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Canadian MP Sangaree cheers Ottawa stand against Rajapakshas
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sanctions imposed by Canada on four Sri Lankans including Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, will have a ripple effect with other countries undertaking similar measures based on their domestic laws, Gary Anandasangaree, Member of the House of Commons of Canada says.
Anandasangaree told The Island that Sri Lanka was a place where impunity had prevailed and in its 75 year modern history one could see the constant evasion of any form of accountability for corruption, war crimes, and everything in between.
“There is a culture of impunity that has prevailed. If Sri Lanka is to move forward, it needs to be a country based on the rule of law, where anyone can be held accountable for their actions. In the case of the Rajapaksa brothers, their inaction or failure to act resulted in gross crimes against humanity and was a clear dereliction of their responsibility to act. I hope Sri Lanka takes the direction of strengthening the rule of law and begins to hold people to account,” he said.
The Canadian MP claimed that Sri Lanka has dragged its feet for far too long in addressing international crimes, which have been the subject of much international attention since the end of the armed conflict.
“In many ways, Sri Lanka has lost control over holding perpetrators to account and thereby yielded the responsibility to the international community. Sri Lanka can start by ensuring that the government is not comprised by those who have allegedly committed international crimes, including the likes of the Rajapaksas, Sarath Fonseka, Shavendra Silva, Pillayan etc.,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alan Keenan, Crisis Group’s Senior Consultant on Sri Lanka, said that “Canada’s sanctions are a welcome reminder that important parts of the international community continue to view accountability for the atrocities of Sri Lanka’s civil war as an essential part of achieving lasting peace and a stable democracy for all Sri Lankans. Today’s decision is a tribute to the hard work of Tamil and human rights activists – in and outside of Sri Lanka – who continue to call for justice for more than a decade after the war’s end.”
While Tuesday’s sanctions will not lead to quick or major changes within Sri Lanka, this is a timely reminder that there will be increasing costs for Sri Lanka if it continues to encourage a culture of impunity.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
INS Sahyadri sets sail from Colombo
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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