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| Home Blog Sitemap About Us Contact Us Archives Advertise with us | Saturday, May 25, 2013 |
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The caste base of our cultural roots
Basil Fernando Reconciliation has not been treated as an attractive word in Sri Lanka. The government's view is that forgetting is the best course available. It argues that reconciliation attempts could reopen the wounds and will do more harm than good. Officially therefore, the government policy is to encourage forgetting. This policy does not come under serous criticism from the intellectuals and the opinion makers in Sri Lanka. A few have complained about this policy. However, their ... Read More
A Slippery Slope
Nilantha Ilangamuwa Some call it the land of murder; it is also known as the land of rape; the land of robbery; the land of corruption; the land of criminals and the land of liars! It must be asked if our country has lost its identity with the positive values in life and in doing so has thus lost its connection with its soul and therefore its identity. The answer is simple, yes. We have ... Read More
A Youtube presentation of Sumanthiran MP's speech on Rizana Nafeek and the PTA
The Sri Lankan parliament debated a motion of no confidence on Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion Dilan Perera for his failure to prevent the execution of Rizana Nafeek, who was executed by Saudi authorities. This execution has led to serious criticisms in Sri Lanka and abroad. The United National Party (UNP) presented the no confidence motion, which was debated in parliament. During the debate, MA Sumanthiran MP, who raised several serious issues, including the misuse to ... Read More
Release Azath Salley
CRM calls for even-handed action under the normal law -- (CRM ref. E01/05/2013) Azath Salley's detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be revoked and he should be released immediately. If there are indeed serious allegations of his inciting religious hostility that merit investigation, such investigation, and any consequent action, should take place under the normal law. It should also be part of a wider law-enforcement exercise against all such offenders, irrespective of ethnic, religious ... Read More
Civil Society Condemn the Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Azath Salley
(The original article may be seen at: http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=13674) (Lanka-e-News-07.May.2013, 2.30PM) We the undersigned, vehemently condemn the arrest and detention of Former Deputy Mayor and General Secretary of the National Unity Alliance (NUA), Azath Salley, by a team of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), on Thursday, 2 May 2013 morning, and call for his immediate release in the absence of any demonstrable evidence. Mr. Salley was arrested under the draconian ... Read More
On your knees ladies and gentlemen, on your knees!
Basil Fernando Suggesting perhaps that the creative imagination of the cartoonist is catching up with the reality of Sri Lanka the Daily Mirror yesterday carried this cartoon as an illustration for its editorial entitled, A case for best legal brains AHRC-ART-049-2013-1.jpg The cartoonist has extended his imagination ... Read More
The absence of political will to eliminate thuggery
Basil Fernando For a law enforcement agency the elimination of thuggery is one of the simplest things to do. For thugs are cowards and they crawl and beg for mercy whenever they find that there is a strong enough will on the part of the law enforcement agencies and the courts to deal with crime. Anybody who has been to a High Court where serious crimes are tried will have plenty of stories to tell as ... Read More
Whose remains are in the mass grave at Matale
The publically known facts about the mass grave at Matale is that the remains of 154 persons were discovered in this grave, that the remains show injuries which indicate that they were all murdered and that most likely they were assassinated sometime between 1986 and 1991. However, the key question is as to whose remains these are. Identifying the exact names of those whose remains are inside this mass grave is of importance, not only for ... Read More
Mannar Bishop denies 'separation' seeks 'viable political solution'
Sunday, 21 April 2013 02:24 Bishop of Mannar, Most Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph said he never stood for the separation of the country nor rejected any viable political solution to the national question. The Bishop made this statement in response to the lead story published in The Nation last week titled "Mannar Bishop, TNA Resurrect LTTE's ISGA Demand". Following is the full text of his response. My attention has been drawn to the news headline captioned "Mannar Bishop, ... Read More
Bangladesh to back Sri Lanka on human rights issue
By IANS - COLOMBO Bangladesh Tuesday said it will back Sri Lanka on the human rights issue, the Sri Lankan President's Office said, reported Xinhua. Visiting Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque gave the assurance when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa here. During the meeting, Haque reassured the support of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka in the international fora, the President's Office said. "We stand by our Sri Lankan brothers on the issue of human rights. It's an internal matter, and ... Read More
Ushering in a new era of purified judiciary?
Basil Fernando President Mahinda Rajapaksa was recently quoted as saying that he will take stern action to see that the judiciary will remain 'pure'. This statement raises many questions. The test of a good judiciary is its ability to act independently. Here, 'independent' means the absence of dependence on the executive. The judiciary must be able to take any action when the law requires it to do against any executive agency including the executive president himself. Quite ... Read More
Resolution on the rule of law and judicial independence in Sri Lanka
REFERRING to the Statements we have previously issued expressing our grave concern about the flawed impeachment process by which Chief Justice Bandaranayake was removed from the office of Chief Justice in defiance of the judgements of the highest courts in Sri Lanka REFERRING also to the statements of concern issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; RECALLING: the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the proper relationship between the Executive, the Legislature and ... Read More
Sri Lankan IPL officer under police radar following complaint
A Selvaraj CHENNAI: Cyber crime wing sleuths in Chennai have registered a case based on a complaint from a lawyer that a Sri Lankan security officer of IPL has been acting as a spy. Advocate Pugazhenthi said in his petition that Chandala, a Sri Lankan national, has been assigned as a security officer for IPL matches. According to the lawyer, Chandala has been spying on Tamil activists agitating against the Sri Lankan government which is accused of ... Read More
A statement by Asian jurists on the impeachment of the Chief Justice and the collapse of rule of law in Sri Lanka
A statement by Asian Jurists on the Impeachment of the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, and about the threatened rule of law in Sri Lanka. The statement is issued by the jurists who attended a consultation organised by the Lawyers' Collective of Sri Lanka and the Asian Human Rights Commission, on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers in Asia, held from 9-11 April 2013, in Bangkok, Thailand. Jurists from 12 Asian countries, Sri Lanka, India, ... Read More
Sri Lanka blames India for protracted war
By IANS - COLOMBO Sri Lanka Wednesday blamed India for the Tamil separatist war which dragged for 30 years on the island. The information department quoted Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as telling the local media that India could never absolve itself of the responsibility for creating terrorism in Sri Lanka. India's former permanent representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, called for an investigation into specific allegations of war crimes during the last 100 days of military operations ... Read More
Inter-religious integration—Inclusion not intrusion
A Reflection by Bishop Duleep de Chickera Over the past months Sri Lankans have been educated on two Arabic words: halal and haram (that which is permissible and not permissible). Unfortunately the circumstances of learning have been an unprecedented antagonism towards the Muslim community much deeper than the halal issue. This trend must be addressed without delay by the government and all religions before it spirals into a much wider conflict, which the country can ill ... Read More
Conflict will return if reconciliation is not addressed: US tells Sri Lanka
Meera Srinivasan History has shown that societies that do not adequately address reconciliation and accountability usually return to a conflict situation at some point down the road. Reconciliation and accountability should be viewed as being essential to ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for the country, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison said on Monday. Calls for reconciliation and accountability should not be seen simply as exhortations by the international community, she said addressing the ... Read More
Recognising ourselves as our worst enemies
Kishali Pinto Jayawardena With a foreign policy in tatters, the judiciary and the legal system in deep crisis and the state of the economy looking more perilous with each monumentally wasteful government extravaganza, the seasonal call of the koha heralding the Sinhala and Tamil New Year sounds more eerily mocking than musical. Racist extremism has no boundaries On the domestic front, a superficial bubble of post war development waits in suspense as it were, to be pricked ... Read More
A new Sinhala monthly publication - Sri Lankave Manave Himicam
We are glad to share with you the first issue of Sri Lankave Manave Himicam which is a monthly publication of the Asian Human Rights Commission in Sinhala. This issue covers many current issues relating to human rights in Sri Lanka such as the resolution before the United Nations for Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka and the opportunities that this resolution opens up for resolving some of the troubling problems in the country, the mass ... Read More
Oh Attorney General...
