News
UPR: Justice Marasinghe deals with post-war issues, economic ruination
Justice Rohini Marasinghe, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, has told the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka in Geneva recently how short-sighted policies of the previous government plunged the country into unprecedented political-economic-social turmoil and the circumstances leading to the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster.
Justice Marasinghe has dealt with social and economic rights and establishment of a national preventive mechanism.
Declaring that it was the worst economic crisis after gaining independence from the British in 1948, Justice Marasinghe has said that the shortsighted ban on chemical fertilisers ruined the agricultural industry in 2021.
The HRCSL Chairperson has explained how the loss of government revenue due to unwarranted tax concessions granted in the wake of 2019 presidential election, the acute fuel and gas shortage and the disruption of medicine supplies caused by forex crisis led to the public losing faith in the government.
Justice Marasinghe has discussed how closure of schools, mandatory power cuts and high inflation affected the masses in early this year and eruption of violence in the second week of May. Recalling protesters setting fire to house of parliamentarians and officials, Justice Marasinghe said: “Hundreds roamed the streets against the government and its economic policies. They all rallied against the leaders who had steered the country into the worst economic crisis. They were not terrorists nor insurgents, as described by the military. They only demanded what was legitimately entitled from the Government. They expressed anger over the Government’s handling of the economy. They demanded the President’s resignation, forcing him to resign on 14th July 2022.”
Justice Marasinghe has also briefed Geneva of the incumbent government’s declaration that it wouldn’t tolerate protests of any form as the country needed stability.
She has said that the government was making every effort to bring much-needed stability to the country by introducing economic reforms. Asserting that the fuel shortage has been brought under control, Justice Marasinghe said that the situation improved with the restoration of gas supply, reopening of schools, reduced power cuts and the drop in inflation. The HRCSL chief has asserted that the government has introduced what she called well discussed tax proposals to increase revenue collection.
The HRCSL head also briefed Geneva of recommendations it has made to the government following investigations conducted into the economic crisis and the subsequent protests.
She has stressed the need to amend the Human Rights Commission Act to address the contentious issue of non-implementation if its recommendations.
Responding to recommendations from Slovenia, South Africa, France, Thailand, Belgium, and Mexico, Justice Marasinghe has said that the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), the National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), and the office of Reparation (OR) were meant to address the issue of accountability during the period of the ‘civil war.’
The top HR official said that the government was planning to constitute a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). According to her, the government has sought advice to have a mechanism similar to that of South Africa. The formulation of the TRC by the Government should be subjected to what Justice Marasinghe called a meaningful dialogue with the victims’ families. She has declared that such a dialogue was essential.
As regards recommendations made by France and Haiti in respect of land held by the military in former war zones, Justice Marasinghe has informed Geneva of the releasing of land over the years. According to her only 275 acres cf State land and 3,000 acres of private land yet to be released. She based this assertion on information received from the North.
As regards establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism proposed by Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Senegal, New Zealand,, Ghana, the UK., Afghanistan, and Cote d’Ivoire against arbitrary arrests and torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment, Justice Marasinghe has said that National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) was established in the Human Rights Commission and made functional this year.
The unit made 543 visits to police stations, 34 to prisons, and 20 to detention centres. At the beginning, there had been 46 detainees, and now only two remained in the detention centres. (1 LTTE and 1 Easter Sunday attack suspect) . The HRCSL chief explained that the objective of the NPM was to make unscheduled visits to police stations and detention centres. According to her the following recommendations had been made to the government. Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), amend the General Laws of the Country to deal with the offences of terrorism and amend the definition of terrorist, establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and amend the Human Rights Commission Act to ensure the implementation of the recommendations.
News
Joint programme between President’s Fund and Janashakthi Foundation to expand healthcare facilities for children
A special collaboration between the Presidents’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation, aimed at expanding healthcare facilities available to children under the age of 18, was launched on Wednesday (06) morning.
Implemented under the theme “Building a Healthier Today for a Winning Tomorrow”, this national initiative has been introduced through the joint efforts of the President’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation with the objective of reducing the financial barriers associated with children’s healthcare.
Under the President’s Fund, only a portion of the medical expenses incurred by a patient is generally covered. However, under this new collaboration, the Janashakthi Foundation will provide either an equivalent amount or the remaining balance of the treatment cost, whichever is lower.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary to the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, stated that the present Government had taken steps to decentralise and digitalise the operations of the President’s Fund, thereby transforming it into a truly people-centric fund. He noted that this had reinforced public confidence in the Fund’s transparency, accountability and effectiveness and added that the collaboration with the Janashakthi Foundation had further strengthened this process.
Gamage further stated that close and meaningful coordination with the private sector would help enhance healthcare assistance provided to children and minimise the gap between the financial aid available and the actual cost of essential medical treatment.
Also addressing the gathering, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Janashakthi Group, Ramesh Schaffter, stated that difficulties in accessing medical treatment constitute a major obstacle preventing children from progressing towards a better future.
He further stated that the collaboration seeks to reduce that obstacle by extending support to children who are in urgent need of assistance, thereby laying the foundation for future generations to face tomorrow with greater confidence.
Under this programme, applicants seeking additional financial assistance are required, when applying to the President’s Fund, to duly complete and submit a consent form authorising the secure sharing of their information with the Janashakthi Foundation.
The identification of children requiring financial assistance, verification of their information and approval of funds will continue to be carried out by the President’s Fund.
Under this initiative, payments will generally be made to the guardians of children following the completion of treatment. However, in cases involving emergency treatment and treatment conducted overseas, payments will be made in advance.
Applicants submitting medical assistance applications to the President’s Fund from 15 May 2026 onwards will be eligible to apply for additional funding from the Janashakthi Foundation.
The event, held at the Hilton Colombo, was attended by J.M. Wijebandara, Director General of Legal Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat and Advisor to the President (Legal Affairs); C.T.A. Schaffter, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Janashakthi Group; Gamika De Silva, Group Chief Marketing Officer; Dilshan Wirasekara, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Janashakthi Group; as well as officials of the President’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
The President of the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, departed Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning (06) from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, concluding a successful state visit to the country.
The visit by the Maldivian President and his delegation further strengthened the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, while delivering a range of mutual benefits to the peoples of both nations.
This marked President Muizzu’s first state visit to Sri Lanka, during which several mutually beneficial areas of cooperation were agreed upon, underscoring the success of the visit.
Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports , Sunil Kumara Gamage, Member of Parliament Oshani Umanga, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were present at the airport to bid farewell to the Maldivian President, the First Lady and the accompanying delegation.
(President’s Media Division)
Close on the heels of the USD 2.5 mn theft from the Treasury, the Welfare Benefits Board has reported payment of nearly Rs 500 mn in excess to Aswesuma beneficiaries.
Public action group ‘Free Lawyers’ has raised the latest fiasco to come to light with Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, while requesting that the Parliament, in line with its constitutional obligations, initiate an inquiry.
The letter, dated 06 May, signed by Maithree Gunaratne, PC, Attorney-at-Law Athula de Silva, and Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, has alleged that some of the Aswesuma beneficiaries have been paid twice while others received the additional/extra payment.
Responding to The Island queries, Tennakoon said that sheer negligence on the part of those responsible for public finance was shocking.
Alleging that the NPP government seemed to be operating outside basic rules and regulations pertaining to public finances, the former Governor asked the Speaker whether the wrongful Aswesuma payments had been made due to political appointments made at the expense of the experienced and competent staff. (SF)
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