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Post-war national reconciliation: Austin questions govt. strategy, lambasts doublespeak

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/3

One-time Defence Secretary and former Secretary to President Maithripala Sirisena Austin Fernando says having repeatedly undermined previous efforts meant to reach consensus with civil society and Tamil Diaspora, the incumbent dispensation seems to be following the yahapalana strategy.

Fernando said that the current strategy should be examined against the backdrop of the Pohottuwa administration’s much touted pullout from the Geneva process several months after the last presidential election in Nov 2019.

Referring to front-page report titled ‘Prof. Peiris denies Geneva sessions influenced their Jaffna visit’, Fernando, who had also served as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi has sent the following response: “On the basis of the report on visit to Jaffna undertaken by ministers, Prof. Peiris and Ali Sabry, PC, it appears the ministers are doing ‘needs assessments.’ According to some sections of the media, the President had not met the TNA and other Tamil parties or the Diaspora, (unless stealthily in Yugadanavi syle!!!) having promised such consultation at the UNGA and to UNSG. If the President meets them at least now he will hear the needs from one Tamil group. Therefore, the question is ‘why this ‘mighty indecent hurry’ of ministers, when the President has no hurry?’ No wonder people interpret at their will!

The OMP and RO were legalised by the Yahapalanaya. The credit goes to President Sirisena, PM Wickremesinghe, and late Minister Mangala Samaraweera. I cannot understand why the Yahapaalanaya does not react to statements by these Ministers. Piggybacking on them now by incumbent ministers looks as eyewash. I am disturbed as a team member who worked to establish these mechanisms. Now kudos are to Ministers Pieris and Sabry! Another Pieris- Saliya -Chirman of OMP- went to the people in the north and did what Prof. Pieris does now. Additionally, in 2020 Minister Dinesh Gunawardena withdrew from the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 on a Cabinet decision, and Ministers Pieris and Sabry of the same Cabinet now hang on to by-products of 30/1 – the OMP and RO, to which they cannot have allegiance after the quoted withdrawal. If they wish, they can tag all these as flowing from Mahinda Rajapaksha era 11/1 UNHRC Resolution of 26th May 2009!

We know that the Yahapalanaya wished to have a TRC. I was on a committee that worked on it. A Cabinet Memo for a TRC was submitted by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on 18th October 2018, and the Constitutional Coup happened. Hence it was probably not considered by ‘the 52- Day, SC decided illegal government.’ and thrown away to the dustbin. For two years they slept over it, and suddenly after the deepest slumber now indicate the appropriateness of it! Are they joking or really do not know what happened in the past? One need not employ rocket science to restart the process. Ask Lalith Weeratunga and Gamini Senarath, I know for certain they have the capacity to prepare the papers for the next Cabinet. It will add more marks in Geneva too! The problem is the government needs the will only.

Non-recurrence was a separate “Pillar of reconciliation” to be achieved through constitutional means which was followed by a Parliamentary Select Committee. An Interim Report is available. There were six sub-committees. Bandula Gunawardane, Susil Premajayantha, and D Siddhaarthan did work on Finance, Public Administration, and centre-periphery relations respectively. What happened to those reports done by present Pohottuwa members, plus one TNA member? Politicians have bungled the relationships, and now they seem to be trying to repair- in technical terms ‘integrate’! That too is on a wrong footing, without continuity.

Mere eyewash! Let these people be serious about reconciliation. It matters to the total population, whole country, at a very difficult time. On top of the economic crisis, let us not be dragged into sanctions or other international crises.”

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya extended

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

The landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation have been extended till 0600 hrs on 15th February 2026.

Accordingly,
The Level II [AMBER] warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwar Eliya district and the
Level I [YELLOW] warning issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara in the Kandy district have been extended.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 11.30 a.m. 14 February 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 14 February 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 1.00 p.m. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.

The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions – PM

Published

22 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the forthcoming two teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions pertaining to the ongoing legal proceedings and further noted that, taking into consideration the requests received, steps have been taken to make a request to Court’s approval to revise the conditions of the effective date of degree completion.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a meeting held at Monaragala Royal College to brief education authorities of the Monaragala District on the new education reforms.

Under the new education reforms, Smart Boards will be provided to 132 schools in the Monaragala District as part of the program to equip secondary schools with modern technology. As a symbolic step under this initiative, Smart Boards were presented to 10 secondary schools under the Prime Minister’s patronage. This program is being implemented with the intervention of the Digital Task Force operating under the Prime Minister’s Office. It was also emphasized that a new digital policy, formulated with special attention to child protection, will be introduced in April.

As part of her visit to the Monaragala District on the 13 th of February, the Prime Minister observed the implementation of the new learning methodologies introduced for Grade One under the new education reforms. She visited Kumbukkana Sri Shanmugam Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya in Monaragala to observe the educational activities of Grade One students.

Considering the increase of student numbers and the development of infrastructure facilities, the Prime Minister also approved a proposal submitted by the School Development Society to rename Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya as Monaragala Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya.

Teachers briefed the Prime Minister that the new education system, supported by revised workbooks and activity-based learning methods, has proven to be effective, with students participating enthusiastically.

Addressing education officials further at the meeting held at Monaragala Royal College, the Prime Minister stated:

“Although this will not provide a complete solution to the existing teacher vacancies, these examinations can offer considerable relief. According to the Court’s previous determination, the effective date of degree completion had been set as 30.06.2025. However, considering numerous requests and following the cabinet approval we have sought Court’s consent to revise this date. We will act in accordance with the decision granted.

Funds allocated for school infrastructure must be utilized transparently and in line with proper planning, and progress must be reported accordingly. We cannot move forward by dividing ourselves along national, provincial, rural, or urban lines. As education authorities, you must make swift and accurate decisions based on correct data.

Further, discussions are already underway within the Piriven Committee of the Ministry of Education to develop Piriven education and to address the issues faced by Piriven teachers.”

The event was attended by the members of the Maha Sangha, Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ajith Agalakada, Uva Provincial Education Secretary Nihal Gunarathne, and several officials from the education sector.