Category: Daily Financial Times

The CIVICUS Monitor has recently announced in a new report that the main civic space violations across the Asia-Pacific include the detention of protesters and activists.

The report, People Power Under Attack 2025, assesses civic space conditions in 198 countries and territories, looking at citizens’ ability to exercise their freedoms of assembly, association and expression.

In Sri Lanka, where civic space is rated as ‘repressed’, the authorities have continued to use counter-terror laws and target activists, journalists and protesters.

In March 2025, Mohamed Rusdi, a 22-year-old Muslim youth, was detained under the country’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), for his activism on Palestine. He was held under a detention order, signed off by the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, before being released on bail.

Activists from the North and East were targeted. An ethnic Tamil youth activist was arrested and remanded in May 2025 following a false complaint by a Sinhala Buddhist monk involved in the construction of a controversial temple in Periyakulam, Trincomalee District. In the same month, the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID) summoned Vasuki Vallipuram, a well-known women’s rights activist and Coordinator of the Women Life and Rights Association – Kilinochchi, for interrogation. In September 2025, the Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID) summoned Tamil activist K. Sinthujan of Trincomalee – linked to the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF)- for questioning for the second time in two months.

The OHCHR also reported that the surveillance apparatus, especially in the north and east, has remained largely intact. OHCHR observed continued patterns of surveillance, intimidation and harassment of families of the disappeared, community leaders, civil society actors, especially those working on accountability for enforced disappearances and other conflict-related crimes, land seizures, environmental issues, and those working with former combatants in Sri Lanka’s north and east.

Journalists remain at risk. In April 2025, while reporting at the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court, Fazir Mohamed, the Secretary of the Young Journalists Association and a reporter for the Satahan media, was obstructed by police officers working there and dragged out of the courtroom. In May 2025, photojournalist Lahiru Harshana was allegedly forced to remove a photograph of President Dissanayake, which had been published on his personal Facebook page, due to external pressure to do so by the President’s Media Division. In August 2025, the counterterrorism police summoned photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan for questioning. Based in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, Kumanan is president of the Mullaitivu Press Club, and a human rights defender, who documents violations against Tamil civilians by security forces in the heavily militarised north and east of the country.

Protests were also targeted. In March 2025, police arrested 27 student activists, including Madushan Chandrajith, the convener of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), during a protest held in front of the Ministry of Health in Colombo against the recruitment process for state services. In August 2025, a court resumed proceedings against 19 Tamils, including local traders and youth from Mallavi, who participated in the Pottuvil to Polikandy protest march, a landmark peaceful demonstration calling for Tamil rights and justice in 2021.

In September 2025, protests in Mannar to stop a wind farm construction was violently dispersed by the police. Several protesters were hospitalised, including priests and female demonstrators reportedly beaten by the police. Police filed a case in the Mannar Magistrate’s Court against nine protesters, including three who were injured in the assault. Nearly 3,000 individuals who were arrested in the aftermath of the Aragalaya protests have unresolved cases and some remain in police custody.

Asia Pacific ratings

In the Asia-Pacific region, CIVICUS Monitor researchers found the majority of countries seriously restricted civic space. More than 85% of the population of the region lives in ‘Repressed’ or ‘Closed’ countries.

In Asia, seven countries and territories – Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and North Korea are rated as ‘Closed’. Nine countries are rated ‘Repressed’ while six countries are in the ‘Obstructed category’. Civic space in South Korea and Timor-Leste are rated ‘Narrowed’ while Japan and Taiwan are the only two countries rated ‘Open’ in the Asia region.

In the Pacific, the civic space situation is more positive with seven countries rated ‘Open’. Five rated ‘Narrowed’ while Papua New Guinea and Nauru remain in the ‘Obstructed’ category.

Detention of protesters and activists

The most alarming trend across Asia-Pacific in 2025 was the mass detention of protesters and activists. People took to the streets to demand democratic reforms, fight corruption, call for climate justice, and show solidarity with Palestine. In response, states deployed their security forces to arrest and detain protesters in at least 18 countries.

In Indonesia, thousands were rounded up during nationwide protests against military law revisions in March and again during mass demonstrations in August. In the Philippines, police arrested hundreds, including children, during anti-corruption rallies. Arrests of protesters also occurred in Australia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste and beyond, where peaceful assembly was treated as a threat rather than a right.

‘Governments are criminalising dissent on a massive scale. Peaceful protest is being painted as a crime, and those who dare to speak out and mobilise are paying with their freedom,’ said Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Monitor’s Asia-Pacific researcher.

