Pulitzer Centre's ORN Fellow. Ex Consultant-WHO Investigative Journalist/HRD. Bylines: BBC/Al Jazeera/Guardian. Editor -Midpoint.lk https://xitter.cf/t.co/ZBL0yHkvxF
Sri Lanka; UK
Joined September 2012
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Thread: On 24 July, last year, the Supreme Court of #SriLanka ordered, among other things, "X-Press Pearl Group" to pay $1 billion within a year as initial compensation for the #marine disaster but so far the company has only paid $1 million. (1)
#Ocean #XpressPearl #toxicwaste
At Crimea Global int'l conference in Kyiv, #Ukraine, I discussed consequences of delaying justice after #SriLanka’s civil war. While @ompsrilanka has received apprx 22,000 submissions, it has only been able to establish d fate of about 30 ppl. Read more - linkedin.com/feed/update/urn…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
On Abhidhamma Day, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk praises India, & PM Modi's global efforts to preserve Buddhism, and share sacred relics.
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
(1/2) Sri Lanka's new Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA)(2026) is worse than the Prevention of Terrorim Act (PTA)(1979).
Here's why...
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
When holding Gnanasara Thero's pardon null and void, the SC FR 256/2019 j'ment noted:
▪︎ The 4 charges based on conduct to undermine judicial authority and interfere with a court's ability to do justice; and
▪︎ Buddha's instruction for monks to follow the law of the land ⬇️
Buddhist monks begin protest march in Kandy demanding Gnanasara Thera’s release
Full Story: newswire.lk/9rq8
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
The diplomatic ties between India and Israel are often viewed through their alliances in defence, technology, trade and other strategic interests. But there is another dimension to the relationship that is harder to capture through geopolitics alone: an increasing affinity between Hindutva and Zionism, giving the relationship an ideological dimension alongside its expanding strategic ties.
In his December 2023 article, Rohan Venkat examines how Israel’s treatment of Palestinians has resonated with sections of the Hindu nationalist movement, particularly in relation to Kashmir and India’s Muslim population by drawing on Azad Essa’s Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel.
himalmag.com/modi-netanyahu-…
In our latest piece, Rahul Rao reviews Pankaj Mishra’s The World After Gaza alongside Esmat Elhalaby’s Parting Gifts of Empire, revisiting the intellectual and political connections that once linked India and Palestine.
himalmag.com/pankaj-mishra-e…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Caught between geopolitical pressures & our basic humanitarian obligations, where do we draw the line? My essay in today's ‘The Island’ explores the dilemma with Iranian ships unfolding just beyond our maritime borders 🔗 island.lk/iranian-tankers-an…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
#SriLanka's proposed new NGO legislation imposes an obligation on NGOs to “align with the policies of the government” and “not engage in any activity that adversely affects the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Sri Lanka or violates the provisions of the Constitution”.
NGOs cannot “induce or cause any public disorder which affects the safety and interests of the general public”.
They must not engage in “any advocacy to support political ideologies using funds and resources of the non-governmental organisation during a period of pre-election or, unless it is an object of such non-governmental organisation”.
NGOs must also use their funds “only for the purposes it was registered” and notify the Competent Authority “prior to initiation of any crowdfunding activity”.
sundaytimes.lk/261004/news/c…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
The j'ment in SC FR 256/2019:
(a) Doesn't find and/or hold and/or consider that Gnanasara Thero is deserving of a presidential pardon;
(b) Holds the one given "null and void" - effectively, that he must be treated as never having got it, and so has to serve his jail term;
[2/3]
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Any suggestion the Supreme Ct didn't expect Gnanasara Thero to be required to serve his prison term after his presidential pardon was held null and void but expected that a fresh pardon be given, is inconsistent with what's stated in the actual judgment in SC FR 256/2019 ⬇️
[1/3]
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
‼️URGENT APPEAL‼️
#SL migrant worker, S. Anojan, currently serving a death sentence in Saudi, has been assaulted by fellow inmates & sustained serious injuries to his head.
His family fears for his safety & has appealed to the GoSL & the int community to ensure his safety!
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Hate speech in any form is unacceptable.
Let's unite to eradicate discrimination and promote tolerance.
#NoToHate 💬❤️
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Not a shred of evidence that journalists partook in military activities. Zero
But as Western media starts its due diligence, Apartheid Israel escalates disinformation. The army has even a "legitimization cell" fabricating stories to justify genocide. My next report exposes it all
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Monday is #WorldTeachersDay!
Thank you to all educators around the world for their unwavering dedication to future generations.
Join @UNESCO in celebrating teachers worldwide: unesco.org/en/days/teachers
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
On 2 October 2026, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, police personnel in New Delhi closed at least 11 metro stations and detained more than 500 people at planned protests led by India's Cockroach Janta Party. They demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a nationwide exercise by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that led to the deletion of roughly 130 million (13 crore) names from voter lists across multiple states and union territories.
The movement began in May, after a Chief Justice described unemployed young people as "cockroaches". Within a week, the CJP's Instagram page had 10 million followers. Mass protests in July ended with the education minister's resignation.
In July, Himal published Neha Dixit's (@nehadixit123) report which covers the NEET exam cancellation, paper leaks in 19 states since 2019, youth unemployment data, and how earlier protests under the Modi government were met.
Read it again: himalmag.com/cjp-protests-ne…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
🇬🇼A Guinea-Bissau fisheries assessment obtained by OCCRP shows that the sardinella — an important food source — has been decimated in the years since two Chinese fishmeal-production vessels set up shop offshore. After the industry was banned earlier this year, the floating factories moved south to Sierra Leone.
Read more in @JosefSkrdlik's story: occrp.org/en/feature/a-key-f…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Humanity is speeding towards a climate catastrophe.
That’s the stark warning from the latest @UNEP report.
Every fraction of a degree of warming will cost lives, deepen inequalities & push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage.
We must raise ambition, accelerate #ClimateAction & fight for humanity. NOW.
unep.org/resources/limiting-…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinian people.
Piecemeal sanctions against settlement goods or individual ministers won't cut it.
Britain must end all trade, all arms sales, and all support for Israel's economy of occupation, apartheid and genocide.
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Family members of people missing after the Nepal floods search through images of bodies displayed on the walls of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. With more than a thousand dead so far and close to 5000 missing, there is survivor’s guilt among the living. Pranaya Rana (@inkthink) reflects on a near miss with the flash flood and the precarity of life in Nepal amid climate change: himalmag.com/nepal-flood-cli…
This story has been co-published with @WeeklyKalam .
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Glad to see valuable new @HRW report documenting continued lack of accountability in #SriLanka. My take:
1. we've seen progress in investigations w/apparent will to prosecute in 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, allegedly backed by mil intell in service of Rajapaksas' return to power.
NEW: The Sri Lankan government’s prosecution of past grave abuses has lagged, raising concerns for future progress.
Many cases of forced disappearance, torture, and killing remain stalled, while families of victims and human rights defenders face threats and intimidation.
Learn more:
hrw.org/news/2026/09/01/sri-…
Saroj Pathirana / සරෝජ් පතිරණ retweeted
Commonwealth Lawyers Association President Steven Thiru has described as unusual and unfortunate the decision not to allow petitioners’ counsel to make an oral reply during the Supreme Court hearing on the proposed 22nd Amendment. He said counsel were instead directed to submit their response in writing.