News

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued an open arrest warrant on former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga.

The INTERPOL issued a ‘Red Warrant' on Weeratunga last month, naming him as a fugitive wanted by the Sri Lankan law enforcement officials.

He is wanted in connection with certain discrepancies that had taken place in the acquisition of four MiG-27 fighter jets from the Ukrainian arms company 'Ukrinmash' in 2006 and financial misappropriation said to be taken place in overhauling four MiG fighter jets owned by the Air Force.

A change in the United National Party (UNP) ranks is set to happen before March 31, Minister of Youth Affairs and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayake has said.

According to him, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has appointed a committee and proposals in this regard are now being discussed by the committee which is being headed by Minister of Housing Development, Sajith Premadasa.

The committee is also set to discuss the policies of the current consensus government he said adding that yet another committee appointed headed by State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene are now discussing policies of the UNP and action needed in promoting the party.

Backbenchers of the party have also formed a committee to look in to issue faced by them. Based on the reports of these three committees the UNP is set to evaluate and identify necessary changes for the benefit of the people he said.

He also pointed out that this new reform will be aimed at the 2020 general election and the presidential election.

The strike being carried by the University Non-Academic staff would continue as the discussion held with Prime Minister’s Office ended without a solution this afternoon.

Chairman of the University Trade Union Joint Committee, Edward Malwattage was quoted as saying that Prime Minister’s Coordinating Secretary Dadallage failed to provide a satisfactory solution to the issue.

The union has said it has no interest in attending any more discussions and would continue its trade union action until their demands were granted.

Operations across 15 State universities and higher education institutes, which come under the purview of the University Grants Commission, continues to be stalled for the 17th consecutive day inconveniencing undergraduates and academic staff of the institutions.

More than 15, 000 non-academic members support the trade union action launched on February 27 over several demands, including a solution to the monthly allowance, based on an agreement reached in 2016.

COPE Chairman Sunil Handunneththi is preparing a report on 13 other institutions that were examined by the COPE in the coming week sources said.

However according to political sources with no action being taken on COPE report presented previously, the Chairman of the COPE committee has decided to publicize the reports if no action is taken after the presentation of this report to the house as well.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the COPE committee had also met with Chair of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) John Hyde this week.

During this meeting, there is said to have been a discussion on the possibility of opening the COPE to the media and reporting them to the public sources said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the COPE, MP Sunil Handunnetti had also invited John Hyde to hold a workshop for MPs in Sri Lanka. Sunil Handunneththi also holds the post of treasurer in the GOPAC.

Investigations into the assassination of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen have stalled due to Dialog Axiata, a leading mobile service provider in the country has abstained from providing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police with the necessary information required sources say.

The CID had previously requested information, in particular, mobile phone conversations of the suspects during the time of Thajudeen's death from Hutch and Dialog. While Hutch has provided the CID with the necessary details however Dialog is said to be dragging their feet in this regard and hampering the investigations into the death.

Improving from last year, Sri Lanka has moved four places up in the 2018 World Happiness Report (WHR) released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations (SDSN) on March 14.

Sri Lanka was placed in the 120th slot last year has moved up to 116 in the latest Global Happiness Index. Sri Lanka was ranked 43rd in the subcategory of best improvers from 2008-2010 to 2015-2017.

Finland came on top in the United Nations SDSN 2018 World Happiness Report, which ranked 156 countries according to factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

Finland rose from fifth place last year to oust Norway from the top spot while Burundi was placed last.

According to the report, the model explains the life evaluation differences within as well as between regions and for the world as a whole and this is the sixth world happiness report.

It further stated that each World Happiness Report has had a variety of topic chapters, often dealing with an underlying theme for the report as a whole.

For the World Happiness Report 2018, special focus was on migration.

The Top 10 countries of 2018 are Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia.

In the meantime, the United States came in at 18th place, down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and the United Arab Emirates 20th.

The license for the firearm used by the Provincial Councilor and his wife during the recent assault of a bus driver which had not been obtained for the year 2018, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, ND. Panditharatne said.

At present, around 1,300 civilians are in possession of licensed firearms, the Additional Secretary added.

He also said that there are about 19,000 firearms issued for agricultural activities while over 1000 illegal firearms were handed over to the Ministry during the last amnesty period he said.

According to him, the Ministry is still not in possession of stats regarding unlicensed firearms for 2018 while the Ministry also does not have data regarding the total number of unlicensed firearms being used in the country at the moment.

