News

Third international polls monitoring mission here

Published

2 years ago

2024/09/12

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) yesterday (11) launched its international expert election observation mission for the September 21 Presidential Election here. ANFREL deployed 10 observers, including two electoral analysts and a mission management team, across key areas of the country, the ANFREL said in a statement.

Earlier European Union and Commonwealth polls monitoring projects got underway.

The text of ANFREL press release: The 2024 Sri Lankan Presidential Election, scheduled for September 21, takes place at a critical juncture as the nation contends with economic instability, high inflation, and widespread public dissatisfaction. This election will play a pivotal role in shaping Sri Lanka’s political and economic future, with voters choosing among candidates who offer distinct visions for economic recovery and governance reforms.

Other significant issues at stake include the enforcement of Sri Lanka’s new campaign finance law, which aims to set expenditure limits, enhance transparency, and ensure financial accountability, as well as broader concerns related to ethnic relations, governance, and democratic reforms, especially in regions with minority populations.

Over the next 12 days, ANFREL observers deployed in seven of nine provinces, with a focus on 14 cities and their surrounding areas to provide a balanced observation of both urban and rural electoral practices, will engage with various electoral stakeholders and observe campaigning, voting and counting processes, and post-election activities.

In accordance with the Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Election Observation, ANFREL’s mission will uphold impartiality, objectivity, and integrity throughout the observation process.

The mission will thoroughly assess the conduct of the election, promoting international standards and best practices for free and fair elections. The mission will focus on five critical areas: the Constitutional and Legal Framework, the Campaign Environment, the Abuse of State Resources during Elections and Campaign Finance Law Compliance, Voter Engagement and Perception, and the Role of Media and Social Media.

ANFREL will release an interim report shortly after the election and publish a comprehensive final report upon the mission’s completion. Additionally, ANFREL will facilitate a post-election discussion on September 24, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Colombo time. Domestic and international observer groups will share their observations and findings, fostering a deeper understanding of the electoral process.

ANFREL hopes that the 2024 Presidential Election in Sri Lanka is conducted genuinely, with accountability, transparency, and inclusivity, truly reflecting the will of the people.”

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

12 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.