News
Parliamentary Caucus for Children stresses need to fill 284 vacancies at NCPA
The Parliamentary Caucus for Children recently stressed the need to fill 284 vacancies in the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). The inordinate delay in filling these vacancies as well as the need for closer coordination among institutions working on child protection in Sri Lanka received the attention of the parliamentary group.
This was discussed during the meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus for Children held in Parliament recently (08) under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Rohini Kumari Wijeratne.
This meeting was held to identify the challenges and problems faced by various agencies working in Sri Lanka regarding child protection. The caucus also discussed contacting the relevant parties and finding solutions and working in coordination with the relevant institutions.
Accordingly, the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development under the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, the National Child Protection Authority and the Police Children’s and Women’s Bureau have presented facts about their activities and existing challenges and problems. Apart from this, information was also presented regarding the activities of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka.
The officials expressed their views on the shortcomings in the infrastructure including staff vacancies, building requirements, vehicle requirements in the relevant institutions. It was revealed that 284 posts out of 618 posts in the Child Protection Authority are vacant and the forum instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment to inform the President as the minister in charge and take immediate steps to fill the vacancies.
Providing quality education to children in Sri Lanka, providing adequate health care, making existing resources and officials more efficient, community Based Correction, and matters to be considered in media reporting on child abuse cases were also discussed. Addressing the committee, the chairperson of the caucus Rohini Kumari Wijayaratne said that regarding the ideas and problems presented here, the relevant parties will be called before the caucus and steps will be taken to find solutions.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that a national policy on early childhood education has been prepared. It was also revealed that this has been prepared in a legal framework taking into account the differences and similarities existing in the provinces and nationally.
Furthermore, it was mentioned here that a five-year action plan for child protection (2023 – 2027) has been prepared to implement the national policy on child protection that was finalised in 2019.
The Vice Presidents of the caucus Members of Parliament (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle and Velu Kumar, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa,
State Ministers Geeta Kumarasinghe, Diana Gamage, Members of Parliament Talatha Atukorale, Chandima Weerakkodi, J.C. Alavatuwala, Ashok Abeysinghe, Mayantha Dissanayake, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Assistant Secretary General of Parliament Tikiri K. Jayathilaka and senior officers of related institutions were present at the occasion.
Also, Minister (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakse and Mudita Prashanthi attended the meeting with the permission of the Chairperson of the Caucus.
The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.
Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.
The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses
will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”
In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125
News
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.
The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.
A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.
Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.
The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.
The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.
The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.
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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
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