Category: Sri Lanka

The “Gota Go Gama” activist was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to leave the country…reports Asian Lite News

Dhaniz Ali, a Sri Lankan protestor who entered the premises of Sri Lanka’s national television network, Rupavahini Corporation, disrupting scheduled programming, was arrested while attempting to leave the island nation, media reports said.

 On July 13, the protestors including Daniz Ali had stormed Sri Lanka’s national TV, terminated the programs and had broadcasted their own message.

The “Gota Go Gama” activist was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to leave the country.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan protester had said that they held the protests peacefully and the ones who damaged the properties belonged to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Clarifying over the violence that was perpetuated in Sri Lanka, the protestor added, “Protestors did not damage any properties. All goons who damaged the properties belong to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s house was set on fire but it was not by us but by PM’s guy.. what we believe.”

Rajapaksa left Sri Lanka for the Maldives on July 13 and arrived in Singapore from the Maldives a day later. 73-year-old Gotabaya Rajapaksa had gone into hiding after crowds of protesters stormed his residence on July 9.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit and he has not asked for asylum nor has he been granted asylum.

Meanwhile, a South Africa-based rights group has submitted a criminal complaint to the Attorney General of Singapore requesting the arrest of the former Sri Lankan President for alleged war crimes.

Lawyers from the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) submitted a 63-page complaint that argues that Rajapaksa committed grave breaches of the Geneva Convention during the civil war in 2009 when he was secretary of defence and that these are crimes subject to domestic prosecution in Singapore under universal jurisdiction.

The legal complaint states that Gotabaya Rajapaksa committed violations of international humanitarian law and international criminal law during the civil war in Sri Lanka.

On July 9, demonstrators forcibly entered the office of the President and the Prime Minister and his residence, and a fierce face-off between protesters and security forces was reported in Colombo.

The country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential supplies and is in the throes of its worst-ever economic crisis with soaring inflation. The oil supply shortage has forced schools and government offices to close until further notice.

Reduced domestic agricultural production, a lack of foreign exchange reserves, and local currency depreciation have fuelled the shortages.

The economic crisis will push many families into hunger and poverty – some for the first time – adding to the half a million people who the World Bank estimates have fallen below the poverty line because of the pandemic. (ANI)

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In Sri Lanka, former Presidents and their family are entitled to a residence in Colombo, vehicles and security, including military and police, in addition to other perks and privileges…reports Asian Lite News

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former Sri Lankan President who secretly fled the country on July 13 amid violent protests in the wake of the island nation’s ongoing economic crisis, is set to return, a Minister said on Tuesday.

When asked by reporters on Rajapaksa fleeing Sri Lanka, Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena refuted that the former leader was hiding in Singapore and said that he would return.

“I don’t agree that the former President is in hiding in Singapore because he had followed the official procedure and gone to Singapore obtaining an legitimate visa,” the Minister said.

“I was aware that he would return and the authorities in our country would take necessary precautions to prevent any harm to the former President.”

Meanwhile, G.L. Peiris, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the party formed by the Rajapaksas to win the 2019 Presidential election, also said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to the country and would be entitled to all the perks and privileges that are due for any former head of state.

In Sri Lanka, former Presidents and their family are entitled to a residence in Colombo, vehicles and security, including military and police, in addition to other perks and privileges.

According to media reports, Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s escape had been brokered by the Maldivian Parliament Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Amid the unprecedented economic crisis, the worst since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, triggered severe shortages of food, fuel, medicines and other essentials.

In response, the public first took to the streets on March 31 and surrounding the former President’s private residence.

On April 2, the protesters occupied the entrance to the President’s office

And on July 9 despite heavy security presence in Colombo, anti-government protesters took over the President’s official house, his office and later the rime Minister’s residence, triggering Gotabaya Rajapaksa to go into hiding and finally announced his resignation on July 14.

From the Maldives, he fled to Singapore.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was named acting President.

The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), a South Africa-based rights group, has filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Singapore demanding the arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa for war crimes allegedly committed during the final days of the over two-decades long Civil War.

ALSO READ: SL President: Non-violent protests can continue in Lanka

 The statement came after a large military group, along with the police, launched a raid on Friday near the Presidential Secretariat and the protest site at Galle Face to clear the area of protesters…reports Asian Lite News

Calling the actions of Sri Lankan authorities against the peaceful protesters at Galle Face as “brutal and torture”, the agitators condemned the act and said that they will continue the protests, even if they are attacked.

Addressing a press conference, one of the protesters said, “We just want to condemn this brutal attack on the very peaceful creative protesters. We have been protesting for more than 105 days.”

 The statement came after a large military group, along with the police, launched a raid on Friday near the Presidential Secretariat and the protest site at Galle Face to clear the area of protesters. Several arrests were made.

The protester said that they were attacked “brutally” on July 22 and called it “torture”. He further added that he had witnessed police attacking the protesters with their weapons and said that it was an assault on them.

“And we can’t understand this, as it is inhuman because we are peaceful protesters, non-violent protesters. So we condemn this kind of brutal attack on peaceful protesters. We have been doing this as a protest of love in order to change society, in order to have justice. And we will continue this peaceful non-violent protest,” he added.

Meanwhile, another protester said that the attack on them on July 22 was to show Ranil Wickremesinghe’s power and he is the one who is in charge. He further said that the protesters were removed from the site but after 8 hours they again headed towards the premises.

