“The decision to reopen liquor shops has been taken without the consultation of the Health Ministry,” said Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath addressing the media, earlier today. 

He told journalists, “there is neither a logic nor a basis to the decision under the prevailing circumstances of the pandemic” adding, “a decision of this nature could drag the prevailing COVID situation to a dreadful level.”

As the 48^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council continues in Geneva, Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Mannar have called on the international community to deliver justice for their forcibly disappeared loved ones.

Udaya Gammanpila (Centre)

Sri Lanka's Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila has claimed that exploring and discovering oil and gas resources in the Mannar basin is the only way for the country to pay of its crippling debts.

Secretary of the Vavuniya District Disappeared Association, C. Zenitra, said there should be no political motives when it comes to the Tamil fight for justice for the victims of enforced disappearances.

At a press briefing in Vavuniya on Saturday, he criticised the purpose and existence of the state-initiated Office of Missing Persons (OMP). “It was created by the government as a tactic to deceive the international community. We have no confidence in that office,” she said.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, G. L. Peiris, briefed the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, during a virtual meeting as part of the 76^th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Sunday.

After stating Sri Lanka’s commitment to the values, principles and objectives of the UN, the Minister dismissed international efforts of reconciliation in Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lankan military spearheaded the vaccination drive in Mannar, in what was another manifestation of the militarisation of civil society in the island. 

The programme to administer the second dose of Pfizer vaccine in the district commenced on Friday, with centres located in Mannar Hindu College and St. Mary’s School. 

Dozens of relatives of a Tamil man, who died after being found unconscious outside of the Sri Lankan police station in Kankesanthurai (KKS), Jaffna on Thursday, staged a protest demanding justice over his suspicious death.

The victim was identified as M. Jenuson, 24 year-sold and a father, from Nallinakapuram. He was pronounced dead on the street when he was admitted to the Tellippalai Base Hospital. 

Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has arrived in New York to attend the 76^th UN General Assembly (UNGA) Session, marking what will be his first address to the UNGA. 

He arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport yesterday where he was greeted by Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations.

Speaking at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Bologna Italy, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris, attacked ethnic and religious political parties in Sri Lanka claiming that “it does a great deal of damage”.

“There is no need for them to detach themselves from the national polity, to segregate, to compartmentalize the national polity by the formation and the emergence of political groupings that seem sectarian. They have a very narrow perspective, and that is hugely detrimental to the solidarity and the unity of our countries”.

In advance of a visit by a delegation from the European Union (EU) to review the GSP+ facility, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, Jayanath Colombage, claimed that country had “nothing to hide”.

“Our policy is come and see. We have nothing to hide. Don’t be judgmental and take decisions by sitting at a desk in Europe,” Colombage told reporters at a virtual press conference.