It means (Oh Attorney General, Oh Attorney General, the Thugs are raping our daughters and people wonder what they could do... ) Yes, Mr. Attorney General millions of poor and innocent people are looking to you to prevent the rape of women and abuse of children and they hope you would walk the talk or put your words into immediate and effective action. While welcoming this new move, it is necessary to ask how many such crimes ... Read More
Core values 'Ko' -- where are the core values?
Basil Fernando The International Bar Association in the executive summary of their report entitled, 'A Crisis of Legitimacy' issued in March 2013 makes the following recommendation to the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth should assess the seriousness with which the Sri Lankan authorities take these Recommendations, monitor the urgency with which they are acted upon, and consider with great care: (i) Whether they are respecting its core values and principles, including the respect for separation of powers, ... Read More
Administrative liquidation and the independence of the judiciary
Basil Fernando In a very recent order from the Supreme Court of India the court, among other things, stated as follows: For this Court, the life of a policeman or a member of the security forces is no less precious and valuable than any other person. The lives lost in the fight against terrorism and insurgency are indeed the most grievous loss. But to the State it is not open to cite the numbers of policemen and ... Read More
For Sri Lanka, More Empty Words
By SAMANTH SUBRAMANIAN March 21, 2013 A YEAR ago, when I was living in Colombo, Sri Lanka, I arranged to meet a friend for lunch, to talk about a Sri Lankan journalist who had gone missing and was presumed dead. By the time we met, my friend had a new mission: to keep another Sri Lankan safe. The previous day, the United Nations Human Rights Council had passed aresolution “noting with concern” the Sri Lankan government’s refusal to ... Read More
Washed Away
By CHERYL STRAYED Sonali Deraniyagala’s extraordinary memoir, “Wave,” opens on the morning of Dec. 26, 2004, as the author putters around a Sri Lankan beach-side hotel with her family. By chapter’s end she’s pantless, half-drowned, bleeding, bruised and numbly resistant to what she’ll soon be forced to know: The five people she loves most in the world are dead. Her two young sons. Her husband. Her parents. All of them killed by a force she can’t ... Read More
Tamil Nadu for referendum in Sri Lanka
IANS Chennai, March 27 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday introduced a resolution in the assembly calling for a referendum to carve out a Tamil Eelam state in Sri Lanka. Pushing the resolution in the house, the chief minister said Tamils living in Sri Lanka as well as Tamils of Sri Lankan origin living in other countries should take part in the referendum. "India should stop calling Sri Lanka a friendly nation," she said. "There should be ... Read More
A bad, sad, mad world
By Nilantha Ilangamuwa "When a dog howls at the moon, we call it religion. When he barks at strangers, we call it patriotism." -- Edward Abbey Another howler has emerged from Sri Lanka. And, neither laughing nor crying will make any difference. In reply to the recent attack on Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu, by politically motivated extremists, has proved once again the range of the howls by those holding unquestionable power and enjoying all the ... Read More
The UN report on human rights violations
The latest report of the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Council The annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General to the Human Rights Council has been issued on February 11, 2013. Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on advice and technical assistance for the Government of Sri Lanka on promoting ... Read More
The Recent Suppression of Tamil Voice at Vavuniya
Sarath Iddamalgoda A group of hundreds of relatives of the disappeared from Mannar and Vavuniya were to arrive on the 5th night in Colombo by buses to share with the people in the South their pathetic stories about the disappearances of their loved ones during and after the war, and then to present a petition to the UN to request its intervention to trace them. But, when they were about to leave that night the police and ... Read More
Letter to the UNHRC in support of North and East Christian Clergy.
Dear Sir / Madam, We the undersigned individuals and groups vehemently support and endorse the views and demands, contained in the letter sent on 18th Feb. 2013 by 133 Christian Clergy in North and East Sri Lanka, to the President and members of the UN Human Rights Council. It is our view that lives of thousands of innocent people in the last stages of the war were lost not due to any lack of information but ... Read More
The killing of children and Sri Lanka's bloody legacies
The mass grave in Matale uncovered late last year and the ongoing demands for independent and credible investigations into the fate of disappeared persons during the last days of the fighting between government forces and the LTTE in 2009 have at their core, the common element of impunity and a common cry for justice. Pitiful legacies of future generations So when pictures circulate of the late LTTE leader's twelve year old son looking apprehensively at his ... Read More
Karunanidhi urges Centre to back US resolution against Sri Lanka
By IANS - CHENNAI DMK president M. Karunanidhi Wednesday urged the central government to announce that it would support the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in the UN Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). In a letter to party cadres referring to the general strike called by Tamil Eelam Supporter's Organisation (TESO) March 12, Karunanidhi said: "The central government without further delay should come forward in support of the US resolution and it should immediately announce its decision ... Read More
Janata Party president Swamy meets Rajapaksa
Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here and discussed issues of mutual interest. The meeting took place yesterday at Rajapaksa's official residence, the Temple Trees in Colombo. Swamy's meeting with Rajapaksa comes amidst the ongoing protests launch in various forms by certain pro-LTTE elements in India against the Sri Lankan government. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the Secretarty to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilaka Amunugama were also present on the occasion. ... Read More
Sri Lankan navy attacks Tamil Nadu fishermen
PTI Rameswaram: A group of fishermen from Tamil Nadu were on Tuesday allegedly attacked by Sri Lankan naval men while they were fishing near Katchatheevu, fisheries department officials said. The fishermen from this coastal area had ventured for fishing in 20 boats, officials said, adding, the Lankan naval men allegedly attacked them with ropes and steel pipes causing extensive damage to their fishing nets and communication equipment. The officials, quoting a boat-owner, said they reportedly even stuffed sugar ... Read More
Karunanidhi objects to Lankan minister's statement
PTI Minister Douglas Devananda's statement warning of a protest "seem to be a planned strategy by Sri Lanka to divert off attention from the tyrannies of the Rajapaksa government which are slowly coming to light...," DMK chief M Karunandihi said. (File/PTI) Objecting to a Sri Lankan Minister's announcement that Lankan fishermen would rally against their Indian counterparts, DMK chief M Karunandihi today described it as a "planned strategy" by Colombo to divert off attention from the ... Read More
Sri Lanka has to embrace devolution, India insists
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) India made it clear Wednesday that Sri Lanka will have to devolve more powers to its provinces so as to empower the Tamil minority. Speaking at the end of a charged debate on "war crimes" in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, however, declined to reveal how India will vote next month at the UN meet on human rights in Geneva. While reiterating that India wanted a united Sri Lanka, Khurshid ... Read More
Why action lacking? Asian Human Rights Group asks.