Authorities also targeted human rights defenders in at least 15 countries, using sweeping defamation, anti-terrorism and national security laws to jail activists on baseless or fabricated charges, especially in countries like China, Vietnam and Thailand. Reports of torture, ill-treatment and even deaths in custody emerged from Myanmar and Afghanistan, while transnational repression, where states pursue activists beyond their borders, intensified across the region by the authorities in Hong Kong and Cambodia.

Censorship and digital repression

Governments in at least 14 countries used censorship to silence dissent, blocking news portals, banning publications, and imposing internet shutdowns. China continues to operate one of the world’s most sophisticated censorship regimes, while Pakistan and India escalated digital restrictions by blocking thousands of social media accounts and YouTube channels. In Southeast Asia, Singapore and Malaysia deployed sweeping laws to suppress online content, while Vietnam and Indonesia restricted critical media.

‘Censorship is being weaponised to keep citizens in the dark. From blocking news sites and social media channels to banning books, governments are rewriting reality to suit their narrative, and anyone who challenges that risks arrest,’ said Benedict.

Countries of Concern: Indonesia and Pakistan

In Indonesia, civic space has sharply deteriorated under President Prabowo Subianto. The country, rated ‘Obstructed’, saw mass protests in March and August met with violent crackdowns, leaving thousands detained, including children, and reports of intimidation in custody. Human rights defenders face harassment, surveillance and criminalisation, while media outlets covering protests have been threatened. In Papua, longstanding grievances over rights abuses and resource exploitation continue to fuel unrest, with the government responding with force rather than dialogue, a clear slide toward authoritarianism.

In Pakistan, rated ‘Repressed’, authorities have intensified crackdowns on activists, journalists and opposition movements. Baloch defenders face arbitrary arrests and terrorism charges, while the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement has been banned. Digital repression is escalating: social media platforms blocked, internet shutdowns around rallies, and thousands of accounts removed. Journalists risk prosecution under harsh cybercrime laws, and protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party are criminalised, all pointing to a government determined to silence dissent and tighten its grip on power.

Sri Lanka is set to make a remarkable presence at Gulfood 2026, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious food and beverage exhibitions, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB). With its participation, the island nation aims to showcase its rich food ingredients, premium-quality products, and dynamic export potential on a truly global stage.

The EDB is the apex Government organisation responsible for developing and promoting exports, with the vision of positioning Sri Lanka as a leading export hub for premium products and services. Annually, the EDB conducts over 20 international trade fairs with the objective of assisting Sri Lankan exporters and industries in expanding their business globally. Key fairs targeting agriculture and food products include Anuga (Germany), SIAL (France), Biofach (Germany), Seafood Expo Global (Spain), Organic and Natural Expo (Dubai), and Natural and Organic Products Expo (UK), with Gulfood (Dubai) standing out as the flagship event among them. The EDB supports SME companies while also providing assistance and facilitation to large companies to attend these events.

At Gulfood 2026, the Sri Lanka pavilion facilitates approximately 50% SME participation, thereby enhancing their contribution to Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and promoting sustainable economic growth, the EDB said in a statement.

Gulfood is the biggest F and B sourcing and innovation show of the year and will take place across two mega venues – Dubai Exhibition Centre and Dubai World Trade Center. The event features over 8,500 exhibitors, 1.5 million products, 12 sectors, and participants from 195 countries, making it a truly global platform. Gulfood serves as a strategic hub for the food and beverage industry, connecting producers, exporters, and buyers, fostering innovation, and facilitating trade.

For Sri Lankan exporters, it provides a unique opportunity to showcase high-quality products, strengthen international business relationships, and tap into high-potential markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, while offering unparalleled opportunities for networking and trade.

Sri Lanka’s Country Pavilion, located at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City, will cover 510 square meters, marking the largest B2B country pavilion ever organised by Sri Lanka. This expansion reflects the growing global recognition and demand for Sri Lankan food and beverage products, the EDB noted.

According to the EDB, The Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region holds significant potential for Sri Lankan exports. In 2024, the country exported agricultural commodities worth $ 1,381 million to the MEASA region, including food and beverage products valued at $ 1,171.31 million. The broader Middle East and Africa food and beverage market was valued at approximately $ 133.68 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031, highlighting the region’s strong and growing demand for imported quality food products.

