Govt. trying to dupe UN Rapporteur?

Saturday 29th August, 2026

The JVP-NPP government has responded to UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite’s statement on its move to increase the retirement ages of judges, according to media reports. It has reportedly sought to justify its controversial move by repeating the same old arguments in defence of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution (22A). Satterthwaite in her statement has warned Sri Lanka that its proposed constitutional amendment to extend superior court retirement ages could undermine judicial independence. One could not agree with her more.

Government politicians and their apologists claim that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the Opposition have misled the UN, the International Association of Judges, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, LAWASIA, etc., over 22A. What they should realise is that before issuing statements, these organisations conduct in-depth studies of issues and draw their own conclusions. The fact that they have endorsed the position of the BASL does not mean that they have been misled.

Going by media reports, the government in its response to the UN has muddied the water. It has said the retirement ages of all judges will be extended as part of a broad strategy to expedite the disposal of cases and clear a massive case backlog. But it is obvious that it first sought to increase the retirement age of the SC judges, and when it drew heavy criticism, it sought to mask its real intention by undertaking to extend the retirement age of the CA of judges as well. When its move ran into still more resistance, it proposed to increase the retirement ages of all judges.

What has drawn heavy criticism is not the move to raise the retirement ages of judges as such but the fact that the government has sought to extend the retirement ages of the serving judges of the SC and the CA. Hence so many petitions against 22A. The Judicature (Amendment) Bill, aiming to increase the retirement ages of the High Court judges, District Court judges and Magistrates, has not run into resistance, for they are not specified in the Constitution, much less listed under ‘the Independence of the Judiciary’ unlike those of the SC and CA judges.

The SC has twice articulated or reaffirmed the principle that a constitutional amendment altering the retirement age or period of office of incumbent Supreme Court or Court of Appeal judges would affect judicial independence and engage Article 3, thereby requiring a referendum. The principle was expressly stated in the 2022 Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill determination and reaffirmed in a subsequent SC judgement. This has been the position of independent legal professionals as well. They have warned that 22A will lead to a conflict of interest on the part of the incumbent judges who are to hear the petitions challenging it. They have rightly argued that 22A has to be placed before the people at a referendum.

The government is doing everything in its power to shift the battle over 22A to the political front, but the issue has now been internationalised, and the hearing of the petitions against 22A will be under intense international scrutiny.

The government may be able to fool some people in this country with its absurd arguments and rhetoric, but there is no way it can dupe the discerning public and the international community into believing its claim that 22A is not tailored to benefit some serving judges and it is aimed at expediting the administration of justice.

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Jaffna Teaching Hospital secures lifeline water supply via ADB-funded Thalaiyadi sea water desalination plant

It marks Sri Lanka’s first-ever large-scale SWRO desalination plant

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in Thalaiyadi has delivered a crucial operational boost to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, securing a reliable supply of purified, low-calcium water for critical medical care and specialized equipment.

Speaking during a site briefing with ADB officials headed by Country Director Shannon Cowlin, National Water Supply and Drainage Board engineers, and media representatives, Hospital Director Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy confirmed that a dedicated supply line from the plant was successfully connected earlier this year following three years of planning and requests.

With a 175-year legacy of excellence, this 1,550-bed facility serves as the premier healthcare institution in the Northern Province. Currently providing specialized services—including neurosurgery, open-heart surgery, kidney transplants, and bone marrow transplants—the hospital is positioning itself for elevation to National Hospital status under Ministry of Health guidelines.

Operating across a sprawling 13.5-acre compound, the institution functions much like a self-contained township, managing a massive daily footfall that underscores its role as a vital regional lifeline. The hospital accommodates over 1,500 in-patients on any given day, while its outpatient services face a relentless stream of visitors. Daily arrivals typically include 900 to 1,000 OPD patients, accompanied by up to 2,800 clinic visitors distributed across more than 30 specialized medical and surgical units.

When factoring in the wider operational ecosystem, the total daily population within the compound swells to approximately 10,000 people. This high-volume environment is sustained by a dedicated workforce of 2,400 healthcare professionals, alongside a daily influx of over 3,000 visiting relatives who pass through the facility to support recovering patients.

