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Taking contradictory stand on 2015 Geneva Resolution

‘Govt. seeking credit for accountability mechanisms set up by previous administration’
UNHRC 48th sessions:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney-at-law Sudarshana Gunawardena has alleged that the government’s stand on accountability issues at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council is contradictory to its much publicised opposition to the Geneva Resolution 30/1 co-sponsored by the previous administration.
Sri Lanka co-sponsored 30/1, on Oct 1, 2015. The then Foreign Minister the late Mangala Samaraweera is on record as having said that the UNP-led government had President Maithripala Sirisena’s consent to go ahead with the co-sponsorship.
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s media spokesperson Gunawardena yesterday (17) pointed out that the government, at the ongoing 48th sessions of the UNHRC, has reiterated its commitment to key accountability mechanisms set up in terms of the Geneva Resolution.
Civil society activist Gunawardena, who also functioned as the Director General, Information Department during the previous administration said that the assurance given by Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris last Tuesday (14) should be examined against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from 30/1 resolution.
Prof. Peiris’ predecessor, Dinesh Gunawardena announced Sri Lanka’s withdrawal at the Feb-March 2020 sessions.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) owed an explanation, Gunawardena stressed, urging the government to take the public into confidence. “Stop playing politics at the expense of our international relations,” Gunawardena said, underscoring the need for what he called a national consensus on the post-war reconciliation process.
Responding to another query, Gunawardena said that FM Prof. Peiris in his address to the Geneva sessions discussed the progress in what he described as a domestic process in respect of accountability issues. Reference was made to the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), the Office for Reparations (OR) and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR). However, the FM conveniently failed to acknowledge that the OMP, OR and ONUR had been established in keeping with the 2015 Geneva Resolution that covered broader understanding of transitional justice.
The SLPP, while taking credit for the ongoing transitional justice process, continued to publicly reject 30/1, the very basis of the solution, Gunawardena said. “In other words, the SLPP’s actions are very different from their pledges before the electorate in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Referring to the assurance given by Prof. Peiris at the UNHRC that Sri Lanka Human Rights Council was carrying on its mandate, Gunawardena challenged the government to prove its sincerity by allowing no holds barred investigation into SLPP lawmaker Lohan Ratwatte’s raids on Welikada and Anuradhapura prisons on Sept 6 and 12, respectively.
The announcement made by the HRCSL regarding its decision to initiate an inquiry of its own in the absence of police investigation received public attention and appreciation, Gunawardena said.
Commenting on the declaration that Sri Lanka was engaged in an integrated process to bring the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in line with international norms and best practices, lawyer Gunawardena urged the government to study the work done by the previous government in that regard. Referring to statements made by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in that regard, Gunawardena said that the then Joint
Opposition quite maliciously rejected the move. “They should be ashamed of theirconduct,” relevant ministers and the Attorney General Department couldn’t be unaware of the agreement on new anti-terrorism law.
Gunawardena said that the SLPP administration shouldn’t hesitate to appreciate the previous government’s achievements. “We are quite pleased that mechanisms accepted by the previous government continue to be in operation even though the progress seems slow. However, the SLPP cannot deprive the UNP-led administration of the credit it deserved,” lawyer Gunawardena said.
Gunawardena urged the government to examine the report of the Committee appointed by then Premier Wickremesinghe to develop what he called the policy and legal framework of the proposed Counter Terrorism Act of Sri Lanka. He said that a politically motivated campaign derailed that effort whereas the Opposition propagated the lie the yahapalana government intended to deprive Sri Lanka of anti-terrorism law.
Asked to comment on the revelation of the SLPP government having talks with a group of civil society activists to explore ways and means to strengthening the reconciliation process, Gunawardena said that a 13-page Foreign Ministry note dated Aug. 31, 2021 addressed to Colombo-based diplomatic missions acknowledged the pivotal role played by the civil society. Having always accused the civil society of being part of a Western strategy, the same lot exposed their duplicity by meeting a group of civil society activists.
Gunawardena was referring to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ministers, Basil Rakapaksa, Prof. Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena, Ali Sabry, PC, and Namal Rajapaksa having separate meetings with SLCC (Sri Lanka Collective for Consensus) in the run-up to the Geneva confab. SLCC comprises 16 individuals.