The absence of action regarding complaints of torture and ill-treatment 1. The ALRC and its sister organisation the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has submitted to the government of Sri Lanka in 2012 a total of 46 complaints relating to torture and ill-treatment. All these cases related to serious assaults on persons after arrest and during the period of detention at police stations. The victims in these cases and the date of the incidents are listed ... Read More
The debasement of politics after the 1953 Hartal
Basil Fernando For the purpose of this article I would describe positive or genuine politics as the attempt of political parties and others involved in politics trying to improve the material conditions of lives of the citizens. By material conditions I mean food, which also would imply employment, shelter which would imply conditions of housing, and sanitation, and clothing, those necessities to allow the people to engage in social life with dignity. To this may be ... Read More
Mass grave called a 'crime site'
Human remains in central Matale district is "the scene of a crime", a forensic medical officer has told Al Jazeera. The remains of more than 150 people have been excavated in the town of Matale in central Sri Lanka. The skeletal remains were discovered late last year by workers building a facility at a hospital in Matale. Dr Ajith Jayasena, Matale hospital's judicial medical officer in charge of the investigation, told Al Jazeera that the site "is a ... Read More
Some 2,000 Christians join days of lamentation to mark nation’s independence
Organised by the Anglican Church, the peaceful protest underscores ethnic discrimination in the country. Religious leader calls on Christians to speak out against violations. Peacefull protestSri Lanka, February 05, 2013: Dressed in white, more than 2,000 Christians on Monday took part in two days of lamentation, an event organised by the (Anglican) Church of Ceylon to coincide with the country’s 65thIndependence Day. The goal of the alternative celebration was to reflect on the situation of the ... Read More
Rajapaksa prays at Tirupati, returns to Colombo
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Colombo Saturday after praying at the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati. A few hours after praying at the temple, Rajapaksa, his family and members of the Sri Lankan delegation flew to Colombo amid tight security. His two-day visit had been marred by protests by Tamil groups who denounced the President for not granting autonomy to Tamil areas and for human rights violations. Rajapaksa, his wife Shiranthi and other family members had ... Read More
Proper inquiries needed into the remains of about 200 bodies found
The question of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka has been a matter of concern for so many years now. The particular issue that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to highlight in this statement is the finding of the remains of around 200 bodies at Matale which is under investigation by the Sri Lankan authorities. According to forensic experts who have so far done the preliminary work the remains of the bodies indicate injuries ... Read More
True independence -- a YouTube presentation
The YouTube presentation may be found here: http://youtu.be/kyrXq1Jgy08 The Asian Human Rights Commission has issued a short video presentation on the 65th Anniversary of Sri Lankan independence. Except for a government celebration Independence Day of 2013 did not attract much attention. This is not accidental. The people are seeing very little positive results of the post independence political performance of many of the governments. The 1978 Constitution in particular has brought about an institutional paralysis which is causing ... Read More
The murder of a chief monk and execution-style killings
The chief monk of Sunandonanda of Egodauyana, Moratuwa was assassinated by a group of persons on the evening of February 4. According to reports there had been a prolonged dispute over a piece of land that the chief monk claimed he had the title for where a number of families had erected their huts. They claimed to have been living there since the Tsunami of December, 2004. Complaints relating to the dispute had been lodged ... Read More
No action regarding the complaint of rape against the chief monk of Shanti Viharaya, Kalaniya
The Asian Human Rights Commission has written to the Inspector General of Police with regard to the inaction of the Sri Lankan police to arrest a suspected rapist and to urge him to take action in this matter. Mr. N.K. Illangakoon Inspector General of Police Government of Sri Lanka Police Head Quarters Colombo SRI LANKA Dear Sir, Re: No action regarding the complaint of rape against the chief monk of Shanti Viharaya, Kalaniya I refer to my letter dated February 1, 2013 regarding ... Read More
Sri Lanka blocks entry of jurists
By IANS - NEW DELHI Photos Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, center, swears in new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, right, a retired attorney general and a legal adviser to the Cabinet on January 15. (AP) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, center, swears in new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, right, a retired attorney general and a legal adviser to the Cabinet on January 15. (AP) The International Bar Association has expressed concern over the postponement of its Human Rights Institute ... Read More
Seeking financial aid to save 22-year-old Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar from execution in Qatar
Earlier, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informed the public in Sri Lanka and abroad about the possibility of yet another person being beheaded in the Middle East like the earlier incident of Ms. Rizana Nafeek. Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar was sentenced to death on December 31, 2012. At the time of the incident that caused an unintentional death, for which Sudeshkar was tried, he was 20 years and six months of age. After negotiations held ... Read More
Some Reflections on the Outdated Notion of Parliamentary Supremacy
Dr. Jayantha de A. Guneratne, President’s Counsel During the recent controversies on the impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, the view has been taken quite strongly by parliamentarians of both the government and the opposition that the orders of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal (S.C.Reference No. 312012/C.A.(Writ) Application No.35812012, 01.01.2013, 07. 01. 2003) issued against the proceedings of the Parliamentary Select Committee which inquired into the impeachment, is an affront to ... Read More
Human Rights seeks to prevent another beheading
An appeal to the President to intervene so as to prevent another beheading - the case of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar who faces the death sentence in Qatar We reproduce below the letter written to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the case of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar who faces the death sentence by beheading in Doha, Qatar. The AHRC urges its readers to write to the President of Sri Lanka at the ... Read More
Sri Lanka army wants local rules for civil war
Sri Lanka’s military on Thursday asked the government to introduce its own rules to deal with civil wars, saying existing international humanitarian laws cover only state actors and not terrorist organizations. The country’s armed forces face numerous human rights allegations for their conduct during a decades-long civil war with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels that ended in 2009. The suggestion is part of the military’s response to a call to implement a war commission report that suggests investigating ... Read More
Open letter concerning the removal of the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake
High Excellency President Mahinda Rajapakse Honorable Speaker of the Parliament Chamal Rajapakse Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Sri Lanka January 23, 2013 Concerning the removal of Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake Your Excellencies, The International Commission of Jurists and the undersigned senior judges and eminent jurists from around the world condemn the recent removal of Chief Justice and urge you to act immediately to restore the independence of the judiciary by reinstating the legal Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. We are gravely concerned that ... Read More
India to boost English training infrastructure in Sri Lanka
Colombo: India will help set up a three-tier English training system in Sri Lanka to boost English language training infrastructure in the island nation. The Indian government will provide appropriate equipment and teaching aids for setting up a language laboratory of 30 computer units in each of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, according to an Indian High Commission statement on Friday. The project, besides enhancing the English Language training infrastructure in Sri Lanka, will help ... Read More
Appointment of new Chief Justice undermines Rule of Law
The appointment of former Attorney General Mohan Peiris as Sri Lanka's new Chief Justice raises serious concerns about the future of the Rule of Law and accountability in the country, the ICJ said today (January 15). Mohan Peiris has served in a variety of high-level legal posts in the past decade, always playing a key role in defending the conduct of the Sri Lankan government. He served as Sri Lanka's Attorney-General from 2009 to 2011. Since then ... Read More
The president's choice for Chief Justice is no respecter of the law
This morning, according to reports, the main gates leading to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka remained closed and heavily guarded in order to prevent the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake from entering in order to continue to function as the legitimate holder of the post of Chief Justice. She has rejected the ouster by the president as illegal. Her view is supported by the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered last week on ... Read More
Unleashing a period of terror again?
