<ul><li>PC advises to complain to BASL but notes need to adhere to identifiable dress code&nbsp;</li></ul>Police will investigate claims of harassment of female lawyers while visiting clients in Police stations.“We are going to carry out investigations into the alleged harassment of female lawyers in Police stations,” Police Media Spokesperson, Deputy Inspector General of Police Nihal Thalduwa, said in a press conference yesterday (15) in response to queries raised by the media on female lawyers being harassed. “Lawyers have the right to represent their clients and if this is occurring, we will take action.”However, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) stated that if lawyers face harassment by the Police or at Police stations and detention centres, lawyers should complain to the BASL as soon as possible. “Lawyers have the right to represent their client and they also have to be treated respectfully when they visit their client,” member of the BASL, President’s Counsel S. Tharapathi Jayanaga told The Daily Morning yesterday. “So, if there are cases of harassment faced by lawyers, they should come and complain to the BASL as we are there to help them.” Nevertheless, Jayanaga noted that every lawyer should adhere to the dress code for lawyers when representing their clients and be identifiable as lawyers while also avoiding futile attempts to take these complaints up to Police officers and politicians.The Daily Morning’s attempts to contact the President of the Sri Lanka Women Lawyers’ Association Shiranthi Gunawardena, proved futile. &nbsp;

Law enforcement: Police to probe ‘harassment’ of female lawyers

Presidential candidates Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera and Sarath Keerthirathna attributed the delay in submitting their campaign expenditure reports to the Election Commission (EC) to the time required for postal delivery.The EC stated on Monday (14) that three Presidential candidates – Seelarathana Thera, Keethirathna and Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran – have failed to make the relevant submissions within the specified period which ended at 12 midnight on 13 October.When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (15), Seelarathana Thera said that he had posted the relevant reports to the EC, but that the delivery had been delayed. "I posted all the relevant documents. There has been a delay in the delivery. How can I prevent a delay on the part of the post?"Speaking to The Daily Morning, Keerthirathna also said that he had posted the relevant reports to the EC on 12 October, but that they had not reached the EC by the deadline. "They may not have reached the EC by the deadline. However, I visited the EC and got it confirmed that they've now received my reports."Ariyanethiran told The Daily Morning that he had hand-delivered the report on Monday.The Daily Morning's attempts to contact EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake to query if the relevant legal actions would be pursued against Seelarathana Thera and Keethirathna, given that their reports are now with the EC, also proved futile.Under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023, all Presidential candidates were supposed to submit reports detailing their campaign expenditures, including the sources of funds, to the EC by 12 midnight on 13 October.&nbsp;

Delayed expenditure report submission: 2 Prez candidates blame postal delivery 

The repeater guns purchased by former Parliamentarians from the Ministry of Defence under the programme to allow MPs to purchase two repeater guns have been returned to the Ministry. The Ministry had informed the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera in August of this year that MPs would be allowed to purchase two repeater shotguns each from their personal funds, and retain them even after they are out of office.The Daily Morning queried Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Colonel Nalin Herath as to whether former MPs, allowed to keep repeater guns even after their terms ended, would need to return them. He responded: "All weapons have been returned to the Ministry. Regardless of whether they were issued for free or purchased by the MPs, the weapons must be returned." The repeater guns, which were to be possessed by MPs, were required to be licensed annually in their respective Districts. MPs had the option to choose from three models. They had however been prohibited from transferring the guns to any other party, and carrying them to the Parliament and other crowded places. It was reported at the time that many of the former MPs had purchased repeater guns soon after the programme was launched. Since the National People's Power Government was formed last month (September), several parties such as former MPs, their staff members, and personal staff members of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe were asked to return official residences, vehicles, weapons, and other privileges granted to them by the Government.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MPs’ repeater guns returned to MoD

