Connect with us

News

Post-war reconciliation: Lanka ready to accept support of int’l partners

Published

on

UN-Prez tells UNGA

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (22) declared his readiness to engage all domestic stakeholders, and to obtain the support of international partners and the United Nations, in the post-war reconciliation process.

Addressing the 76th UNGA, President Rajapaksa said that it was his government’s firm intention to build a prosperous, stable and secure future for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender. “However, history has shown that lasting results can only be achieved through home-grown institutions reflecting the aspirations of the people.

The following is the full text of President’s speech: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on humanity. I sympathise deeply with all who have lost their loved ones during the pandemic. I thank frontline healthcare and essential workers around the world for their dedication and commend the World Health Organisation for its crisis response.

I also greatly appreciate the rapid advances made by the scientific and medical communities in devising vaccines and treatment protocols to combat the virus.

At the same time, we must recognise that the challenges surrounding production, distribution, deployment and acceptance of vaccines must be overcome urgently if the spread of dangerous new virus strains is to be prevented.

Ensuring that everyone, everywhere, is vaccinated is the best way out of the pandemic.

Although still a developing nation, Sri Lanka has been very successful in its vaccination programme.

We have already fully vaccinated nearly all those above the age of 30.

Everyone over the age of 20 will be fully vaccinated by the end of October.

We will start vaccinating children over 15 years of age in the near future.

The rapid progress of vaccinations was enabled by coordinated efforts between healthcare workers, Armed Forces and Police personnel, Government servants, and elected officials.

In collaboration with the WHO, Sri Lanka is establishing a Regional Knowledge Hub to facilitate exchange of lessons learnt from COVID-19 and support countries to recover better.

Sri Lanka also benefitted greatly from financial and material support provided by bilateral and multilateral donors to manage the pandemic.

I thank these nations and institutions for their generosity.

The increased global cooperation visible during this ongoing crisis is greatly encouraging.

However, there is still more to be done.

Mr. President,

The economic impact of the pandemic has been especially severe on developing countries.

This has placed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals at considerable risk.

It is vital that more initiatives including development financing and debt relief be adopted through international mechanisms to support developing nations and help them emerge from this uncertain situation.

Sri Lanka too has suffered greatly due to the pandemic.

In addition to the tragic loss of life, our economy has been deeply affected.

The lockdowns, together with general movement restrictions, reduced international travel, and slower global growth have affected nearly all sectors of our economy.

Tourism, one of Sri Lanka’s highest foreign exchange earners and a sector that supports nearly 14% of the population, has been devastated.

This industry, together with small and medium businesses in many other sectors, received Government support through interest moratoriums and other financial sector interventions.

Daily wage earners and low-income groups were also supported through grants of cash and dry rations during lockdowns, adding significantly to state expenditure.

In addition to their immediate impact, these economic repercussions of the pandemic have limited the fiscal space available to implement our development programmes.

Mr. President,

As devastating as the consequences of the pandemic have been to humanity, the world faces the even greater challenge of climate change in the decades to come.

As emphasised in the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the unprecedented effect of human activity on the health of the planet is deeply worrying.

Addressing the grave threats posed by climate change and the loss of biodiversity requires decisive and urgent multilateral action.

As a climate-vulnerable country, Sri Lanka is deeply aware of the dangers of climate change.

Sri Lanka’s philosophical heritage, deeply rooted in Lord Buddha’s teachings, also emphasises the vitality of preserving environmental integrity.

It is in these contexts that Sri Lanka is a Commonwealth Blue Charter Champion and leads the Action Group on Mangrove Restoration.

Through the adoption of the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management, which seeks to halve nitrogen waste by 2030, Sri Lanka has also contributed to global efforts to reduce environmental pollution.

Having participated virtually in the Pre-Summit held in April, I trust that the United Nations Food Summit later this month will result in actionable outcomes to promote healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems globally.

Such outcomes will be crucial to human health as well as to the health of our planet.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s national policy framework.

Because of its impact on soil fertility, biodiversity, waterways and health, my Government completely banned the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and weedicides earlier this year.

Production and adoption of organic fertiliser, as well as investments into organic agriculture, are being incentivised.

I appreciate the encouragement received from many global institutions and nations for our efforts to create a more sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka.

The conservation of our environment is one of our key national priorities.

We aim to increase forest cover significantly in the coming decades.

We are also working to clean and restore over 100 rivers countrywide, and to combat river and maritime pollution.

We have also banned single use plastics to support ecological conservation.

Sri Lanka recognises the urgent need to reduce use of fossil fuels and support decarbonisation.

Our energy policy seeks to increase the contribution of renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydropower to 70% of our national energy needs by 2030.

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka welcomes the support of the international community as it engages in the task of reviving its economy and carrying out its national development programme.