With the law, the legal institutions and the courts diminishing in value secret agencies are surfacing quite openly once again. The presence of the military and the police the night before Mohan Peiris was sworn in as chief justice and also during the day itself and the ferocious manner in which the Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, was escorted out of her official residence are images that were designed to terrorise the lawyers and citizens ... Read More
Joint statement on the removal of the Chief Justice
We note with grave concern that the Sri Lankan Parliament has decided to remove the Chief Justice of the country through a Parliamentary Select Committee, in contravention of a Constitutional determination by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court. The Court had determined that such a decision could only have been constitutionally taken through an Act of Parliament and not through a Standing order. This drastic move by the legislature began after the Supreme Court found a controversial ... Read More
CJ Shirani Bandaranayake's statement
I am the 43rd Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. As the Chief Justice, I have an obligation and an unwavering duty towards the judges, lawyers and the citizens at large of my country. I stand here before you today having been unjustly persecuted, vilified and condemned. The treatment meted out to me in the past few weeks, was an ordeal no citizen let alone the Chief Justice of the Republic ... Read More
We salute the Chief Justice for her courage
H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa's purported letter of removal has been received by the Chief Justice. The Lawyers Collective states that this removal affects the very foundation of independence of the Judiciary, the Rule of Law and all basic norms of a working democracy. The politically motivated process of removal of the Chief Justice was nothing but a misuse and abuse of Constitutional provisions and Standing Orders. The Executive and Legislature deliberately ignored the constitutional interpretation by ... Read More
UN expressed deep dismay on the execution of Rizana Nafeek
We express our deep dismay at the execution of a young Sri Lankan woman in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Rizana Nafeek, who arrived in Saudi Arabia from Sri Lanka to work as a housemaid in 2005, was charged with the murder of her employers' baby a week after her arrival. Despite a birth certificate that allegedly showed she was a minor at the time of the baby's death and repeated expressions of concern from the international community, ... Read More
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma today expressed deep disappointment at the dismissal of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.
The Secretary-General recalled his earlier statements about this matter, in particular his statement following the decision by Parliament on 11 January to impeach the Chief Justice, in which he had urged the Executive to pause and reflect carefully on the constitutional ramifications of the differing positions taken by the country's Judiciary and Legislature. Reiterating the Commonwealth's profound collective concern at the recent developments and noting the deep divisions this had caused in Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General ... Read More
Saudis execute Sri Lankan woman
Rizana Nafeek executed - President Mr. Rajapaksha bears full responsibility for this death According to reports received, the Government of Saudi Arabia has executed Ms. Rizana Nafeek (1988 - 9 January 2013) today. The embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh has confirmed this report. AHRC-STM-011-2013.JPG
The debate shifts from impeachment to the future of the rule of law
The Supreme Court in its decision made on January 1, 2013 finally put the debate on the issue of the impeachment of the Chief Justice to rest by providing the following answer to the question referred to it by the Court of Appeal. In view of the reasons we have set out above we answer the question referred to us, as set out at the beginning of this Order, as follows. "It is mandatory under Article 107(3) ... Read More
The fourth anniversary of the death of the journalist and editor Lasantha Wickrematunge
Today, January 8, is the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge. Lasantha Wickrematunge was one of the best known journalists and the editor of the Sunday Leader, a newspaper critical of the government. Despite the enormous publicity generated by this broad daylight assassination both locally and internationally, the government has refused to conduct any credible investigation into this murder. The belief in political circles as well as those who were close to Lasantha is ... Read More
The judiciary refuses to be 'tamed and vanquished'
Predictably, Government propaganda hitmen wasted little time in rushing to condemn the Supreme Court's most extraordinary and exceptional Determination this week that the parliamentary impeachment of a superior court judge has to be determined by law and not by Standing Orders. The level to which this Government has deteriorated was amply seen by the fact that while party seniors preferred to remain quiet, with one or two even cautioning that the time has come to ... Read More
SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: The imminent danger of the execution of Rizana Nafeek
According to the news received from Saudi Arabia Rizana Nafeek, who has been the Dawadami Prison since 2005 may be executed at any moment. This was revealed to the BBC Sinhala Service by Dr. Kifaya Iftekhar, who is based in Saudi Arabia and who has been looking after the interests of Rizana for several years now. Dr. Iftekhar also said that the Sri Lankan government has been informed by the Saudi authorities of the possibility ... Read More
The last five days of Sri Lanka’s democracy
AHRC declares a week of concern for threats against the independence of the judiciary in Sri Lanka The Asian Human Rights Commission alerts all concerned persons in and outside of Sri Lanka to the possibility that a five days from now there may not be a judiciary that can exercise judicial power with independence in Sri Lanka. In all likelihood, the judiciary will be brought under the direct control of the Executive President, in the same ... Read More
The Beginning of Sri Lanka’s Year Zero
On the 8th of January, the President of Sri Lanka will address a proposal to parliament to remove the incumbent Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, based on a report by a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). The entire PSC process has been declared unconstitutional and null and void by the Supreme Court of the country. For two days, the illegal proposal will be debated in the parliament and on the 11th it will be put to a ... Read More
Bar Association to strike for two days
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka strongly, unequivocally and with no reservations whatsoever condemns the decision to take up for debate the impeachment motion against her Ladyship the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani A. Bandaranayake based on the findings of the Parliamentary Select Committee which was quashed by the Court of Appeal and determined to be unlawful by the Supreme Court. The Bar Association has decided to call for all its members (in 78 Branch Associations) ... Read More
Acting contrary to the greater good of Sri Lanka
This week, newspaper reports quoted Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother accusing foreign elements of ‘using the judiciary to destabilise Sri Lanka’ (Daily Mirror, December 29th 2012). This is a classic instance of doublespeak. It is abundantly clear that, rather than so-called foreign interests, it is the Government itself which is destabilising the country. Its sheer brute force in ramming an arbitrary impeachment of Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice through Parliament against the ... Read More
Impeachmentof the Chief Justice
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) is concerned at the circumstances surrounding the impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, Shirani Bandaranayake, and at reports of attacks against the judiciary and the legal profession within Sri Lanka. The independence of the judiciary and the rule of law The independence of the judiciary is fundamental to the rule of law, and we condemn any move to restrict or compromise that independence. ... Read More
How predictions can turn out to be wrong