The Thalaiyadi seawater desalination plant

For decades, the hospital’s reliance on local groundwater presented severe operational bottlenecks. Jaffna’s limestone-heavy geology yields water with high calcium concentrations, causing severe mineral build-up that damaged millions of rupees worth of high-value equipment ranging from large-scale sterilizers to delicate endoscopic instruments.

The introduction of low-calcium desalinated water has immediately safeguarded key operational areas. The initial phase of the connection delivers purified water directly to high-priority sections, including operating theaters, intensive care units (ICUs), and main entrance public drinking facilities.

While the hospital’s total assessed daily demand stands at 1,500 cubic meters, desalinated water currently covers approximately 30% of total usage. The remaining 70% continues to depend on legacy systems due to internal piping networks that are nearly 60 years old. To resolve this, hospital management has floated tenders to overhaul internal distribution lines, enabling pure desalinated water to reach all wards.

Jaffna Teaching Hospital Director Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy and ADB Country Director Shannon Cowlin during a meeting at the hospital premises

Engineers confirmed that the SWRO plant operates with a capacity of 24,000 cubic meters per day, guaranteeing ample volume for full hospital coverage. Furthermore, the ADB is structuring a new municipal wastewater treatment project for Jaffna, which will integrate the hospital and replace its aging internal waste treatment system.

Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy stressed that clean piped water is vital to public health in Jaffna, where groundwater remains vulnerable to agricultural fertilizer runoff, commercial effluents, and historical pollution concerns such as the Chunnakam oil contamination incident. He noted that encouraging piped water consumption also reduces dependence on single-use bottled water, which risks microplastic degradation when exposed to the region’s intense heat.

The Thalaiyadi seawater desalination plant represents a major financial investment coupled with rigorous environmental management to protect the surrounding coastal ecosystem. Financially, the project carries a total capital cost of USD 55 million, anchored by a primary contract valued at LKR 14,559 million—structured across multiple currencies including USD 49 million, EUR 15 million, and INR 314 million, alongside local allocations.

Awarded to M/s Suez International under a comprehensive Design, Build, and 7-Year Operation framework, the project involves an operational expenditure of USD 0.55 per cubic meter, with management scheduled to transfer to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) following the completion of the operational term in October 2031.

Simultaneously, extensive ecological safeguards have been integrated into the facility’s design to mitigate marine disruption. The offshore intake system is positioned away from sensitive habitats and utilizes low-velocity grilles to prevent fish entrainment, safeguarding the interests of the local fishing community. Furthermore, waste discharge is strictly regulated under Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) guidelines. Brine concentrate is sent through an offshore outfall equipped with specialized diffusers located more than 500 meters from the shore, ensuring rapid dispersion and limiting salinity impact to a tightly controlled 50-meter mixing zone.

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Sugarcane to beat the heat …

The heat is awful these days and it is certainly going to get worse. With that in mind, I’m giving you, this week, some beauty tips to help you … let’s say ‘Beat the Heat!’

*  Sugarcane Glow Face Toner:

For: Dull, tired, dehydrated skin.

Take fresh sugarcane juice and mix it with a few drops of rose water. Store in a spray bottle, in the fridge, and spray on the face 02-03 times a day.

* Cooling Sugarcane and Sandalwood Pack:

For: Heat rashes, pimples, and oily skin

Mix 02 tablespoon sugarcane juice, 01 teaspoon sandalwood powder, and a pinch of turmeric. Apply and let it remain for 15 minutes, and then rinse with cold water.

*  Sugarcane and Aloe Vera Hair Rinse:

For: Itchy scalp, dandruff, and heat-damaged hair

Mix ½ cup fresh sugarcane juice and 02 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel. Massage into scalp, after shampoo, leave for 10 minutes, and then rinse.

*  Sugarcane Ice Cubes for Puffy Eyes:

Freeze sugarcane juice in an ice tray. Wrap 01 cube in a clean cloth and gently roll, under eyes, for 02 minutes.

Important:

Always use fresh sugarcane juice, and do a patch test on your hand first, okay?

By the way, you also need to protect your hair from Sun and Sweat Damage because the sun makes your hair dry, and the sweat causes dandruff and itch.

Take a little warm coconut oil, about 02-03 tablespoons, and massage it gently into your scalp with your fingertips. Then run it through the length of your hair, especially the dry ends. Sleep with it. You can tie your hair up loosely and put an old towel on your pillow. The next morning wash it out with shampoo, just like normal. You might need to shampoo twice to get all the oil out.

