News
Lord Naseby supports vote in the absence of consensus on Core Group’s resolution
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Lord Naseby yesterday (9) said that in spite of the Core Group’s resolution being further watered down, the possibility of the government of Sri Lanka accepting it was unlikely.
The Island raised the issue at hand with Lord Naseby, who unconditionally threw his weight behind Sri Lanka’s efforts to counter unsubstantiated war crimes accusations.
Q: Having made invaluable representations to UNHRC on behalf of Sri Lanka, at the current session too, what would you think is advantageous to Sri Lanka (a) to go with the Core Group resolution or (b) seek a vote whatever the consequences?
A: It appears as far as I can see the Core Group resolution is slowly being amended and may yet be amended further before March 22 so I cannot give a definitive Yes or No now however it seems unlikely it will be acceptable to Sri Lanka. If this turns out to be the case then I personally would support a vote.
(Q) Many Sri Lankans believe successive governments conveniently failed to exploit Oct 2017 disclosure made by you in the House of Lords.
Do you believe your disclosures, statements as well as statements made by US Defence Advisor Lt. Col. Smith in June 2011 and Wikileaks revelations could have been used in a much better way by GoSL?
(A) I think the previous Government missed a trick in not exploiting all the evidence that clearly refuted the allegations in the Darusman & OISL reports. I think the present Government faces so many challenges e.g. pandemic, financial challenges plus Geneva plus a devious UK who never supplied the Gash dispatches to the UNHRC plus a constant barrage from the Diaspora all in a short time frame that I do not criticise them. In fact the actions to revitalise the Missing Person Commission & the Reparations Commission are both really positive.
(Q) Are you disappointed with the way Sri Lanka’s defence continued to be handled?
(A) Remember my role is to try to help the people of Sri Lanka.
Well informed sources said that the government was under heavy pressure to accept the Core Group’s resolution with India being asked by the government to back Sri Lanka whereas the TNA insisted on New Delhi’s support.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
Trump cancels US-Iran meetings, urges protesters to take over institutions
Govt. bows to pressure, shelves Grade 6 reforms
AKD: Govt. agenda on track despite Ditwah disaster
SL to receive 10 helicopters from US
Foreign couple held over alleged biopiracy at Horton Plains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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