News
UNHRC resolution against SL passed
India, Japan, Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Libya and Indonesia abstain
The resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ (A/HR/51/5/L1/Rev1) was adopted yesterday.
The resolution was proposed by a group of states comprising Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United States and the United Kingdom.20 UNHRC member states including the United Kingdom, United States, France, Finland, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland and the Republic of Korea voted for the resolution.
Seven members, China, Bolivia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Cuba and Eritrea, voted against the resolution.Meanwhile, India, Japan, Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Libya and Indonesia abstained from voting.UK’s Ambassador Simon Manley introduced the resolution on Sri Lanka.
“The text is largely based on last year’s resolution but has been updated to reflect some of the key developments over the last 18 months in what has been a rather dramatic time for Sri Lanka – an economic crisis, mass protests, and a change in government, all of which have had a significant bearing on the human rights situation in the country,” he said.
He adDed that the draft both recognises the challenges which Sri Lanka had faced during this period and acknowledges progress where thAT has occurred.
“It reflects some of the more recent concerns outlined in the High Commissioner’s report, especially the human rights impact of the economic crisis. And it also addresses several longstanding issues which still need to be addressed. These include the lack of accountability for past violations, the many unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, the need for Sri Lanka to meet its own commitments on the devolution of political authority, as well as the need to uphold the rights of all people in Sri Lanka including Tamils and Muslims,” he said.
Earlier, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said that the resolution had been presented without the country’s consent or consultation. He said this draft resolution is not helpful to Sri Lanka.The resolution urges the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to enhance its monitoring and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, including on progress in reconciliation and accountability and on the human rights impact of the economic crisis and corruption.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) sources said that plans were afoot to file charges in connection with 15 major fraud and corruption cases in the near future.
The Commission sources said that these cases stem from thorough investigations into complaints that had previously gone unexamined, with recent file reviews prompting the decision to proceed with legal action. The forthcoming charges are based on detailed inquiries that uncovered substantial evidence pointing to serious misconduct.
To date, CIABOC has initiated inquiries into over 300 complaints received during the recent period, reflecting an expanded commitment to tackling corruption at multiple levels of governance.
Commission sources said that several former ministers and political affiliates from past administrations are among those implicated in the ongoing investigations, though specific names have yet to be disclosed.
Despite global shifts toward digital transactions, Cash on Delivery (COD) remains the dominant payment method for online shopping in Sri Lanka, according to the Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2025 Report by the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM) and the University of Kelaniya.
The report reveals that 52 percent of Sri Lankan online shoppers prefer COD, up from 48 percent in the previous year, underscoring persistent consumer caution toward digital payments.
While debit/credit card usage has dipped slightly to 35 percent (from 39.5 percent last year), newer digital payment methods such as e-wallets/e-money apps lag at 1 percent or less. Installment-based “Buy Now, Pay Later” options account for 3 percent, reflecting modest traction. Online bank transfers, meanwhile, accounted for 8 percent (down from 9 percent last year).(aayubo.com)
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education has launched a recruitment initiative aimed at addressing critical shortages in university academic staff across the country.
Deputy Minister Dr. Madura Seneviratne said that the recruitment process is being implemented at the university level to ensure that pressing needs are addressed efficiently and in alignment with institutional priorities.
The move comes in response to growing concerns raised by the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), which has pointed out that nearly 2,000 essential faculty positions remain unfilled across the country’s public universities, potentially impacting the quality of higher education and research output.Deputy Minister Seneviratne said that the recruitment process will be prioritized based on the urgency and significance of vacancies within individual universities and departments.
By Chaminda Silva
-
News5 days agoJapan-funded anti-corruption project launched again
-
Sports4 days agoOTRFU Beach Tag Rugby Carnival on 24th May at Port City Colombo
-
News5 days agoSethmi Premadasa youngest Sri Lankan to perform at world-renowned Musikverein in Vienna
-
Business5 days agoNational Savings Bank appoints Ajith Akmeemana,Chief Financial Officer
-
News2 days agoRanil’s Chief Security Officer transferred to KKS
-
Features3 days agoThe Broken Promise of the Lankan Cinema: Asoka & Swarna’s Thrilling-Melodrama – Part IV
-
Features4 days agoTrump tariffs and their effect on world trade and economy with particular
-
News3 days agoRadisson Blu Hotel, Galadari Colombo appoints Marko Janssen as General Manager