The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) called on the Government to address the escalating fees at the Sri Lanka Law College (SLLC), the country’s sole institution for legal professional education.&nbsp; The IUSF highlighted that the significant increase in fees has resulted in a sharp decline in applicants and has made legal education unaffordable for many. At a press conference held yesterday (15), IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith expressed concern over the reduction in SLLC entrance exam applicants, which he claimed had dropped by approximately 50% due to the increased exam fees. He pointed out that the fees for almost all SLLC exams had risen by more than 200% compared to the pre-2023 (last year) levels. Chandrajith highlighted the specific fee increases, stating, "The preliminary year fee, which was Rs. 26,500 before 2023, is now Rs. 87,500, while the intermediate year fee has risen from Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 58,000. The final year fee, previously Rs. 27,500 in 2023, has now jumped to Rs. 75,500." He further noted that the total fee for all three years was around Rs. 82,000 before 2023 but has now surged to approximately Rs. 240,000. “This shows how legal education and the profession have been limited to a certain class. This has caused significant dropouts from the SLLC,” he claimed. Hence, the IUSF has urged the Government, particularly the newly appointed Justice Minister, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, to take immediate action to address these concerns and to make legal education more affordable for students from all backgrounds.Some students at the SLLC told The Daily Morning that despite raising the issue with the relevant authorities, no favourable solution has yet been offered. They emphasised the need for urgent reform to ensure that legal education remains accessible to a diverse range of students across the country. “The Law Students‘ Union has raised this issue with the administration several times. But, we didn’t get an acceptable solution,” a student said.The Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and the SLLC Principal were not available for comment. &nbsp;

 IUSF wants Law College fees reduced 

<ul><li>Fmr. int’l school principal Goolbai Gunasekara urges individual attention to students by teachers trained to manage students’ grievances&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Schools should reduce the number of students in order to prioritise attention to students’ mental health, a veteran educator with experience in the country’s private education sector, in particular international schools, suggested.“There are a lot of schools in the country, especially Government schools, with 6,000-7,000 students and hence, there is no individual attention given to students,” educator and former Principal of the Asian International School, Goolbai Gunasekara said. “Therefore, we need to reduce student populations so that individual attention can be given to students.”Further, Gunasekara said that despite students not getting enough attention, teachers often push students to achieve the highest marks possible at exams. “Teachers often put a lot of pressure on students to get the highest marks possible and that causes a lot of stress for students,” Gunasekara said. “There is a lack of awareness among the teaching community on how to manage students and therefore, comprehensive training should be provided for teachers.”Moreover, Gunasekara noted that having a student counselor can make a positive change to students’ mental health, provided that the counselor is professionally trained to handle student grievances and protects the confidentiality of the students.The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that nearly 14% of adolescents (those aged 10-19) experience a mental health condition; however, these go largely ignored and untreated. Factors such as stress, the enforcement of gender related norms, harsh parenting and violence including bullying have been found to negatively affect the mental health of adolescents. The WHO states that several of the mental health conditions affecting adolescents are emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression as well as eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. According to H. Perera’s ‘Mental health of adolescent school children in Sri Lanka – A national survey’, almost one fifth of Sri Lankan students suffer from mental health problems.&nbsp;

Mental health & schools: Educator calls for downsizing student populous 

<ul><li>Reviewing CPC observations &amp; recommendations</li></ul>The Government has appointed a special committee to assess and manage potential increases in oil prices in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp;Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath stated that the decision comes as a proactive approach by the Government to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices in the local market.He explained that the said committee is currently reviewing recommendations based on an observation report submitted by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).&nbsp;“With the escalating conflict situation in the Middle East, there is a significant risk of oil prices increasing. The CPC has already provided an observation report on the matter. This newly formed committee will actively intervene and develop strategies to control oil prices in Sri Lanka in the event of such a scenario,” Herath stated.

