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A seminar on ‘reinforcing regional cooperation to promote freedom of expression and the rule of law in Asia through ending impunity for crimes against the journalists’ will open at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo, on 4 December at 9.00 am under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, says the Government Information Department.

Organized by UNESCO with the Ministries of Information, Justice, and the Supreme Court with the participation of various regional stakeholders including Asian Inter- Governmental Commission of Human Rights (AICHR) and Human Rights Commission representatives, the keynote address of the seminar will be delivered by the Prime Minister.

Introductory remarks will be made by Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and UNESCO Freedom of Expression and Media Development Director, Guy Berger in addition to a video message to be sent by Frank La Rue, Assistant Director General for Communication and Information.

The seminar will seek to advance dialogues and strategies to strengthen the regional cooperation on safety of journalists and ending impunity in Asia.

The event will focus on the role of the judiciary, National Human Rights Commissions as well as on the role of civil society and media in the persisting challenge of combating impunity for crimes against journalists in the region.

Through encouraging the exchange of best practices and identifying steps ahead and concrete solutions, the event aims to strengthen the fight of impunity for crimes against journalists and inscribe this issue in the larger framework to protect fundamental human rights.

President Maithripala Sirisena left the country today and is scheduled to arrive in Seoul tomorrow (28) for a three-day state visit to Republic of Korea, on an invitation extended by the Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Sri Lanka Telecom engineers and staff will launch a continuous trade union action with effect from December1 demanding the authorities to remove Group CEO Dileepa Wijesundera from his post as they have completely lost their professional trust and respect with him.

This decision was taken at an emergency general meeting of Telecommunication Engineers Union (TEU) this week.

According to SLT trade union sources, the present administration headed by the CEO has failed to properly manage the institution and the management has also botched to direct the company towards higher levels of growth.

They accused the CEO for continuing actions detrimental to the progress of the company.

Mr Wijesundera was also misleading the SLT management, Board of Directors and share holders claiming that the company has achieved a high growth and it provides a better service for consumers, TEU alleged.

Under this set up SLT TEU members have decided to boycott all directives and orders of the CEO and his affiliates as a well as to desist from all duty coordination with him and his subordinates with effect from December 1.

It has also demanded to immediately stop heavy investments leading to financial instability of the institution and unproductive operations and halt the present restructuring process in the administrative structure and conduct a prompt investigation into financial frauds in the institution through unsuccessful projects.

The United National Party (UNP) was ready to work with anyone willing to uphold Good Governance and to mutually strengthen electoral prospects, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Carrying a message from prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the prevailing political crisis, minister Mangala Samaraweera met president Maithripala Sirisena at the latter’s official residence at Paget Road, Colombo on the night of November 26, political sources say.

There, minister Samaraweera expressed the desire of the premier and the UNP to continue the government until 2025 as per the agreement they reached with president Sirisena in 2015.

Conveying their confidence in the president, he, however, noted the difficulty in continuing that alliance if the SLFP joined with the joint opposition, according to the sources.

130 MPs to support UNP govt.

Meanwhile, meeting the president in Kandy, minister Malik Samarawickrema informed him the UNP would have to form a government of its own if there would be an union between the SLFP and the JO.

The UNP presently has 107 seats in parliament, and it is prepared to show a strength of 130 seats, he stressed.

But, the UNP will not expect support from its appointed MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, he added.