A total of 61 Sri Lankan exporting companies will participate, representing a diverse array of sectors including 28 large companies: Waguruwela Oil Mills, Aussee Oats Milling, NDC Exports, Consolidated Business Systems Limited, Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Ceylon Agro-Industries Limited, Sunshine Tea, Bespice, Adamexpo, Renuka Agri Foods PLC, Jaindi Exports, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, Cargills Ceylon PLC, Wichy Plantation Company, C.W. Mackie PLC, Colombo Export and Import Agencies, Link Natural Products, Ceylon Eco Spices, Tropical Life International, New Lanka Cinnamon, Ranfer Teas, Cherish Biscuits, Metshu Exports, Expo Commodities, Global Trading Services, Pelwatte Dairy Industries, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories, and CBL Natural Foods, along with 33 SMEs including Siddhalepa Exporters, Bio Extracts, Muswenna Tea Factory, Greenfield Bio Plantations, D and R Exports, Saya International Tea and Food Exports, Ranre International, Virco International, Tradlanka Agricultural Enterprises, Planto Ceylon, Prestige Quality International, Rancrisp Marketing, Ellawala Horticulture, Ethical Extracts, Supreme Agro Exports, Everblot Food Products, Nelna Agri Development, Knuckles Valley Plantation, P.T.C Agro, Russel’s, Kumara Cinnamon Exporters, Scattered Harvest, Ceylon Coco Green Manufacturing, Diana Biscuits, Centra Exports, Wedagedara Producers, Lavinia Foods, Authentic Lanka Exports, Sinolan Tea, Development Facilitators, Sisili Trading, Virgin Cinnamon International, and Worldwide Commodities.

Visitors can explore premium value-added coconut products, processed foods, spices, tea, and innovative ready-to-eat offerings. This vibrant showcase underscores Sri Lanka’s expertise in producing high-quality, authentic, and market-oriented products.

In a significant stride for the nation’s premier sustainability and integrated management system facilitator, CleanTech has achieved a groundbreaking certification for its recycled plastic output.

The company is now formally recognised under the Good Plastic Standard – GP 5040: 2025, becoming the first company to meet this rigorous national benchmark for material quality and sustainability.

This standard, conceived by the Island Climate Initiative (ICI) with the certificates of conformity issued by Ind-Expo Certification Ltd., represents the country’s inaugural framework for verifying the integrity of post-consumer recycled plastic pellets. For CleanTech, this endorsement validates that its recycled processed materials are not only reliable and consistent, but also produced through ethically and environmentally accountable methods.

This accreditation signals a shift in the market, moving beyond basic recycling to assuring that CleanTech adheres to stringent protocols for health and safety, material durability, and sustainable processing, positioning the company as an industry leader.

Cleantech Assistant General Manager Kasun Thennakoon said: ‘We are proud to be the first recycler in Sri Lanka to receive GP Certification. This achievement reinforces our commitment to create cleaner cities, support local industries, and contribute to a more sustainable future for the country.’

GP Certified Managing Director Chaminda Rajapakse said: ‘Certifying Cleantech marks a major step forward for Sri Lanka’s recycling. This milestone directly supports the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Sri Lanka by providing FMCG companies with a credible, local compliance pathway. GP Certified recyclers like Cleantech enable brands to meet EPR obligations through verified recycled content, traceability, and accountable downstream processing, reducing reliance on offsets or non-circular disposal. By linking compliant producers with certified recyclers, GP Certification helps translate EPR from a regulatory requirement into a practical, scalable market mechanism that strengthens domestic recycling and closes the loop.’

By securing this standard, the company is now positioned to supply verified, high-grade recycled plastics to industries that demand uncompromising material standards, particularly fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands seeking sustainable packaging solutions.

The implications for both the industry and Sri Lanka’s environment remains profound. CleanTech’s certified pellets can now enable manufacturers to confidently integrate recycled content into their products, reducing dependence on imported virgin plastic and advancing a domestic circular economy. This, in turn, drives demand for ethical recycling, diverting plastic waste from landfills and natural ecosystems.

For partners, the certification serves as a trusted seal of quality and responsibility. It assures that materials sourced from CleanTech meets nationally recognised specifications, fostering stronger, sustainability-led supply chains and elevating Sri Lanka’s profile in the global green economy.

As the first formal mechanism of its kind in the country, the Good Plastic Standard paves the way for a transformed market where certified recyclers lead the charge in quality and transparency. CleanTech, distinguished as a certified industry frontrunner, is poised to catalyse this change, turning post-consumer plastic into a valuable, trusted resource for tomorrow’s manufacturing.

