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The United Kingdom said that they are closely monitoring developments in Sri Lanka and stressed on the need to protect the rule of law and good governance. 

"The UK is following developments in Sri Lanka closely and is aware of the concern felt by many about the potential impact on human rights defenders. We have spoken to all parties about the need to protect and promote human rights, the rule of law and good governance,"  UK's Minister of State for Human Rights, Lord Ahmad presenting the interim statement on the human rights situation in 2018 in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said. 

"We are in close touch with civil society representatives and international partners to ensure that we are ready to respond to a changing context, if necessary," he added.

Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator and pioneer of blue whale research in the northern Indian Ocea, Dr Asha de Vos has been named as the 'Sri Lankan of the Year' by LMD.De Vos holds a number of academic qualifications in her area of expertise, but bypassed academia to establish Oceanswell – Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education nonprofit.

The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project, which commenced in 2008, is the first long-term study on blue whales in this region – it is Oceanswell’s flagship project. The research conducted through this project has led to many key research publications, and is used to dictate policy at both local and global levels.

Oceanswell is engaged in ‘thinking big’ to solve challenges, mentoring to mobilise, conservation research, storytelling to save oceans and educating to empower.

De Vos travels across the world to ensure that the oceans of the global south have a voice on the international stage – and indeed, to increase awareness of the magic of what lies beneath them while also sharing her stories here in Sri Lanka.

In an interview with The Wiley Network earlier this year, she confessed to being “obsessively passionate” about sharing her ocean adventures and science with everyone. Moreover, de Vos emphasised the need to protect blue whales and that “there are ways to ensure that the economy of the country is not affected while also protecting this species that we use for our tourism industry.”

She was recently featured on the BBC 100 Women 2018, which is a list of inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Anura Rohana shot a sublime eight-under 64 as the PGTI regular from Sri Lanka took a three-shot lead in round two of Bengaluru Open Golf Championship 2018 on Friday.

The 45-year-old’s bogey-free effort in windy conditions in the latter half of the day took his 36-hole total to an imposing 13-under-131 at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course.

Rohana (67-64), who began the day in fourth place and one off the lead, sizzled from the very start as he sank birdies on his first two holes, the 10th and 11th. Although he missed a number of short putts on the back-nine, Rohana did manage to pick up two more strokes on the 14th and 18th.

A winner of five titles including one at the KGA, the Lankan stepped on the gas on the front-nine picking up four more birdies. Rohana, who won his last title almost a year back, signed off with 2--feet birdie conversion on the ninth.

"I've won a PGTI event at the KGA back in 2011. So I know what it takes to win here. I've also shot a couple of six-under scores at this venue in the past. However, this is my best ever round at the KGA.

"I've not been playing well this year both on the Asian Tour and the PGTI so i know that I have make up for that. This week I have the opportunity to do so. When I began the week,  my target was to shoot at least five-under on all days. So far, I'm on track. If I manage scores of five-under over the last two rounds, I will definitely take home the trophy," said the golfer who is currently 21st on the PGTI Order of Merit.

Sri Lanka's travel industry is starting to suffer the fallout of a political crisis in the middle of its peak tourist season, as uncertainty prompts cancellations by both business and leisure visitors.

Tourism makes up about 5 percent of the Indian Ocean island's $87-billion economy, but the president's sacking of the prime minister late in October triggered a crisis that credit rating agencies say has already hit economic prospects.

"We have cancellations in the region of about 20 percent," said Chandra Mohotti, a manager at the luxury Galle Face Hotel in the capital, Colombo, which has about 200 rooms.

"Normally our hotel would be full. We are offering discounts because of the fear that allocations will not be utilized."

Peak season for holidaymakers from Europe, a major source of tourists, along with India and China, typically runs from December to March.
But numerous flight bookings have been canceled, especially from Europe, a source at national carrier SriLankan Airlines told Reuters.

"The crisis started just when tourists take a decision where to go," said the source, who declined to be named. "(It) has discouraged many of them."

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, lacks a parliamentary majority and has been prevented by a court from holding office, delaying the 2019 budget and leading to violent scenes in parliament.

It may be a while before the cancellations show up in arrivals figures, however. Tourist numbers were up 16.8 percent in November on the year, official data showed on Thursday, with visitors from Europe up 37 percent, although numbers from China, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia all fell.

