News
NGOs fire heavy salvo against govt., coinciding with 48th Geneva sessions
A civil society grouping in a statement issued yesterday (13) strongly criticised the government over its human rights record. The statement was issued by over two dozens activists hours after the 48th sessions of the Geneva- based UNHRC commenced.
Identifying themselves as the Civil Society Platform (CSP), the group launched a scathing attack over accountability issues and post-war issues, including what they claimed was continuing harassment of the civil society.
Sri Lankan Collective for Consensus (SLCC), comprising representatives of several civil society groups, earlier held talks with the government. Among the government representatives were President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.
The CSP said that while the group acknowledged the efforts made by the government to meet the Covid-19 challenge, its action and inaction since has only exacerbated the challenges faced by the people. At the same time, increasing authoritarianism and militarisation, including the COVID-19 “response and the culture of impunity have eroded civic space and undermined the protection of human rights. The re-imposition of a state of emergency on the pretext of addressing food distribution is an additional concern. Resorting to promulgation of Emergency Regulations in an arbitrary manner further concentrates unrestrained power in the hands of the executive and is not conducive to democratic, inclusive and transparent decision making regarding the public good. It creates an environment in which the human rights of citizens can be further curtailed and even violated.
The group raised the government allegedly depriving the civil society the freedom to operate.
“In recent months we have witnessed an alarming shrinking of civic space in Sri Lanka. This is in a context of heightened surveillance and threats to, and harassment of human rights defenders, survivors and families of victims, such as the families of the disappeared, who advocate for protection of human rights and truth and justice. The government and its affiliates have also demonized the work of non-governmental organisations through multiple means and presented them as potential threats to national security.
“This is against the backdrop of the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO Secretariat), being brought once again within the purview of the Ministry of Defence in December 2019, and steps being taken to draft legislation to reportedly curb the activities of civil society organisations. In addition, since December 2019 state officials at the district and divisional level have brought into effect cumbersome informal and arbitrary rules by which civil society organisations have to abide to obtain approval and implement their projects. Furthermore, during meetings with NGOs at the district level, officers of the NGO Secretariat have been abusive and used disrespectful language when addressing personnel from civil society organisations. Cabinet ministers continue to use the term NGOs in a hostile manner, perpetuating the anti-NGO culture reminiscent of the repressive era when NGOs faced intimidation and threats both from the State and unidentified entities.
We note with concern the cabinet decision to replace the Voluntary Social Service Organizations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980 as amended (VSSO Act). Civil society concerns in this regard which the NGO coalition working on this issue shared with the NGO Secretariat have gone unaddressed. The government’s engagement with civil society on the proposed law should not be cosmetic but meaningful and take into account the legitimate concerns of civil society. Furthermore, any new law must not restrict the rights of civil society organisations to work freely on issues of human rights and transitional justice or place undue impediments to their functioning.
The group raised the following issues in its statement:PTA, Freedom of Expression, Transitional Justice, Enforced Disappearances and Missing Persons, Arbitrary Use of Quarantine Regulations, failure on the part of the government to build confidence among the minorities and independent commissions. The group demanded an acceptable solution to the ethnic conflict, condemn the inordinate delay in investigating 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, delay in introducing reforms to the Muslim marriage and Divorce Act and burial rights for Covid-19 victims.
The following endorsed the statement:
