News
Salley complains to HRCSL former AG, and Public Security Minister violated his fundamental rights
Former Western Province Governor and National Unity Alliance leader, Azath Salley yesterday complained to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that his fundamental rights had been violated by actions of former Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara.
In a letter to the Chairperson of HRCSL, Salley said: “I was arrested on the 16th of March 2021 and held in both executive and judicial detention for a period of close to nine months.
“Prior to my arrest, the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera, during a speech in Parliament, threatened to arrest me for views expressed by me at a press conference.
“I was arrested on the 16th of March 2021, on the instructions of the Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, purportedly on the views expressed by me at the Weekly Press Briefing of my Party, the National Unity Alliance on the 9th of March 2021.
“The edited and manipulated version of my Press Briefing, aired and publicised by certain Sections of the Sinhala Media, formed the basis of my arrest and produced before the Magistrate’s Court of Colombo on 23rd of June 2021 and indictment served in the High Court of Colombo in October 2021, after holding me in unlawful detention for over nine months.
“The Learned Magistrate of Colombo on the 14th of September 2021, held that the full version of the Press Briefing, does not in any manner or form implicate me in any crime.
“In the High Court of Colombo, the Learned High Court judge on the 2nd of December 2021, acquitted me of all charges contained in the indictment, without even calling for my defence. Moreover, the Learned High Court judge also clearly specified that the views expressed at the Press Briefing, in fact did not cause any ill feeling or offence to any community.
“My complaint to the Honourable Commission is that the Attorney General’s Department, instructed by the Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, failed to exercise due diligence, before arresting and indicting me on fabricated evidence, and thereby failed in their public duty.
“Had they been open and acted fairly and only taken the trouble to view the entire Press Briefing, they would have saved innocent taxpayers money and the credibility of the Department in the eyes of my aggrieved community, and the entire Nation.
“Based on the Judgments delivered by the Learned Judges, and the agony I went through the nine months of incarceration, I am compelled to form the opinion that: Dappula De Livera and all officers working under his authority who directly or indirectly were a party to the decision to call for my arrest, incarceration and indictment and the Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara, who prior to the said arrest threatened me with arrest have Violated my Fundamental Rights as a Citizen of this country, guaranteed by Article 11, 12 (1), 13 and 14 (1) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
“I, as an aggrieved party, call upon the Commission to immediately inquire into the violations of my Fundamental Rights as enshrined in Chapter Three of our Constitution being one of the principal reasons for establishing the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka under the Human Rights Commission Act 21 of 1996.
“The Attorney General’s Department, which should protect us from injustice, should not be used by Political Powers to perpetuate injustice.”
News
Heat index at ‘Caution level’ in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, Western provinces and Monaragala district today [09]
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology has issued a Warm Weather Advisory for 09 April 2025
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, and Western provinces and in Monaragala district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned below is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Prof. Jayasumana raises possibility of Lanka ending up with “Quad’
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has said it is the responsibility of the NPP government to submit the MoUs/agreements that were recently signed with India to the respective Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs).
Premadasa said so when The Island raised the issue with him. He said that during his meeting with Premier Modi his focus had been on opening the Indian market for Sri Lankan garment exports.
The seven MoUs/agreements signed on 05 April included defence cooperation, energy, Eastern Province development and digitalisation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Sarvajana Balaya and former lawmaker Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the government owed an explanation whether the recently signed MoU on defence cooperation directly or indirectly attached Sri Lanka to the Quad security alliance, consisting of the US, Australia, Japan and India.
The former SLPPer raised the issue at a meeting held at Boralesgamuwa on Monday (07) in support of Sarvajana Balaya candidates contesting the May 6 LG polls.
Prof. Jayasumana urged that the MoU on Defence Cooperation be placed before Parliament, and the people, without further delay. The academic who served as State Health Minister during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s foreign policy direction should be dealt with.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government would not extend the suspension of ‘parate executions’ that was now effective, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday.
Suriyapperuma said so in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who asked about the government’s plans regarding a relief package to assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) struggling to repay loans.
Pointing out that about 263,000 SMEs had closed down, Premadasa asked what action the government would take to address the grievances of these SMEs.
He said that from 01 Jan., 2019, to 01 Dec., 31, 2023, licensed banks had collected Rs. 113.7 billion through 2,263 parate executions. As of 31 Dec., 2024, Rs. 1,380 billion had been recovered from Stage III defaulters.
The government has introduced loan schemes to assist SMEs impacted by the economic crisis. They included capital loans of up to Rs. 10 million, with a six-month grace period and a three-year repayment term at 8% interest, Suriyapperuma said. Additionally, another loan scheme under the consolidated fund aimed to help SMEs that werecurrently paying their loans. That scheme offered loans of up to Rs. 15 million, which must be repaid over ten years with a one-year grace period and a 7% interest rate. For SMEs that had defaulted on their loans, a loan of up to Rs. 5 million is available at 8% interest, with a six-month grace period and a five-year repayment term, Suriyapperuma said.
By Saman Indrajith
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Heat index at ‘Caution level’ in Northern, North-central, Eastern, North-western, Western provinces and Monaragala district today [09]
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