At a media briefing at the Sri Lanka Medical Association Auditorium in Colombo yesterday, a group of independent senior medical specialists said there are no known sterilisation pills in the pharmaceutical sector known to the medical profession that can cause permanent infertility, thereby debunking the myth that is now being widely spread in society. 

There is no contraceptive pill which is known to exist that can cause infertility or subfertility by simply being added to food, Consultant Physician Dr. Upul Dissanayake said.

The group of senior medical professionals conducted the media briefing on the so-called subfertility pill, which had caused a major uproar in the country lately, leading to racial clashes in Kandy and Ampara.

The media conference was convened by Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne, immediate past president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and attended by a large number of senior consultants.

“We are a group of medical professionals not affiliated to any professional organisation who have come out on our own accord to dispel some myths on the current news which is causing much tension, the so-called infertility pill, said to be mixed with food served at eateries,” said Dr Upul Dissanayake.

“The pharmaceutical industry has been searching for a medicinal drug which can cause temporary infertility so that it can be used as a male contraceptive agent, similar to contraceptive tablets taken by women to prevent pregnancies. However, such a medicine has not been developed yet,” added Consultant Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist Dr. Chandani Wanigatunga.

However, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Lakshman Senanayake said surveys have shown some decline in the country’s male fertility. “In the past, not many males were willing to come forward and have themselves tested. However, now males are coming forward to have their fertility tested and this enables us to have some idea of the numbers. One of the main causes of male infertility is the lifestyle changes. As men work in offices for longer hours, they wear tight clothing for long periods which can impede their fertility. Further, smoking and consuming alcohol could also have an effect on male fertility. But, there is nothing to suggest that male infertility is caused by any contraceptive pill,” he said.

Meanwhile, an expert in Forensic Science, Toxicology, Pathology Prof. Ravindra Fernando said in instances of such complicated issues, it is the Government Analyst’s Department that makes the final decision.

“The Government Analyst had examined the substance that was found in the kottu roti, which created panic in the country, and determined that it was a particle of starch. Now there is no suspicion whatsoever that it was not a tablet but a mere particle of starch, which led to this unfortunate incident,” he said.

Source : Daily News

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be brought in during the next week.

Mahinda Rajapaksa made this comment at a meeting with the members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Association in Colombo today (March 16).

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had said, the removal of the Prime Minister will be spearheaded by the Members of Parliament representing the United National Party itself.

The report quoting the Former President said a substantial number of MPs who are representing United National Party will either sign the motion or vote for it when the motion is taken up.

Mahinda Rajapaksa believes the Prime Minister would step down before the motion is moved and had smiled when he was asked that if he aspires to become the Prime Minister. He had said that he is not prepared to take over the government however he will support a Prime Minister from the SLFP while remaining in the opposition.

According to posts circulating on social media, signatures of those supporting the motion are currently being collected.

Source : Newsfirst

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake was put in a difficult position on Wednesday (14) by a question posed to him by a victim, during his visit to areas affected by the recent unrest in Kandy. According to reports a victim of violence had questioned as to where Minister Lakshman Kiriella was. “Why has he not visited us?” he had asked of MP Karunanayake.

The incident had occurred when Karunanayake visited the Kengalla Muslim Mosque that was ransacked and set fire to during the recent unrest. According to sources the man had questioned as to why government ministers representing the district had not visited them, including Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

As Ravi K was left unable to answer the man had gone on to say many of those politicians are merely focused on votes and not their constituents. “Perhaps they are afraid they will lose Sinhala votes in future elections or feel that we are useless” the man had gone on to say adding that however it was appreciative that Ravi K had at least visited them and thanked him for it.

The MP was also joined by the recently elected UNP local government members of the Colombo North electoral district.

 Our children continue to have nightmares!

According to the victim children in the area continue to have nightmares regarding the incidents and even the slightest things like a motorcycle doubling back alarms them. “This is where we were born so where else do we go to?” he had questioned.

The Minister speaking to those gathered had assured the people that the government does not condone the actions of these groups and that the law will be enforced against them. He also assured that such incidents will be prevented from happening going forward.

100,000 as compensations for the deceased’s family and 20,000 monthly from the MP allowance

During his visit, the MP presented Rs 100, 000 to the family of Samsudeen Abdul Basith who died during the violence while promising to provide them Rs 20, 000 from his MP allowance monthly till the family is economically stable.

The MP visiting the residence of the driver H.G Kumarasinghe of Ambale, Teldeniya whose death led to these events also presented his family with Rs. 100, 000 while promising to provide them Rs 20, 000 from his allowance as an MP.