CleanTech (since 1998, has played a pivotal role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across key areas and districts of Colombo. Since then, the company has been carrying out operations seamlessly, and has been contributing to creating a cleaner, much more hygienic Sri Lanka through various efforts.

With internationally recognised certifications, CleanTech upholds the top global standards in quality, environmental performance, and occupational health and safety, while standing for a cleaner, greener tomorrow for Sri Lanka.

Sampath Bank PLC said it has received approval from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to engage in wealth management activities through a wholly owned subsidiary.

The commencement of the proposed wealth management business remains subject to the subsidiary obtaining other necessary approvals, including regulatory clearance from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka.

Sampath Bank said the decision was taken by its Board of Directors and that the approval from the Central Bank enables the bank to proceed with preparations for entering the wealth management segment, pending the completion of the remaining regulatory requirements.

Further details on the commencement of operations will be announced once all required approvals are secured, the bank said.

The Cabinet has approved calling for investment proposals to lease State-owned land parcels for large-scale recreational developments in Battaramulla and Nuwara Eliya, as part of the Government’s urban and tourism development drive.

Accordingly, approval has been granted to invite investors through an international competitive bidding process, in line with Government procurement guidelines, to lease nine land plots along both banks of the Diyawanna Oya. The plots, identified by the Urban Development Authority, cover a total extent of 13.57 acres and will be allocated on a long-term lease basis for leisure and recreational projects.

The developments form part of the planned ‘Frolic Island Recreational Hub’, announced in 2024 under the Kaduwela Urban Development Plan, aimed at creating a public leisure and recreation zone in the Battaramulla area. Supporting infrastructure work has already been completed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, including flood prevention and waterway improvements in the Battaramulla wetland area around the Waters Edge Hotel.

In a separate decision, Cabinet has also approved calling for suitable investors to lease a land plot adjacent to Gregory Lake on Badulla Road, Nuwara Eliya, for a recreational project designed to attract foreign tourists. The UDA-owned land, measuring 10 acres, 3 roods and 28.04 perches, was identified by a Cabinet-appointed committee reviewing under-utilised State lands and will be offered on a 50-year lease through an international competitive bidding process.

The Sri Lanka High Commission in London recently marked a defining milestone in creative economy and craft development through the global launch of the EU-Sri Lanka Craft Matchmaking Program, bringing the initiative’s research, collaborations, and co-created outcomes onto the international stage for the first time. The milestone comes at a critical moment for Sri Lanka, as the country navigates overlapping economic, environmental, and climate-related pressures with informal rural and craft-based communities among the most affected, underscoring the urgent role that creative economy development can play in building resilience, livelihoods, and sustainable futures.

Welcoming partners and stakeholders, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom Nimal Senadheera, reflected on the broader importance of the program at this moment in time. ‘Sri Lanka’s craft sector carries deep cultural value, but it also represents livelihoods for some of our most vulnerable communities. Strengthening international partnerships through initiatives like this is essential, not only for cultural preservation, but for economic resilience and future opportunity,’ he noted.

The milestone comes at a critical juncture for Sri Lanka. Ongoing climate pressures, including recent cyclone impacts, continue to disproportionately affect informal and rural communities, many of whom are also SMEs and craft producers. These communities are often hit first and hardest by environmental shocks, while simultaneously facing limited access to stable markets, fair pricing, and long-term trade relationships. The Matchmaking Program directly responds to this dual crisis, environmental and economic, by focusing on value-driven design partnerships, ethical production, and resilient market access rather than volume-led extraction.

The program milestone was framed by a keynote contribution from Dr. Safia Minney MBE, whose long-standing work in ethical fashion and social justice connected climate resilience, fair trade, and craft economies. ‘When climate disruption and broken trade systems intersect, it is informal makers who bear the greatest burden. Craft-led value chains, when designed responsibly, can be part of the solution, supporting livelihoods while respecting environmental limits,’ she observed.

At the core of the milestone was the presentation of research findings and collaborative outcomes from the EU-Sri Lanka Craft Matchmaking Program by Robert Meeder, Lead EU Consultant and Founder of The Institute for Future Creations (TIFC), together with Hannah Middleton of University of the Arts London (UAL). Their presentation outlined how the program moves beyond short-term interventions, reflecting the ambitions of Sri Lanka’s Creative Sri Lanka 2030 vision by establishing a model based on education, collaboration, and innovation to support long-term creative economic growth.

