just a citizen, you know… | a-parent (Su’s dad), a software person, hates patriarchy, wants eggs, equal rights & equal dignity for all
Sri Lanka
Joined April 2007
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Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
@HRCSriLanka has received complaints that 49 people have died in Sri Lankan police cells, while 30 others have died in encounters with the police, from 2020 to March 31, 2025, reports @KWarakapitiya for @TimesOnlineLK
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will conduct investigations into the assets of Deputy Public Security Minister Sunil Watagala and former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. @TimesOnlineLK
sundaytimes.lk/261101/news/c…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
This is the police force we have right now, before the government decides to broaden police powers through these new laws... It's NOT a redeemable organisation in its current form.
Before it gives them more powers to arrest, detain, search and interrogate people, we have to reckon with about 70 deaths over the last 5 years... 70.
I find it impossible to look at the two recent custodial deaths separately from the laws the NPP is trying to bring in.
You cant keep giving more power to an institution that has repeatedly abused the power it already has and you cant claim to stand for reform and accountability while reproducing the same laws, the same thinking and the same structures that enabled decades of abuse.
The NPP needs to take stock and look very hard at who they are becoming, because this is not who they said they were when they asked people to vote for them.
#SriLanka
#SystemChangeLK
#AccountabilityProjectLK
Ishara Harsha Kumara was bleeding from the mouth and wasn’t conscious, said his wife. She pleaded with the police to take him to the hospital, but they refused at first.
examiner.media/homagama-deat…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
See, no new taxes! – at Sri Lanka
⭕ Since September 2024, the only effective tax reduction has been the increase in the annual income tax-free threshold from Rs. 1.2 million to Rs. 1.8 million, providing a maximum monthly tax saving of Rs. 20,500 per taxpayer. Almost all other taxes remained unchanged or increased.
Here is the list in chronological order:
⭕ Excise Duty (January 2025): Increased by ~6% on liquor, cigarettes, tobacco, sweetened beverages and motor vehicles.
⭕ Electric Vehicle Tax (February 2025): Excise duty rates on electric vehicles were doubled, representing a 100% increase.
⭕ Vehicle Import Duty (February 2025): The previous Customs duty exemption was removed, introducing a 20% import duty. A further 50% surcharge increased the effective duty to 30%.
⭕ Withholding Tax (April 2025): Tax deducted from bank deposit interest doubled from 5% to 10%. Eligible low-income depositors can obtain relief through self-declarations.
⭕ Corporate Income Tax (April 2025): Increased from 40% to 45% for businesses involved in liquor, tobacco, betting and gaming.
⭕ Export Services Tax (April 2025): Previously exempt income from qualifying service exports and foreign sources became subject to income tax at a maximum rate of 15%.
⭕ Vehicle SSCL (May 2026): The 2.5% Social Security Contribution Levy was extended to vehicle imports, changing the stage and taxable base of the levy.
⭕ Capital Gains Tax (June 2026): Increased from 10% to 15% for individuals and partnerships, and from 10% to 30% for trusts, unit trusts, mutual funds and NGOs.
⭕ Professional Withholding Tax (June 2026): The 5% withholding tax was extended to additional categories of professionals, including photographers, artists, IT specialists and social media specialists, on qualifying payments exceeding Rs. 100,000 per month.
⭕ Customs Import Duties (April 2026): The tariff structure was revised from 0%, 15% and 20% to 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, introducing a higher 30% band for selected imports while reducing certain other duties.
⭕ Vehicle Import Surcharge (May 2026): A 50% surcharge on the existing 30% Customs import duty increased the effective rate to 45% for applicable vehicles. The measure was subsequently extended until 31 December 2026.
⭕ Digital Services VAT (July 2026): Qualifying digital services supplied by non-resident providers were brought within the 18% VAT framework. However, practical implementation remains incomplete.