President’s Media Division has issued a statement saying Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was not a member of the Sri Lankan delegation accompanied the President to his state visit to Japan.

According to the statement, news circulating on social media and websites stating Gnanasara Thero was part of the Sri Lankan delegation is totally fictitious and false.

Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thero had arrived in Japan on a personal visit before the commencement of the President’s tour to Japan, said the President’s Media Division

The statement also says that the Thero participated in a meeting which was organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Japan, to provide an opportunity for the Sri Lankan community in Japan to meet the President.

According to the communique issued Gnanasara Thero had accompanied several monks of Buddhists Temples in Japan for this meeting.

Catholic laywomen and doctors in Sri Lanka are demanding changes to the country's legal framework as they push to decriminalise abortion in the face of heavy opposition from local bishops.

The Feminist Catholic Network (FCN) recently signed a petition in support of proposed legal amendments that want to expand on current provisions in cases of rape, incest and serious fetal impairment.

The FCN insisted the church should support the push to modernize the law by allowing the medical termination of pregnancies in extenuating circumstances. These include rape, incest and pregnancies involving girls under 16, especially when the fetus is at risk of being seriously impaired and the woman's life is at risk.

Parliament is now scrutinizing cabinet-approved papers that call to legalize abortion when pregnancy results from a case of rape and the fetus is diagnosed as being congenitally malformed in a way that will certainly lead to death.

Sri Lankan bishops have responded by condemning the government for considering legalizing abortion under any circumstances.

"We are against any form of abortion because, according to Catholic teaching, life is sacred from the moment of conception," said Bishop Emmanuel Fernando of Mannar Diocese in Northwest Sri Lanka.

"We believe that from the moment of conception there is a human life," the bishop told ucanews.com.

"In the case of a rape that results in unwanted pregnancy, we would like to help with trauma counseling," he said.

"The Catholic Church runs a home for unwed mothers and usually there are counselors to help them face this [difficult] situation."

Christian groups have been campaigning to keep abortion outlawed for decades.

Over 100 activists who signed the petition on March 5 said the official position put forward by a few clergymen from the Catholic hierarchy does not represent the majority opinion of ordinary Catholics in the country.

"We strongly object to the campaign they have led against this bill and find its position antithetical to the call for radical justice and mercy that is found in the [four] Gospels," they said in a statement.

Sri Lankan police records from 2015 show that 80 percent of rape victims that year were girls under 16. (Photo by Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP)

 Some doctors have also voiced their concerns.

"As doctors we are caught up in an extremely difficult situation. We scan every mother not once but several times," said Dr. Lakshmen Senanayake, who is not a Catholic.

"If there is a problem [with the fetus], we can identify it. Once this is identified, we as doctors have an obligation to tell this to the mothers," added Senanayake.

The obstetrician-gynaecologist served as the national coordinator of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Initiative on Reducing Unsafe Abortions in Sri Lanka from 2005-2011.

"Our concern is the individual agony these parents are going through. When the helpless parents are asked what should be done, our hands are tied," she said.

Ermiza Tegal, a lawyer and female rights activist who handles family law and domestic violence, described Sri Lanka's abortion law, which dates back to 1883, as anachronistic.

She said Penal Code No. 2 of the original 1883 law and the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 from a newer law passed in 1979 are both badly out of date and should be amended to allow medical terminations of certain pregnancies.

Other locals thought leaders echoed similar views at a conference on the theological aspects of abortion held in the capital Colombo in the first week of March.

"We support the autonomy of women to make conscience-based decisions," said Anupama Ranawana, a Catholic researcher of religious political thought focusing on Buddhism, Catholicism and feminist theology.

"We find that the most powerful backing for the autonomy of women comes from the many women detailed throughout Scripture, not least Mother Mary," she added.

The FCN drew attention to a 1990 study which estimated that the country sees 125,000 to 175,000 induced abortions each year, most of which are performed illegally.

A subsequent study put the figure much higher at 658 induced abortions per day, giving an abortion ratio of 741 for every 1,000 live births.

However another study undertaken in 2007 calculated that around eight abortions took place for every 100 women that year.

Women's rights activists argue the law is unfair as it forces young women to seek out illegal abortion clinics that can put them at risk of serious injury and even death.

The mortality rate for those who underwent abortions in Sri Lanka in 2013 is 10 percent, statistics show, meaning that one in 10 women lost their lives attempting to terminate their pregnancy. That would make illegal abortions the third most common cause of death among pregnant women.