News
US wants to get it ‘technically,factually and legally right’
Dinesh insists SL is neutral, non-aligned
By Shamindra Ferdinando
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo yesterday (28) side-stepped a query whether the government of Sri Lanka had requested him to reconsider the travel ban imposed on Army Chief Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva on the basis of unsubstantiated and unverified war crimes allegations.
The US in February this year slapped a travel ban on wartime GoC of the celebrated 58 Division and his family on the basis of the Geneva Resolution, co-sponsored by the previous yahapalana administration in Oct 2015.
The media raised the issue at the Foreign Ministry after Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Secretary of State Pompeo addressed the press.
Earlier in the day, Pompeo met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat. Among those present on both occasions was one-time Foreign Secretary Ravintha Aryasinha named the next Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington.
Asked for comment on the current status of the US action against Lt. Gen. Silva, Pompeo, the one-time head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said: “It is a legal process in the US. We always continue to review it. We want to make sure; we get it technically, factually and legally right.”
Pompeo functioned as CIA Director from January 2017 to April 2018 before he received appointment as Secretary of State. The US quit the Geneva-based UNHRC two months after Pompeo took over the State Department.
Pompeo launched a scathing attack on China when the local media asked whether the US was seeking to neutralise growing Chinese influence here by way of MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation), SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) as well as strategy adopted by US-India-Japan-Australia quartet as part of the overall strategy to counter Beijing. Pompeo was also asked what he was trying to accomplish here just days ahead of the US presidential election.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena authorized signing of ACSA (Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement) in early August 2017.
Pompeo emphasized that the US wanted Sri Lankans to have sovereignty and independence. Reiterating their commitment as a friend and partner, Pompeo said as democracies they shared a vision. Declaring that he was here to explore ways and means of taking the US-Sri Lanka relationship forward, Pompeo said: “We want to make sure the people of Sri Lanka have the capacity to execute their sovereign rights to remain independent.”
Comparing the Chinese policies with those of the US and other democracies, such as India, Pompeo alleged that the Chinese had a ‘very different vision’.
The US-based media accompanying the Secretary of State asked Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena whether Sri Lanka welcomed further enhancement of US presence in the region. Sri Lanka’s response was sought against the backdrop of growing Chinese influence in the region. Minister Gunawardena, having emphasized the importance of US-Sri Lanka relations reiterated: “We are a neutral, non-aligned country committed to peace. On that principle, we continue our relations with the US and other countries.”
Minister Gunawardena, in his opening address at the joint press event, made reference to the US Secretary of State being in Colombo the day before the countries celebrated the establishment of diplomatic ties 72 years ago.
Minister Gunawardena said: “As a sovereign, free, independent nation Sri Lanka’s foreign policy will remain neutral, non-aligned and friendly. Conscious of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with our strategic location, we see the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in our seas and air space also protecting sea lines of communication and the undersea cables. We believe all countries should adhere to and respect international law, including the UN Convention on Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]. We share views on the potential multifaceted maritime cooperation which Sri Lanka is keen to progress.”
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
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.
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.
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Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
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