Hannah Middleton emphasised the role of research and education in supporting systemic change. ‘This program demonstrates how academic research, design practice, and policy can work together to create pathways that are both culturally sensitive and economically viable. It is about equipping craft communities to engage with global markets on their own terms,’ she said.

Robert Meeder highlighted the program’s long-term ambition and its relevance to current global challenges. ‘The Matchmaking Program was never intended as a one-off. It is a living framework designed to respond to climate vulnerability, informal labour conditions, and unequal trade structures and at the same time align to a great vision of Creative Sri Lanka 2030. By focusing on high-value collaboration rather than scale alone, we can begin to address the structural imbalances that craftspeople face,’ he noted.

EU Cultural Relations Platform Head Sana Ouchtati highlighted the program’s longer-term vision. ‘This initiative was never intended as a one-off. Its strength lies in bringing the right actors together across culture, education, policy, and industry to build lasting collaboration. This ecosystem approach reflects the Cultural Relations Platform’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive creative economies,’ she said.

Voices from participating designers and makers reinforced this perspective. Textile designer Sonali Dharmawardena spoke about craft as a carrier of cultural memory and environmental knowledge, while jewellery designer Sepideh Mojabi reflected on how Sri Lankan craft intelligence continues to shape contemporary design through ethical collaboration. Their contributions underscored the importance of placing makers at the centre of international exchange. As a panellist in the discussion, Minister (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka High Commission Somasena Mahadiulwewa, mentioned that ‘we have to think differently, as our industry back home has been evolving from its ancient time to high quality and sustainable products while catering for niche markets, but not for cheap products or volume based trade compared to the suppliers in the region’.

The milestone also showcased a curated selection of work emerging from the program, highlighting collaborations between Sri Lankan craft practitioners and European design partners. The works demonstrated how traditional techniques, natural materials, and contemporary design can intersect to create products positioned for higher-value markets, without compromising cultural integrity or environmental responsibility.

The EU-Sri Lanka Craft Matchmaking Program is delivered in partnership with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), supported by the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the EU Cultural Relations Platform (CRP), with University of the Arts London (UAL) supported through a British Council grant for the creative entrepreneurial education and mentoring exchange component of the Creative Sri Lanka 2023 Strategy as knowledge partners, and The Institute for Future Creations (TIFC) as program leader.

As the program moves forward, this milestone marks the transition from pilot to platform. From Colombo to London, the message is clear. Sri Lanka’s craft sector sits at the intersection of culture, climate, and trade, and addressing its future requires coordinated, international collaboration. In a time of environmental uncertainty and economic strain, investing in craft is not symbolic. It is strategic, human, and urgently necessary.

THIS article provides a structured, highlevel overview of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations, duties, and implications for organisations and their leaders and an overview of its application to Sri Lankan public sector organisations.

When a fatal road accident occurs on a Sri Lankan highway such as a heavy timber-laden truck losing control, toppling, and colliding with another vehicle, the immediate response typically follows a structured sequence involving the public, emergency services, and regulatory authorities.

Immediate actions

Members of the public providing initial assistance: Bystanders often rush to the scene, assist any injured persons, and arrange transport to the nearest hospital. In many cases, an emergency ambulance is summoned via the national hotline 119.

Police arrival and scene management: The Sri Lanka Police take charge of the accident site, ensure that fatalities are formally certified by medical authorities, and arrange for injured individuals including the truck driver to be transported to hospital. If the driver is hospitalised, they remain under police supervision.

Mandatory medical testing of the driver: The driver of the heavy vehicle is subjected to medical examinations, including alcohol and toxicology testing, in accordance with Sri Lankan traffic law.

Investigation phase

Recording the driver’s statement and verifying documentation: Once the driver is medically fit, the Police obtain a formal statement regarding the incident. The driver is then placed in Police custody pending further investigation. Officers verify the validity of the driver’s licence, revenue licence, insurance coverage, and other required documents.

Referral to transport regulatory authorities: The Police notify the Department of Motor Traffic and, where relevant, the National Transport Commission. Technical officers assess the roadworthiness of the truck, review maintenance records, and confirm whether the vehicle was properly serviced and compliant with regulations.

Parallel investigation of the other vehicle: Similar checks are conducted on the second vehicle involved in the collision, including verification of the driver’s credentials, vehicle condition, and compliance with legal requirements.

