News
Swiss Social Democratic Party calls for international genocide investigation into Sri Lanka
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SP Switzerland) has unanimously passed a resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka, calling for an international genocide investigation at their party congress on the 25th of October 2025 in Sursee, Canton of Lucerne, Tamil Guardian reported.
The resolution strongly condemns the “systematic violence, mass killings, and the grave human rights violations against Eelam Tamils”. Referencing a recent legal report on the Tamil genocide by the NGO People for Equality and Relief in Lanka, the resolution calls on the Swiss government, in cooperation with international bodies, to examine whether the crimes qualify as genocide under the UN genocide convention. The resolution also calls for a clear human rights-oriented Swiss foreign policy in Sri Lanka, the protection of Tamil asylum seekers, as well as cooperation and exchange with the Tamil diaspora in Switzerland, underscoring their decades-long work for human rights and accountability.
During the party congress, three Swiss-Tamil politicians from different regions of Switzerland presented the resolution, which was submitted by the party sub-group “SP Migrant:innen.”
Athushan Thavarajasingam reminded the congress of the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka, citing the continued use of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, the prevailing culture of impunity, and the plight of the Families of the Disappeared.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
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