Sunday, July 31, 2011

Basil Rajapaksa on TNA and political solution

''I think a political solution means you have to do a lot of things. We are doing a lot of things. This Constitution of Sri Lanka is far more advanced than any other Constitution in the world. TNA is trying to bring back the same environment, the same fear psychosis.''

Holding back popular rebellion

''This is a warning that it will do well to take heed of. Post elections, political analysts have dwelt on the polarization of political opinion between the north and the east and the rest of the country. There may be some truth in this. Yet the perception that the electorate outside the north and east continues to be solidly behind the government may not necessarily continue to be the case. ''
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

Ranil links Lanka’s demand with South Sudan’s C’wealth entry

Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked Britain to ensure that South Sudan recognise the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka before it is given full membership of the Commonwealth, a statement issued by the Opposition leader's office states.

US delivers demarche: Refer LLRC report to UNHRC

The United States has delivered a demarche to Sri Lanka that it wants the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) discussed at the 19th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March next year.

by Chandani Kirinde
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary Group Leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan spoke to the Sunday Times after his Party secured a landslide victory in the local government elections in the North, despite widespread use of state power by the ruling party that pulled out all stops to secure a win there.
Mr. Sampanthan said the Government should recognize and respect the verdict of the people of the North adding that his Party was willing to extend maximum cooperation to achieve a workable and durable solution to the conflict.

Economic development alone will not satisfy minority grievances

We are facing perhaps one of the gravest challenges since the Indian challenge to us which culminated in the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. There has been the cumulative impact of the panel of experts’ report of the UN secretary general, the Channel 4 documentary and The Cage by Gordon Weiss.
An Interview with Jayantha Dhanapala by Namini Wijedasa

Grievances of people in North:Sangaree volunteers to help govt find solution

By Manjula FERNANDO
A fearless critic of LTTE atrocities, the leader of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Veerasingham Anandasangaree has spent most of his days, during the LTTE’s bloody years, behind closed doors of his tightly secured house in Colombo.

Suspected EPDP goons assault 59 year old news editor of Jaffna newspaper

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, News Editor of Tamil Daily”Uthayan” was attacked with iron rods in Jaffna by 2 thugs suspected to be from the EPDP

Lanka needs to look into war crimes allegations carefully - Rao

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Sri Lanka has to look into war crimes allegations carefully.
In an interview with Headlines Today, on her last day in office, the United States ambassador designate was queried on allegations of human rights violations in Sri Lanka and the controversial Channel 4 video amongst other topics.

Karat with Suresh Premachandran

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday made a strong case for demilitarisation and ending of emergency laws and regime in the North and East of Sri Lanka, saying the failure of Colombo to dismantle the military regime and apparatus was hindrance to a political solution.

Targeting media: A serious threat to already worsened democracy in Jaffna

The latest attack on the news editor of the Jaffna-based Uthayan newspaper, Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan should not be understood merely as an isolated attack on media freedom and freedom of speech in Sri Lanka.

Colonization to engulf Thiriyaay as Colombo allocates 3000 acres for Buddhist vihare

Nearly three thousand acres in Thiriyaay, a traditional Tamil village, located about 42 km off north of Trincomalee town have been earmarked to be declared as sacred area for a Buddhist Vihare called Girihandu Seya. The Vihare caters exclusively for Sinhala Buddhists from the south of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan journalist attacked 'with iron bars'

By Mel Gunasekera
An ethnic Tamil journalist in Sri Lanka's formerly embattled north was brutally attacked with iron bars, police said on Saturday, the latest in a string of assaults on the nation's media.Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan, news editor of the Tamil-language daily Uthayan, was attacked by a gang of men wielding iron bars on Friday near his home in the area formerly held by separatist Tamil rebels, police said.

The attack on the editor of ‘Udayan’ newspaper is not only an issue regarding media freedom. It is an issue regarding national unity; an issue regarding the right to live freely; an issue regarding the freedom of expression and it is also an issue regarding democracy states a communiqué issued by the Political Bureau of the JVP regarding the savage attack on the Editor of ‘Udayan’ newspaper.

After body of Sri Lankan rights defender is apparently found, UN calls for action

by UN News Centre

The United Nations human rights office today called for the swift investigation and prosecution of the killers of a prominent human rights defender whose body is believed to have been found, 17 months after he disappeared.

Elections Dept reduces 4 MP’s in North while not registering 900,000 Tamil voters in South

Mano Ganesan tells Mahinda Deshapriya
Enthusiasm shown by your department in removing the names of those who left the country in Jaffna district is not equally shown in adding new names and fixing the disparities in the registers. This attitude is very much reflected on the Tamil population of this country. There are near 300,000 eligible Tamil voters who are not registered as voters in the nine southern districts.