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Lanka Hospitals sets new benchmark

Lanka Hospitals PLC has secured reaccreditation under the Joint Commission International (JCI) 8th Edition standards. This recognition reflects the hospital’s continued commitment to delivering safe and reliable patient care in line with current international requirements.

The achievement represents more than the successful completion of a global accreditation survey. It reflects the integration of rigorous quality and safety practices across clinical, administrative and operational functions, supported by continuous monitoring, evidence based protocols, accountable leadership and a hospital-wide culture of improvement.

JCI is recognised worldwide as one of the most demanding healthcare accreditation systems. Its 8th Edition introduces stronger requirements across all stages of patient care, infection prevention and control, medication management, facility safety, the qualifications and skills of medical staff, accurate data management, governance and risk management. The standards assess whether quality and patient safety are consistently maintained in daily practice and supported by measurable results, rather than simply stated in policies.

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Dolly Parton's final wish 'to be buried in plush cotton' shared in heartbreaking message

Dolly Parton's family shared a heartbreaking message with fans after the country music legend's death at the age of 80, revealing her final wish

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Roger Menezes … back in town

Multi-instrumentalist Roger Menezes, now based in Sydney, Australia, is one Sri Lankan who still misses his land of birth and zooms his way to Sri Lanka on a regular basis.

In 2025, he made eight trips to Colombo, and this year, so far, it’s four!

Of course, whenever he is in Colombo he obliges music lovers with his special brand of music: vocals, keyboards, guitar, sax and drums – a one-man band, in fact.

He will be seen in action on 28th August and 4th September at Broadway, Dehiwela.

Roger indicated that he will also be spending a few days in Nuwara Eliya … vacation time, he added, before returning to Australia on 6th September.

And in December he returns for a pre-New Year’s Eve party at Broadway –- and he is also billed to entertain a group of Canadians and Aussies, in January, 2027.

In Australia, he performs regularly at elders’ homes.

“I love doing it for them as they love the oldies music I give them. It’s nostalgia for those folks.”

Roger has been a part of many known bands, while in Sri Lanka, including the Savages, Fireflies and the Jetliners.

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SLIM and NANASKA partner to strengthen finance and leadership skills for marketers

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the National Body for Marketing in Sri Lanka, has entered into a strategic partnership with NANASKA (Pvt) Ltd through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance executive education, professional development, and knowledge sharing for marketing professionals.

The first initiative under the partnership will be the launch of the Finance and Leadership Masterclass for Marketing Professionals, an executive programme designed to strengthen financial acumen, commercial thinking, strategic decision-making, and leadership capabilities among marketers.

Commenting on the partnership, Enoch Perera, President of SLIM, said, ” The future of marketing belongs to professionals who combine creativity with commercial understanding and strategic leadership. This partnership with NANASKA represents an important step in broadening the capabilities of marketing professionals by providing an executive learning experience that integrates finance, leadership, and marketing.”

Representing NANASKA, Channa Gunawardana, Executive Director, said, “Today’s marketers need more than creative excellence, they need a strong understanding of finance, commercial strategy, and leadership to create lasting business value. We are proud to partner with SLIM to deliver a first-of-its-kind executive learning programme that empowers marketing professionals with the practical knowledge and confidence to lead in an increasingly dynamic business environment.”

Ms. Manthika Ranasinghe, Vice President, Education & Research, said, ” Professional education must evolve alongside the changing needs of industry. This collaboration enables us to deliver a learning experience that combines academic excellence with practical business insight, helping marketers build capabilities that are increasingly essential in today’s corporate landscape.”

Rajiv David, Vice President, Events & Sustainability, added, ” Meaningful partnerships create meaningful opportunities. By bringing together the strengths of SLIM and NANASKA, we are introducing a learning platform that supports the continuous development of marketing professionals while fostering stronger collaboration between marketing and finance.”

This strategic collaboration brings together Sri Lanka’s premier marketing institute and a leading finance education provider to deliver an executive learning experience that integrates finance, leadership, and marketing. It also lays the foundation for future programmes in emerging disciplines such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and business leadership, further strengthening the capabilities of Sri Lanka’s marketing professionals.

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