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Arrest warrant issued for Putin

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Arrest warrants have been issued by judges at the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

In a statement, the ICC says they are suspected of the war crime of unlawfully deporting children, from Ukraine to Russia.

There are reasonable grounds to believe President Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for such deportations, the statement says, adding it is alleged to have taken place since he launched the full- scale invasion of Ukraine last February.

It says the same thing of his children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova.

Ukraine has responded, with presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak saying: “This is just the beginning.”

And Ukraine’s prosecutor general has called it a “historic” decision.

However, Russia has repeatedly denied accusations of atrocities during its invasion of Ukraine and has also said it does not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and says it bears no obligations under it.

“The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel.

“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it. Russia does not cooperate with this body, and possible ‘recipes’ for arrest coming from the International Court will be legally null and void for us.”

(BBC News)

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Speaker to deliver special statement in Parliament tomorrow

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Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, who is set to face a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) tomorrow (20), has announced plans to make a special statement regarding his extensive 40-year-long political career.

According to Indunil Yapa Abeywardena, the Media Secretary for the Speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena intends to disclose significant information about recent events and political developments during his statement.

The statement will also focus on how he took on various challenges during his 40-year political journey. 

He will reveal these facts and some other recent happenings in a special statement in Parliament before the No-Confidence Motion against him is taken up for debate.

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Hirunika files case against IGP

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Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from discharging the duties and functioning in the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP).
In her petition, Hirunika named Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Chairman of the Constitutional Council Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, members of the Constitutional Council and the Attorney General as respondents.

The petitioner stated that the Attorney General had made a communication to name Tennakoon as a suspect in a matter before the Magistrate’s Court of Fort pertaining to the attack on peaceful protesters at Galle Face on May 09, 2022.

The petitioner further stated that in the Supreme Court judgement (SC FR 107/2011) found Deshabandu Tennakoon, as having violated the fundamental rights of a former army soldier under Articles 11, 12(1), 13(1) and 13(2) of the Constitution and Court ordered him to pay Rs.500,000 as compensation.

The Petitioner states that the failure to take all possible steps in selecting and appointing a suitable candidate is contrary to the best interests of the People, and contrary to the duty of all organs of State to respect, secure and advance the Fundamental Rights of the People.

The petitioner maintained that this appointment would result in a direct attack on the Rule of Law, and a consequent denial to the Petitioner and the citizens’ rights guaranteed by Article 12(1) of the Constitution and ignoring clear constitutional provisions in particular Article 41(E)4, concerning manner of voting in the constitutional council when only four members have voted in favour of such appointment. This petition had been filed through Attorney-at-Law Sithara Sampath Wijewardena.

(dailymirror.lk)

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

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HRCSL recommends action against Peradeniya Professor

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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has ruled that disciplinary action be taken against the Acting Head of the Archeology Department of the University of Peradeniya, Prof Ananda Jayawickrema of the University of Peradeniya for violating the rights of another professor of the same department.

The ruling has been given by the Chairman of the Commission, L.T.B. Dehideniya, a former Supreme Court judge and Commission member Nimal G. Punchihewa.

The petition had been filed by Prof M.W.C.N.K. Rambukwella, Chair Professor of the Archeology Department who had been prevented from attending an international conference organized by an Indian University by Prof Jayawickrema deliberately delaying approval to take part in the event held last month.

The International conference has been organized by the Mohanlal Sukhadia University in the State of Rajasthan, India to be held from February 2 to February 5 and Prof Rambukwella was due to Chair the event.

Besides, Prof Jayawickrema, the petitioner Prof Rambukwella also cited Dr Prabath Ekanayake, Dean of the Arts Faculty of the University of Peradeniya, Prof M.D. Lamawansa, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya and the Acting VC at that time, Prof Terrance Madhujith.

Prof Rambukwella had submitted her leave application for nine days through the online system on January 19 to the Head of the Department. That was well within the stipulated period.

The Human Rights Commission has found that due to a string of other delays and other administrative mistakes the leave could not be approved in time.

Accordingly, the Commission recommended that the disciplinary action be taken before March 23, 2024 and to inform the petitioner and the Commission about the progress.

(sundaytimes.lk)

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

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