South Asia Terrorism Portal
Sri Lanka: Island Aflame Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On May 12, 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe (73), leader of the United National Party (UNP) was sworn in as the new Prime Minister (PM) of Sri Lanka for the sixth time by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at President's House in Colombo. The newly sworn-in Prime Minister proceeded to the Walukarama Temple, Kollupitiya, to seek blessings and thereafter assumed his duties. Wickremesinghe was appointed following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, on May 9.
It is useful to recall here that in a political slugfest, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was sacked on October 26, 2018, and Mahinda Rajapaksa took his place. Wickremesinghe had been removed by Maithripala Sirisena, who became President after the Elections held on January 8, 2015, defeating the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Significantly, on May 11, 2022, in a special address to the country, the embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refused to step down and insisted that he would appoint a new Prime Minister and Cabinet within the week. He asserted that he would work with the new administration to empower Parliament and restore the 19th Amendment in a manner that gives more powers to the Parliament. He further claimed that he would abolish the executive presidency once the country stabilized, arguing,
In the interim, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe declared that he had accepted his new position to save the nation from its present crisis:
Afterward, President Rajapaksa informed opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) that, as he had refused to accept any responsibility within an interim government under his Presidency, he could not change the decision to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister at the present juncture. However, President Rajapaksa invited opposition Leader Premadasa to inform him, without delay, if the SJB was ready to accept Ministerial portfolios in the new Cabinet. He also stated that the appointment of the Cabinet could not be delayed further in a situation where the country was facing serious political and economic crises and asked Premadasa to convey his decision soon.
Significantly, on May 11, 2022, opposition Leader Premadasa had stated that his party was ready to form an interim government to bring about economic and political stability in Sri Lanka subjected to four conditions:
On May 11, 2022, Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne, during a special media briefing held at the Defence Ministry, Defence Headquarters Complex, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, stated that the death toll following the recent turmoil on May 9, 2022, had risen to nine, including two Police officers. A total of 219 persons were injured, 41 vehicles set on fire, 61 vehicles and 136 properties were damaged, he stated during the briefing.
According to a Sri Lanka Police Media Division release on May 10, 2022, eight persons had been killed in violent riots. Among the dead were a Member of Parliament (MP), a Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, a Sub-Inspector of Police and a Police Sergeant. A person who was injured in a clash in Colombo succumbed to his injuries. A Sub-Inspector of Police died due to a tear gas canister exploding. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security guard were killed when his vehicle was surrounded by protesters in Nittambuwa, while a youth was shot dead by the MP. Two persons were killed and eight persons were injured in a shooting at a protest held near the residence of the Chairman of the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha. The Chairman of the Imaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha, A.V. Sarath Kumara succumbed to his injuries after he was attacked at his residence. Prominently, among the injured was Deshabandu Tennakoon, the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Western Province, after he was assaulted by a group at Perahera Mawatha, Colombo.
A total of 136 properties were set ablaze, including the ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota. Video footage showed the entire house of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Medamulana in Hambantota city burning. Moreover, Mahinda Rajapaksa's House in Kurunegala was also set on fire by protesters, while a mob also destroyed the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial – constructed in the memory of the father of Mahinda and Gotabaya – at Medamulana, Hambantota.
Indeed, on May 9, 2022, unprecedented violence erupted in Sri Lanka after supporters of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked peaceful anti-Government protesters who were demanding his ouster, blaming him for the country's worst economic crisis, even as acute shortages of staple food, fuel and power escalated.
Openly, on April 9, 2022, thousands of youths gathered at the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face Green to demand the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the incumbent SLPP-led Government, protesting against the acute shortages of food, fuel and other essentials. Since then, large numbers of people have been protesting day and night in front of the Presidential Secretariat, the demarcated Demonstration Site, and in front of the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo. The protestors’ main slogan was #GotaGoGama [ “Gota” is part of the President’s name and “Gama” means Village in Sinhala. Thus, the slogan read, "Gota Go Village," or “President Go Home”].