Over the police’ statement on the attack, a protester said that in the conference police personnel showed the isolated incidents, justifying their action and said, “we did because of that”. He further added that if they did that then the police should have acted at that very moment.

“Under no circumstances, we have incited the violence. But this is not the first time they incited violence against us,” he added.

“This is the democracy that Ranil was talking to the world. He talks as if he is the saviour of democracy but clearly he doesn’t want democracy. So we would like to inform Ranil and the state that if this is the way you gonna show us that democracy works, well we are ready for this too. If losing our life means saving this country, then all of us are ready for this,” the protester said.

Another protester, who was also part of that conference, said that the attack on July 22 was staged and the police force has to take the responsibility for that. She further said, “But we know that the main responsible person for this attack is Ranil Wickremesinghe, we should call him Ranil Rajapaksa.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: SL President: Non-violent protests can continue in Lanka

The President stated that Articles which governs the rights of peaceful assembly, would be upheld by the government, reports Susitha Fernando

Amid international condemnation of violent attacks on anti-government protesters, newly-elected Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he reaffirms the country’s commitment to upholding the right of peaceful, non-violent assembly, adding that there are reserved locations around Colombo for public protests.

He gave the assurance to Colombo-based diplomats while detailing the removal of the protesters who had been illegally occupied the Presidential Secretariat.

He stated that both Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 14 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, which governs the rights of peaceful assembly, would be upheld by the government.

Wickremesinghe, who was voted in as President with majority of the former Rajapaksa party, said that the instructions given by the American Civil Liberties Union stated that protesters were not permitted to block government buildings and interfere with other purposes the property was designed for.

Soon after Sri Lanka military and police carried out violent attacks injuring nearly 50 including protesters, lawyers and journalists, US Ambassador to Colombo, Julie Chung strongly criticised the state-sponsored attack.

“This is not the time to crack down on citizens, but instead to look ahead at the immediate and tangible steps the government can take to regain the trust of the people, restore stability and rebuild the economy,” she tweeted.

On Friday, she met Wickremesinghe and referred to the brutal attacks as “unnecessary and deeply troubling escalation of violence against protesters”.

Wickremesinghe has told diplomats that non-violent protests were allowed to proceed within the city without endangering property or lives and four venues including an open-air theatre at a public part, two playgrounds and a public building have been allocated for non-violent protests.

Several foreign nations and the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International condemned the attack carried out within less than 24 hours of Wickremesinghe being sworn in as President.

Amid the unprecedented economic crisis, people launched a massive anti-government protests against Rajapaksa regime, forcing PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down.

The UN Human Rights Office condemned the attack, stating: “We have concerns that the raid on the camp sends a chilling message to peaceful protesters, including elsewhere in the country.” It stated that it was alarmed by the unnecessary use of force allegedly exerted by Sri Lanka military attacking the protesters with clubs, and wires despite the fact that they had planned to hand over the area to the security on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile the European Union — the country’s major trading partner which has helped to win trade concession GSP plus to export garments to earn over $5 billion annually – stressed the need of upholding freedom of opinion and expression and individual rights of Sri Lankan citizens in the process of a democratic, peaceful and orderly transition.

Sri Lanka police had justified the removal of protesters with force, claiming that it could not trust the word of protesters who promised to vacate it on Friday afternoon.

“But we were at a position where we couldn’t trust them anymore. That is why the forces and the STF removed these members of an illegal gathering from the place,” police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told media.

Country’s main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, led by Sajith Premadasa, whose candidate was defeated to Wickremesinghe on Thursday’s election, urged the government to summon Parliament on Monday to discuss on the brutal attacks, which the opposition described as a blow to democracy.

Wickremesinghe has appointed pro-Rajapaksa strongman, Dinesh Gunawardena as new PM and a 18-member cabinet most who were loyal to Rajapaksas and people have condemned Wickremesinghe’s allegiance to the former regime and protests have already started by Sri Lankan communities in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

ALSO READ: SL President: Non-violent protests can continue in Lanka

Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Prime Minister earlier in the day…reports Asian Lite News

Eighteen ministers, including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena were sworn into Sri Lanka’s new cabinet before President Ranil Wickremesinghe in state capital Colombo on Friday.

The President’s Office said that among those who took oaths as Cabinet Ministers were Ali Sabry as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harin Fernando as the Minister of Tourism and Lands, Nalin Fernando as the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, Kanchana Wijesekera as the Minister of Power and Energy.

Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Prime Minister earlier in the day, and he also held the position of the minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

The new Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in after Ranil Wickremesinghe won an election in parliament on July 20 to become the new President of Sri Lanka following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: Dinesh Gunawardena appointed Lanka PM

A senior official from the President’s Office said that the rest of Cabinet of Ministers will be sworn in later on Friday…reports Asian Lite News

Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday.

Gunawardena, parliamentarian of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, took his oath in the capital Colombo in the presence of other senior legislators, Xinhua news agency reported.

Wickremesinghe was elected as the new President of the South Asian country in a parliamentary vote on Wednesday, and was sworn in as Sri Lankan President on Thursday.

A senior official from the President’s Office told Xinhua that the rest of Cabinet of Ministers will be sworn in later on Friday.

ALSO READ: Lanka: Military crackdown begins on protesters