We intend to make full use of geostrategic location and our robust institutions, strong social infrastructure, and skilled workforce, to attract investment and broaden trade relationships.

My Government is focusing on extensive legal, regulatory, administrative and educational reforms to facilitate this, and to deliver prosperity to all our people.

Sri Lanka has enjoyed universal adult franchise since pre-Independence.

The democratic tradition is an integral part of our way of life.

My election in 2019 and the Parliamentary election in 2020 saw Sri Lankan voters grant an emphatic mandate to my Government to build a prosperous and stable country, and uphold national security and sovereignty.

In 2019, Sri Lanka experienced the devastation wrought by extremist religious terrorists in the Easter Sunday attacks.

Before that, until 2009, it had suffered from a separatist terrorist war for 30 years.

Terrorism is a global challenge that requires international cooperation, especially on matters such as intelligence sharing, if it is to be overcome.

Violence robbed Sri Lanka of thousands of lives and decades of prosperity in the past half century.

My Government is committed to ensuring that such violence never takes place in Sri Lanka again.

We are therefore acting to address the core issues behind it.

Fostering greater accountability, restorative justice, and meaningful reconciliation through domestic institutions is essential to achieve lasting peace.

So too is ensuring more equitable participation in the fruits of economic development.

It is my Government’s firm intention to build a prosperous, stable and secure future for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender.

We are ready to engage with all domestic stakeholders, and to obtain the support of our international partners and the United Nations, in this process.

However, history has shown that lasting results can only be achieved through home-grown institutions reflecting the aspirations of the people.

Sri Lanka’s Parliament, Judiciary and its range of independent statutory bodies should have unrestricted scope to exercise their functions and responsibilities.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates.

If, in keeping with the theme of our General Debate today, we are to truly build resilience through hope, we must all strive towards the common good.

It is the role of the United Nations to facilitate this by treating all sovereign states, irrespective of size or strength, equitably, and with due respect for their institutions and their heritage.

I request the United Nations and the international community to ensure the protection of the Buddhist heritage of Afghanistan.

I call on the member states of this august Assembly to work together in a spirit of true cooperation, generosity, goodwill, and mutual respect to foster a better and more sustainable future for all humanity.”



News

‘Accountability issues’: Successive govts. failed armed forces: Shavendra

Published

on

Gen. Silva

“US, UK sanctions effectively prevented me from travelling to other countries as well”

Former GOC of the 58 Division General Shavendra Silva yesterday (18) found fault with successive governments since 2009 for failing to counter unsubstantiated war crimes accusations. The failure on the part of them led to punitive international measures against senior officers who spearheaded the offensive against the LTTE, the Gajaba veteran said.

Appearing on Derana 24/7 with Chathura Alwis, the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) declared his angst at the country’s failure at political level to address the issues at hand. The most decorated soldier was commenting on the 16th anniversary of the eradication of the LTTE’s conventional military capacity.

Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion on May 18, 2009, by bringing the entire northern province under government control. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed in the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon on the following morning.

Referring to the US travel ban imposed on him, his wife and two daughters in February 2020 and the British sanctions declared in March this year, Gen. Silva said the US and British action had effectively restricted his overseas travel to south Asia.

The UK sanctioned Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, former Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya as well as former LTTE battlefield commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna.

Gen. Silva highlighted the protests carried out by pro-LTTE activists in London in February this year targeting Yohani de Silva whose father served as the GOC of 55 Division engaged in the Vanni offensive.

The protest was organised by the Tamil Youth Organisation of the UK.

Responding to another query, Gen. Silva, in his first interview since retirement as CDS on Dec 31, 2024, said that GoCs Gen Jagath Dias (57 Division), Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (53 Division), Maj. Gen. Nandana Udawatte (59 Division), Maj. Gen. Prasanna de Silva (55 Division) and Chagie Gallage as well as those who commanded Task Forces faced punitive international action.

Gen. Silva’s retirement coincided with the abolition of the Office of CDS by the NPP government.

At the onset of the interview, Gen. Silva strongly emphasised the need to celebrate the eradication of terrorism and liberation of the people. The outspoken ex-soldier said that the armed forces and police paid a very heavy price to bring the war to an end, a war that many believed couldn’t be brought to a successful conclusion. Gen. Silva pointed out the absurdity in doing away with military celebration as Sri Lanka still marks the end of WW I and WW 11.

On behalf of all Division and Task Force commanders on the northern front, I take this opportunity to thank officers and men and families of those who paid the supreme sacrifice and the wounded.

Gen. Silva asserted that the armed forces as a whole suffered as a result of their failure to conduct post-war examination of operations undertaken by fighting formations deprived of the opportunity to correctly establish their roles. The former Army Commander said that the other countries always undertook such examinations immediately after the end of operations.

Gen. Silva said that since the end of war the country never made an honest attempt to record the events thereby setting the record straight.