The protests which had been building up from late February in response to Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis since its independence, turned into a nationwide uprising, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and removal of the Rajapaksa family from politics.
Interestingly, the Rajapaksa brothers, immensely popular among Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese population because of their role in crushing Tamil separatists and ending a 26-year civil war in 2009, were elected as President and Prime Minister of the country. On November 18, 2019, SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa (70) was sworn in as the eighth Executive President of Sri Lanka during a ceremony held at Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura, while Mahinda Rajapaksa became the Prime Minister on November 21, 2019.
According to an April 1, 2022, report, during their rule Sri Lanka also moved closer to China, borrowing almost USD 7 billion for infrastructure projects, many of which turned out to be white elephants, mired in corruption. A dire shortage of foreign currency, needed to pay Sri Lanka's debt, forced the Government to ban swathes of imports, causing severe shortages of essentials. Millions voted to elect a new President to lead the country out of its deepest economic slump in over 15 years after it was hit by a tourism slump in the wake of the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019 that killed 262 people, and then wrecked by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, economic mismanagement by the Rajapaksas was also to blame, including years of chronic budget deficits and ill-advised tax cuts. The recent crisis, caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, meant that the country could not pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and exorbitant prices.
On March 31, 2022, hundreds of angry protestors marched to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s house in Colombo late night, after the island experienced a 13-hour-long power cut.
Meanwhile, on April 1, 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a nationwide State of Emergency amidst a spate of protests. He issued a special gazette notification late in the night of on April 1, 2022, declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka with immediate effect, declaring,
According to an April 6, 2022, report, as the ruling coalition appeared to have lost its majority in the 225 member Parliament with over 40 MPs declaring independence from the ruling coalition, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa late in the night of April 5, 2022, revoked the State of Emergency with immediate effect. The gazette notification declared that the President had withdrawn the Emergency Rule Ordinance which gave Security Forces (SFs) sweeping powers to curb any disturbance in the country. Significantly, the Emergency was imposed because of the mass scale protests planned for April 3, 2022, against the economic hardships faced by the people. Later, the Government imposed an island-wide curfew. However, protests continued despite the curfew and the State of Emergency, with senior ruling party figures having their homes surrounded by angry protesters who urged the Government for solutions to the economic crisis.
Meanwhile, on April 3, 2022, all 26 Ministers in the Cabinet aside from Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, submitted letters of resignation at a late-night meeting. Cabinet members who decided to resign included three members of the ruling clan – Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, the last of whom was among the first to resign at a heated discussion among Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Cabinet members.
As protests continued the Sri Lanka Police shot dead one man identified as Chaminda Lakshan, and injured 10 others on April 19, 2022, in the first fatal clash with demonstrators protesting the island nation's crippling economic crisis. In a Tweet on April 20, 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared,
According to an April 28, 2022, report, more than 100 trade unions, some affiliated to the Rajapaksas' ruling SLPP party, joined the general strike, as demands grew for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family members to resign.
In the interim, on May 6, 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a State of Emergency effective midnight on May 6, 2022, for the second time in five weeks, giving SFs sweeping powers, as a nationwide strikes demanding his resignation brought the country to a standstill.
Succumbing to the pressure of the escalating protests, in a step that would enable his younger brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to go for a government of national unity, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the post of Prime Minister on May 9, 2022. Taking to Twitter, Mahinda wrote, “Effective immediately I have tendered my resignation as Prime Minister to the President.” In his resignation letter, Mahinda stated,
The current eco-political crisis emerged as the ruling administration’s biggest political challenge, after President Rajapaksa’s thumping poll victory in 2019, and his party’s subsequent big win in the 2020 general elections. As the country faces economic collapse and little hope for the proximate revival of the critical tourism sector, amidst widespread disorders, it remains to be seen how the new Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will restore a measure of stability. The continuance of President Rajapakse at his post is also likely to be a red rag for an enraged public.
