News
Govt. rejects external evidence gathering resolution
Sri Lanka has rejected the resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 presented to the UN Human Rights Council as the government couldn’t, under any circumstances, agree to external evidence gathering mechanism.
The following is the text of statement made by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador Himalee Arunatilaka: “Sri Lanka participated in discussions on this resolution in a spirit of open and constructive engagement that we have demonstrated throughout in our interactions with this Council. We appreciate the core group’s engagement on language amendments proposed by Sri Lanka. We, however, regret that we couldn’t find agreement on certain key concerns for us. While we thank all delegations for their constructive participation on the draft text, Sri Lanka particularly wishes to thank very sincerely, those countries which made positive suggestions during informal consultations and bilateral meetings.
As Sri Lanka had indicated from the beginning to the core group, our fundamental issue with the text is the reference to resolution 51/1 of 2022 denoting the external evidence gathering mechanism on Sri Lanka within the OHCHR, which, in our view, is an unprecedented and ad hoc expansion of the Council´s mandate.
Participating in the Interactive Dialogue on Sri Lanka on 8th September, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath reiterated that Sri Lanka does not accept the external evidence gathering mechanism set up by the OHCHR, which it has labelled as the `Sri Lanka Accountability Project`, at a time when the Government is continuing to strengthen the domestic institutions, based on its genuine commitment to reconciliation and human rights in the interests of our own people. The ongoing domestic processes include strengthening the independent Offices on Missing Persons and Reparations, and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, as well as the operationalisation of a truth and reconciliation commission, and an independent Public Prosecutor´s Office.
Sri Lanka, as well as many other countries, have repeatedly questioned the credibility and transparency of how this Project, within the OHCHR, was set up, its work and the budget allocated to it. After four years of its existence, this Council is yet to see any benefits of this Project for the people of Sri Lanka. This is clearly evident from the contents of the High Commissioner’s Report as well. The extension of its mandate will only serve the interests of elements with vested interests seeking to create divisions and polarize the communities in Sri Lanka, and will be counterproductive to the Government’s efforts on promoting unity, reconciliation and human rights.
We firmly believe that genuine nationally owned processes are best placed to address matters relating to human rights. National processes are rooted in the local context, allow for greater ownership, recognise unique sensitivities, and make implementation of action more efficient and effective.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, who visited Sri Lanka in June this year, had the opportunity to experience firsthand the “momentum of change” across all segments of the Sri Lankan society and the “genuine openness of the Government to address issues”. In his report to this Council, too, the High Commissioner highlighted that there is a historic opportunity in Sri Lanka to implement transformative reforms. As set out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in his statement to this Council, within a very short time, the Government has taken a series of tangible and decisive steps on reconciliation and human rights. Therefore, it is only fair that Sri Lanka be allowed to seize this opportunity to advance the rights of its own people through domestic processes.
For these reasons, we do not agree with coercive international action, and we reject resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 presented to this Council.”
The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 (Budget Speech) is scheduled to be presented to Parliament tomorrow (07) at 1.30 p.m. by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.
Subsequently, the debate on the Appropriation Bill (Budget Debate) is scheduled to be held from November 8 to December 5, 2025.
The Appropriation Bill for 2026, which was presented to Parliament for the First Reading on September 26, 2025, will have its Second Reading Debate for 6 days from November 8 to 14. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading will be held on November 14 at 6.00 p.m.
The Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 will take place for 17 days, from November 15 to December 5, including 3 Saturdays. The Third Reading Vote on the Appropriation Bill will then be held on December 5 at 6.00 p.m.
During the Budget Period the Budget Debate will be held every day, including Saturdays, except for public holidays and Sundays. Also, during the Committee Stage Debate Period, Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 a.m. on Mondays and at 9.00 a.m. on all other days.
Accordingly, during this period, in addition to the business under Standing Orders 22(1) to (6), time has been allocated for 5 Questions for Oral Answers and 1 Question under Standing Orders 27(2). Also, during this period, the Budget Debate is scheduled to be held until 6.00 p.m. and on all days except voting days, from 6.00 to 6.30 p.m., time will be allotted for Motions at the Adjournment Time based on a 50:50 allocation between the Government and the Opposition.
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Ratnapura valid from 12:30 hrs on 06.11.2025 to 12:30 hrs on 07.11.2025
Accordingly,
Level II warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Elapatha and Kuruwita in the Ratnapura district.
Level I warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Warakapola and Kegalle in the Kegalle district and Kiriella, Kahawaththa, Ayagama, Kalawana, Eheliyagoda, Nivithigala and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.
The Main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has accused the NPP government of creating a cartel of food importers at the expense of local farmers.
Alleging that the politically connected, large-scale importers had access to inside information, such as imposition of duties/levies, SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kaviratne said the government had given them free rein.
Addressing a gathering, in Matale, recently, MP Kaviratne claimed that the government had changed the import polices related to food items for the benefit of a few importers. The Opposition MP alleged that the new importers were not those who are based in Pettah, or Dambulla; they were a group of deal makers whose only intension was to make money.
The MP cited the Finance Ministry’s failure to impose a Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions on time to the alleged unholy alliance between the government and big businesses. Lawmaker Kaviratne pointed out that during the first eight months of last year, Sri Lanka imported only 73, 332 mt of big onions whereas during the same period this year big onion imports had risen to 144,551 mt.
Referring to sugar imports, the SJBer pointed out Sri Lanka brought in 223,144 mt during first six months in 2024 while this year during the same period, sugar imports rose to 343,416 mt.
Recalling the sugar tax scam alleged to have been perpetrated by the SLPP government, MP Kaviratne said that the NPP was going ahead with sordid operations while accusing all other political parties of corruption. (SF)
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