An Echelon Media Company
Wednesday September 27th, 2023

Sri Lanka main opposition SJB files FR petitions against protestor arrests: report

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s main opposition the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has filed three fundamental rights petitions in the Supreme Court challenging arrests made under quarantine regulations.

The privately owned NewsFirst network reported that the petitions, filed by SJB MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara,  Harshana Rajapakurna and Mayantha Dissanayake, have named the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Health Services, the Minster of Health and the Attorney General as respondents.

The submissions were made a day after Sri Lanka police arrested over 40 protestors in Colombo and elsewhere for allegedly violating quarantine regulations, even as government supporters were seen celebrating the swearing in of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa by lighting firecrackers and  gathering in small groups.

A majority of the arrests were made at a protest held near parliament in Sri Jayawrdenapura, Kotte, against the proposed Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) bill.

News footage showed protestors, including older women, being frog-marched into police buses amid shrieks of protest from fellow activsits.

Thirty-one people including Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin were arrested near the parliament roundabout. The protest was jointly organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Frontline Socialist Party.

The KDU bill, first presented in 2018 under the previous government, has been controversial, with left-leaning opposition parties including the Jantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) alleging that it will pave the way for militarisation of higher education in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka banned protests and public meetings until further notice on Tuesday (06) to prevent large gatherings and the further spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) leader and national list MP Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament Friday (09) that forcibly sending individuals to quarantine camps is against the law.

Without a PCR test no one can be sent to quarantine, he said, adding that existing laws do not allow for such individuals to be quarantined without reason. (Colombo/July09/2021)

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sri Lanka to introduce social security system: minister

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Labour minister has said that they are set to introduce a comprehensive national social security system, covering all workers.

“The system will address the weaknesses of the current system and provide much-needed support to workers and their families,” Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
He did not specify the details.

Nanayakkara also spoke of the need for robust social security when he met with exporters last week to discuss labor law reforms, boosting female workforce participation and attracting FDI.

Sri Lanka plans to reform labour laws for an export-oriented economy.

The pandemic and the economic crisis highlighted the need to improve the coverage of social security.

Studies have shown that Sri Lanka’s women are kept out of formal employment by childcare, elderly care and housework, as day care and elderly homes are either too expensive or too few.

The government imposed a Social Security Contribution Levy to increase its revenue last year. (Colombo/Sep27/2023)

Related stories
Unpaid care work keeps Sri Lanka’s women out of workplace: Researchers

Sri Lanka’s pandemic-hit unemployment show need for social security: IPS

Continue Reading

Sri Lanka’s stocks up in trading on Wednesday morning

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka shares were picking up in trading on Wednesday morning.

Turnover was at 50 million. Trading in the Capital Goods Industry Group was driving turnover.

The All Share Price Index was up 0.37 percent or 41.78 points to 11,289.94, while the S&P SL20 was also up 0.68 percent or 21.66 points to 3,187.65.

Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank and LOLC saw gains in morning trade, while Tokyo cement and Lanka Hospitals were trading down during morning trading. (Colombo/Sep27/2023)

Continue Reading

Sri Lanka rupee opens at 323.50/324.10 to the US dollar, bond yields stable

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 323.50/324.10 to the US dollar on Wednesday, after closing on Tuesday at 323.70/324.20 to the US dollar, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2026 was quoted at 15.50/70 percent on Wednesday up from Tuesday’s close at 15.45/65 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.05.2028 was quoted at 14.50/55 percent from closing at Tuesday at 14.30/55 percent. (Colombo/Sep27/2023)

Continue Reading