Manipur: NRFM: Splintering hazard Oyindrila Chattopadhyay Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On May 6, 2022, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast was reported from the residence of R.K. Virendra at Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai in Imphal East District. This was the second blast reported within 24 hours. Though no casualty was reported, three vehicles parked in the area and windows were damaged due to the force of the blast.
On May 5, 2022, an IED explosion occurred near PG Paints Centre, owned by Prakash Shetri, at Nagamapal Lamaban Leikai in Imphal West District. Though no casualty was reported, the force of the explosion damaged the shutter of the shop.
Later on, on May 8, the National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) alternately known as Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-NRFM) claimed responsibility for both the incidents. According to an NRFM statement issued by its ‘information and publicity secretary’ Sanajaoba Meitei, R.K. Virendra, who is currently serving as an executive engineer at the State Government’s agriculture department, had made boastful remarks and conducted activities that portrayed the militant outfit in poor light, demeaning the NRFM cause. The NRFM spokesperson demanded all concerned, including the engineer and his associates, particularly former agriculture minister O. Lukhoi, to clarify their stand at the earliest. The outfit further warned that it would expose these individuals and initiate ‘suitable action’ in case of failure to comply with the ‘advice’ to issue a clarification.
Earlier, on April 6, 2022, an IED explosion took place at the gate of the residence of Imphal East Zilla Parishad’s Adhyaksha, Pungsungbam Bimola Devi, in the Achanbingei Mayai Leikai area of Imphal East District.
The ‘information and publicity secretary of NRFM, Sanajaoba Meitei, claiming responsibility for the blast, accused Pungsungbam Bimola Devi of collecting money from the public in the name of NRFM, since 2015.
Ironically, three incidents of explosion linked to NRFM in 2021 occurred near commercial properties, suggesting extortion-related intimidation.
On December 29, 2021, an IED explosion took place in front of a godown belonging to Ramnath Sahu in the Telipati area of Imphal in the Imphal East District.
On December 15, 2021, an IED explosion occurred near a pharmacy on Tinsid road in the Lamlong area of Imphal East District. Though no causalities were reported, the explosion blew up the pharmacy and other shops in the area. Several fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the fire which broke out after the blast. An arrested NRFM militant later disclosed that INR 1 million had been demanded from the pharmacy.
On November 18, 2021, an IED blast took place in front of a shop belonging to Mohammad Tolen, partially damaging the steel shutter of the shop at Kairang Muslim Mayai Leikai in Imphal East District. No causalities were reported.
The NRFM came into existence on January 7, 2012, as a splinter group of KCP. The exact cause of the split and the cadre strength of the splinters is not known. Like its parent group KCP, NRFM continues to fight for the ‘restoration’ of the independent ‘Kangleipak’ (ancient name of the Manipuri kingdom). The ‘central executive’ of the NRFM consists of its ‘chairman’ Dabalmacha, ‘secretary finance’ Nongpoknganba Meitei, and ‘information and publicity secretary, Sanajaoba Meitei.
The undivided KCP was formed on April 13, 1980, under the leadership of Y. Ibohanbi, with the stated aim of independence for Manipur, and to bring about an egalitarian society. Later, under pressure from Security Force (SF) led counterinsurgency operations, and specifically after the killing of its founder, Y. Ibohanbi in 1995, KCP broke into several splinter groups. At present, apart from NRFM, 17 other KCP factions are involved in insurgent activities in the State. They include KCP-Noyon (under CorCom), KCP-People’s War Group (KCP-PWG), KCP-Military Council-Progressive (KCP-MC-Progressive), KCP – Lamyanba Khuman (KCP-Lamyanba Khuman), KCP-Chingkheinganba (KCP-Chingkheinganba), KCP MTF – Kesho Meetei, KCP-MTF (Kesho Meetei), KCP MC- Taibanganba (KCP-MC Taibanganba), KCP-Maoist (KCP-Maoist), KCP– Khaba (KCP-Khaba), KCP – KK Nganba (KCP- KK Nganba), KCP– Kokkai (KCP-Kokkai), KCP–Poirei (KCP-Poirei), KCP – Rocky Meetei, (KCP- Rocky Meetei), KCP – URF, Kangleipak Communist Party – Military Joint Committee (KCP- MJC), and KCP – Mangang (KCP- Mangang).