Legal outcomes

Determination of responsibility and legal action: Upon completion of the investigation, Police identify the party responsible for the accident, whether the driver, vehicle owner, or both. Legal proceedings are initiated under the applicable provisions of the Motor Traffic Act and the Penal Code, particularly in cases involving fatalities.

You may say ‘Not bad’. Really?

The following information was gathered from a detailed training session I had with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Let’s compare this with similar accident happened in Australia.

A fatal heavyvehicle crash in Australia triggers a multiagency response governed by the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Chain of Responsibility (CoR). The process is structured, methodical, and often spans months or years. Below is a complete, endtoend outline of what authorities typically do after such an incident.

Emergency services actions

Secure the crash site – Police establish a perimeter, stop traffic, and ensure there is no further danger (e.g., fuel leaks, unstable loads).

Provide medical assistance – Paramedics assess survivors, confirm fatalities, and transport injured persons.

Fire and rescue operations – Firefighters stabilise the heavy vehicle, manage hazardous materials, and extract trapped occupants.

Initial Police investigation

Preserve evidence – Photograph the scene, mark skid distances, document vehicle positions, and collect witness statements.

Conduct driver testing – Surviving heavyvehicle drivers undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Seize the heavy vehicle – The truck is impounded for mechanical inspection.

Technical and forensic investigation phase

Crash reconstruction

Forensic crash unit analysis – Specialists reconstruct speed, braking, vehicle dynamics, and impact forces.

Mechanical inspection – Engineers examine brakes, tyres, steering, load restraints, and fatiguerelated defects.

Load and fatigue compliance checks

Review of load restraint compliance – Authorities check whether the timber load was secured according to the Load Restraint Guide.

Driver work diary audit – Fatigue hours, rest breaks, and work schedules are examined for breaches.

Regulatory investigation phase (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator- NVHR CoR)

Under the CoR, every party in the transport supply chain may be investigated, not just the driver.

Parties investigated

Transport operator / employer policies, training, scheduling, and vehicle maintenance systems are reviewed.

Consignor / loader to determine whether the load was oversized, improperly restrained, or rushed.

Scheduler / dispatcher to see whether unrealistic deadlines contributed to fatigue or speeding.

Executive officers to ascertain whether they exercised due diligence under Heavy Vehicle National Law.

NHVR actions

Issue improvement or prohibition notices – If systemic safety failures are found.

Seize documents and electronic data – GPS logs, telematics, maintenance records, and internal communications.

Interview staff and contractors – To determine whether anyone encouraged unsafe practices.

Legal and enforcement phase

Criminal proceedings

Charges against the heavyvehicle driver – If alive, they may face dangerous driving causing death.

Charges under HVNL – These can apply to operators, schedulers, loaders, and executives. Penalties include fines, licence loss, and imprisonment.

Civil proceedings

Coroner’s inquest- The coroner investigates cause of death and may issue safety recommendations.

Compensation claims- Families of victims may pursue civil damages.

Postincident compliance and industry actions

Operator obligations

Internal safety review- Companies must reassess their Safety Management System (SMS).

Implement corrective actions- Training, scheduling changes, maintenance upgrades, or new policies.

Industrywide impact

NHVR safety bulletins- Lessons from the crash may be shared nationally.

Potential law reform- Major incidents sometimes lead to updates in HVNL or CoR guidance.

The above Australian methodology is considered the world’s best. Now, you could see where we are at this in Sri Lanka. The following information may be useful for Sri Lankan transport authorities to develop national methodology with a long-term plan to replicate Australian best practice.

Chain of Responsibility

In Australia, the term ‘Chain of Responsibility’ is the part of Heavy Vehicle National Law that makes parties other than drivers responsible for the safety of heavy vehicles on the road.

The safe operation of heavy vehicles on Australian roads is not the responsibility of drivers alone. The CoR, established under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), recognises that safety outcomes are shaped by every party that influences transport activities from executives and schedulers to loaders, consignors, and site managers.

What is the Chain of Responsibility?

The CoR is a legal framework that assigns shared accountability for heavy vehicle safety. Any person or business whose actions, decisions, or business practices influence how a heavy vehicle is operated becomes a Chain of Responsibility party.

This includes organisations that:

1. Employ or contract heavy vehicle drivers

2. Schedule transport tasks

3. Load or unload vehicles

4. Consign or receive goods

5. Manage premises where heavy vehicles operate

The primary duty

At the core of CoR is the primary duty. Every CoR party must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety of their transport activities.

