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Zuhair raps govt. for listing of Muslim organisations and individuals

Published

4 years ago

2022/08/22

Former lawmaker M M Zuhair, PC, has questioned the rationale behind the government alleging that 156 Sri Lankan Muslims and six Muslim organisations funded, or were associates of al-Qaeda or ISIL. One-time Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Teheran said that Sri Lanka’s list of designated persons, and organisations, violated UN Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015.

Zuhair has said in a media statement: “While welcoming President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement at the recent annual conference of the Orgnisation of Professional Associations (OPA) on the need to “sort out the problems among the ethnic groups, as this has gone on for too long, as the war was over in 2009, and there is no need to fight again”, it is time that the President and his government do not permit unacceptable and unauthorised procedures being adopted to marginalize and ostracise minority community institutions, and individuals, under cover of national security, as we fear certain measures being unlawfully pursued will enhance radicalisation and counter radicalisation, in the country, leading to conflicts.

At this time of dire economic crisis, confronting the country, attributed by some to the ‘curse of all religious groups’, the urgent need is the unity of all the communities, as well as the economic support of all countries!

But why is the Foreign Ministry, through its competent authority, misusing, in its 1st August 2022 listing, the UN Security Council (SC) resolutions 1267 of 1999 and eight related subsequent SC resolutions, including resolution 2253 of 2015, the last in the series as quoted by the Sri Lankan authorities? The clear purpose of the Security Council resolutions was to control funding the terrorist entities, originally the then Taliban and later the Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). How can the six Sri Lankan Muslim Organisations, and 156 Sri Lankan Muslims, be accused of funding any foreign terrorist entities or being associates of Al-Qaeda or ISIL?

Surely the Foreign Ministry has no proof that any one of these Sri Lankan entities, or persons, had funded the Taliban, the Al-Qaeda, or the ISIL, at any time, even though these entities, as originally resolved by the Security Council, had ceased to exist!

UN Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015 has unequivocally identified the target group of the resolution, in Section 2 as the ‘ISIL’, ‘Ai-Qaeda’ and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities’. The listing criteria are set out in Section 3 and are far beyond any fisherman’s hook! Is it the position of the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry that the six, plus 156 Sri Lankan Muslim organisations and persons, are associates of terror outfits, ISIL or Al-Qaeda, thereby exposing Sri Lanka wrongfully for actions, including sanctions and damage claims by individuals, countries or the international community?

Then DIG of the CID, Ravi Seneviratne, gave evidence before the Parliamentary Select Committee that probed the Easter Sunday attacks of 21/04/2019 that there was no evidence of any links between Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday suicide bombers and the ISIL or the Ai-Qaeda. The Defence Ministry has, on a number of instances, refuted foreign media allegations and assumptions attempting such links with foreign terror outfits. The Catholic Church has time and again pointed to elements seeking to net in the ISIS to take responsibility for the Easter attacks, for days after 21/04. The attempt was to show a non-existing link.

The 1st August 2022 listing of designated persons, purportedly under Article 41 of the UN Charter, is invalid and of no force or avail in law for several other reasons as well, including that Article 41 is entirely for the extraordinary UN objective of preventing wars and conflicts between nations and not to harass, humiliate or terrorise persons and organisations totally unconnected to ISIL or Al-Qaeda as defined in paragraph numbered 2 and the listing criteria in paragraph 3 of the Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015, not renewed thereafter because the two anti-Islamic entities have been killed and cremated.

In addition, several provisions in the gazetted regulations are violative of international laws, the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and Security Council resolution 2253 of 2015. The violations may become issues in the International Court of Justice in Hague, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in Colombo, unless the listing of Muslim organisations and individuals are promptly reviewed and cancelled. “

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Heat Index at Caution Level at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 30 April 2026, valid for 01 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

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 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.

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USD 2.5 mn fraud probe: Interdicted MoF official found dead at home

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

An Assistant Director of the External Resources Department (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, interdicted pending an investigation into the diversion of US$2.5 million in Treasury funds to a rogue account was found dead at his residence in Kuliyapitiya.

The deceased has been identified as Ranga Nishantha, 50.

Police said the officer had been found in the garden of his house and they believed that the officila had committed suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities, and inquiries are continuing.

The official was interdicted along with three other senior Finance Ministry officials over a cyber-enabled financial fraud.

Those interdicted include a Director and an Assistant Director from the ERD, as well as a Director and an Additional Director General from the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

Police sources said that the CID had on two occasions asked Nishantha to make a statement in connection with the ongoing investigation, but he had failed to comply.

Police said the CID probe into the alleged cyber fraud is continuing, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the diversion of funds through compromised communication channels.Kuliyapitiya Police said further investigations were underway to establish the exact cause of death.

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Alarm raised over plan to share Lanka’s biometric data with blacklisted Indian firm

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/1

Thilina Walpola

FSP accuses govt. of reducing Sri Lanka to a puppet of India by giving away sensitive data

Jana Aragalaya Movement, affiliated to the Frontline Socialist Party, yesterday raised alarm over a move to hand over Sri Lankans’ fingerprint and iris biometric data to a blacklisted foreign company.

Speaking at a media briefing in front of the Ministry of Fisheries yesterday Jana Aragalaya Movement National Operational Committee Member Wasantha Mudalige alleged that India was seeking access to Sri Lanka’s sensitive national data systems in a bid to exert influence over the country.

He said that decision-making authority over the proposed biometric identity card system was being ceded to India.

Mudalige said the electronic identity card project, launched in 2012, had already cost Rs. 5.6 billion in software development, with a further Rs. 600 million needed for completion. However, he alleged that in 2021 the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration had moved to integrate the project

with India for biometric implementation, despite substantial local investment already made.

He said a government tender process had been initiated but later stalled after bidders failed to meet required qualifications.

He alleged that in 2023 the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration had attempted to award the project to Madras Security Printers, a company blacklisted over an excise-related fraud case, and that the move was halted following public opposition.

Mudalige added that after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office, Sri Lanka had signed an agreement with India in January 2025 under which tendering authority was also transferred.

He alleged that while five Indian companies were initially registered, a sixth company—Madras Security Printers—was later added by March 2026, raising further concerns.

Calling for urgent clarification, Mudalige warned that Sri Lanka risked undermining its sovereignty and national security, insisting the country must not be reduced to what he termed a foreign “puppet state.”

by Chaminda Silva