The precise number of such formations to date is not available, the last official numbers were revealed on August 23, 2011. The then Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran of the United Progressive Alliance led Government named 12 KCP factions. These factions were KCP-Noyon, KCP-MC Lanheiba Meitei, KCP-MC Lanjaba Meitei, KCP- Lamphel, KCP-City Meitei, KCP-Kokkai, KCP -Nando, KCP -KK Nganba, KCP-MC Ningamba and KCP-MC Lallumba.
Earlier, on August 6, 2010, the KCP-MC-Lallumba faction lay down its arms.
On February 13, 2013, six factions of KCP including the United Revolutionary Front (URF), comprising of KCP-Lanheiba, KCP (Chingkheinganba also known as Nagangom soviet group), and KCP-Sunil Meitei, and three others, under KCP (Lamphel), [consisting of KCP-Lamphel, KCP (City Meitei) and KCP (Taibanganba)] signed a Memorandum of Understating (MoU) with the State Government. The MOU was, in effect, a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
Two factions of KYKL-MDF were also part of URF. On June 12, 2013, the KCP-MC-Nongdrenkhomba group joined the KCP-MC (Lamphel group). However, the failure to withdraw cases against leaders reportedly led a major chunk of the cadre (except the ‘soviet faction’), led by Khwairakpam Gopen alias Khellen alias Brojen alias Lanheiba alias Lalheiba, to abandon the agreement and revert to violence, including extortion, IED explosions, and the targeting of non-local migrant labourers.
Factionalism has dramatically weakened KCP. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), all the KCP factions have been responsible for a total of 28 fatalities [seven civilians, 19 militants and one not-specified (NS)] since August 7, 2010, when the first KCP faction entered an SoO Agreement. From March 6, 2000, to August 6, 2010, 167 fatalities (12 civilians, 156 militants, and 11 NS) were linked to these factions. Notably, NRFM has not been linked to any fatalities.
However, KCP-Noyon as part of CorCom, has been responsible for 12 fatalities (one civilian, eight SF personnel, and three militants). The last incident of fatality connected with the group was recorded in 2016. On May 22, 2016, at least six personnel of 29 Assam Rifles (AR), including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were killed and another seven were injured in an ambush at Hengshi village near Joupi under the Tengnoupal Police Station in Chandel District. The Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of several underground outfits, claimed the ambush.
Like other KCP groups in the past, the NRFM too is trying to exploit ‘indigenous’ against ‘outsider’ sentiments, as well as the public demand for the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). On the occasion of its 10th ‘Raising Day’ on January 7, 2022, NRFM alleged that Manipur was ‘annexed’, transforming “Kangleipak into an inhospitable place for indigenes while carving up niches for outsiders and mixing up the blood apart from imposing many draconian Acts.” On April 1, 2022, AFSPA was withdrawn from 15 Police Station areas of 6 Districts in Manipur - Imphal West (Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang,Patsoi), Imphal East (Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai Irilbung), Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. However, AFSPA remains effective in 82 Police Stations across 16 Districts of Manipur.
The group employs the usual militant modus operandi, calling for Bandhs (shut-down strikes) and employing intimidatory tactics, such as placing IEDs in public and residential places, is to demonstrate its presence. NRFM has given routine bandh calls to mark its presence, particularly coinciding with the visit of top political leaders.
On January 4, 2022, NRFM along with the Coordination Committee (CorCom), imposed a 12-hour bandh in the State on the occasion of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to poll-bound Manipur.
On September 21, 2021, NRFM called for a 12-hour bandh, denouncing India's ‘annexation’ of Manipur through the 'Manipur Merger Agreement' signed on September 21, 1949.
SFs have kept up the pressure on the outfit. According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), since NRFM’s formation till date, 20 of its militants have been arrested including two (in two incidents) in 2022; six in four incidents in 2021; three in one incident in 2020; two in two incidents in 2019, four in two incidents in 2015; and three in one incident in 2014. However, the top leadership is yet to be apprehended.
