News
Zuhair: PTA amendments do not address real issues
The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No 48 of 1979 (PTA) issued by gazette notification published on 27.01.2022 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs do not eliminate the draconian aspects of the original PTA, says former MP M.M. Zuhair, PC.
For example, the continued admission at PTA trials of specified statements made by suspects while in police custody in violation of the time tested provisions of the Evidence Ordinance have led and will lead to further grave injustices, Sri Lanka’s one-time Ambassador in Iran said in a statement issued yesterday.
The following is the text of the statement: “These statements at times recorded by Magistrates and more often by police officers above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs) take place while the physical security of the suspects remain under the exclusive control of the police. Suspects remain in State control, both before as well as after the statements are recorded, when suspects are under total fear of reprisals if statements are not given in the manner tailor-made by the police. This often happens more often in cases where the police had not been successful in getting evidence implicating suspects already detained.
“Visits by Magistrates to places of detention are welcome but will not remove the fear of mental torture that suspects in police custody will have to face soon after the Magistrate’s departure, if they disclose that they were compelled to make the confessionary statements.
“Reports of the superior courts, the Human Rights Commission and independent lawyers disclose the hostile conditions, harassments and indignity PTA suspects face, not only in police custody but also at the hands of officials and non-PTA suspects in most remand prisons.
“The superior courts of the country have recorded a large number of cases of police intimidation to obtain confessionary statements. The recent case of a State Minister allegedly threatening some PTA suspects in remand custody is widely known. Continuing the widely criticised practice of the executive, namely the President, the Attorney General or a Superintendent of Police (SP), all of whom are executive officials deciding on the grant or refusal of bail for suspects under detention, do not meet the standards set out in our Constitution and by the Supreme Court in several cases.
“The proposed amendment allowing the Court of Appeal to grant bail only if the trial had not commenced can be argued as limiting even the existing powers of the Court of Appeal and also as an attempt to remove the judicial discretion that the original courts ought to exercise when a suspect is produced before a Magistrate.
In addition, for the first time in Sri Lanka’s judicial history a bail approved by the Court of Appeal under the new proposed provision, section 15 B, can be ignored and in effect overruled by a lower Court, namely the High Court which can remand the suspect under the first proviso to section 15 B until the conclusion of the trial, even in cases where Court of Appeal has approved bail!
“If the intention of the proposed law is to continue to weaponise the PTA against the minorities, as one can easily comprehend thus far from the gross failure by the Attorney General to prosecute PTA offenders belonging to the majority community, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be inviting more opposition to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council from the new proposals. The proposals also denigrate the President’s speech made at the recent inauguration of the new session of Parliament that human rights violations will not be condoned and that “We are a nation that respects international laws and conventions”!
“The period of detention by executive fiat, though reduced from 18 months to 12 months, does not provide for any consequential provision that would enable the judiciary, even in such circumstances and also in cases of custodial torture, to grant bail.
“Amending the PTA to eliminate the obnoxious provisions and bringing it in line with the provisions of our own Constitution as well as international treaties, would be the minimum that can be done to restore the country’s image as a modern nation State.”
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