Gunawardena noted the Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, too, in her hard-hitting Sept 13 statement on Sri Lanka referred to President Rajapaksa’s meeting with the SLCC.
Gunawardena said that in addition to the SLCC, another group styled itself as the Civil Society Platform (CSP) in a statement issued on Sept. 13 made its position clear on a range of accountability issues as well as stepped up pressure on the civil society. CSP consists of 30 organizations and 36 individuals.
Responding to declarations by FM Prof Peiris and Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage that external investigations wouldn’t be acceptable, lawyer Gunawardena said that instead of rejecting the investigation the government should furbish whatever information in its hands or had access to the new investigative mechanism. The government couldn’t ignore the fact that the UNHRC authorized the fresh investigative mechanism at the 46th session with an overwhelming majority with 22 countries voting for the resolution, 11 against and 14 missing the vote.
Gunawardena urged the government to take a realistic view as Sri Lanka didn’t have time and space to engage in silly maneuvers. The bottom line was that the March 2020 announcement that Sri Lanka withdrew from 30/1 was nothing but a farce, Gunawardena said.
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Oracle Corporation pledges support for Sri Lanka’s digitalization

President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with the Executive Vice Chairman of Oracle Corporation Mike Sicilia during the World Governments Summit held in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (11).
The discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s digital transformation, the adoption of fintech services, and cloud infrastructure to enhance economic and governance efficiency.
Oracle expressed its willingness to support Sri Lanka’s digitalization by providing Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). President Disanayake invited Oracle to establish a sovereign Oracle Cloud region in Sri Lanka to host government applications, e-governance facilities, and a national data system while ensuring data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.
The President and Oracle’s Executive Vice Chairman also discussed laying the foundation for fintech and digital payment solutions to accelerate Sri Lanka’s transition to a cashless economy. As part of this initiative, President Disanayake invited Oracle to establish a Digital Transformation Hub in Colombo Port City, which would function as South Asia’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Hub. He also requested Mr. Mike Sicilia to send a team to Sri Lanka to facilitate this initiative.
Recognizing Oracle’s regional vision for digital transformation and innovation, the Executive Vice Chairman expressed keen interest in establishing Oracle’s South Asian AI and Cloud Hub in Colombo Port City. He highlighted that this move would strategically position Sri Lanka as a regional leader in AI-driven cloud solutions, fostering public-private partnerships and attracting cutting-edge technology investments.
During the discussion, President Disanayake reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to leveraging new technologies for governance efficiency, economic growth, and global competitiveness. He extended an invitation to Oracle to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation journey.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, along with the Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof, also participated in the discussions.
[PMD]
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Group led by Karu seeks to resurrect Yahapalana constitutional proposals

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PRCCR) Lal Wijenayake yesterday (12) said that former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, in his current capacity as the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), intended to initiate a dialogue with the National People’s Power (NPP) government to explore the possibility of advancing the constitutional proposals unveiled during the Yahapalana administration.
The Cabinet, headed by President Maithripala Sirisena, appointed the PRCCR on 22 Dec., 2015.
Attorney-at-law Wijenayake said that they recently discussed the constitutional proposals that were available for the NPP government’s consideration. “Having met at Jayasuriya’s residence, we reached consensus that the former Speaker should write to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in this regard,” Wijenayake told The Island.
Noting that President Dissanayake serves as the leader of both the Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) and the NPP, Wijenayake emphasized that Premier Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had been a member of the PRCCR. Therefore, the NPP government could comfortably handle the constitutional proposals prepared following a countrywide public consultations at the onset of Yahapalana administration (2015-2019), the civil society activist said.
Wijenayake explained the current status of their efforts in response to The Island queries. According to him, the NMSJ Chief has called another meeting later this month to pursue the matter. Pointing out that some felt that the government should entirely focus on post-Aragalaya economic recovery process, the new administration couldn’t afford to keep the constitutional solution on the backburner, Wijenayake said.
The Public Representations Committee consisted of S. Winston Pathiraja (Secretary), Faisz Musthapha, Prof. A. M. Navaratna Bandara, Prof. M. L. A. Cader, N. Selvakkumaran, S. Thavarajah, Kushan D’Alwis, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara, Sunil Jayaratne, Dr. Upul Abeyratne, Themiya L. B. Hurulle, S. Vijesandiran, M.Y.M. Faiz, Mrs. M. K. Nadeeka Damayanthi, Ms. Kanthie Ranasinghe, S. C. C. Elankovan, and Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi.
