Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage today appointed the new National Sports Council, in accordance with the provisions of the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973 with the aim of advising the Minister on matters relating to the promotion, development and governance of sports in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Rugby legend and former CEO of Sri Lanka Rugby, Priyantha Ekanayake has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Sports Council.

The following prominent figures have been appointed as members of the council:

Priyantha Ekanayake (Chairman) – Former Rugby Player and former CEO of Sri Lanka Rugby
Prof. Samantha Nanayakkara – Professor in Sports Studies, University of Colombo, and Sport Psychologist
Rukman Wekadapola – International Boxing Referee
Sidath Wettimuny – Former Sri Lankan Cricketer
Chanaka Jayamaha – Civil/Commercial Lawyer and Non-Executive Independent Director at Colombo Dockyard PLC
Rohan Abeykoon – Former Rugby Player and former Chairman of National Rugby Selection Committee 
Niroshan Wijekoo – Former Badminton Player and former National Champion (Singles)
Murad Ismail – Former member of Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL)
Roshan Mahanama – Former Sri Lanka Cricketer and former ICC Match Referee
C. Ratnamudali – Lecturer at Moratuwa University and former Secretary of Sri Lanka Beach Volleyball Association
Sriyani Kulawansa – Former Sri Lankan Hurdler and Olympian, Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist
Malik J Fernando – Co-Chairman of MJF Group, and Dilmah Tea
Shanitha Fernando – Former Rugby Player

In a letter to President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Anura B. Meddegoda, daughter of late Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge critiques what appears to be a double standard in the way the Bar Association has handled two separate high-profile cases involving the alleged failure of the Attorney General’s office to properly pursue justice.

The writer, who has long advocated for justice for her father Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was murdered in 2009, has accused the Attorney General of sabotaging critical investigations, including that of her father’s killing.

She said that while the Bar Association publicly protested the Attorney General’s decision to not charge a Special Task Force officer involved in the 2022 killing of Mahesh Indika Prabath, the same vigor was not applied to the case of her father’s murder, despite what she describes as overwhelming evidence of state-sponsored involvement.

The letter pointed out a recent interview to a local media outlet in which Meddegoda claimed that the Bar Association was “at the forefront” of standing up for human rights. The writer, however, questioned Meddegoda’s commitment to justice, citing his failure to publicly address the long-delayed prosecution of those responsible for her father’s murder.

The letter also raises serious concerns about the Attorney General’s handling of multiple investigations, including the infamous Mahara prison killings, and the destruction of police records related to her father’s case. The writer accuses Ranasinghe of neglecting vital evidence, including doctored police records, and of making decisions without fully investigating or considering all the facts.

She calls for the impeachment of the Attorney General, accusing him of undermining the rule of law. 

She urges the BASL to take a firm stance for justice, not just for her father, but for all victims whose cases have been mishandled or abandoned under Ranasinghe’s watch.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Myanmar has confirmed that a Sri Lankan national was among those recently rescued from cybercrime camps in Myanmar.

The individual is currently under the protection of Thai authorities.

Over 250 individuals from 20 different nationalities were freed from these camps and have been transported to Thailand. An official from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand reported that 16 more Sri Lankans are still believed to be held in these camps, with the possibility of additional unreported detainees.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, held a telephone conversation with Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maris Sangiampongsa, to reaffirm the urgent assistance required with respect to the rescue and safe repatriation of trafficked Sri Lankans.

He also expressed appreciation for Thailand’s ongoing support in rescuing and repatriating Sri Lankans trafficked to cybercrime centers in the Myawaddy area of Myanmar.

Since 2023, Thailand has facilitated the safe return of 58 Sri Lankans who were forcibly detained by human trafficking syndicates.

Minister Herath urged Thailand’s urgent cooperation to expedite the rescue and repatriation of the remaining 18 Sri Lankans, who are reportedly facing torture and mistreatment in these centres.

The Foreign Minister of Thailand assured assistance to Sri Lanka in the endeavour to rescue the remaining trafficked Sri Lankans.

(News1st)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)