News

GL recalls how SLA was wrongly blamed for Mannar mass graves

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/11

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, who is also Chairman of the ruling SLPP, has questioned the rationale in UN human rights Chief Michelle Bachelet’s latest report that dealt with Sri Lanka accountability issues during the war and post-conflict period in the run-up to the 46th session of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Bachelet served as the Chilean President for nine years beginning 2006.

Acknowledging that Sri Lanka was again on the Geneva agenda, Prof. Peiris told a media briefing at the SLPP office at Battaramulla that Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena would state the government’s stand. Prof. Peiris, who served as the External Affairs Minister during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term (2010-2015) emphasized the government would take the following factors into consideration. Prof. Peiris asked how the UNHRC as regards Sri Lanka pursued a controversial agenda not compatible with its mandate. The top academic emphasized therefore forceful intervention in domestic matters was contrary to its mandate.

The UNHRC consists of 47 countries divided into five groups.

Referring to Bachelet’s latest report Prof. Peiris pointed out the absurdity in the UN human rights chief raising the enactment of an Amendment to the Constitution, appointments given to retired armed forces officers and interference in parliamentary matters. The Education Minister said the UN rights chief and the UNHRC had no business to intervene in such domestic matters.

Minister Peiris said that the UNHRC actions should be fair by all member states of the UN. Recollecting his recent three-day visit to Kilinochchi and the Jaffna peninsula, Prof. Peiris alleged that Bachelet conveniently ignored substantial development achieved in the Northern and Eastern Provinces since the eradication of the LTTE.

Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.

The former Chief Negotiator for the government in talks with the LTTE, Prof. Peiris faulted Bachelet for not giving sufficient attention to two key post-war factors namely rehabilitation of the LTTE cadre and vacation of public and private land and property occupied by the military.

Prof. Peiris said Sri Lanka had rehabilitated as many as 12,000 LTTE cadres after fighting ‘the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation’, in an efficient manner that received the appreciation of some sections of the international community. The UN human rights chief however had chosen to ignore Sri Lanka’s unique rehabilitation project, the minister said, urging the Geneva body to give up its offensive directed at post-war Sri Lanka.

Prof. Peiris explained the orderly vacation of public and private property in the Northern and Eastern provinces by the security forces would never have been possible without the eradication of the LTTE. Those who always inquire about the continuing military presence in the predominantly Tamil speaking areas were conspicuously silent about significant reduction of in military presence over the years, Prof Peiris said. Would that be possible until the armed forces crushed the LTTE, Prof. Peiris asked.

Prof. Peiris said that the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP), too, was continuing its work. The SLPP Chairman also pointed out Bachelet’s failure to recognize improvement in education, agriculture, fisheries and industrial sectors over the past decade.

Prof. Peiris said that the Geneva body lost its credibility as it dealt with countries differently. “We are a case in point,” Minister Peiris said, underscoring Sri Lanka was definitely not the first country investigated over accountability issues.

The former foreign minister alleged that the UNHRC targeted some countries while some received protection. The minister said that the Geneva body was being used by those with vested interests to suit their agendas. The minister described Sri Lanka as a victim of that despicable strategy.

The former Foreign Minister said that the Geneva body should give due recognition to local mechanisms set up by Sri Lanka to address accountability issues. Unfortunately, Geneva had ignored the LLRC, Paranagama Commission as well as its Second Mandate thereby deprived Sri Lanka of an opportunity to set the record straight.

The Minister said that the international community should recognize the political environment too. Having won two national elections overwhelmingly, in 2019 and 2020, the ruling party commanded the respect of the people, the minister said, urging Geneva to be mindful of the circumstances leading to the rejection of yahapalana administration, twice within 12 months.

Responding to a query by The Island, Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Geneva rights chief had been in such a hurry to pressure Sri Lanka she blamed the Mannar mass graves on the Sri Lanka Army before US lab revealed the bones found therein were several centuries old and belonged to the colonial period. They never bothered to verify facts, the minister said, calling for examination of disclosure made by Lord Naseby in Oct 2017, US defence attaché Lt. Col. Lawrence Smith’s statement in June 2011, Wikileaks cables and dispatches from the UN office during Eelam War IV to establish the truth.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon today (11)

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/11

Priyan

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

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11th) are Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition NCM against Energy Minister defeated

Published

18 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

A no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 104 votes.At the end of the debate, 49 members voted in favour of the motion, while 153 voted against it.

The motion, submitted to the Speaker on 19 March, was signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs, and other Opposition members.

It accused Minister Jayakody of failing to ensure the procurement of adequate and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, alleging that such negligence amounted to a breach of ministerial responsibility over a critical national energy asset.

The motion also cited ongoing legal proceedings against the Minister, noting that he has been indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and produced before the Colombo High Court under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, in connection with alleged acts of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The motion read: Vote of No Confidence against Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy,— Whereas the Provision in Section 6 of the Part III of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament which states that: “The Members shall on all occasions act in accordance with the public trust entrusted with them and shall always behave with probity and integrity, including the use by them of any public resources.” has been violated; And whereas the following rules of conduct set out in Section 9 of the Part V of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament have prima facie been breached, namely:- “(a) to be conscience; (c) to act so as to merit the trust and respect of the people; (e) to hold themselves accountable for the conduct and duties for which they are responsible;” And whereas it is observed that the Minister has failed, in his capacity as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, to discharge the fundamental duties incumbent upon him in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution;

And whereas it is established that the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty of ensuring the procurement of adequate and good quality coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant;

And whereas such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of ministerial responsibility;

And whereas the Minister of Energy has failed to carry out the subjects and functions vested in him by the Notification of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/08 of 25th November 2024 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, including taking necessary steps to reduce the losses at the institutional management level and technical damages that occur to the electricity generation and distribution system and reduction of costs for generating electricity and removal of uncertainties during generation;

And whereas the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed formal indictments before the Colombo High Court against the incumbent Minister of Energy under Section 70 of the Bribery Act (Chapter 26) for the offence of “corruption” in connection with acts of corruption allegedly committed while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertilizer Company;

And whereas, in light of the foregoing, the Minister of Energy has irretrievably forfeited the confidence of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka by causing losses to public finances, endangering national energy security, corruptly mishandling the procurement process, being subjected to active judicial proceedings for the offence of “corruption”, and betraying the Government’s own “anti-corruption mandate”, and his continued tenure as the Minister of Energy is contrary to the public interest, the rule of law, and the principles of good governance;

That this Parliament resolves that it has no confidence in the competence of Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy to function as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers any longer.”

by Saman Indrajith

News

Chinese Ambassador assures Lanka China will not allow a fuel crisis to develop here

Published

18 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday assured that China would not allow a fuel crisis to arise in Sri Lanka, under any circumstances, reaffirming Beijing’s continued support to the country.

The Ambassador made these remarks addressing the media after attending a dry ration distribution programme for 350 low-income families at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, at Asgiriya, in Kandy.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Ambassador Qi said China has consistently stood by Sri Lanka and remains ready to extend assistance whenever required.

Amid concerns over global energy disruptions, stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, he noted that several countries are already facing difficulties, but stressed that China is prepared to support Sri Lanka at any time.

He said that any potential fuel shortage in Sri Lanka could be managed with the involvement of China’s Sinopec.

Reiterating Beijing’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development, the Envoy also expressed hope that the current ceasefire in the Middle East would hold, while assuring that China stands ready to respond to any future developments and assist Sri Lanka as needed.

By SK Samaranayake