asked for the UNDP’s reaction to the operation of SOCs but had not received a response at the time this edition went to press.
The SOCs have the power to examine any Bill, except the Bills defined in Article 152 of the Constitution, Treaty, Reports including the Annual and Performance Reports relating to the institutions coming under its purview or any other matter referred to the Committee by Parliament or any Committee or a Minister relating to the subjects and functions within their jurisdiction.
Sources said that out of the seven SOCs only one had been activated during the past five months though the government and the Opposition agreed to share the leadership of them.
Accordingly, it was agreed that the government would appoint chairpersons to four SOCs –– Economic Development and International Relations, Health, Media and Women’s Empowerment, Science, Technology and Digital Transformation and Governance, Justice and Civil Protection .
It was also agreed that the Opposition would appoint chairpersons to the SOCs on Infrastructure and Strategic Development, Education, Manpower and Human Capital, and Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability to the Opposition.
India and Sri Lanka on April 5 signed six MoUs on HVDC interconnection for import/export of power, cooperation in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation, defence cooperation, multi sectoral grant assistance for Eastern province, health and medicine and pharmacopoeia cooperation. In addition to them, India, Sri Lanka and UAE signed a tripartite MoU cooperation in development of Trincomalee as an energy hub.
The Island asked Ali Sabry, PC, who served as foreign minister during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the President (July 2022 to Sept 2024) whether the seven MoUs had been discussed during that period. We also asked him whether those MoUs should have been discussed at SOCs before finalisation.
Sabry said: “Most of the MOU to my knowledge were discussed except the one on Defence Cooperation, which I am unaware of. General procedure is the relevant line ministry prepares the initial draft and gets the input from the Foreign Ministry and goes for stakeholder consultation of all ministries and agencies involved. Then the President’s Office grants its sanction and with the approval of the AG, it goes before the cabinet of ministers. With Cabinet approval, the government could sign the MOU.”
Sabry said that he was of the opinion that once the government signed a particular MoU, it should be placed before the parliament. “MOU’s are generally not legally binding and only signify the desire to work together. If the signed MoUs were to be implemented, then they have to be followed by agreements or laws.”
He emphasised the pivotal importance of transparency in the whole process. The ex-minister said: “I think transparency is crucial in these matters. Concealment leads to speculation and assumption of the worst. The MOUs should be tabled in Parliament for public information. Discussion at the relevant SOCs would have been helpful. There are growing fears fueled by lack of information in the public domain. This is a private comment, not to be attributed to me.
Asked whether MoUs, particularly the ones on defence and energy had to be approved by the Attorney General, the former minister said that the AG has to advise the MoUs compatibility with the Constitution. “But Article 157 of the Constitution does not apply; the 2/3 majority stipulated there envisages only investment treaties.” Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath assured Parliament on April 8 that the AG had cleared all seven MoUs and none of them were inimical to the country.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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