This duty requires organisations to:

identify hazards associated with transport activities

assess the risks arising from those hazards

eliminate risks where possible

if elimination is not possible, minimise risks to the lowest practicable level

The primary duty also prohibits any action direct or indirect that pressures drivers or other parties to breach the HVNL. This includes unrealistic schedules, unsafe loading requirements, or incentives that encourage speeding or fatigue.

Executive duty and due diligence

Executives, directors, senior managers, and others involved in organisational decisionmaking have a distinct legal obligation to exercise due diligence. This means they must:

maintain uptodate knowledge of safe transport practices

understand the risks associated with their organisation’s transport activities

ensure adequate resources, systems, and processes are in place

verify that safety controls are implemented and effective

Executives may be held personally liable if they fail to meet this duty, even if the organisation itself is not prosecuted.

Safety duty provisions

The HVNL contains number of specific safety duty provisions, including:

primary duty obligations

prohibitions on unsafe requests or contracts

requirements relating to vehicle safety, speed limiter tampering, and authorisations

rules governing false or misleading documentation

obligations relating to electronic recording systems

fatigue accreditation and compliance

compliance with supervisory or prohibition orders

These provisions collectively ensure that all aspects of heavy vehicle operation from vehicle condition to scheduling are managed safely.

Executive liability

Executives may also be liable for certain offences if they knowingly authorise or permit unsafe conduct. This liability is separate from the due diligence duty and is based on common law principles. Executives must therefore ensure that organisational practices do not enable or encourage breaches of the HVNL.

Duties of drivers and employees

While drivers are not considered CoR parties unless they are owneroperators, they still have obligations under the HVNL and workplace health and safety laws. These include:

operating roadworthy vehicles

complying with mass, dimension, and load restraint requirements

managing fatigue and adhering to work/rest hours

following safe loading and unloading procedures

Employers must ensure drivers are trained, equipped, and supported to meet these obligations.

Responsibilities of other parties

Any person or business that uses heavy vehicle services can commit an offence if they make a prohibited request for example, asking a driver to meet a deadline that would require speeding or driving while fatigued. Significant penalties apply for such conduct.

Industry Codes of Practice

Registered Industry Codes of Practice, such as the Master Industry Code, provide practical guidance on identifying and managing risks. While not mandatory, these codes are influential: courts may consider them when assessing whether an organisation has taken reasonably practicable steps to ensure safety.

National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS)

The NHVAS is a voluntary accreditation system that helps operators manage risks associated with:

mass

maintenance

fatigue

Accredited operators must meet defined standards and are subject to audits and compliance checks. Accreditation can improve safety performance and enhance business reputation.

Local Government as a CoR party

Local Governments frequently undertake activities that involve heavy vehicles, such as waste collection, road construction, maintenance, and facility operations. They may be CoR parties when they:

employ or contract heavy vehicle drivers

schedule transport tasks

load or unload materials

manage depots or waste facilities

consign or receive goods

Local governments must therefore implement robust systems to manage transport risks across all relevant operations.

Meeting the primary duty

To comply with the HVNL, organisations should:

1. Identify all transport activities they influence or control

2. Assess the hazards and risks associated with those activities

3. Implement reasonably practicable controls

4. Monitor and review the effectiveness of those controls

This approach aligns closely with Work Health and Safety (WHS) risk management principles but applies more broadly to transport activities, including those occurring outside the workplace or Local Government area.

Legal consequences of noncompliance

Penalties for breaching CoR obligations are significant. Depending on the severity of the breach:

individuals may face fines up to $300,000 and imprisonment

businesses may face fines up to $3 million

executives may face penalties equivalent to those imposed on individuals

Importantly, a breach can be prosecuted even if no incident has occurred. Failure to manage risks is itself an offence.

The importance of proactive safety management

CoR is built on the principle that safety is a shared responsibility. Effective compliance requires:

strong leadership

clear communication

robust systems and processes

ongoing monitoring and improvement

By embedding safety into every stage of transport operations, organisations can reduce risk, protect workers and the public, and strengthen their operational integrity.

Application of Chain of Responsibility to good governance is discussed in Part II of this article.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative forces in the business world. Once seen as futuristic, AI is now a practical tool reshaping industries. It is a defining tech factor that enables businesses to operate smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data within seconds, identifying patterns humans may miss. This supports better decision-making in areas such as sales forecasting, customer segmentation, and risk management. In finance, AI detects fraudulent transactions. In healthcare, it assists doctors in diagnosing diseases. In retail, AI optimizes inventory and pricing strategies.

