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
Latest News
Action beyond dialogue is essential in addressing Green Financing and climate change. – Prime Minister
There have been numerous discussions and dialogues successfully conducted across various sectors, but it is now crucial to move beyond conversation and focus on strengthening the implementation. Such collaborative effort like GGGI initiates in leading Sri Lanka towards a resilient and sustainable finance.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the Sri Lanka climate finance awareness session on advancing sustainable finance and carbon markets for climate action held today (30) at hotel Marriott Bonvoy in Colombo City Center.
The awareness session was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office with the collaboration of the ministry of Environment and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to create awareness of Green finance strategies leading to new initiatives for sustainable Sri Lanka.
Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that this session is intended to support the line ministries in better understanding how these financing mechanisms work and how they could be leveraged to implement the sustainable development priorities.
Addressing the event, the Prime Minister further stated:
“Sri Lanka has developed and updated numerous environmental frameworks to address the growing challenge of climate change, that has become the current development challenge that continues to affect lives, livelihoods, and our overall trajectory as a nation.
In Sri Lanka, key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, energy, tourism, and water are increasingly exposed to climate-related disruptions, threatening both livelihoods and macroeconomic stability. To prevent this trajectory, we must leverage a full spectrum of international climate finance instruments.
Sri Lanka has a solid policy foundation, political will, and the institutional capacity to lead on climate action. What we now need is the financial architecture to match this ambition. Hence, today’s session represents a step toward building shared awareness and technical capacity across the public sector”.
The Prime Minister emphasized that while numerous discussions and dialogues have been successfully conducted across various sectors, it is now crucial to move beyond conversation and focus on concrete implementation highlighting that meaningful results can only be achieved when ideas and plans are translated into action, and urged all stakeholders and officers to prioritize execution to bring about the positive changes the country needs.
The event was attended by secretary to the Prime Minister, G. P. Saputhanthri, representatives from the central bank, representatives of Ministries and GGGI institute.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that there is a contemporary need to develop the Pirivena and Bhikkhu education and that the government is seeking the revered guidance of Maha Sangha in that cause.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Amarapura Ariyavansa Saddhamma Yukthika Nikaya on Tuesday (29) at the Sri Subodhi Rajarama Mulasthana Maha Vihara in Bombuwala, Kalutara.
During the event, the Prime Minister honored sixty-three venerable members of the Maha Sangha who had rendered their noble service to the Sasana and also conferred awards upon several distinguished lay benefactors in recognition of their contributions.
Delivering the keynote speech, the Prime Minister stated:
“There has always been a strong bond between Buddhism and society throughout history. Culture and social relations have been built alongside the Buddhist philosophy. The society we seek to establish as a nation must embody the Buddhist values of fairness, equality, and compassion. These virtues, as taught in the Buddhist philosophy, are ever relevant and alive.
Piriven and Bhikkhu education are currently facing numerous challenges, and considerable efforts are needed to address them. Thereby a substantial and concerted intervention is required.
A pertinent question arises as whether our Pirivena institutions are adequately preparing for the evolving needs of the world? There was once a belief in Europe that, with scientific advancement, religion would become redundant. Today, this view has been discredited. Along with material progress, spiritual development remains indispensable.
The knowledge, attitudes, and skills of our Bhikkhus must be enhanced to meet the emerging global challenges. A profound discussion on necessary reforms in Piriven and Bhikkhu education is therefore imperative.
Opportunities for Bhikkhus to study subjects such as mathematics, science, and modern languages are currently limited. Without exposure to contemporary disciplines, it is questionable whether one can successfully confront present-day challenges”.
The event, held under the patronage of the Venerable Egodamulle Amaramoli Mahanayake Thera, the Chief incumbent of the Amarapura Ariyavansa Saddhamma Yukthika Nikaya, was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Mass Media and Health Mr. Nalinda Jayatissa, several Members of Parliament, and numerous lay devotees.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, plans are underway to launch a 1,000-acre forest plantation project in collaboration with the private sector. This large-scale initiative is designed to operate under the Public-Private-People Partnership (4P) concept and a preliminary discussion on the project was held today (30) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The discussion focused on resolving technical aspects associated with the project and addressing the fundamental issues necessary for the land release.
The programme aims to implement several effective environmental projects in the coming year with the active participation of the private sector. These efforts are intended to safeguard the country’s biodiversity, forest cover and natural ecosystems, while also reinforcing the shared responsibility of the public, government and private sector in environmental conservation.
The discussion was chaired by Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu and Additional Secretary of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, with the participation of senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and Environment
Action beyond dialogue is essential in addressing Green Financing and climate change. – Prime Minister
Pirivena and Bhikkhu education must be developed – PM
1,000-acre forest plantation project to be launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” programme
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