Basil Fernando When the impeachment proposal was announced, the immediate reaction of many was that the outcome was pre-determined as the government has a two thirds majority in Parliament (acquired as this was even by foul means). It was therefore predicted that this would be the end of the matter. There will be rituals, like the PSC proceedings which were presumed to be artificial and then the beheading of CJ will take place, after government MPs ... Read More
Increase of crimes and constitutional tomfoolery
Basil Fernando The construction of a government that prevents one person becoming the prey of another can be said to be the aim of constitutionalism. Ever since Montesquieu, the greatest of political thinkers and statesmen have struggled to develop principles to achieve this aim of preventing citizens becoming prey of rulers who rule not for the purpose of achieving the greater good for the people, but to enrich themselves at the expense of the nation. The ... Read More
SRI LANKA: 15th of December; a day to remember
Basil Fernando The Bar Association of Sri Lanka passed a historical resolution today opposing the impeachment motion and avowing that, if the incumbent CJ is removed, the Bar Association will not welcome anyone who is appointed in her place. The following is a summary of the resolution given by the Lawyer’s Collective. “The President of BASL formulated the resolution based on the two sets of resolutions that have been received. He presented it to the House. In ... Read More
Congress of religions on impeachment of the chief justice
At the outset, we endorse wholeheartedly the appeal of the four Mahanayake Theros to the President to set aside the impeachment motion brought against the Chief Justice. It is a matter of grave concern to the people of the country that the Government through the accusations levelled against Chief Justice seem to have convinced itself that the Chief Justice has not lived up to the standards of personal integrity expected of her. Since this is a very ... Read More
Crisis in the University of Jaffna --- A new wave of old scenario
The Asian Human Rights Commission expressed grave concern over the present situation in the University of Jaffna. Most students are unable to attend lectures as the whole university is in a state of stalemate. The government has added a “national security” mood to the crisis, rather than taking it as a part of the problem in higher education in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the AHRC has identified the present crisis in the University of Jaffna as ... Read More
"Don't be misled by false propaganda of state media"
- Lawyers Collective The Lawyers Collective calls upon the public not to be misled by the shameless, malicious and false propaganda of the State Media on the Impeachment of Chief Justice. There are constant false and insulting contents in the Lake House newspapers and broadcasts over SLBC, ITN and Rupavahini Corporation, all of which are being used as propaganda units of the Government. The Chief Justice, the Judiciary and the lawyers who have fearlessly come ... Read More
Senior-most judge seeks fair trial for CJ
Justice C. G. Weeramantry, former senior vice president of the International Court of Justice and the Senior Most Retired Judge in Sri Lanka, said yesterday it was essential that a tribunal deciding on the rights of any citizen must consist of persons who are totally uncommitted before the hearing. If any members of the tribunal have directly or indirectly indicated their views upon the matter in advance of the hearing, that tribunal ceases to be impartial, ... Read More
Crisis in the University of Jaffna --- A new wave of old scenario
The Asian Human Rights Commission expresses grave concern over the present situation in the University of Jaffna. Most students are unable to attend lectures as the whole university is in a state of stalemate. The government has added a 'national security' mood to the crisis, rather than taking it as a part of the problem in higher education in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the AHRC has identified the present crisis in the University of Jaffna ... Read More
'We salute the Chief Justice'
We salute the Chief Justice and her legal team for the historical decision to walk out of the PSC proceedings. We call upon the people, in particular the judges and lawyers, to grasp the historic significance of this moment It is news now that the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and her legal team, led by Romesh De Silva PC, walked away from the Parliamentary Select Committee proceedings, expressing no confidence in the manner in which the ... Read More
The fight against reducing the judiciary to a government stooge
Basil Fernando The letter written by the senior and well-respected lawyer SL Gunasekara provides a very thought-provoking approach to dealing with the present impasse created by the government’s wish to proceed with the impeachment against the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, which they are doing irrespective of the request made by the Supreme Court to delay proceedings on this matter until they make a determination on the question for reference made by the Court of Appeal. The ... Read More
From a farce to witch hunt
The impeachment of the Chief Justice which was staged as a farce has now turned into a blatant witch hunt where the government is shamelessly mobilising taxi drivers and other mobs to call for the resignation of the Chief Justice. Today was declared by the lawyers a day of protest against the impeachment process which is ignoring the request by the Supreme Court to delay the proceedings until it inquiries into a constitutional question referred to ... Read More
Judiciary sans independence: The Sri Lankan chronicle
by Jasmine Joseph The future of a judge who would have been the longest serving Chief Justice of the nation is grim in Sri Lanka. Widely alleged as politically motivated, the current move by the President to impeach her gives an opportunity to analyze the soundness of constitutional principles relating to judiciary in general and impeachment of judges in particular. The bedrock on which the judiciary in Sri Lanka is built like most constitutional democracies ... Read More
Impeachment against CJ -- Irreparable loss of confidence and public respect of the judicial system
Noting with grave concern that the impeachment proceedings initiated against Her Ladyship the Chief Justice would inevitably lead to an irreparable loss of confidence and public respect of the judicial system as a whole which in turn would further deteriorate the state of governance of the country. Noting in particular as lawyers from the North and East of Sri Lanka the importance of ensuring stability in the administration of justice as such stability is quintessential to ... Read More
Space for individuals in UN Human Rights Complain Mechanism
Lack of public awareness is one the major reason of absence of watchful oversight of citizens on their rights, issues and concerned authorities. It has been appropriately said that informed citizenry is empowered citizenry; the more people are informed, the more they are vocal and critical on their issues and rights .In this way , Public education stands as per-requisite for any planned and desired change in society what unfortunately Pakistan by and large lacks. UN ... Read More
Speaker's ruling has no bearing upon the substantive issues in the impeachment
The Speaker's ruling relating to the Supreme Court's notice to the Speaker and the members of the Parliamentary Select Committee does not in any way prohibits the constitutional right of the Court to entertain and to determine the Reference made by the Court of Appeal for a specific question relating to the scope of Article 107 (3) of the Constitution. Since the issue mooted is of utmost importance, various aspects relating to it should be ... Read More
Why only judges should judge?
The Parliamentary Select Committee's inquiry has raised the issue of the politicians being judges. Some have even said that the politicians have a better right to judge because they are elected representatives of the people whereas the judges are not. The people elect their representatives for particular purposes. By the very nature of judging guilt and innocence that is not a matter that would depend on people's consent even if a hundred percent of the electors ... Read More
The Standing Orders relating to the impeachment are flawed in law - says an international expert
1. I am Sergei GOLUBOK. I hold postgraduate degrees of LL.M. in International Human Rights Law awarded by the University of Essex in the United Kingdom and Candidate of Juridical Sciences in Public International Law and European Law awarded by the St. Petersburg State University in the Russian Federation. In 2008-2011 I had an honour to serve as a legal secretary at the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Currently ... Read More
An independent judiciary?