Significantly, on April 13, 2021, KCP, Politburo Standing Committee chairman’ Ibungo Ngangom called upon the leadership for the unification of all the armed groups, big and small, in the interest of ‘Kangleipak.’ Ibungo Ngangom declared, “Until we come to project a united front, making any further progress in the struggle remains a challenge.”
SFs will have to take necessary steps to prevent further consolidation of KCP-NRFM, particularly the neutralization of its leadership, so that its further violent activities can be brought to an end. Further, strong initiatives are required to prevent the formation of any ‘united front’ by KCP, which could seriously alter the security scenario in the State.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia May 9-15, 2022
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
NS
Total
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
India (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
Sindh
PAKISTAN (Total)
Total (South Asia)
US to monitor the situation in Afghanistan, and is ready to take action if needed, says Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley: The United States (US) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said that the United States is monitoring the situation in Afghanistan, and it has the capabilities to conduct strike operations in this country if a threat emanates from the country’s territory. “We do maintain surveillance [in Afghanistan] and I won’t go into the details of how or what forms or mechanisms, and we do have the capabilities to conduct strike operations if we see a threat emanating from the land of Afghanistan,” General Milley said. Aamaj News, May 13, 2022.
EU Ambassador to Afghanistan, Andreas von Brand express concern on reports of civilian casualties in Panjshir Province: The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Afghanistan, Andreas von Brand, expressed concerns over the reports of killings of civilians and mistreatment in Panjshir. “Concerned by reports of killings of civilians and mistreatment in Panjshir. We mourn the innocent loss of life,” Ambassador von Brand said. TOLO News, May 11, 2022.
Resistance will increase all across the country, says former Vice-President of Afghan Republic Amrullah Saleh: Formjer vice president of Afghan Republic, Amrullah Saleh, citing the recent clashes in Northern Provinces of Panjshir, Takhar and Baghlan, said that resistance will increase all across the country. “It is a holy resistance. Yes, it is concentrated in specific areas but that is the character of such conflicts. Like a drop of oil on a paper it will cover all of it soon,” Saleh said. Aamaj News, May 9, 2022.
Maoists may target railway stations in Jungle Mahal, says Central Intelligence Agency: The targets of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) are the railway stations in Jungle Mahal, stated the report received from the Central Intelligence Agency. Police conducted a search operation with a mine detector at Shalbani, Garbeta and Chandrakona Road stations in the Jungle Mahal area. Bangla News, May 14, 2022.
Pro-Khalistan terror group SFJ issues fresh threats to Himachal Pradesh CM, DGP: Pro Khalistan banned terror group Sikh for Justice (SFJ) on May 12 issued a fresh threat to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Jairam Thakur and Director General of Police (DGP), Sanjay Kundu. The legal counsel of SFJ, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in an audio message announced a reward of around INR 2 million to anyone providing information about the CM and the DGP's foreign visits. Times Now, May 13, 2022.
Absconding gangster Harvinder Singh Rinda becomes new ‘head’ of Babbar Khalsa India chapter: Punjab's gangster Harvinder Singh Rinda who escaped from India in the year 2020, has been made the India ‘head’ of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Rinda, who sent a cache of explosives to Karnal and Maharashtra sitting in Pakistan, has been made the India head of BKI, the accused arrested with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from Karnal have disclosed this during interrogation. Aaj Tak News, May 13, 2022.
At least 168 terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir, 75 killed this year, says senior Army official: An unnamed senior Army official reported on May 12, at least 168 terrorists are operating in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) while 75 have been killed in encounters with Security Forces (SFs) in 2022. Among those neutralized include 21 foreign mercenaries. In the past 11 months, 11 terrorists were encountered and 12 infiltration bids were foiled in the vicinity of the Line of Control (LoC) alone, official said. Daily Excelsior, May 13, 2022.
