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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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The President’s Fund has been transformed into a people-centred fund – PM

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the President’s Fund has been transformed into a people-centred fund and that ensuring equal access to education for all children is a key policy of the Government.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on 11th of July at Temple Trees while participating in the “Sarasavi Diriya Abhiman 2026” programme, organised to recognise students with special needs pursuing university education.

The President’s Fund has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs. 100,000 each to 370 students admitted under the special needs category through the University Grants Commission, and under the first phase of the programme, cheques were presented to 236 students.

Addressing at the event, Prime Minister stated:

“It is the Government’s policy to ensure equal access to education for all children, including those with special needs, such as neurodivergent and those with autism or dyslexia, without leaving any child behind in the education system. Vice-Chancellors and other education authorities bear a responsibility to ensure that the necessary practical accessibility facilities are available to these students within universities. In addition, the Government is taking steps to digitalise the education system through assistive technologies and to develop public transport and physical infrastructure in a manner that is accessible and inclusive for persons with special needs.These students are not a burden to the country; they are valuable human resources capable of contributing to sustainable development. The ultimate objective is to build a civilised society that recognises and respects the value of every individual.

The occasion was attended by the Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Upali Pannilage, Member of Parliament Sugath Wasantha de Silva, and several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Thambuttegama Water Supply Project Commissioned by the President

Published

13 hours ago

2026/07/12

Priyan

The Thambuttegama Water Supply Project, which will benefit 91,810 people in the Thambuttegama, Thalawa and Galnewa Divisional Secretariat divisions, was officially commissioned by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday (10) afternoon .

The project, which was launched under a concessional loan from the China Development Bank (CDB), was suspended between May 2022 and May 2024 due to the country’s debt restructuring process. However, recognising its national importance, the current Government allocated additional funding from the Government of Sri Lanka to successfully complete the project.

Constructed as a long-term solution to the chronic kidney disease that has spread rapidly across the region, the water supply project is also expected to improve the social and economic well-being of local communities.

The project aims to provide 25,000 new household with water connections.

Built at a cost of Rs. 32 billion, the project comprises a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 18,000 cubic metres, three water towers with a capacity of 1,500 cubic metres each, a 12.75-kilometre water transmission pipeline and a 158-kilometre water distribution network.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe said:

“The Thambuttegama Water Supply Project, which was declared open today by the President, has the capacity to provide safe drinking water to 25,000 families. The project has been completed at a cost of Rs. 32 billion. It was implemented with the assistance of the China Development Bank, but construction came to a standstill due to the economic crisis experienced in recent years. Over the past two years, we allocated funds through the national budget and have now successfully completed the project.

At the initial stage of the project, concerns were raised over drawing water from the Rajanganaya Reservoir. Farmers protested against the proposal. However, today this project is being commissioned with the blessing and support of the Rajanganaya farmer leaders, who are present here. They presented their concerns to us and we are committed to addressing them.

Their foremost concern was to ensure that no farmer in Rajanganaya would face a shortage of irrigation water as a result of water being diverted for this project. I can assure you without hesitation that there is absolutely no reason for concern. Not even a single drop of water required for agriculture will be denied in order to supply drinking water. This project is, after all, intended to provide clean drinking water to farming families themselves.

They also requested that compensation be paid if cultivation is affected due to any water-related issue. I assure you that there is no cause for concern on that front either. This Government has consistently compensated farmers affected by disasters. We paid Rs. 1.2 billion in compensation for losses suffered by farmers over the past seven cultivation seasons due to the Nilwala saltwater barrier. We also resolved long-standing issues relating to land acquisition under the Yan Oya Project and allocated Rs. 180 million to the District Secretary to compensate the affected landowners. In addition, Rs. 12 billion has been paid in compensation to around 200,000 farmers whose farmlands were damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Therefore, if farmers suffer any losses or damage to their lands in the future, this Government stands ready to provide compensation.

Another request made by the farming community was the construction of the Ginipetti Bridge if water is to be drawn for this project. We have already allocated Rs. 240 million to build a new bridge capable of accommodating vehicular traffic and foundation work will commence shortly. At the same time, a team of experts has been appointed to determine whether the existing Ginipetti Bridge can be rehabilitated or whether an entirely new bridge is required. Therefore, I assure the farming community once again that we will not allow them to suffer any hardship or loss as a result of this project.”

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Jinadasa, public representatives of the province, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, officials of the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, together with a large number of local residents, were also present at the event.

[PMD]

News

New Chairman and members appointed to the Public Service Commission

Published

13 hours ago

2026/07/12

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed S. A. Nimal Saranatissa as the new Chairman of the Public Service Commission.

The other members appointed to the Commission are B. Sanath Poojitha, E. R. Weerakoon, R. Ketheeswaran, J. M. R. Jayasundara, E. A. P. N. Edirisinghe, Dr S. A. A. N. Jayasekara and M. H. Mohammed Sameel.

The letters of appointment were presented to the newly appointed Chairman and members by Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat Thursday (09) afternoon .

The appointments have been made to fill the vacancies that arose following the expiry of the previous term of office of the Public Service Commission

[PMD]