News
Recognition of Palestine’s statehood : SL should follow Norway, etc., – former top Lankan diplomat
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Retired Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara says Sri Lanka shouldn’t hesitate to recongise a Palestine state formally against the backdrop of Spain, Ireland and Norway having done so already.The veteran Foreign Service officer was responding to The Island query regarding what Sri Lanka’s response should be to the raging Gaza conflict.
Asked to explain the developing situation, Palihakkara said Sri Lanka’s position with regard to Palestinian statehood ought to be clear because Sri Lanka recognised that status more than three decades ago. Norway and Spain have been members of NATO-North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1949 and 1982, respectively.
“Sri Lanka, in fact, was among the early responders in establishing diplomatic relations and an Embassy of Palestine in Colombo,” the former Permanent Representative to the UN said.
Commenting on the recent developments both in and outside parliament in the wake of Hamas attack mounted on Israel on 07 October last year and the latter’s response, Palihakkara said: “What stands out in this issue now is that there is rather a clear and present multi-party support for the Palestinian cause cutting across many political divides in this country. There continues to be a large measure of consensus across the isles of the legislature enabling successive Sri Lankan governments of different ideological hues to consistently support statehood, self-determination free of foreign occupation for the Palestinian people based on the ‘two states solution’ which also enjoys wide international support.”
The unprecedented move by Spain, Ireland and Norway could set in motion a new dynamic, the expert commented.Acknowledging that the coordinated move has somewhat shaken the US-led conventional Western posture on
peace in the Middle East in general and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular, Palihakkara explained that the usual Western stance was that peaceful and secure two states must emerge at the end of a process of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Palihakkara mentioned the efforts made by Norway to work out an agreement between Israel and Palestine some time back.
The issue at hand is – will that posture now face a reboot calling for international recognition of two States first leading to peace between the two nations within secure boundaries. “Israeli intransigence and the devastation in Gaza may cause this re-sequencing especially if more European countries break rank with the usual Western posture and join Norway, Spain, and Ireland plus 140 odd other countries of the world.”
Palihakkara pointed out that Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide at a recent press conference declared that if present double standards continued, it would undermine the ‘rules-based international order’, a rebuke to their NATO partners who while preaching human rights to some, protect impunity by others.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district
News
Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order
Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.
“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.
“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.
“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.
“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”
“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.
As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.
As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.
I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.
Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.
Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.
News
CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.
The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.
According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.
The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.
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