Last year, more than 2.1 million people visited Sri Lanka, tourism authorities say.

Business travel has also been hit by the crisis, with firms moving meetings to elsewhere in Southeast Asia.  

"There have been some cancellations and some have shifted to Singapore and Indonesia," said Sanath Ukwatte, president of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, adding that conference and exhibition bookings were the worst hit.

Harith Perera, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, said he had also seen cancellations in the corporate sector.

"At the moment bookings have slowed down and that is a concern," he said. "If the current crisis drags on, then the impact will be significant. Cancellations are not only from European tourists, but from everywhere." REUTERS

Supreme Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a bunch of petitions against President Maithripala Sirisena’s controversial decisions to dissolve Parliament and call for a snap election after sacking prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that triggered a major constitutional crisis in the country.

The apex court heard 13 petitions for four days continuously and Friday’s hearing was one of the longest sittings of the Supreme Court in the recent history, lawyers said.

Sri Lanka has been in a political crisis since October 26 when Sirisena removed Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place.

Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court overturned Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls. It also issued an interim order on November 13 annulling the gazette notification which made Sirisena’s parliamentary sacking temporary illegal.

A total of 13 petitions were filed by political parties and civil society groups who claimed that Sirisena’s moves to sack Wickremesinghe and dissolve Parliament are in violation of the Constitution. A seven-member bench presided by Chief Justice Nalin Perera on Tuesday began hearing oral submissions on the fundamental rights petitions filed against Sirisena’s gazette notification to dissolve parliament.

The court on Friday extended its interim order till it decides on the legality of Sirisena’s move and reserved its judgement for an unspecified date.

Earlier this week, the Court of Appeal halted Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning in their positions in response to a case filed by 122 legislators against the disputed government.

Both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa claim to be the prime ministers. Wickremesinghe says his dismissal is invalid because he still holds a majority in the 225-member Parliament.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has officially conveyed that the House does not recognise Rajapaksa as the legal prime minister until he proved his majority in the House.

The United National Front (UNF) coalition led by Wickremesinghe has moved three motions of no trust against Rajapaksa. However, he refused to step down. Prior to the crisis, the UNP had the backing of 106 parliamentarians, while Rajapaksa and Sirisena had 95 seats combined.

Rajapaksa has, so far, failed to prove his majority in Parliament.

Wickremesinghe, with the support from the main Tamil party, claims to have the support of more than 113 legislators, required for simple majority.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and JVP has six legislators.

Sirisena has said due to sharp personal differences with Wickremesinghe, he would not reappoint him as the prime minister.

However, the UNP claims that Sirisena will be left with no other choice as Wickremesinghe would be the man who will command the confidence in the House. Violent scenes were witnessed in Parliament as it went on to approve two no confidence motions which proved that Rajapaksa lacked majority.

The government, under the instructions of president Maithripala Sirisena, has issued a circular to all ministries, departments and boards advising them to refrain from using luxury hotels for their events and meetings.

All state officials have been instructed yesterday to only organise state functions and meetings at auditoriums and institutions affiliated to the government.

However, this comes in the wake of many tourism industry leaders deciding to boycott the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards ceremony held yesterday, as President Maithripala Sirisena had been invited as the Chief Guest. Sirisena didn't attend the awards ceremony that was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.  

Tourism industry leaders had expressed their disgust at the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has invited Sirisena, the man who is responsible for ruining the tourism industry this year by engineering a constitutional coup and a political crisis, as the Chief Guest of the event.

Former Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga MP participated in the ceremony organised by the SLTDA and presented a few awards at the start of the event. 

Related News:

Tourism industry leaders to boycott event in protest of Sirisena

Disgruntled depositors of The Standard Credit and Finance Ltd (TSCFL) are to be compensated under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme, the Central Bank announced on Friday (07).    

Compensation payments will be made in line with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance Regulations. Instructions on the application criteria will be notified through print and social media, the Central Bank added.   

The depositors of the Standard Credit and Finance Ltd. have been informed to submit their duly completed claim forms along with the required documentation to the Resolution and Enforcement Department of the Central Bank once the notification is issued in the media in due course. 

The license issued to the TSCFL to carry on finance business has been cancelled with effect from 25.07.2018 in terms of the provisions of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011.

Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Rishad Bathiudeen appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department today yesterday to make a complaint regarding a controversial statement made by the Operations Director of the Anti-Corruption Front, Namal Kumara.

Namal Kumara had earlier stated that there was an attempt to assassinate ACMC leader Rishad Bathiudeen in addition to the alleged assassination plot on several VIPs including president Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking to media outside the CID premises, Bathiudeen said that he is perplexed as to why his security was completely withdrawn when inquiries about a potential assassination plot against him are underway.

The Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) affiliated to Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) announced the launch of their management programmes offering multiple degree pathways. 

These education avenues represent many disciplines including, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. SLTC’s business school logo was unveiled at the Trace City Colombo 10 recently. SLTC also promises to engineer the professional impetus required for Sri Lanka’s evolving economic landscape by providing industry relevant, timely higher education opportunities to the country’s youth. 

The SLTC has added this vital industry requirement to its portfolio of degree programmes to prepare Sri Lanka’s next generation, giving careful consideration to the economic growth direction of the county and upon a well thought through discussion process with industry leaders representing multiple spheres. 

Thus, SLTC Business School was inaugurated with a vision of fulfilling an evolving future demand in numerous professional spheres and management disciplines. The SLTC at Padukka is a large university providing many facilities to its students.

The university is a fully owned subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Telecom. The university is equipped with a Tissue Culture Laboratory and a Fiber Optic Laboratory in addition to other facilities. 

It is also linked to Microsoft and other international universities in USA, Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.

It is reported that Udaya Gammanpila has recently made attempts to meet Chief Justice Nalin Perera through Rev. Father Dilan Perera, the Parish Priest of the Our Lady of Fatima Church in Maradana. 

Nalin Perera belongs to the same parish and is a congregant of the Our Lady of Fatima Church of which Fr. Perera is the parish priest. Rev. Father Dilan Perera belongs to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate order in the Catholic Church which is not under the direct authority of the Cardinal.

The Interim injunction order issued against the dissolution of Parliament by the Supreme Court has been extended till the 10th of December. 

The seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court commenced hearing of the petitions challenging the dissolution of Parliament for the fourth consecutive day today.

The political crisis in Sri Lanka deepened further on Monday when the nation’s Court of Appeal restrained Mahinda Rajapaksa, unconstitutionally sworn in Prime Minister when the legitimate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was still in office and who suffered two votes of no-confidence in Parliament on 14 and 16 November, from functioning from his offices in the government secretariat in Colombo.

Rajapaksa’s ‘dummy’ cabinet ministers were also ordered to stop functioning from their allotted offices. Last Thursday and Friday Parliament passed two motions stopping all cash flow to Rajapaksa and his so-called cabinet ministers who lack legitimacy even as they were busy taking administrative decisions and passing orders.

The bureaucracy was placed in a piquant situation not knowing which way to turn. Supposed to be above politics, the bureaucracy is expected to work for the government of the day.

With two functioning Prime Ministers, some have taken the side of Rajapaksa, adding to the confusion in the secretariat. Ever since the President, Maithripala Sirisena, sacked Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister without following the constitutional procedure and plunged Sri Lanka into an unprecedented political crisis, the people are at a loss to know who is in control in Colombo.

The President convened a meeting of all secretaries to the ministries about a month ago and assured them the political crisis will be resolved ‘soon.’ But no solution is at sight as of now. Every attempt of Sirisena at finding a solution to the crisis brought about by his rash act of dismissing Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister illegally seems to have backfired.

On 9 November he dissolved Parliament and called for snap election on 5 January.

A Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Nalin Perera on 13 November stayed dissolution of Parliament and ordered the Election Commission not to proceed with the proposed snap election on 5 January.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa and many of his supporters withdrew from Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party and joined the newly floated Sri Lanka’s People’s Party, leaving the President isolated politically.

The Wickremesinghe-led United National Party remains intact. Should Parliament seek a fresh vote of confidence, he has the numbers. The Court of Appeal has asked Rajapaksa to explain on 12 December on whose authority he and his cabinet Ministers continue to be in office despite Parliament voting them out twice.

In the wake of Monday’s Appeal Court order, there is no Prime Minister or government in Sri Lanka. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga regretted Sirisena has betrayed the January 2015 mandate of the people and brought the country to “a dangerous precipice of chaos, anarchy and breakdown of the rule of law.”

(The Statesman)