A high-level meeting was held at the Parliament premises on 11 November to review strategies for curbing illegal fishing and poaching activities within Sri Lanka’s waters.

The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources  Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, and the Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).

The discussion focused on preventive measures, law enforcement actions, and inter-agency cooperation to effectively counter these emerging challenges. Several key issues, including poaching by local and foreign fishing vessels in local waters, expediting court cases related to arrested fishing boats, the use of unauthorized radio frequencies, and non-fishing activities such as smuggling carried out under the guise of fishing were taken up for delibration at the meeting.

Particular attention was given to the practice of  local fishing vessels deliberately disabling their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to engage in unlawful fishing and illicit activities within prohibited areas.

Rasika Peiris assumed duties as Commissioner General of Elections today (14)  with the post falling vacant on the retirement of Saman Sri Rathnayake .

The National Joint Committee (NJC) has condemned SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s recent declaration in New Delhi that he would fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Lieutenant General Jagath Dias (Retd) and Dr. Anula Wijesundera Co-Presidents of the NJC issued the following statement: The NJC is “shocked, dismayed, disappointed and disgusted” over the recent statement made by the Hon Leader of the Opposition during a private visit to India where he has said that he endorses and would fully implement the controversial 13th Amendment – to the Sri Lanka Constitution when he is elected to power.

NJC views this undertaking with a sense of betrayal and lookdown of the nation and as highly uncalled for and unbecoming of a sitting Member of Parliament representing the main opposition party.

The NJC views the 13th Amendment as obsolete as not only had the Indo-Lanka agreement been signed under duress but also India failed to honour their part of the agreement (to disarm the LTTE). As a result, the conflict dragged on for three decades and the thousands of Sri Lankan security forces personnel sacrificed of their lives, a vast number of Civilian Live’s were also lost.

NJC considers that it is pertinent to clarify the awareness of Hon Opposition Leader Sajith Premadas on following key concerns with regards to the 13th Amendment:

The 13th Amendment was imposed under foreign duress in 1987 under threat of military intervention. 

Nationally critical amendment signed without the consent of the Sri Lankan people (absence of sovereign consent) 

Persistence of separatist ideology overseas pursued by the separatist lobby groups with the support of Western governments. 

That it is a threat to national unity and the unitary nature of the state (Article 2 of the constitution) If land, Police and administrative powers are devolved. 

NE province Chief Minister at that time made a unilateral declaration of independence UDI in 1990.

That it would make the state all the more difficult to ensure the duty of the state to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana (Article 9) if devolved or subjected to regional authority. 

Awareness on successive supreme court rulings that sovereignty is indivisible and compromising core powers of the state to peripheral units directly threatens constitutional supremacy of the Parliament and National Security.

When the constitutionality of the 13th Amendment was challenged in the supreme court 5 out of 9 judges on the bench held it will not affect the unitary character of the constitution because so much power is vested in the executive president. However subsequent amendments to the constitution diluted the power of the executive president. Therefore, the 13th Amendment cannot be implemented as it would adversely affect the constitution.

N J C in the meantime would also wish to clarify if what was stated by the Hon leader of the opposition in India is his personal opinion / SJB’s opinion or his collective party memberships opinion please.

N.J.C’ upholds and categorically re-affirms its learned position that, “The divisive, un-constitutional 13th Amendment must be comprehensively reviewed followed by a referendum for public approval”

N.J.C urge all political leaders to act in the best interest of the nation, conduct with responsibility, patriotism and love for the nation and its people without succumbing to any sort of external pressure and manipulation that threaten the sovereignty of our motherland when representing the country locally or over-seas.

N.J.C calls all patriotic citizens to observe well before pledging allegiance with political parties and politicians who undertake to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka not be agents for foreign nations.”