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Third anniversary of Easter Sunday: National Shoora Council demands justice

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/21

The National Shoora Council, in a statement issued on the eve of the 3rd anniversary of the Easter Sunday carnage reiterated its often made call for justice to the victims. Also referring to injustices caused to the Muslim community, the National Shoora Council emphasized the responsibility of all concerned to ensure justice.

The following is the text of the statement issued by President of the National Shoora Council T. K. Azoor Attorney at Law: The National Shoora Council (NSC) the umbrella body of 15 Muslim Organizations with a national reach joins all Sri Lankans in remembering the third anniversary of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks of Sunday, April 21, 2019. The NSC conveys once again its profound condolences to the families of the victims of all communities, mainly Christians and tourists, who suffered from the attacks.

The NSC wishes to state that

* The Easter Sunday attacks carried out by some persons with Muslim names have nothing to do with Islam and are contrary to the fundamental principles of Islam. Recourse to self-defense is the only instance in which limited counter-response to attacks is permitted in Islam, which in any event prohibits suicide or suicide bombings or attacks.

* Muslims of Sri Lanka have co-existed peacefully with the majority as well as the minority communities, particularly the Christians throughout the history of Sri Lanka. The Easter attacks are a misguided but failed blow to the unity and peaceful co-existence of the peoples of our beloved country.

*All Muslims in Sri Lanka and internationally were shocked when the attack took place and all Islamic bodies expressed their strong condemnation. They unanimously agreed not to permit even the dead bodies of the bombers from being buried in Muslim burial grounds.

*It should be noted that respected international Islamic scholars and the Fatwa Councils have firmly stated that ISIS is an anti-Islamic militant group and that their policies and practices are completely un-Islamic.

*Many Sri Lankans including His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, have stated more than once that the Easter Sunday attack was carried out by Muslim name-bearers who had been used as cats’ paws by evil schemers to gain power. His Eminence had stated that local as well as foreign elements appear to be involved and that these allegations need an independent probe.

*Both the Parliamentary Select Committee on Easter Sunday attacks and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry had identified certain named majoritarian extremist organisations as having led to the radicalisation of the Easter attackers but thus far, two successive governments and the Attorney General had failed to prosecute any of them except as stated by the Cardinal only the Muslims were being prosecuted.

* Investigations against several hundreds of people, almost all of them Muslims arrested on suspicion are taking place at a very slow pace without a large number of them not being consented to bail for nearly three years. Not only are their families mentally depressed, frustrated, and in financial crisis, but there remains the danger of the possibility of further radicalisation of youths within the community.

*Muslims of Sri Lanka and their religious, cultural, and commercial institutions had come under continuous hate speeches, unjustified vilification, and attacks in the country since 2010 in attempts to push Muslim youths to extremism. A large number of Mosques had also come under attack. Over a hundred youths from the majority community were arrested but they were all enlarged on bail with none of them being prosecuted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) while the PTA had been reserved only to be used against the Muslims, in violation of the fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution. Majoritarian extremists burnt the effigies and denigrated Allah, worshipped by billions across the globe. Copies of the Holy Qur’an were burnt by extremists but no actions were taken against those criminals. The Muslims were deeply shocked, saddened, and hurt by these injustices.

The National Shoora Council urges positive action on the following matters: –

a. Justice must be meted out to those killed and injured in the Easter Sunday attacks irrespective of their race, religion, or ideologies.

b. Those responsible for the injustices inflicted on Muslims as disclosed in the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attacks should be prosecuted and duly punished.

c. Investigations on detainees and in custody should be concluded without any further delay and the innocent should be released immediately and legal action should be taken against suspects against whom there is actionable evidence.

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PM holds bilateral meetings in the Philippines to strengthen cooperation in Education, Skills Development, and Agricultural Research

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of meetings with key Philippine institutions during her official visit to the Philippines from 09–11 March 2026, focusing on strengthening cooperation in education, higher education, technical skills development, and agricultural research.

On 09 March, the Prime Minister met with the Secretary of Education of the Philippines, Sonny Angara. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the education sector, including sharing best practices in education policy, teacher training, curriculum reforms, and digital learning initiatives. The Prime Minister also briefed the Philippine delegation on Sri Lanka’s ongoing education reforms aimed at modernizing curricula and integrating technology into learning.

The Prime Minister also met with a delegation of the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines (CHED), led by Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis. Discussions centered on the development of higher education in both countries, with particular attention to research collaboration, academic partnerships between universities, student and faculty exchanges, and strengthening quality assurance frameworks.

In a separate meeting, the Prime Minister held talks with the Secretary and Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Jose Francisco B. Benitez. The discussions focused on cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), including knowledge sharing, institutional partnerships, and possible alignment of qualifications frameworks to enhance skills recognition and workforce mobility.

The meetings reaffirmed the commitment of Sri Lanka and the Philippines, along with international research institutions, to strengthen collaboration in education, skills development, and agricultural research in support of sustainable development and human capital growth.

The Sri Lankan delegation included the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa, and Senior Assistant Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. P.H. Piyumee Bandara.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and Monaragala district.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 09 March 2026, valid for 10 March 2026.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body.

This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

Prof. Dunusinghe warns Lanka at serious risk due to ME war

Published

11 hours ago

2026/03/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Prof. Priyanga Dunusinghe

Prof. Priyanga Dunusinghe has warned that Sri Lanka could face a catastrophic situation due to a rapid and sharp drop in revenue caused by the escalating Gulf war.

Appearing on Derana ‘Big Focus’ yesterday, the Professor in Economics in the Department of Economics, and Head – Department of Information Technology, University of Colombo, Dunusinghe said that that drop in remittances from the Middle East, as well as exports, should be examined against the backdrop of runaway oil prices.

Dunusinghe said so responding to interviewer Pasan de Silva who sought expert opinion on the crisis. Referring to continuing Iranian retaliatory attacks on Gulf countries hosting US military bases, the academic pointed out that approximately one million Sri Lankans were employed in the region.

Global oil prices rose to over $100 per barrel on 08 March, for the first time since the Russia-Ukraine war erupted in February 2022. By noon prices were around USD 115 per barrel.

If a consensus couldn’t be reached soon, the consequences for Sri Lanka would be devastating, Dunusinghe said, suggesting that the government should seriously consider, what he called, a relatively small but immediate fuel hike to cushion the impact of future fuel price hikes.

Dunusinghe explained that in addition to the drop in remittances from the Middle East, Sri Lanka could lose employment opportunities in the war devastated region. Responding to the interviewer, the Prof said that if the situation further deteriorated the government would have to face the daunting challenge of evacuating Sri Lankans from the Middle East.

Referring to the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, Dunusinghe pointed out that in terms of the agreement with the IMF, finalised in 2023, the debt repayment would have to be recommenced in 2028. The new Middle East war has placed the country in an extremely difficult situation, Dunusinghe said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the government to address the issues at hand immediately.

The rapidly changing oil markets indicated that regardless of optimism expressed by the US and Israel of swift victory, the ground realities were quite different, the academic said.

By Shamindra Ferdinando