M-E conflict: Spl. comm. to manage oil price hikes  

The Government issued a directive to Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader, attorney Udaya Gammanpila, instructing him to submit copies of two significant reports related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks within three working days.&nbsp;These reports were commissioned by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and they focus on the role of the intelligence services during the said attacks, as well as addressing allegations raised by a documentary produced by the United Kingdom’s Channel 4.Recently, Gammanpila gave the National People’s Power Government, including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, an ultimatum of seven working days to release the said reports, threatening to publish the documents himself if the Government failed to act.During the Cabinet press conference yesterday (15), Cabinet Spokesperson and Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath addressed the situation and emphasised that if Gammanpila had these Presidential Committee reports in his possession prior to their official release, it would be considered an offence. Herath remarked: “If Gammanpila has kept those Presidential Committee reports in his possession prior to publishing, it is an offence committed by him.” He further asserted that it is Gammanpila’s responsibility to hand over the reports to the Government within the next three days. Herath also elaborated on the Government’s stance, stating that the administration is fully aware of its responsibilities towards the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. “The Government is working with a responsibility,” he said, assuring that a comprehensive investigation would be carried out if there are any issues concerning the said reports. He reiterated that the Government is committed to ensuring accountability for the attacks and remains focused on addressing any related concerns.The two reports in question are the findings of separate Presidential Committees. The first, led by retired Supreme Court Justice S.I. Imam investigated the allegations made in the Channel 4 documentary. The second, chaired by retired Judge A.N.J. De Alwis, examined the role of the intelligence services during the Easter Sunday bombings.Several attempts made to contact Gammanpila proved futile.&nbsp;

Gammanpila told to handover 2 Easter attacks reports 

Amid allegations that the Police Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women has failed to address the alleged harassment of females on social media platforms, the Police clarified that the Bureau initiates investigations only upon receiving a complaint.In light of several posts on social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook targeting former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former Provincial Councilor Upulangani Malagamuwa recently claimed that the relevant institutions including the said Bureau have not made any meaningful intervention with regard to such incidents.When queried by The Daily Morning regarding the allegation, Police Media Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police Nihal Thalduwa said that the Bureau initiates investigations into such incidents upon the receipt of a complaint. "In this case (posts targeting Kumaratunga), even if one of her secretaries lodges a complaint, the Bureau will launch an investigation."Following a statement made by Kumaratunga to the effect that a person hailing from an ordinary background such as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was able to make such an achievement due to what she claimed to be societal changes made by former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1956, several posts were made on social media platforms criticising her.Claiming that the impact of such content affects all women, including those who are already in and about to enter politics, Malagamuwa said that if a woman who once held the highest position in the country faces such serious harassment, it is important to look into such incidents and eliminate them. She also charged that the relevant institutions including the said Bureau have failed to fulfil their responsibility of protecting women and children.&nbsp;

Online harassment: Police Women’s Bureau seeks complaints 

<ul><li> Petitioning parents seek SC order preventing release of results &amp; cut-off marks&nbsp;</li></ul>A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed with the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an order preventing the release of the 2024 Grade Five Scholarship Examination results and the cut-off marks.The petition was filed by the parents of several students who appeared for the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination which was held on 15 September.On 20 September, an investigation was launched by the Department of Examinations after it was alleged that three questions of one of the question papers from the Exam had been leaked. Later, the initial investigation report was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which also launched a separate investigation into the matter.Meanwhile, the paper marking process of the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, had been temporarily suspended, pending the investigation.The investigations had uncovered that only three questions from the Exam had been leaked in advance. However, the incident stirred controversy as a group of parents, holding press conferences and staging protests on several occasions, had claimed that the entire question paper had been leaked.Against this backdrop, the Director of the Planning Division of the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Maharagama and a school teacher, who were arrested by the CID over the question paper issue, were remanded until 22 October. The arrested 58-year-old NIE Director was a member of the committee which prepared the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination paper, and the 49-year-old teacher had been conducting tuition classes for Grade 5 students. The parents raised the issue with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and as a result, the evaluation of the answer sheets for the Examination was suspended until the investigation was completed.However, on Monday (14), the Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara announced that it was decided not to re-conduct the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. Furthermore, it has been decided to award free marks to all students for the three questions which were alleged to have been leaked. Meanwhile, the evaluation of answer sheets, which had been temporarily suspended, is reportedly expected to commence immediately.

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M-E conflict: Spl. comm. to ma ...

Gammanpila told to handover 2 Easter attacks reports

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Online harassment: Police Women’s Bureau seeks complaints

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