News

Act on Gender Equality & Women Empowerment in Parliament soon – President

Published

2 years ago

December 1, 2022

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a bill on gender equality and women’s empowerment will be submitted to Parliament soon and he has instructed the women’s parliamentarians’ forum to prepare the bill.

The President emphasized that women’s representation should be increased not only in the Parliament but also in other sectors and the public sector as well as the private sector should focus their attention in this regard.

The President pointed out that the representation of women in the First Council of Sri Lanka was 2% and 91 years after universal suffrage, the representation of women in the current parliament is only 5.3%. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these observations by joining the Committee Stage Debate on the budget proposal for the financial year 2023 in parliament today (01).

He further said :
“I expect to speak especially on the Ministry under me. We thank the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for commencing a 16-day campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

It was in 1931 that Sri Lankans got the universal franchise. However, the State Council did not have any female representation. The group of females including former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s grandmother requested the Donoughmore Commission to permit the females to contest at the election as well. At the election, not a single female won a seat. Eight months later after the demise of my great grandfather J H Meedeniya, Mrs Mollamure was appointed. On the other hand, Mrs Florence Senanayake was appointed from the opposition side. Hence, the female representation in 1931 was 2 per cent and after 91 years after the universal franchise was achieved, we have increased the female representation up to 5.3 per cent which is not satisfactory.

However, the UK parliament did not have 2 per cent female representation in 1931but Canada, Lok Sabha, Australia etc have increased it by now. We all are responsible for not doing so. In 2015 we proposed to increase the female representation at the Provincial Councils but could do it due to the amendment. However, the proportion of females in our society is 52 per cent. That’s why I asked the Women Parliamentarians Caucus to attend to that matter. We are drafting two acts related to Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. It is also proposed to establish an independent commission under the name of the National Women’s Commission to give leadership and make recommendations to the Parliament to intervene in matters relating to gender equality and women empowerment. The government supports it and I hope the Opposition side too would support it. We also have planned to appoint a female Ombudsman.

We have much to talk about on this matter. When we look at the estate sector, and garment factories, most of the employees are females but there is not a single woman director in them. Not only the Private sector but the government sector too has done the same mistake, as the scenario in the Corporations is the same. We can address it by way of law. However, where the education sector, health and administrative sector are concerned, female representation is higher. But in the private sector, we don’t find this development and it should be improved. But when we look at the numbers receiving education, more than 50 per cent are female which is not reflected at the higher level of employment.
In addition, the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has been assigned to attend to Child affairs as well. The number of orphan children being looked after by the government is very low. The Caucus has to look into the protection of those children as well. We have to attend to the matter of elders and disabled persons. The amount that we can allocate for them has dropped as we settle loans, paid salaries or maintained loss-making institutions. But the curtain and what is in front of the curtain are nice. But nobody is looking behind a different curtain. Earlier this ministry was not considered to be important under any government but now we are considering granting other ministries to female members. In India Finance Ministry, and Defence Ministry were held by females. Liz Truss was also the Foreign Minister. So we should attend to these matters and hence I instructed the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to propose to formulate the required laws. We have a responsibility to increase women’s representation not only in parliament and politics but in all other areas as well.

I also instructed the Minister to address the issues related to Samurdhi. The issue there is some needy people are not receiving Samurdhi benefits while some who are not needy are getting them. We have to remove those who are not eligible. Some decisions may not be popular but the Parliament should be strong to get the correct decision. Though I don’t talk much about education as the minister will address it. Do we need the same schools we had when free education was introduced in 1946 or the same schools we had in 1980? I think we need schools that look ahead to 25 years beyond 2023.

The entire system that we are used to will change. MP Eran Wickramaratne will tell you all that we may not have brick-and-mortar universities at the end of the day. It could be something else. However, why can’t we be the regional hub for that?

Sri Lanka can be a regional hub for education. Let us make up our minds. You are allowing billions of dollars to go out, at least three billion. So not only can we retain that 3 billion, but if we do it right, we will be able to attract another 10 billion. We must do that.
Can we be saying these are students and taking in those who are 40-50 years and expect to rectify this system? That’s all I am saying. Some may attack me for it, but I don’t mind. That is a fact. I said it earlier as well, earlier, we entered universities and passed out by the age of 21 or 22. Yet today, how many pass out by that age?

I think many can pass out by the age of 21-22. We were law students at the time and we all passed out by that age. Yet, can this be done today? So are we going to face this issue or not? That is the question and that is why I ask if we are all going to face this issue and stop it.Young men and women must pass out and leave university by the age 21-22. Then they can have jobs. Now we have to tailor the courses to suit the job market. In the future, we may experience a shortage of job opportunities in the job market, especially in the arts and social science fields. Hence, I would like the national council and the other committees of parliament to focus their attention on this issue. This issue could only be resolved if the matter is presented to these committees. The only issue that remains is whether the government is going to do it alone or whether the Opposition will join with the government and support its program or whether they will get onto the streets and start protesting. So we have to decide which course of action we are going to take. Developing the education sector is a step taken for the betterment of the future generations.”

News

Foreign consultant hired to fix anti-money laundering failures

Published

4 hours ago

March 16, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka has hired a foreign consultant to prepare for regional scrutiny of its regime against the economic crime of money laundering and terrorism financing after repeated failures to fully comply with global standards. It has negotiated breathing space until next year for the purpose.