1. Families of the Disappeared
2. Centre for Policy Alternatives
3. IMADR- Asia Committee
4. Right to Life Human Rights Centre
5. Women and Media Collective
6. Rights Now for Collective Democracy
7. Centre for Society and Religion
8. Women’s Action Network
9. Mothers and Daughters of Lanka
10. Centre for Women and Development – Jaffna
11. Law and Society Trust
12. AHAM Humanitarian Resource Center(AHRC), Trincomalee
13 Rural Development Foundation
14. Institute for Social Development
15. Janawabodha Kendraya
16. Web Journalist Association of Sri Lanka
17. Eastern Social Development Foundation
18. Human Elevation Organisation
19. National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
20. National Fisher Women’s Federation
21. Mannar Women’s Development Federation
22. Malarum Mottukal Women’s Collective
23. Alliance for Minorities
24. Rule of Law Forum
25. Food First Information and Action Network – Sri Lanka
26. International Centre for Ethnic Studies
27. Mannar Social and Economic Development Organization
28. Citizens Committee Human Rights Centre –Gampaha
29. Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization
30. Centre for Human Rights and Development
Individuals
1. Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
2. Dr. Gehan Gunatilleke
3. Dr Nimalka Fernando
4. Dr Mario Gomez
5. Dr Sakunthala Kadirgamar
6. Rev Rohan De SIlva
7. Mr Britto Fernando
8. Ms Shreen Saroor
9. Ms Ambika Sathkunanathan
10. Mr Philip Dissanayake
11. Ms Kumudhini Samuel
12. Mr. Godfrey Yogarajah
13. Mr Prabodha Ratnayake
14. Mr Ameer Faaiz
15. Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam
16. Ms Saroja Sivachandran
17. Mr Aruna Shantha Nonis
18. Ms Bhavani Fonseka
19. Mr Ruki Fernando
20. Mr Periyasami.Muthulingam
21. Mr Gowthaman Balachandran
22. Mr Sudarshana Gunawardana
23. Mr Freddy Gamage
24. Mr Abdul Ramees
25. Ms Sumika Perera
26. Ms Marreen Srinika Nilasini
27. Mr Asanka Abeyrathna.
28. Ms Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan
29. Mr Herman Kumara
30. Mr Jehan Jegatheesan
31. Mr.Yartan Figurado
32 Mr Shantha Pathirana
33Ms A.D. Rajani
34 Ms M.Kusum Silva
35 Mr Vinoth Anthony
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 27 Dec 25, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 03 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, south of the Delft Island in Jaffna.
The seized boat and Indian fishermen (03) were brought to the Kreinagar Jetty and were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda said that he is still waiting for the government’s response to the UK sanctions imposed on three ex-military officers, including him, and a former member of the LTTE.
The former Navy Chief said so in response to The Island query whether he was aware of the position taken by a three-member ministerial committee, consisting of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen (retd) Aruna Jayasekera.
The government named the committee in the wake of the UK declaration of travel bans and asset freezes in respect of Karannagoda, General Shavendra Silva, General Jagath Jayasuriya and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, also known as Karuna. Maj. Gen. Jayasekera said that they inquired into the issue at hand.
Karannnagoda said that he would like to know the government’s recommendations if the ministerial committee briefed the Cabinet as per a decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers. Karannagoda said that the issue should have been taken at the highest level as various interested parties continue to humiliate the war-winning military by targeting selected individuals.
Other sources, familiar with the issues at hand, told The Island that the government was yet to announce its stand.
Sources pointed out that the Opposition has been silent on what they called a matter of utmost national importance.
Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa is on record as having described the UK move as a unilateral move and that committee was formed to examine the developments and recommend appropriate measures to the Cabinet.
Foreign Minister Herath told The Island the government was not successful in getting the British to withdraw sanctions. Describing the UK decision as unilateral, the Miniser said that the government conveyed its concerns but the UK didn’t change its stand.
The Island raised the issue with Minister Herath and Admiral Karannagoda in the wake of British MP of Sri Lankan origin, Uma Kumaran requesting the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to expand on the government’s sanctions imposed on the four above-mentioned persons.
During a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on 16 December, the MP for Stratford and Bow highlighted the lack of accountability and political will from the current Sri Lankan government to address war crimes and mass atrocities committed in Sri Lanka.
Sources said that David Lammy, who served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs at the time of the declaration of sanctions, had no qualms in declaring that the action taken against four Sri Lankans was in line with a commitment he made during the election campaign to ensure those responsible wouldn’t be allowed impunity. The UK government statement quoted Lammy as having said that this decision ensured that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses were held accountable.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Shobini Gunasekera recently presented a conceptual framework of seven key vectors that defined contemporary international relations and facilitated dialogue among States. She made the presentation at XI Moscow International Financial and Economic Forum held under the theme “Building Bridges: Partnership without Borders”.
In her address, the Ambassador emphasised that these vectors represent the channels through which ideas circulate, trade expands, and peace is strengthened, serving as guiding principles for cooperation amid global uncertainties. The seven key vectors highlighted were economic ties as a foundation for long-term stability; political choice and diplomacy through dialogue and multilateral engagement; security cooperation to address cross-border threats; cultural linkages through education, tourism, and professional exchanges; technological advancement, particularly in digital systems and artificial intelligence; environmental stewardship through collective action on renewable energy and climate change; and humanitarian obligations, including disaster relief and development cooperation.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s experience, the Ambassador illustrated the practical application of these principles by highlighting the country’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, its role as a trade and logistics hub, and its active engagement in regional groupings such as BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, where the Russian Federation serves as a Dialogue Partner.
The potential for enhanced Sri Lanka–Russia bilateral cooperation was underscored, particularly through complementarities between Russia’s technological and energy expertise and Sri Lanka’s logistical capabilities and maritime infrastructure. She noted that such synergies could support joint initiatives in trade, innovation, tourism, and logistics, while cultural and scientific exchanges would further strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries.
Concluding her remarks, the Ambassador stated that sustained progress requires dialogue, mutual respect, and forward-looking partnerships capable of shaping a shared and stable future.
Navy seizes an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters
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Delay in govt. response to UK sanctions on ex-military chiefs, and others causes concern
Sri Lanka outlines seven key vectors of international cooperation at Moscow forum
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