Do not arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time - Journalists for Rights

Journalists for Rights organization urges the government not to arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time. 

Journalists for Rights issued this statement while a number of social media users have been arrested by police for the alleged spread of fake news. Meanwhile, the opposition MP Imitiaz Bakir Markar accused the government of compiling a list of 200 journalists and social media users who criticize the government.

Following is the full statement of the Journalists for Rights: 

Journalists for Rights thoroughly believe that even ordinary citizens who use social media must act wisely and responsibly. However, we request the authorities not to manipulate errors committed by some of the social media users to terrify social media users, journalists and citizens in society.  

We extend our fullest corporation to act against fake news and hate speech. However, we emphasize the need for being unbiased and unselective. We re-emphasize that the responsibility of the state is to implement law equally without specialization.

The government has a responsibility to increase the media literacy of the citizens. Citizens must be educated on the laws and ethics related to the use of new media like social media. We earnestly request the authorities not to arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time.

None of the actions of the government must negatively affect the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka and media freedom. We highlight that the responsibility of a democratic government is to encourage the journalists and citizens who communicate information and opinion ethically and legally.   

Ranil Wickramasinghe rejects national list seat

Sri Lanka opposition United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has declined the offer to elect to the parliament through the national list, UNP sources say. 

UNP management committee members have demanded the leader in writing to accept this offer. 

Ranil Wickramasinghe first elected to the parliament in 1977 and failed to elect in the last election due to the party split. He became the leader of the party in 1994 and recently announced that he would retire after the party selected a new leader.

Meanwhile, UNP sources say that party secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has offered to resign if necessary for the party reforms. However, he has not resigned, as media reported. 

Sri Lanka's school re-opening not successful today

The school re-opening in Sri Lanka appeared unsuccessful on the first day due to lack of trust by parents on the manoeuvres of the authorities, our study indicates. 

The attendance of students was very poor in the majority of the leading schools. However, attendance was comparatively better in rural schools. 

Many of the parents expressed a lack of trust regarding the safety of the students. 

However, many schools had provided handwashing and temperature checking facilities.   

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that as reported to the Ministry, six schools in the Eastern Province, 14 schools in the Central Province, 14 schools in the North Central Province, 12 schools in the Sabaragamuwa Province, 48 schools in the North-Western Province and one school in the Southern Province had not been re-opened. 

Ceylon Teachers' Union Chairman Joseph Stalin accused that the government had not provided facilities for disinfection and sanitization. 

Chairman of Lanka Teacher Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe said that the people had not approved the government's decision. 

Out of Sri Lanka's over 10,100 public schools, around 5,100 will be opened today for students from grade 6 to 13.

All schools sans few in the Provinces other than the Western Province were expected to start today. The schools in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts remained closed. 

Secretary to the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera said that the school authorities had been given powers to take decisions on emergency situations. 

The Ministry said that over 90% of the public schools have less than 1,000 students and it is not difficult to maintain social distancing. 

Died prisoner diagnosed with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka

An elderly prisoner died in a hospital was diagnosed with COVID-19. The 82-year-old prisoner of Mahara prison in Gampaha district died in Ragama hospital. He was a cancer patient but a PCR conducted after his death was reported positive, prison sources said. 

The number of COVID-19 persons in Sri Lanka's overcrowded prisons is around 700 now.

United National Party appoints the leader to the parliament

United National Party (UNP) of Sri Lanka has decided to appoint party leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe from the national list to the parliament. 

UNP won only one seat in the parliament at the election held in August. The party did not nominate any name for this national list seat. 

The latest decision has been taken at the management committee held yesterday (November 22). The members of the management committee had requested in writing from the leader to accept the position, UNP former MP Arjuna Ranathunga said. 

Meanwhile, reports say that former Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has resigned from the post of UNP general secretary. 

The party is yet to appoint a new secretary.

Ranil Wickramasinghe first elected to the parliament in 1977 and failed to elect in the last election due to the party split. He became the leader of the party in 1994 and recently announced that he would retire after the party selected a new leader. He did not show interest to be elected to the parliament through the national list.   

Doctor shoots and injures a playing child in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Maharagama police station arrested a doctor for shooting at a child who entered into his garden to pick a ball. 

The 17-year-old boy was shot with an air rifle on his chest as he was playing with friends in the playground of Dharmapala Vidyalaya school ground in Erewwala.

The boy sustained minor injuries and he was admitted to Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The doctor works in Cancer Hospital, Maharagama. 

Half of Sri Lanka's schools re-open today for students from grade 6 to 13

Out of Sri Lanka's over 10,100 public schools, around 5,100 will open today for students from grade 6 to 13.

All schools sans few in the Provinces other than the Western Province will start today. The schools in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts will remain closed. 

Few schools in the Eastern Province, Sabaragamuwa Province and Kurunegala district will also remain closed. 

Secretary to the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera said that the school authorities have been given powers to take decisions on emergency situations. 

The Ministry says that over 90% of the public schools have less than 1,000 students and it is not difficult to maintain social distancing.