The Yahapalana government co-sponsored the US accountability resolution against the war-winning armed forces in Oct 2015.

Gen. Silva explained that failure on the part of political and military leaderships to reach consensus on a common narrative contributed to the growing international pressure on the country.

Appreciating the NPP government summoning Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh over the recent unveiling of so-called Tamil genocide memorial in Ontario, Gen. Silva said that before his retirement he briefed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the challenges faced on the Geneva front.President Dissanayake promised to look into this matter and take appropriate measures, Gen. Silva said. “I believe the President as promised will address the issues at hand.”

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Continue Reading

News

Govt. likely to lose more votes in N&E unless it adopts remedial measures

Published

on

Ambika

Ex-HRCSL member:

Human rights lawyer and former member of the Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) Ambika Satkunanathan has warned that the National People’s Power (NPP) will face the prospect of further drop in its vote share in the North and the East in the next Provincial Council polls unless it takes remedial measures.

Asked what would be the likely scenario at the forthcoming Provincial Council polls, Satkunanathan said that she didn’t want to speculate. However, if the NPP failed to acknowledge its mistakes and did not adopt remedial measures, its share of the vote amongst Tamils and Muslims was likely to be further reduced, the civil society activist said.

The Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) contested 58 Local Government authorities at the recently concluded election. The ITAK won 40 out of 58 local authorities at the expense of the NPP that secured all northern and eastern electoral districts, except Batticaloa, at the parliamentary polls conducted last November.

The ITAK went it alone at the LG polls in the wake of the collapse of the TNA that served the interests of the LTTE during the war and threw its weight behind retired General Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election, less than a year after the eradication of the LTTE. General Fonseka secured all predominantly Tamil speaking electoral districts with the TNA backing but lost the election by 1.8 million votes.

Asked what had made the northern and eastern electorates switch allegiance to the ITAK and other Tamil parties within months after voting for NPP at the parliamentary polls, Ambika said: “Tamils have evolved into pragmatic voters and a range of factors likely influenced their vote at the local government election. Firstly, they have not seen any substantive or meaningful movement towards addressing their historical grievances and demands. For instance, instead of releasing lands occupied or that have been appropriated by the state, the government issued a gazette covering 5,940 acres of land in the Northern Province that it is seeking to appropriate. This is being done in what can only be called an insidious manner because they are not using the Land Appropriation Act, which would clearly demonstrate their intent to appropriate but the Land Settlement Ordinance. Where the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act is concerned, they have appointed a committee to study the issue whereas the repeal of the law does not require any further study.

Asked whether the significant gains made by Tamil political parties at the expense of NPP and so-called Anura wave strengthened Tamil nationalism in the North-East, Ambika said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s or NPP’s win in the presidential and parliamentary elections is not demonstrative of the weakening of Tamil nationalism and the win of the Tamil parties at the local government elections does not illustrate the strengthening of Tamil nationalism.

This is because, like in the 2010 Presidential election, the pragmatic Tamil vote, which to the external observer may seem like abandonment of their historical demands, in the eyes of the community is a way of safeguarding the community at that instance and making the best of a bad situation. It in no way means they have given up their historical demands. Also, Tamil nationalism over the years has taken on many forms and the electoral choice is not always a reliable indicator of it, she said.

Tamil political sources said that the ITAK would go it alone at the Provincial Council polls. Sources said that the ITAK would seek to consolidate its position against the backdrop of recent electoral success after significant setbacks in last Sept and November at national elections.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Continue Reading

News

Parliament to meet from May 20 to 23

Published

on

(From L to R) Leader of the House Minister Bimal Ratnayake, Speaker Dr Jagath Wickremanayake, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohandheera, Deputy Speaker Dr Rizvih Salih and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the business committee meeting

Parliament will meet from Tuesday (20) to Friday (23), according to Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera.The decision was made at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held last Friday under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramanayake.

The sittings will open on Tuesday (20) at 9.30 am with business under Standing Order 22(1) to (6), followed by an hour of oral questions. Statements by party leaders under Standing Order 27(2) are scheduled for 11 am, ahead of a debate on the Order under the Excise (Special Provisions) Act, which will run until 5 pm. The day’s proceedings will close with a half-hour debate on an Opposition-led adjournment motion.

On Wednesday (21), business resumes at 9.30 am, with oral questions at 10 am, followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2). The House will then debate financial regulations issued under the Finance Acts of 2003 and 2018 until 5 pm, before wrapping up with a session on the adjournment motion.

Thursday’s (22) sitting will follow a similar format, with a key debate on regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act No. 1 of 1969 scheduled from 11.30 am to 5 pm. The Government will table the adjournment motion for the final half-hour of the day.

On Friday (23), after the usual question sessions, the House will take up the second reading of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, with the debate running from 11.30 am to 5 pm, followed by the closing adjournment motion discussion.

Continue Reading

Trending