Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa who was in Paris on a special visit in connection with the commemoration of Vesak at UNESCO, highlighted the need for Vesak to be a stepping stone towards gr ...
Daily Archives: June 3, 2013
Sri Lanka emphasizes need for regulation, transparency and accountability in funding to NGOs and NPOs
Sri Lanka has emphasized that regulation, transparency and accountability of funding to NGOs and NPOs is a pre-requisite in the interest of national security and counter-terrorism as recognized by states, and that obligation placed on states to adhere to the regulatory framework in compliance with 40 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, makes it mandatory to monitor fund transfers of all financial institutions inclusive of NPOs and INGOs (associations) and other financial institutions, in countering financing of terrorism, money laundering or other related trans-national crimes.
Intervening during an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Mr. Maina Kiai, at the ongoing 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday (30 May 2013), Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Manisha Gunasekera, said " while Sri Lanka agrees that access to resources is important for the vibrant functioning of civil society, we observe that Mr. Kiai does not seem to adequately take into account the negative impact of lack of or insufficient regulation of funding of associations on national security and counter-terrorism". Cautioning that "some NGOs and associations can also play a fundamental role in feeding terrorism and conflict", Ms. Gunasekera recalled challenges faced by Sri Lanka where "front organisations of the LTTE posing as legitimate civil society organisations and charities based overseas formed part of a complex international terrorist network which through various means injected the funding and resources needed to nurture the thirty-year terrorist conflict in Sri Lanka. These are actual situations and experiences which the Rapporteur should take cognizance of in order to provide a balanced and pragmatic assessment on the subject of funding of associations and counter-terrorism".
Sri Lanka says LLRC Action Plan seeks to extend the services of legal aid centres
Sri Lanka has observed that the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka primarily funded by the state, covers most parts of the country with approximately 70 legal aid centres, including in the former conflict-affected areas, and records a high caseload and provision of services.
Intervening during an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Lawyersand Judges at the ongoing 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday (30 May 2013), Deputy Solicitor General Mr. Buwaneka Aluwihare noted that the National Plan of Action for the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC has taken due note of the services that can be extended by legal aid centres in the post-conflict situation. The Commission’s mission is to identify those members of society who lack access to the remedies available to them under the law, and to make available to them means through which they can use the law and the legal system to secure justice.
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
New Sri Lanka Embassy in Bahrain Opened
In another major step toward fulfilling the vision of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to forge links with countries in all parts of the globe, Hon. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of External Affairs of Sr ...
Lankan development model an encouragement, says Bosnian leader
"Sri Lanka's social and economic development model is encouraging for a country such as Bosnia and Herzegovina," stated Nebojsa Radmonovic, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina when the Ambassador of Sri Lanka called on him at the President's Office in Sarejevo, following the presentation of the Letter of Credence to him.
Sri Lanka – Thailand focus on enhancing defence and security ties
Enhancing defence and security relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand was emphasised when Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo last morning.
Vesak panel discussions at UNESCO highlight paths to reconciliation
The events organized by the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO to mark Vesak in Paris included a series of panel discussions around the theme of “Inter-Faith Dialogue: the way forward” The first of these discus ...
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