Customer service has been revolutionized by AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants. These tools provide immediate responses, operate 24/7, and reduce operational costs. Businesses can serve customers across different time zones without additional staffing.

Marketing strategies have also evolved. AI analyzes consumer behavior to create highly personalized campaigns. Recommendation engines suggest products based on browsing history, increasing customer engagement and sales.

In operations, AI enhances supply chain management. Predictive models forecast demand and identify potential disruptions. Smart systems schedule production and logistics efficiently, reducing waste and delays.

Despite its benefits, AI presents challenges. Ethical concerns about data privacy, bias, and job displacement require careful management. Companies must implement AI responsibly, ensuring transparency and fairness.

The future will see AI integrated into strategic decision-making. Businesses that harness AI effectively will gain competitive advantages in innovation, efficiency, and customer experience. AI is not replacing human intelligence but enhancing it, becoming a central pillar of future economic growth.

The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court this week that Court orders have been secured to prevent the directors of the local agent company of the MV X-Press Pearl from leaving Sri Lanka.

Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, appearing for the Attorney General, made the submission when several Fundamental Rights petitions connected to the X-Press Pearl incident were taken up to assess progress in implementing earlier Court directions.

He told Court that the travel restrictions were issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and the Colombo High Court.

The Singapore-flagged container vessel MV X-Press Pearl caught fire off the Colombo Port in May 2021 and burned for nearly two weeks while carrying 81 containers of hazardous cargo, including 25 tons of nitric acid. The incident led to marine pollution along Sri Lanka’s western coastline, with plastic nurdles and other contaminants washing ashore and affecting coastal communities.

The latest Court proceedings come against the backdrop of international concern over Sri Lanka’s handling of claims arising from the disaster. A $ 1 billion ruling by Sri Lankan courts over the X-Press Pearl incident has raised alarm among global shipping insurers, with the UK-based Financial Times reporting that the judgment could increase marine insurance premiums and push more vessels towards uninsured ‘shadow fleets.’

London P and I Club Chief Executive James Bean, which insured the X-Press Pearl, has described the ruling as alarming, warning that it could have wider implications for the global maritime insurance market. He has also pointed out that Sri Lanka is not a signatory to international conventions that cap shipowners’ liability, exposing operators to unlimited claims and potentially higher insurance costs for vessels calling at Sri Lankan ports.

Insurers have further noted that existing international conventions do not cover plastic pellet spills, a key element of the environmental damage caused by the fire. A sustained rise in premiums, Bean has warned, could result in some regions relying increasingly on unregulated vessels operating without Western insurance cover.

Dedicated to nurturing talent and empowering Sri Lanka’s future champions, HNB PLC Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank and the most awarded bank in 2025, has announced its role as Title Sponsor of the HNB Novices Age Group Swimming Championships 2026, organised by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU).The championship is scheduled to take place from 28 to 31 January 2026 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Swimming Pool Complex, Colombo, bringing together thousands of young swimmers from across the island for their first formal experience in competitive swimming.

Spectators will be able to follow the championship live on Dialog Television via ThePapare TV2 (Channel 63), with live streaming available on ThePapare.com and the Dialog Play App, ensuring nationwide access and visibility for emerging talent.

Recognised as Sri Lanka’s largest and most significant entry-level swimming championship, the Novices Age Group Championships form the foundation of the national athlete development pathway. For many participants, this event marks a defining milestone; their first appearance in swimming, starting block setting the stage for progression into age-group, intermediate and national-level competition.

HNB Vice President – Marketing and Corporate Communications Upul Adikari said: ‘Sport uniquely challenges young people mentally, physically and emotionally, building character well beyond competition. At HNB, we see this transformation begin at the grassroots. By supporting the Novices Age Group Swimming Championships, we are investing in opportunity, access and aspiration, and we commend the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union for sustaining a platform that strengthens the future of swimming in Sri Lanka.’

HNB Brand Ambassador and Sri Lanka National Swimming Captain Kyle Abeysinghe, an Olympic hopeful for Los Angeles 2028, continues to play an inspirational role for emerging swimmers, reinforcing the importance of early exposure, mentorship and belief in the development journey.

Through the HNB Novices Age Group Swimming Championships 2026, HNB reaffirms its belief that every champion begins with a first dive – and remains ‘in it to win it’, championing Sri Lanka’s future by empowering the nation’s next generation of athletes.