One third of CPI-Maoist ‘Central Committee’ leaders neutralised in last 9 months, says MHA: Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has faced its biggest setback in recent times with security agencies informing the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) that eight ‘Central Committee (CC)’ members have been neutralised in last nine months. The Week, May 9, 2022.
ULFA-I ‘executing’ own cadres should be lesson for youths, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma: On May 8, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma, stated that the incident of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) ‘executing’ its own cadres should serve as a lesson for youths who wish to join the banned outfit. CM Sarma also reiterated his appeal to the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) for peace talks, stating that such ‘tejor faku’ (bloodshed) will not lead to any development. Northeast Now, May 8, 2022.
Harassment of non-tribal cadre eroded Maoists’ base in Andhra Pradesh, says DGP: The killing of tribal people after branding them as ‘police informers’ and the harassment and suppression of the Dalam (armed squad) members hailing from various tribal groups are the prime reasons behind the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) losing base in Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring States, said Andhra Pradesh, Director General of Police (DGP), K.V. Rajendranath Reddy on May 6. The Hindu, May 6, 2022.
CPN-Maoist-Chand splits formally, Bastola faction forms CPN-Majority: The Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist-Chand) on May 9 has split formally with a dissident leader of the party, Dharmendra Bastola forming a separate party named the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist-Majority (CPN-Majority), accusing that the “Chand-led faction is getting stuck in the quagmire of parliamentary politics”. my Republica, May 9, 2022.
CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal supports rebel candidate, disregards coalition’s decision: Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal publicly shown his support to rebel candidate Laxmi Satgauwa for the post of vice chairperson of Kailari Rural Municipality in Kailali District in Province No. 7 of Nepal. my Republica, May 9, 2022.
Alliance not against any force; it's a force of political necessity, says NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa: Nepali Congress (NC) General-Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa said the five-party electoral alliance is not formed against any political force but emerged as a force out of political necessity. While addressing an election gathering organized by NC at Loktantrik Chowk in Gaighat, Udayapur on May 9, General-Secretary Thapa claimed, "The five-party alliance was made to get rid of political instability and keep the politics stable". my Republica, May 9, 2022.
Dire human rights situation of Balochistan in 2021, says HRCB report: A Balochistan based Human rights group, Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) has released its yearly report in which it pointed out the dire human rights situation of Balochistan in 2021. According to the report, the year 2021 witnessed a drastic change in human rights situation in Balochistan. HRCB received reports of enforced disappearance of 442 people, out of whom 170 were later tortured and released while whereabouts of 272 people remained unknown at the time of writing this report. A total of 366 people were killed. The Balochistan Post, May 13, 2022.
‘GotaGoGama’ protesters issue set of demands to usher new era of Governance: Protesters at Galle Face Green have come up with a set of demands and a petition to be produced in Parliament with the objective of ushering in a new era of governance. Social activist Manuri Pabasari said that the people’s protest at Galle Face Green is a symbolic moment and has placed Sri Lanka on the world map. Daily Mirror, May 14, 2022.
SLFP not to take any ministerial portfolios in new Government: The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided not to be a partner in the Government of which Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Prime Minister and accordingly, the party will not accept any ministerial portfolios or other posts, said the chairman of the party, former President Maithripala Sirisena addressing a media briefing in Colombo at the party headquarters on May 13. Colombo Page, May 14, 2022.
SLPP to support Ranil Wickremesinghe G.overnment, SJB, SLFP, independent MPs not to take part: The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will support Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to form a Government, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said on May 13. The main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said it will not take part in a government to be established under the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. Colombo Page , May 14, 2022.
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka: Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President's House in Colombo on May 12. Ranil Wickremesinghe has previously served five times as the island nation’s Prime Minister Colombo Page , May 13, 2022.
Proposals related to the 21st Amendment to the Constitution available on the Parliament website for public reference: Private Members’ Bills recently submitted to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on behalf of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Independent Members of Parliament (MPs) in connection with the 21st amendment to the Constitution can be downloaded in all three languages from the Parliamentary website. Colombo Page , May 10, 2022.
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