SRI LANKA: We dream of an independent judiciary, says a released Burmese political prisoner Basil Fernando In Yangon, I have been meeting many persons with long stories to share. Some of those whom we have met are the daughter of the first Prime Minister of Burma, who has returned after 35 years of exile in India. I also met political activists released from prison after 22, 17 and 5 years. The AHRC also visited ... Read More
The Supreme Court requests the PSC to withhold the impeachment inquiry
The Supreme Court yesterday (November 22) decided to inform the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to inquire into the allegations made in the impeachment motion filed by a number of Members of Parliament against the Chief Justice. The court is inquiring into a reference made by the Court of Appeal acting in terms of Article 125 of the Constitution referring to the following question relating to the interpretation of the Constitution for the determination of ... Read More
PSC rejects the request of the Supreme Court
Yesterday the Supreme Court in a carefully worded order made a request of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) inquiring into the impeachment not to proceed with their inquiry until the Supreme Court made a determination on the reference made to it by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court referred to the good relations that should exist between the two branches of the government and stated: .....this Court whilst reiterating that there has to be mutual ... Read More
Sri Lankan Army to recruit Tamil women
R. K. Radhakrishnan The entirely Sinhalese Sri Lankan Army is set to recruit its first Tamil women this month. At a special ceremony arranged by the Army in the former LTTE capital, Kilinochchi, on Saturday, about 100 women in the age group of 18-22 will be selected to undergo training into the Army, one official said. Asked if some of the former LTTE women wing members were also being recruited, the official said that all can take ... Read More
Leaked Report on Sri Lanka Critical of U.N.
By ROBERT MACKEY An internal review of how the United Nations handled the bloody final months of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009, when as many as 40,000 civilians were killed, has concluded that the response was “a grave failure of the U.N.,” according to a leaked draft of the report. The investigative panel, led by Charles Petrie, a former United Nations official, criticized what it called “a sustained and institutionalized reluctance” by staff members in Sri ... Read More
Sri Lanka military probing war crime allegations
IANS The Sri Lankan Army said Monday it was still investigating allegations of atrocities during the war against the Tamil Tigers that ended in 2009. According to army spokesperson Ruwan Wanigasooriya, a court of inquiry was on to record statements from witnesses and others, Xinhua reported. A five-member probe was appointed in January based on the recommendations of a war commission known as the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). Sri Lanka's former attorney general Mohan Peiris said ... Read More
Nine killed in Sri Lanka prison riot
Colombo: At least nine people were killed and another 26 wounded at Sri Lanka's main prison on Friday after inmates overpowered guards and fought gun battles with elite police commandos, officials said. Clashes erupted as elite police Special Task Force (STF) commandos carried out a search inside the Welikada prison for drugs and smuggled mobile phones, a military official at the scene said. "Some of the inmates grabbed weapons and have used them," the officer said asking ... Read More
Lanka tops South Asia on prosperity index
South Asian economies have witnessed a sharp fall in making wealth following problems in economies and politics — from governance to personal freedom including safety and security. Low score in entrepreneurship and opportunities, personal capital, and weak governance system of the country, has pulled Nepal down to the 108th position in 2012, from a year ago’s 93rd position, according to the Global Prosperity Index (GPI) published by London-based think tank, Legatum Institute, today. Legatum’s prosperity index has ... Read More
Were there human rights abuses in Sri Lanka?
Post-war Sri Lanka – the challenges of reconciliation, reintegration and rehabilitation By Zafar Iqbal Three years on from the end of the civil war, Sri Lanka continues to face a number of multifaceted challenges concerning reconciliation, reintegration and rehabilitation. The country faces intense scrutiny over war crimes allegedly committed by its military in the bloody finale of the war; whilst allegations of widespread human rights violations – such as executions, the shelling of civilians and ... Read More
Sri Lanka: What happened to the refugees?
The camps are closed but the problems haven’t gone away. Tamil refugees at the Menik Farms refugee camp in Sri Lanka File photo: Tamil refugees at the Menik Farms refugee camp in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, October 17, 2012: The world’s largest camp for internally displaced persons was closed permanently on September 24. Menik Camp was the last one still open after the end of the civil war. Having heard the experiences of other resettled people, tales of broken ... Read More
Sri Lanka hydro power generation up on cyclonic rains
Sri Lanka's state-run Ceylon Electricity Board has upped hydro power generation and stored more water as cyclonic rains lashed the island, while irrigation tanks in several areas were also filling up, data from state agencies show. Data on the CEB website (www.ceb.lk) shows that daily hydro power generation had risen to 11.2 million units of electricity (GigaWatt hours) or 41.7 percent of the total by October 31 compared with 4.7 GWh or 14.6 percent on October ... Read More
Saving Sri Lanka’s Education – From Whom?
Sri Lanka’s education has been like a volcano – steadily waiting to erupt and it is getting closer to its objective. Undeniably there is no one cause for the current crisis. For Sri Lanka’s education to get on track those responsible for the current crisis must first accept accountability and then resolve to set things straight. Unlike any other ministry – the country’s future depends on the education of its younger generation and we need ... Read More
Rajapaksa’s political survival and the security of India
Shenali Waduge India’s fragile federal status predicts a possible eventual breakup of India similar to that of the Soviet Union. This spells a national security concern for both India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s armed forces eliminated the initial possibility securing Sri Lanka’s security and that of India. Why should India want to commit hara-kiri by continuing to encourage the eelaam slogan bypassing the possible dangers thinking it can handle worst case scenario of annexing Sri ... Read More
Sri Lankan judges, lawyers boycott courts over attack on outspoken judge
AP COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan judges and lawyers boycotted courts on Monday to protest an assault on an outspoken judge, and hundreds of lawyers staged a demonstration demanding a thorough investigation into the attack. About 500 lawyers and staff wearing black headbands marched in front of Colombo’s court complex. They carried a coffin, saying the weekend attack on Judge Manjula Tilakaratne represented the death of an independent judiciary. Later, they burned the coffin. ... Read More
Tamil diaspora requested to help
We have lots of food for thought this month especially Bishop Daniel Thiagarajah’s most determined ideal to widen the scope of educational programmes to help create a dynamic and vibrant socio-economic, cultural and spiritual New Society. He has also appealed for volunteers from the Diaspora to be involved in our programmes and projects and make connections with us. In a sermon delivered at the Colombo JDCSI Church, the Rev Dr Gunalan Thiagarajah uses the example of how ... Read More
All internally displaced resettled in North Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s success story comes after suffering 3 decades of terrorism, loss of close to 80,000 lives, rejection of numerous local and international bids of ceasefires and peace talks, refusal to stop killings of innocent civilians, continuance of child conscription to finally decide on a military solution to ending the conflict. It took just 3 years to complete the military elimination of the LTTE including its ground leadership in May 2009 becoming the first nation ... Read More
