President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to lead a high-level Sri Lankan delegation of approximately 80 members to the UN Conference of Parties (COP28) summit in Dubai next week.

The delegation includes key figures such as Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Climate Change Presidential Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene, and Foreign Affairs Advisor Dinouk Colombage.

Additionally, four Parliamentarians will join the delegation, reflecting a comprehensive and diverse representation.

The technical delegation will consist of 15 negotiators and ministry officials.

The overflow delegation, consisting of private sector organisations and one of Sri Lanka’s biggest-ever contingents of 20 youth delegates, forms the largest part of the representation at the climate summit.

Sri Lanka will host its first-ever pavilion at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties in Dubai next week, where multiple climate-related policies and lobbies are set to be spearheaded by Sri Lanka.

Source – sundaytimes.lk

Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations have expressed concerns over the proposed Online Safety Act and Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act.

UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression  Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, and Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, Ana Brian Nougrères, expressed their concerns via a statement to the Sri Lankan government.

They note that the Online Safety Act and Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act do not meet the requirements of international law and standards.

They noted that there are potential violations of the rights to privacy, freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), acceded to by Sri Lanka.

In terms of the Online Safety Act, they said that many provisions appear vague and overly broad and may therefore fail to meet the requirements of the ICCPR.

The statement added that the proposed law may severely limit the scope of online expression and may pose major barriers and threats to any individuals, especially journalists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations who may be critical of the government.

They added that the bill seems to be directed at people living in Sri Lanka and at the diaspora, with severe adverse effects on the freedom of expression of a very wide range of individuals.

On the proposed Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act , the Special Rapporteurs said that Commission’s appointment process, if implemented in its current form, may thus give the executive the ability to punish, and/or deny licenses to media outlets that do not have a favourable view of the Government.

They stressed that it is essential that the oversight mechanism be an autonomous body, independent from any pressure or political ties.

The statement added that to protect freedom of expression, international standards require States to respect the freedom of the media.

It added that States have an obligation to refrain from engaging in indirect forms of censorship, such as the abuse of controls over newsprint, radio frequencies or infrastructure used to disseminate media content and ensure the independence of bodies which exercise regulatory powers over the media.

The Special Rapporteurs encourage the withdrawal, public consultation and substantial review of key aspects of both the proposed Online Safety Act and the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act.

(newsfirst.lk)

Well known civil activist and media personnel – Mr. Freddy Gamage is to be presented with a Medal of Honour by the President of Timor – Leste, Mr. Ramos Horta.

Currently, Mr. Gamage is on the way to Timor – Leste for the ceremony which will be held on Monday (Nov. 27).

The medal is a tribute to Mr. Gamage’s staunch support extended as a civil activist and media personnel from a foreign country during Timor – Leste’s struggle for independence.

An old boy of St. Mary’s College, Negombo, Mr. Gamage holds a diploma on International Relations at the BMICH.

Mr. Gamage established the ‘Janawaboda Kendraya’, a NGO based in the Negombo area when he was just a schoolboy and has been working to safeguard rights of the common man for decades, working with Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda during his youth.

He is also the President of the Professional Web Journalists’ Association (PWJA).

Upon learning of the honor Mr. Gamage is to be bestowed upon, in Timor – Leste, friends, contemporaries and fellow activists have been extending their good wishes.