Dr. Gordon Hook, a barrister and the former Executive Secretary of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), has been hired as a consultant by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). He had visited Sri Lanka in September 2023 as a part of its delegation.

His fees and terms have not been disclosed by CBSL.

Dr. Hook will carry out a mock evaluation, including for licensed banks, from March 25 to identify gaps and prepare for the mutual evaluation in 2026, CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.

In the meantime, three pieces of legislation in the AML/CFT (Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism) regime will be amended—i.e., the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006, the Financial Transactions Reporting Act No. 6 of 2006, and the Convention of Suppression of Terrorism Financing Act No. 25 of 2005.

Noting that amendments will “further strengthen the AML/CFT legal framework in line with international standards,’’ Governor Weerasinghe said the “amendments are nearing completion.”

The Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 will also be amended as recommended by the IMF to include beneficial ownership requirements (clause 7 of the Bill). This will allow for a public beneficial ownership register in which companies disclose individuals who ultimately own or effectively control companies. But offshore and overseas companies are exempt (Section 130 A (10)).

An important piece of new legislation, the Proceeds of Crimes Bill, was presented to Parliament this month. The IMF asked that laws be enacted by April 2024. The legislation will enable seizure of suspected gains from crimes, freezing of proceeds judicially (High Court jurisdiction), and forfeiture. A panel considered US, Australian, UK, and South African laws and also got IMF legal experts’ advice. UN agencies gave technical support.

An evaluation by the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) was scheduled for this month.

The Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit must ensure technical compliance with 40 recommendations of the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force and 11 immediate outcomes, including assessing risks, policy and coordination; international cooperation; effective anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) supervision; financial intelligence; investigation and prosecution; and financial sanctions for proliferation financing.

The CBSL Governor told a compliance symposium late last month, “We took one more year, postponed to one year given the elections we had last year.’’

He reminded financial institutions of the adverse outcomes from non-compliance for Sri Lanka’s economy, risk to sovereign ratings, higher cost of borrowing, risks to correspondent banking relationships, and reputational damage. A ‘grey listing’ could mean increased due diligence on Sri Lankan customers.

“Sri Lanka is required now to showcase a strong performance based on a high level of technical compliance and effectiveness.’’

On two previous APG evaluations, strategic deficiencies were noted, and Sri Lanka was placed on the ‘grey list’, which identifies repeated failures to comply.

In the follow-up report of 2021, Sri Lanka was cited as not compliant on transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons, partially compliant on regulation and supervision of financial institutions (CBSL is the regulator), and confiscation. Sri Lanka was compliant on only 7 of 40 technical requirements. Technical compliance assesses the legal and institutional framework and the authority and procedures of competent authorities.

Dr. Weerasinghe said the FIU did a national risk assessment in 2021-2022. Several gaps and deficiencies were identified. It was updated in 2024 and is to be further updated by June 2025.

The exercise used a tool provided by the World Bank.

The assessment report shows that Rs. 14.5 billion in illegal proceeds would have been generated by Sri Lanka’s foreign trade in the seven years to 2021. The involvement of banks is significant. But the magnitude is unknown.

A second national policy on AML/CFT was developed, and there is an institution-wise action plan “to rectify the remaining gaps’,” Dr. Weerasinghe said. All 24 stakeholders, including financial institutions, have been advised. A five-member task force was set up in December with higher-level representation. “This task force is empowered with overseeing the institution-wise action plan.’’

He also addressed beneficial ownership in banks, evolving risks from payment system infrastructure, the vulnerability of mobile payment applications, and financial crimes online.

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

News

Six arrested over violence at Medirigiriya musical show

Published

5 hours ago

March 16, 2025

editor

Six individuals have been arrested in connection with violent incidents that erupted during a musical show at President’s College grounds in Divulankadawala on the night of March 14.

The suspects, all residents of Medirigiriya, are accused of causing chaos and damaging property after two advertised singers failed to appear at the event.

The organizers had promoted the show featuring several artists and sold tickets priced at Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,500.

However, the two singers did not perform, reportedly due to non-payment by the organizers.

When the announcer informed the audience that the show would end at 1:30 a.m., the crowd became agitated, leading to attacks on chairs, musical instruments, and other property.

Despite the presence of 45 police officers, the situation spiraled out of control.

Medirigiriya Police stated that during their investigation, it was revealed that the two singers had not participated in the musical show because the organisers had failed to pay them the agreed payment.

News

AG reaches agreement on Weligama shooting case; Arrests of six suspects deferred

Published

5 hours ago

March 16, 2025

editor

The Attorney General (AG) has reached an agreement with the legal counsels of suspects implicated in the December 2023 shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Weligama.

In a special notice issued today (16), the AG directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest six suspects, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), until the investigation is completed.

However, former Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently absconding, remains wanted for arrest.

The Matara Magistrate’s Court had earlier ordered the arrest of eight individuals, including Tennakoon, in connection with the incident, which involved a clash between police units and resulted in the death of Police Sergeant Upul Chaminda Kumara.

The AG has instructed the CID to record statements from the six suspects without detaining them at this stage.

The W15 Hotel, owned by Mohamed Isham Jamaldeen, the son of former Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, was the site of the shooting.