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Jaishankar blames India's Emergency period for fishing dispute with Lanka

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Friday that Sri Lankan authorities were arresting Indian fishermen because of an emergency-era agreement that gave up fishing rights in some areas. "At the time, several big decisions would be taken without a debate. These days, there is a discussion about our fishermen going to Sri Lanka and getting arrested there. That is because of an agreement signed with Sri Lanka at the time of the Emergency under which the rights of the fishermen to fish in some part of Sri Lankan waters were given up by us," he said at a BJP youth wing event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. Tamil Nadu's DMK government has repeatedly raised the issue with the Union government. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, calling for the return of Kachchativu that was handed over to Sri Lanka through agreements signed in 1974 and 1976. The decades-old dispute resurfaced last year after Mr. Modi posted on X that the Congress "callously gave away" Kachchativu to Sri Lanka in the 1970s. Government data shows Sri Lanka arrested more than 528 Indian fishermen in 2024. Mr. Jaishankar said, "If it wasn't for an Emergency Parliament, if Parliament at the time was a genuine Parliament, there would have been a debate, and I don't know if the Parliament would have allowed such an agreement," he said. "The decisions taken at the time still show their impact in the state of Tamil Nadu." The state is expected to go to the polls next year. The External Affairs Minister also took aim at the Congress party, stating that one family's interests were placed above the nation during the Emergency. Indian Coast Guard reports arrest of three Lankans The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) yesterday announced the arrest of three Sri Lankans who were attempting to illegally enter the country via sea. In a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard said vigilant Coast Guard personnel aboard one of its ACVs (hovercraft) arrested the Sri Lankans and that they had been handed over to the Marine Police for further investigations. The caption carries a photograph of the three Sri Lankans, but their identities have not been disclosed. Bribery Commission clears doctors' concerns over private sector purchases The recent arrest of neurosurgeon Dr Maheshini Wijeratne has sparked fears in the medical sector, as it has been a practice to purchase medicines and equipment from the private sector whenever the supplies are not available in state hospitals. Health Ministry officials this week had sought a meeting with the Bribery Commission to seek a clarification on what were the repercussions of going ahead with the practice of making purchases from outside. The officials, of course, were told that if the purchases were "genuine", they would not face action. A quarter-page advertisement in the June 27 edition of the New York Times glorifies the "sunset splendour of an Oscar Heyman Ceylon sapphire" up for sale. The ad reads: "Coveted mine. Rare hue. Revered designer". "This exceptional 10.68-carat vivid orange sapphire hails from the legendary mines of Ceylon." The sapphire is available with M.S. Rau, a seller of fine art, antiques and gems, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Since 1912, the ad claims, the store has specialised in the world's finest jewellery. But the ad does not carry a price tag. Despite laws, commercials featuring children continue to appear on TV Despite a regulatory ban on using children below 12 years in food and beverage advertisements, commercials for products such as instant noodles, milk powder, and sugary drinks continue to air across television channels in Sri Lanka. The ban, announced through Gazette Extraordinary No. 2364/24, came into effect on January 1, 2025. It prohibits the use of children under 12 years of age in advertisements for food and beverage products, unless prior approval is obtained from the Ministry of Health. The measure is part of broader amendments to the Food (Labelling and Advertising) Regulations, introduced under Section 32 of the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980, in consultation with the Food Advisory Committee. The new rules also tighten labelling requirements, mandating clearer nutritional information to help consumers make informed choices. The Health Ministry says the changes aim to modernise Sri Lanka's food regulatory framework and bring it in line with international standards. Yet, a spot check of primetime news slots and teledrama blocks shows that advertisements featuring young children continue to appear, particularly in the promotion of instant food and milk products. While the use of children is not restricted in all types of advertising, industries beyond food, such as personal care and household goods, also continue to prominently feature child actors. Public health experts warn that such advertising risks undermining efforts to combat non-communicable diseases and unhealthy dietary habits among children. It remains unclear how enforcement will be strengthened in the coming months or whether non-compliant advertisers will face penalties, but it is clear that no monitoring seems to be happening. UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk, who was in Sri Lanka on a four-day tour, visited several places of religious worship, including the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and the Nallur Temple in Jaffna. He wound up his visit with a media conference in Colombo where conspicuous were the 'pirith nool' on his right wrist that the Buddhist clergy he called on had tied as a blessing. Mr. Turk, who is an Austrian national, sent wishes on Vesak Day this year on his X handle, stating, "May the timeless teachings of the Buddha guide us with wisdom and compassion as we respond to the crises of today and address the suffering of the past." Ranil's office refutes police charge over UK visit The office of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has denied allegations that he used state funds for a private visit to the United Kingdom, an allegation made by the police in a B-report filed in the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court this week. Police informed the court that Mr. Wickremesinghe travelled to the United Kingdom to attend his wife's PhD graduation ceremony in September 2023. However, the former president's office said the allegations were "incorrect and inaccurate" and added further clarification would be made in accordance with legal advice. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing overseas trips made by former presidents under the Public Property Act. The National Police Commission (NPC) on Friday approved the appointment of former Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara as the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Mr. Abeysekara, who retired from the service in 2021 after falling foul of the then administration, was brought back on a contract basis earlier this year by the National People's Power (NPP) government to serve as Director of the Criminal Intelligence Analysis and Prevention Division. He has investigated several high-profile cases, including the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga and the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. A social media post by a leading Indian film critic and trade analyst Kamaal Khan, better known as KRK, regarding the proliferation of pornographic films being shot in India, has led to many comments. These include some which state that as shooting porn content in India is a punishable offence, many are shooting in Sri Lanka and Nepal, which allow visa-free entries for Indian citizens. While it is difficult to verify such allegations, given the far reach of Khan, who has over five million followers on his X account alone, the government would do well to investigate such allegations.

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