News

Ex-MP backs BASL chief’s call for domestic war crimes probe

Published

2 years ago

2024/10/14

The Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led peoples’ government and the country’s armed forces must consider seriously the advice given by President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, in his capacity as the new President of the BASL, former State Counsel and ex- parliamentarian M. M. Zuhair said in a statement issued over the weekend.

Declaring that Sri Lanka must investigate alleged war crimes through a domestic mechanism, Meddegoda had said, “If war crimes aren’t investigated (here), even political leaders might face travel restrictions”.

Zuhair stated: “In my view, not only political leaders but also investigators, prosecutors and even judges and their families, who fail to uphold human right laws, may get exposed not only for international travel restrictions but also for other forms of legal harassment. Anura Meddegoda PC had served for nearly a decade assisting the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Geneva with reference to the human rights violations in the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia. Prior to that, he had served in the Attorney General’s Department of Sri Lanka for nearly two decades. He is also the current President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), though his views have been made in his personal capacity. He is spot on when he says Sri Lankan political leaders can be prosecuted in the ICC for alleged war crimes, even though we are not parties to the Rome Statute.

It is understandable that the three-member new Cabinet may not have had reasonable time to give fresh ‘course changing’ directions to the Foreign Ministry, which continued the former governments’ policy on the matter at the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UN HRC) sessions, concluded on Friday 11th October 2024. The government must, as advised, opt for ‘internal investigations of war crimes’ and avoid external interference as a matter of priority soon after the 14/11 General Elections. A genuine domestic investigation into the war crimes alleged against the armed forces as well as the LTTE and prosecutions of suspected offenders will help clear the armed forces from the oft repeated accusations of war crimes alleged against the country. Prosecutions of offenders, if any, will bring to an end, the otherwise much more harmful consequences of the HRC set up special mechanism on Sri Lanka, which is already engaged in monitoring, collecting and reporting on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka. At the just concluded Geneva sessions, the HRC has not only extended the period for collection of evidence but has also decided to ‘reinforce’ the HRC’s capacity to collect evidence of Sri Lanka’s HR violations.

Instead of rejecting outright the HRC resolution 51/1, domestic investigations and prosecutions, as suggested by Meddegoda, would certainly be in the national interest, given also the fact that the powerful core group pushing the war crimes allegations in the international fora includes the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada amongst others. More importantly, in order to overcome our economic plight, we need to work with the Western controlled international financial institutions.

ICC prosecutions will be in addition to possible arrest and prosecutions under the extra territorial jurisdictions envisaged by the UN HRC in any country that chooses to prosecute, with evidence being collected not only of war crimes but also all other reported cases of human rights violations, based on Sri Lankan constitutional provisions as well as under international human rights and humanitarian laws as the prosecuting country decides. The government must change course in the UNHRC on war crimes issues. A local investigation of allegations does not mean admission of war crimes!

There is no point at that time of screaming that Israel is not being prosecuted for far more serious crimes of genocide and apartheid in Palestine.”

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Sun directly overhead Pandatharippu, Thellippalai, Varuthaleivilan, Vasavilan, and Manatkaadu about 12:10 noon today (15)

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/15

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (15th) are Pandatharippu, Thellippalai, Varuthaleivilan, Vasavilan, and Manatkaadu about 12:10 noon.

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Heat Index at ‘Caution Level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/15

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 14 April 2026, valid for 15 April 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, North-western, Western, Eastern and Southern
provinces and in Monaragala district.

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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“I extend my heartfelt wishes to all Sri Lankans for a peaceful and joyous Sinhala and Tamil New Year!” – President

Published

1 day ago

2026/04/14

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, issuing a New Year message, extend his heartfelt wishes to all Sri Lankans for a peaceful and joyous Sinhala and Tamil New Year!

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year, which symbolises the aspiration for renewal both physically and spiritually, is the foremost cultural festival of the people of this country.

During the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, traditional customs are upheld, with priority accorded to rituals and religious observances, and activities undertaken collectively at a common auspicious time. This shared cultural practice vividly reflects our nation’s identity before the world, as well as the strong socio-cultural bonds that exist among our communities.

We firmly believe that the future path of national development can only be shaped in harmony with this invaluable culture and our distinguished historical heritage. Accordingly, it must be recalled that all our future development plans have been formulated upon the firm foundation of these precious traditions and cultural values.

Moreover, the common aspiration embodied in the customs and rituals associated with the solar transition is the nurturing of a compassionate individual who values togetherness, respects others, and lives in harmony with nature. I believe that the virtues and values of unity reflected in these New Year traditions should not be confined to these few days alone, but should instead be demonstrated throughout the year in our daily conduct.

In the face of the most significant recent natural disaster challenge encountered in the past year, we demonstrated to the world our resilience and capacity to withstand internal shocks. At the same time, in responding to the external challenges arising from the conflict in the Middle East, the Government has already set in motion a well-planned and effectively managed programme to overcome these difficulties.

As a nation, in overcoming these challenges together, I call upon all of you to further dedicate yourselves to enriching your lives through the values of togetherness, sharing, and solidarity exemplified during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.

As we strengthen the achievements we have secured and move forward with unwavering resolve in the face of emerging challenges, I invite everyone to join hands in unity to realise the vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life” for all.

I extend my heartfelt wishes to all Sri Lankans for a peaceful and joyous Sinhala and Tamil New Year!