News
NAM means you can make independent decisions: Sabry
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry PC has said that in the emerging multipolar world, countries like Sri Lanka cannot afford to take sides and must be open to working with anyone.
Minister Sabry made these observations when he delivered the opening address at the 3rd ‘LKI Foreign Policy Forum’, held on the theme ‘Reassessing Non-Alignment in a Polarised World’ the quarterly flagship event of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) held on 21 February 2024 at the LKI Lighthouse Auditorium. The event was attended by a representative gathering, comprising heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations, government officials, academics, business leaders, civil society, media practitioners, as well as students.
“Non-alignment means not becoming a bystander and it means that you are not forced or coerced into a camp to take sovereign decisions,” Sabry has said.
“And you take your own choices. Whether it is commercial, security, regional or otherwise. It is in this sense that Sri Lanka needs to have guidance and support to charter that course.
What is right for our country, what are the opportunities for us? What are the challenges in that while preserving our sovereignty to proceed with it? Across party lines, Sri Lanka is yearning to continue its greatest legacy of an independent and sovereign foreign policy. That is there to stay. But the modalities as to how we progress with that in a pragmatic manner in an ever-increasing polarized world is what we need to learn.”
Referring to the NAM Summit in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2024, the Foreign Minister highlighted the significance of the summit as an opportunity for NAM to assess global developments and review its functioning as the pre-eminent multilateral body of developing countries, and the challenges it faces. Responding to the Summit theme ‘Deepening cooperation for shared global affluence’, he noted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his address had noted that NAM’s membership was no longer a grouping of weak states, and that as a result of the rapid progress and economic advancement of some of the Asian, African and Latin American states, a majority of the 10 leading economies of 2050 will belong to this movement.
Observing that within NAM were rising aspirants for leadership status in global affairs, the President had emphasized that they must be prepared to give leadership, and that NAM must play a vital role as geo-strategic rivalries in political, economic, technological and military terms becomes more pronounced among former and new contenders for Major Power status.
The Minister noted that the recent Summit also served as a platform to discuss the challenges faced by NAM member states and particularly drew considerable attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Referring to the dire humanitarian situation in Palestine, Minister Sabry emphasised the importance of the NAM speaking in one voice when the very principles on which the Movement is based are challenged.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Summit, noting overwhelming support for all amendments proposed by Palestine to the outcome document. He reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and its commitment to supporting them in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights.
Following the opening address, an engaging panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Executive Director, LKI explored aspects related to non-alignment, with the participation of Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke, Former Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation; Prof. Gamini Keerawella, Executive Director of the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies (BCIS); Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and Mr. Uditha Devapriya, Chief International Relations Analyst, Factum.
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
by Norman Palihawadane
Department of Prisons’ Media Spokesperson, Gamini Dissanayake said yesterday that retired Superintendent of the high security Boossa Prison, Siridath Dhammika, who was tragically gunned down at Thalagaha, in Akmeemana, on Thursday (13), had been provided with a firearm for his protection during his tenure, considering the potential threat to his life.
Dissanayake said that during his service period, he had received threats from certain individuals.
Furthermore, the Prison Department stated that during his service, there were no significant issues or shortcomings found in his personal records.
Dissanayake said that the majority of detainees at the Boossa Prison are individuals linked to organized crimes.
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