The Wijenayake-led PRC handed over a report that contained the entire set of proposals to Yahapalana Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe on 31 May, 2016.
Karu Jayasuriya served as the Speaker of the Yahapalana government and was a key supporter of that constitutional process that received the backing of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.
Wijenayake said that in the wake of the November 2019 presidential election, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a nine-member committee, headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, to formulate a new draft Constitution. That effort was discarded after Aragalaya forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office, Wijenayake said, urging all political parties represented in Parliament to examine their proposals with an open mind. “Let us stop playing politics with the constitution making process. We should be genuinely interested in formulating a Constitution that would meet the aspirations of all communities,” Wijenayake said.
Wijenayake, who is a member of the NPP’s Executive Committee, said that during the presidential and parliamentary election campaigns references were made to the PRCCR’s proposals.
Responding to another query, Wijenayake emphasized that in spite of the successful conclusion of the conflict the country couldn’t achieve true national reconciliation for want of a new Constitution that was acceptable to the people.
Former SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga accused Jayasuriya of promoting Yahapalana constitutional proposals that had been roundly rejected by the people at the presidential and parliamentary polls in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Cumaratunga emphasized that the proposed new Constitution should reflect the actual situation on the ground or post-2009 position. Asked to explain, the former parliamentarian said that the government shouldn’t, under any circumstances, promote a federal agenda in the guise of enacting a new Constitution.
Wijenayake noted that at the time the PRCCR formulated those constitutional proposals those who now represented the main Opposition SJB were members of the UNP. In the Yahapalana Parliament the JVP had only six MPs though the Marxist party-led NPP consisted of 159 MPs in the current Parliament.
News
Joint Programme on ‘Transforming Local Administrative Data Collection Systems for SDG Acceleration’ launched

The Government and the United Nations in Sri Lanka have launched the ‘Transforming Local Administrative Data Collection Systems for SDG Acceleration’ Joint Programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system.
This initiative, named ‘One Registry’, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Sri Lanka, and supported via the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund, aligns with the Government’s broader digital transformation agenda and strategy, aiming to ensure equitable access to quality public services for all citizens, particularly the vulnerable populations, and paves the way for inclusive digital transformation and sustainable development.
The project launch was held recently in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya; Minister of Public Administration, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna; Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne; Registrar General W.R.A.N.S. Wijayasinghe; Resident Coordinator, United Nations Sri Lanka Resident Representative Marc-Andre Franche; Officer-in-Charge WHO Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota; Dr. Shalala Ahmadova; Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, alongside UN partners, development agencies, private sector organizations, and CSOs.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that “Strengthening the CRVS system is a transformative step towards enhancing public administration and driving our digital agenda. This initiative will ensure every Sri Lankan has access to critical services and a recognized legal identity, fostering transparency, inclusivity, and progress.”
The initiative focuses on three pillars: digitalized civil registration processes, a functional interoperable registry linked with key government agencies and increased public awareness and digital literacy to maximize the system’s benefits. These efforts will complement national digital initiatives, such as the e-NIC and Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) projects, advancing the country’s vision of a unified and digitally inclusive society.
Reflecting the UN’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, Marc-André Franche, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, commented, “The CRVS programme is a critical part of Sri Lanka’s digital journey, providing legal identity for all and generating high-quality data for data-driven policymaking. With the right policies and partnerships, digital technology can drive sustainable development, fostering greater inclusivity and accountability in governance. The United Nations in Sri Lanka is proud to partner with the Government to build a people-centered system that leaves no one behind.
Commenting on the initiative, Lars Bredal, Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives noted, “We are happy to partner with the Government of Sri Lanka, UNDP, and WHO through the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund on the launch of the Joint programme to modernize the country’s civil registration and vital statistics system, facilitating equitable access to quality public services. As a global contributor to the Joint SDG Fund’s digitalization window, the EU Global Gateway funding will directly contribute to progress on interlinked SDGs through investment in digitalization. The EU stands ready to share best practice in digitalization and data protection.”
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