#srilanka
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
4. Govt wants to create a culture of mass surveillance but does not want state entities, especially those that have a record of gross human rights violations like the police, to be scrutinized or held accountable. Instead, they want to give them more power via repressive laws.
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
The Right to Information Commission of Sri Lanka (RTI Commission) has held Dialog Axiata PLC to be a Public Authority to which the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) applies and from which, information coming within the exercise of ‘a statutory or public function or service’ may be asked by citizens. @TimesOnlineLK
sundaytimes.lk/261101/news/d…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
Again, we have a problem.
Sri Lanka’s electric vehicle adoption is progressing faster than the development of the regulatory, institutional, infrastructure and environmental management systems required to support it sustainably, an audit report has revealed.
“The absence of an approved and updated National Transport Policy has resulted in fragmented and uncoordinated EV initiatives, overlapping institutional mandates, inconsistent charging infrastructure planning, and unclear responsibilities for EV battery disposal and recycling,’ the report said. @TimesOnlineLK
sundaytimes.lk/261101/news/e…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
With my colleagues @tharushineethr1 @rubatheesan @maligasj from @TimesOnlineLK
Time to accept we have a problem.
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
🪪 TIN certificate compulsory for key transactions from November 1
A valid TIN Certificate will be required for transactions including opening bank accounts, vehicle and land registration, business registration, credit cards and building plan approvals.
The requirement will also apply to company share transfers, for both the transferor and transferee.
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
This young girl was raped by her own father and her mother’s lover. I cannot imagine the trauma this child has endured, being abused by the very people who should have protected her. Many children in Sri Lanka from all communities and socioeconomic groups suffer parental abuse and neglect today, leaving them vulnerable. The State needs to do more to protect them, provide support and ensure there is a dedicated helpline for children to seek help. @Dr_HariniA @anuradisanayake
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
We have saved Anojan's life. But yet another Sri Lankan's life is at risk in Saudi Arabia. Please take urgent action to save her.
Also, we need better systematic protections to our vulnerable migrant/expat workers in the middle-east.
@anuradisanayake @BimalRathnayake
‼️URGENT ACTION REQUIRED! - SL MIGRANT WORKER'S LIFE AT RISK‼️
Worker: Pramadi Madhumali Nisansala
Passport No: N8895047
SLBFE File: CD/334/2610 (CMS: 2026F034310)
Sponsor: MESHARI FALEH MUTLAQ ALRASHDI
Agency: Smart Travel Agency (Pvt) Ltd.,
Pramadi, a Sri Lankan migrant worker, currently in Saudi Arabia, has last contacted her family and friends in SL last evening around 6.27pm (SL time), and told them that she was facing numerous threats from her employer, and that she feared for her life and wanted to return home immediately. Thereafter, there has been no communication from her, except for a missed call from her number at 10.27pm (SL time). Her WhatsApp has since gone completely offline, and attempts to call her directly via her roaming number and even SMS messages have not been responded to.
Given the hostility, and violent and explicit threats made by her employer, her family and friends fear that her phone has been forcibly taken from her, or worse, that she has been physically harmed, restrained, or kicked out.
However, in response to desperate appeals by Pramadi to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia, the officer in charge of her case, had called her employer last morning (29), and instructed him to immediately hand Pramadi back to the agency that sent her, or to the SL Embassy, as the employer had not yet obtained an Iqama (official residence permit and smart-card ID) for her, as legally required. This is after she had worked there fore four months.
Having also incurred a foot injury, Pramadi was not even able to be hospitalised, as she requires an Iqama to access any services in Saudi. The Embassy official was also going to instruct the Agency that sent her, to get Pramadi back immediately, threatening to ban their agency if they did not comply.
Stories like Pramadi's one, are unfortunately very common, with SL migrant workers working in the middle east in particular, having NO safeguards or assurances in place whatsoever to ensure their safety or wellbeing!
We call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment who are wholly responsible for the safety and security of migrant workers such as Pramadhi;
- To ensure her safe return home.
