NAFSO leader attended
the meeting organized by Social Movement and trade union collective held at
Temple Trees yesterday on current situation of the country. There were around
450 civil society and trade union representatives attended the session
including more than 25 Buddhist monks and other religious leaders.
The PM Ranil
Wiickremasinghe presided the meeting which was facilitated by Saman Rathnapriya
the convener of the trade union collective. Prime Minister, Ranil
Wickramasinghe said, "the economy has been seriously damaged due to the
aftermath of the Easter Sunday. We are now in the process of assessing the
damage which would be around 1000 - 2000 Billion LKR."
Once, the briefing
about country situation by DIG- Police, Priyantha Jayakody, Army senior
official of Western Region P.G. Abenayake and the minister Rajitha Senarathne,
before the Civil Society representatives share their concerns, the PM Ranil
Wickramsinghe said, he has another meeting to attend with Chamber of Commerce
and need to leave immediately.
However, Herman of
NAFSO raised his hand and raised the point of Refugees and Asylum Seekers those
who are kept in Negombo Police Station[169], Periyamulla [326] and Pasyala
Ahamadia [691]mosques.
The response from
Prime Minister was to send the refugees to another country and the GOSL is
engage to facilitate the visa process. However, Herman again mediated and said,
there should be some government mechanism to provide safer place to stay,
health facilities and medicine until they leave the country. However, there is
no any reasonable, responsible response from PM Ranil Wickremasinghe for the
refugee issue.
At the same time,
some of the civil society actors, those who were attended criticize Herman and
complained those are not the issues to talk at the meeting and they have many
other issues related to security to address at the current situation.
Many of the
participants who attended the meeting with PM Ranil Wickremasinghe were
frustrated and said, "What is the objective of this meeting? PM
Wickramasighe is not ready to listen to us providing adequate time for us, We
do not want to come again for such meetings."
So, most of them are
not happy with the meeting held yesterday.