TESO wants New Delhi to do more for Sri Lankan Tamils
PTI India should also move a resolution in the U.N., demanding its intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation, chaired by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, said. File photo The Hindu India should also move a resolution in the U.N., demanding its intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation, chaired by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, said. File photo Hinting ... Read More
Take a lead in Sri Lankan Tamils welfare: DMK tells the Centre
PTI Chennai: Hinting that India's rehabilitation efforts for Tamils in post civil war Sri Lanka were "not satisfactory," key UPA partner DMK today asked the government to take the lead ahead of Colombo to ensure their welfare. India should also move a resolution in the UN, demanding its intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the recently revived Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (TESO), chaired by DMK chief M Karunanidhi said. Welcoming Prime Minister ... Read More
India attaches top priority to resettlement of Tamils in Sri Lanka: PM
PTI India attaches “highest and most important priority” to the resettlement and rehabilitation of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and remains engaged with Colombo for achieving a “future” for them, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said. Conveying this to DMK chief M. Karunanidhi who wrote to him on August 20 on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, Singh said the focus of New Delhi has been on the welfare and well-being of the Tamil citizens of Sri ... Read More
MP Devinder Shory: More Needs To Be Done In Sri Lanka; Peace Brings Prosperity
MP Devinder Shory is back in Ottawa following a Canadian trade mission to Southern India (Maharashtra, Karnatka and Kerala) and a parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka from September 8-15, MP Devinder Shory lead a workshop on the role of parliamentarians in conflict resolution and peace-building, spoke with government and opposition parliamentarians and officials and toured some former conflict areas to get a first-hand look at reconstruction. "The first thing to be taken away is ... Read More
China signs 16 new agreements with Sri Lanka
Sixteen agreements have been signed during the current visit of Chinese leader Wu Bangguo to Colombo, mostly focusing on infrastructure development in Sri Lanka including USD 760 million aid to help the island nation to become "Asia's miracle". The agreements signed yesterday ranged from visa exemption and marine development to economic and technology cooperation with expanded investment and increase imports from Sri Lanka, official media here reported. Wu, a second ranking Communist Party leader after President Hu ... Read More
Learning from Sri Lanka
Arie Kruglanski, Michele Gelfand http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/learning-sri-lanka-7485#.UFp8AcFAEV0.email | An LTTE bike platoon in 2004. The world has a lot to learn from Sri Lanka. This island nation, south of India, was torn by a vicious civil war for twenty-six years, which ended in 2009 with a clear victory for government forces over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Since then, the ruling authorities have done a remarkable job forging reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation with the Tamil minority. This ... Read More
Sri Lanka, India discuss travel advisory
Colombo, Sep 13 (IANS) Bookmark and Share Sri Lanka is holding discussions with India to lift a travel advisory issued after 184 Sri Lankan pilgrims were attacked in Tamil Nadu, a government spokesman said Thursday. Colombo hopes to withdraw the advisory as soon as possible and is currently discussing security for local travellers, cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was quoted as saying by Xinhua. "There has been no tension between the two governments and engagement is ... Read More
Sri Lanka’s National Armed Forces is the envy of Foreign Private Contractors
Shenali Waduge There is just one word that describes why the West refuses to acknowledge Sri Lanka’s successful elimination of globally banned terrorist movement the LTTE - it is because of their Jealousy. This explains why Sri Lanka received very few bouquets and why the force of that envy produced the demand that Sri Lanka showcase its plan for post-conflict. Taking up that challenge through an indigenously designed 5R program, Sri Lanka’s post-conflict success signals the ... Read More
Fringe pro-LTTE groups behind Tamil Nadu violence: Sri Lankan envoy
New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) Terming the recent attack on Sri Lankan tourists as an "unfortunate aberration," Colombo's envoy Prasad Kariyawasam has blamed "fringe pro-LTTE groups" in the state for the violence, but underlined it will not affect robust ties or the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India later this month. "It's an unfortunate aberration, specially given very warm and robust relations between India and Sri Lanka," Kariyawasam, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, told ... Read More
Lankan personnel being trained in different states: Govt
New Delhi, Sept 5 (PTI) India was training armed forces personnel from Sri Lanka in different states of the country including Tamil Nadu as part of exchanges with neighbouring countries, Rajya Sabha was informed today. "Yes, training exchanges are conducted between armed forces personnel of India and various neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka... In Tamil Nadu, two Sri Lankan personnel are being trained at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington," Defence Minister A K ANtony said ... Read More
Sri Lanka must protect Sri Lanka’s National Security from India
Shenali Waduge When the majority of Sri Lankan’s however fascinated they are with Hindi movies remain concerned about the prominence given to India in Sri Lanka’s post conflict development that concern should not be ignored. The concern is nothing that India can be upset about. There is a history behind Sri Lankan’s resentment of India’s action. It was the very person who India assisted to reign terror in Sri Lanka that kept India at bay ... Read More
Buses carrying Sri Lankan pilgrims attacked in Tamil Nadu: Reports
TNN NAGAPATTINAM: A batch of 178 Sri Lankan nationals on a pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu faced protests for the second day on Tuesday with a pro-Tamil outfit trying to block their vehicles when they were returning after offering worship at the famous Velankanni Christain shrine near here. According to TV reports, buses carrying Lankan pilgrims were attacked but no passenger suffered any major injury. However, windowpanes of some buses were shattered in the attack. Police, however, ... Read More
Sri Lanka’s Education Mafia
Shenali Waduge Undeniably something is wrong somewhere and that somewhere is our education. The stock exchange is supposed to be ruled by the mafia, perhaps even the sports arena, so too is present day politicos and it is no exaggeration to say that there is a mafia controlling the education of Sri Lanka. Our objective is to view all areas of discussion and to determine how best we can address these areas instead of delaying action ... Read More
Higher education in Sri Lanka
School's out AN ELDERLY couple sat inside an auto-rickshaw holding a placard with bold red and blue writing: “Don’t mess with our granddaughter’s right to free education”. The pair, both in their eighties, were among hundreds of protesters who met at Colombo’s Hyde Park on August 23rd to demand a dramatic increase in the government’s education spending. “Darling, I’m nobody,” the old woman said. “But poor people are having trouble getting their kids educated.” And she wanted ... Read More
Karunanidhi reacts strongly to Centre’s stance on training Sri Lankans
Union Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju’s remarks that India would continue to train Sri Lankan defence personnel as it was a friendly nation evoked widespread criticism from political parties in Tamil Nadu. Most vociferous was DMK president M. Karunanidhi, who had wondered whether India could consider Sri Lanka as a friendly country when it was working closely with China. “The relationship between India and Sri Lanka could be called ‘one-sided’ and can ... Read More
Who is funding Karunanidhi’s Tamil Eelaam “dream”?