- To fast-track and intervene in all such urgent cases of migrant workers at risk, as they work under very unsafe circumstances, to send much needed foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.
- To give the highest priority to negotiations with the Saudi and other relevant Governments, to put in place at least basic bilateral safeguards and commitments to ensure the safety and security of all SL migrant workers working in the region.
(This is an urgent appeal on behalf of Pramadhi's anxious family, and all information via Chanu Nimesha who has been directly in touch with Pramadi, her family and officials from the SL Embassy in Riyadh and the SL Foreign Ministry.) -
Post by @EmDeeS11
facebook.com/share/p/1K4pHLx…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
Father wins two-year battle against Sri Lankan private hospital over newborn's weight reading "I believe this is a good opportunity to raise public awareness. I heard many of my friends had faced similar experiences"
D: newswire.lk/lgp5
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
‼️URGENT ACTION REQUIRED! - SL MIGRANT WORKER'S LIFE AT RISK‼️
Worker: Pramadi Madhumali Nisansala
Passport No: N8895047
SLBFE File: CD/334/2610 (CMS: 2026F034310)
Sponsor: MESHARI FALEH MUTLAQ ALRASHDI
Agency: Smart Travel Agency (Pvt) Ltd.,
Pramadi, a Sri Lankan migrant worker, currently in Saudi Arabia, has last contacted her family and friends in SL last evening around 6.27pm (SL time), and told them that she was facing numerous threats from her employer, and that she feared for her life and wanted to return home immediately. Thereafter, there has been no communication from her, except for a missed call from her number at 10.27pm (SL time). Her WhatsApp has since gone completely offline, and attempts to call her directly via her roaming number and even SMS messages have not been responded to.
Given the hostility, and violent and explicit threats made by her employer, her family and friends fear that her phone has been forcibly taken from her, or worse, that she has been physically harmed, restrained, or kicked out.
However, in response to desperate appeals by Pramadi to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia, the officer in charge of her case, had called her employer last morning (29), and instructed him to immediately hand Pramadi back to the agency that sent her, or to the SL Embassy, as the employer had not yet obtained an Iqama (official residence permit and smart-card ID) for her, as legally required. This is after she had worked there fore four months.
Having also incurred a foot injury, Pramadi was not even able to be hospitalised, as she requires an Iqama to access any services in Saudi. The Embassy official was also going to instruct the Agency that sent her, to get Pramadi back immediately, threatening to ban their agency if they did not comply.
Stories like Pramadi's one, are unfortunately very common, with SL migrant workers working in the middle east in particular, having NO safeguards or assurances in place whatsoever to ensure their safety or wellbeing!
We call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment who are wholly responsible for the safety and security of migrant workers such as Pramadhi;
- To ensure her safe return home.
- To fast-track and intervene in all such urgent cases of migrant workers at risk, as they work under very unsafe circumstances, to send much needed foreign exchange to Sri Lanka.
- To give the highest priority to negotiations with the Saudi and other relevant Governments, to put in place at least basic bilateral safeguards and commitments to ensure the safety and security of all SL migrant workers working in the region.
(This is an urgent appeal on behalf of Pramadhi's anxious family, and all information via Chanu Nimesha who has been directly in touch with Pramadi, her family and officials from the SL Embassy in Riyadh and the SL Foreign Ministry.) -
Post by @EmDeeS11
facebook.com/share/p/1K4pHLx…
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
Sri Lanka’s Inflation Rises to 8.3% 🚀
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation in Colombo’s urban areas rose to 8.3% in October 2026, up from 8.0% in September, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
Food inflation increased to 8.8%, while non-food inflation rose to 8.0%.
Shehal Joseph ∞ ☀️🌴☔️☕️🙀🍳🏋🏾♂️ retweeted
UN raises serious concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed anti-terrorism law, calls for major revisions
Full Story:newswire.lk/y3zz