Shenali Waduge Tamil Nadu politicians appear to be taking turns to garner public support for something called “eelaam” and the louder they wail they are assured of remunerations which explain why only politicians are interested in forming an eelaam – be it rightfully in Tamil Nadu or its initial launchpad of Sri Lanka. Essentially, Eelaam has nothing to do with Tamils and everything to do with politicians ready to do anything and everything for money. The ... Read More
Swamy’s prescription for reconciliation in Sri Lanka
R. K. Radhakrishnan The Hindu Janata party president Subramanian Swamy speaking at the valedictory of the defence seminar 'Towards lasting peace and stability,' in Colombo on Friday. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan It will be much easier to fight Sri Lanka’s enemies abroad, if there is some devolution of powers to the Tamils areas in the near future, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said in Colombo on Friday. Calling upon Tamils to recognise the victory over the ... Read More
India, Sri Lanka to double trade to USD 10 bn by 2015
India and Sri Lanka have set a target to double bilateral trade to USD 10 billion by 2015, India's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Friday. “We have set a target to double bilateral trade to USD 10 billion by 2015. Captains of industry have accepted and endorsed it,” Sharma said while addressing the inaugural function of “India Show” here. Sharma along with Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Development Rishad Bathiudeen and Minister of Industry ... Read More
India asks Sri Lanka to free fishermen
New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) India Thursday asked Sri Lanka to release 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested on charges of entering the island nation's waters on humanitarian grounds. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna asked India's High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok Kantha to take up the issue with authorities in Colombo. Kantha met Sri Lankan officials and pressed for the release of the fishermen. In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry took up the issue again with the ... Read More
Sri Lankan court orders release of 10 T.N. fishermen
PTI A court in Sri Lanka on Monday ordered release of 10 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were taken into custody by Sri Lankan Navalmen on July 1, a top fisheries official said. The fishermen and their boats would be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime boundary line today or tomorrow, Assistant Director of Fisheries A. Karithikeyan told reporters here. The fishermen, who put to sea from here, had strayed into the Lankan ... Read More
The colossal farce of PC polls
"The Government seems to have got trapped in a comment the President made to India that he would implement the 13th Amendment and even go further (13 plus). He said this initially to get Indian support to defeat the LTTE on the battlefield. Now, the Indians, like the dog with the bone, will not let go. It is clear that India would like to have an elected Northern PC with its proxy, the Tamil National ... Read More
Menon to visit Sri Lanka soon
R. K. Radhakrishnan National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon will visit Sri Lanka in the last week of June, as “a follow-up to the United Nations Human Rights Council vote against the island nation in its last session.” Confirming this, officials here said Mr. Menon’s visit was not linked to the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Rio. “It is too short a time between the meeting [in Rio] ... Read More
Refugees for 20 years, Tamil Catholic families forced to live in the jungle
Sri Lanka, June 22, 2012: With the Civil War, the community of Mullikulam (Mannar, Northern Province) has lost everything: homes, properties, land. They can’t return to their home village because the Navy wants to build a naval base there. Now the government has placed them in a forest: they sleep on the floor, surrounded by elephants and snakes. They need to build new homes, but they have no tools. Catholic priest: “We are witnessing an ... Read More
Lankan minister's remarks anger DMK, asks PM to intervene
- NDTV Chennai: A controversial remark reportedly made by Sri Lankan Minister for Power and Energy, Champika Ranawaka has touched a raw nerve in Tamil Nadu. In a fax to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, DMK Chief Karunanidhi says the minister "threatened that one Mullaivaikal was enough and that no one should try to get hundred more". Mullaivaikal is a seashore area in Sri Lanka where human rights groups estimate 40,000 Tamil civilians were massacred in the final ... Read More
Evangelicals in Sri Lanka seek religious equality
A group of religious liberty organisations is calling upon Sri Lanka to officially recognise the country's evangelical community. Evangelicals in Sri Lanka are represented by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka. The organisation is a member of the World Evangelical Alliance and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The Religious Liberty Partnership has issued a statement calling upon the Sri Lankan government to guarantee religious equality for all faith communities. "Protection of religious freedom is essential if ... Read More
JDS LAUNCHES A NEW WEBSITE
Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) is delighted to announce the launch of their new website. www.jdslanka.org will include news analysis, in-depth features, reviews, exclusive interviews and commentaries on Sri Lankan affairs. JDS that exposed evidence of war crimes triggering an international outcry in 2009, will endeavor to raise awareness on Sri Lanka as well as challenge undemocratic practices in the island. 'Sri Lankan journalists forced to leave the island due to the government’s war ... Read More
Bank of Ceylon to expand in India
Bank of Ceylon is on expansion mode in India. It plans to open six to seven branches in South India, and one in Varanasi. A number of Sri Lankan pilgrims visit Varanasi on their way to Bodh Gaya. “We are going places outside Sri Lanka and India is on top of our focus area,” said Dr Gamini Wicramasinghe, Chairman, Bank of Ceylon, which is the largest bank in Sri Lanka. -The Hindu ... Read More
India, US to assist Sri Lanka military
Singapore: India and the US have agreed to provide enhanced training facilities for military personnel from Sri Lanka, it was announced Tuesday. This followed meetings Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had with General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Indian Defence Minister A.K. Anthony here. The meetings took place on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue. "As a coastal nation, the meetings recognized the pivotal role the Sri Lanka Navy could play ... Read More
Outspoken church leader in danger as Sri Lanka regime critics “disappear”
May 24, 2012: A senior church leader in Sri Lanka is under threat for speaking out against the regime’s abuses as government critics suspiciously “disappear” and international pressure mounts. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar, has been a leading figure in defending the rights of the Tamil people in the north and east of the country; they suffered grave abuses during the 26-year long civil war in which the government fought the Tamil Tigers, and are now ... Read More
Tamil and war widows abandoned by the Sri Lankan government
May 24, 2012: Catholic priests participate in a meeting in Jaffna (Northern Province) where they criticise the government for violating the fundamental rights of Tamils in the north. In Batticaloa (Eastern Province), 184 war widows are still living in temporary housing without running water, electricity, toilet facilities or government financial assistance. In Sri Lanka’s predominantly Tamil north, religious celebrations are restricted, freedom of association is violated and the traditional culture is being undermined, this according to ... Read More
Now, Paswan joins Eelam chorus
Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone CHENNAI : sovereign Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka? Member of Parliament and president of the Lok Janshakthi Party, Ram Vilas Paswan, on Sunday called upon the international community to ensure that a referendum is conducted to determine the emotions of the Tamil population. Speaking to reporters at a memorial event on the Marina to mark what is now termed the ‘Mullivaykal Massacre’ that occurred during the final stages ... Read More
Rajapaksa gets nod to free jailed ex-army chief
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained the approval of his cabinet to free Fonseka, Xinhua quoted presidential spokesman Bandula Jayasekera as saying. Fonseka, receiving treatment at a local hospital, is expected to be given a presidential pardon over the next couple of days. The former army chief was arrested and jailed after he contested against Rajapaksa for the post of president during 2010 elections. He faced charges of harbouring army deserters, illegal arms dealing and allegedly telling ... Read More
Is there a future for the Sinhalese and the Buddhists in Sri Lanka
Shenali Waduge Tamil politicians can speak for the welfare and rights of the Tamils, Muslims can demand rights and privileges for Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Catholics can demand their rights but why is it considered taboo for Sinhalese to speak about the future of the Sinhalese or for Sinhalese Buddhists to exercise their rights in a land where Buddhism is enshrined in its constitution? It has always been accepted for everyone to speak on their ... Read More
CSI’s Wider Ministries take a major step
Historic 3-day consultation seminar with the JDCSI explores fresh grounds for cooperation Three directors from the Church of South India directorate in Chennai led a 3-day consultation seminar April 12-14 with the JDCSI clergy and laity jointly sponsored by the Church of South India, the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) and its fraternal institution, Jaffna College. While the opening session was conducted by the Rt Rev Dr Daniel Thiagarajah during which he introduced the three directors and ... Read More
Tamil genocide with chemichal weapons
People from across the globe are condemning the Human rights violations of Srilankan government. And civilized society is fighting hard to establish the justice to the tamils. Killing of nearly 1,40,000 innocents, war crimes, ongoing slaughter on the journalists, moderates, reformists, artists and having opposition leader behind the bars make the Srilanka as a criminal and a failed state. List of few Evidences : People's Permanent Tribunal found Srilanka guilty of war crimes and Genocide. UN's Human ... Read More |
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