Colombo targeting Tamil civil service is more than revenge

Orders have been issued by Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa and by his sibling Basil Rajapaksa to colonial governor Maj. Gen. Chandrasri for immediate and full-swing replacement of Tamil civil service in the north.

Stop aid to Sri Lanka, says D. Raja

CPI secretary and Rajya Sabha member D. Raja has asked the Central government to stop financial aid to Sri Lanka and demand inquiry in International Court of Justice against the atrocities committed on Sri Lankan Tamils by that government.

‘Udayan’ news editor in serious condition following assault

The news editor of Udayan newspaper in Jaffna is said to be in serious condition following an assault this evening (July 29).

Two men armed with iron clubs had ambushed Gnanasundaram Kuhanathan , 55, in a motorcycle as he was returning home from work.

Sri Lanka's deaf march for equal rights, jobs

APBy BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI
About 1,000 deaf Sri Lankans took to the streets of capital Colombo on Friday to demand equal rights, social recognition and more sign language translators, with an official saying only about four are currently qualified.

A call that should be wholeheartedly heeded - Editorial Daily News

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran's call for a change of attitude on the part of the Tamil Diaspora in the West on the question of the TNA engaging with the Lankan state on working out a solution to the conflict is most timely and we hope it would be given some consideration.

An agitation demanding the government to release Tamil political prisoners was held opposite the Fort Railway altStation yesterday (28th). The agitation had been organized by the Socialist Youth Union (SYU).

This morning,(28, July) the police exhumed the remains of the body suspected to be of disappeared human rights activist , Pattani Razeek, who was the Managing Trustee of Community Trust Fund (CTF) and Executive Committee member of FORUM-ASIA, and disappeared on 11th February 2011.

Local Elections in the North and East: Rebuking the Regime

Dr.P.Sravanamuttu
The results of the second phase of the 2011 local government elections reveal a north/ south divide with the ruling UPFA winning comfortably outside of the north and east and the TNA capturing the overwhelming majority of local bodies in those areas. These results need serious analysis by all political parties as an indication of the trajectory of politics to come.

North education director sent on compulsory leave

Northern province director of education Vigneswaran has been sent on compulsory leave.
He has been told by the provincial education secretary Ilangovan yesterday (July 27) that he was to be sent on compulsory leave by the province’s governor.

Sri Lanka To Abolish Emergency Laws By Year End: Minister

Sri Lanka is to remove controversial emergency laws by the end of this year, Xinhua news agency reported quoting a minister as saying Thursday.Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that several clauses of the emergency laws have already been removed.

Decision to reduce Jaffna parliamentary seats is unfair - TNA

The decision taken to reduce the number of parliamentary seats allocated to the Jaffna electorate from ten to six is an unfair one, Spokesman for the Tamil National Alliance Suresh Premachandra stated.

Justice Palakidnar Memorial Oration: Economic Development, Inclusive Societies And Peace

''For this one needs to operate within a political framework of democracy and individual freedoms and the free and full participation of all citizens in the development process. In the absence of this, government would soon deteriorate into dictatorship or anarchy and development into a farce, enacted to further the ends of a powerful few.''
by Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga

The courage to condeem Sri Lanka war crimes

Last Sunday evening, something remarkable happened in Colombo. One of the luminaries of Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese political elite broke ranks and presented to an invited audience a bold critique of the failure of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to resolve the treatment of the island’s Tamil minority.

CSN transmitters fixed on Navy’s tower at Piduruthalagala

Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s Carlton Sports Network (CSN) is fixing transmitters on the Sri Lanka Navy’s transmission tower at Piduruthalagala inorder to broadcast the matches between Sri Lanka and Australia to be played next month, an official from Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) said.

No more faith in Colombo’s peace and reconciliation: Indian women

Prominent women’s rights activists in India in a statement this week said that they had stopped believing in Colombo's periodic pledges to bring about reconciliation in the country, reports Indian Express. "We no longer believe the empty promises of the Sri Lankan government to bring peace and reconciliation, and strongly demand immediate action that will convince us of the seriousness of this intent,"

What South Africa can do to help with reconciliation in Sri Lanka

Louise Arbour,
As South Africa knows better than most, a country cannot begin to overcome decades of internal conflict without a sustained effort at revealing the truth of the past and a committed push for reconciliation. If only Sri Lanka could learn that lesson.

President has a bigger mandate against devolution

The TNA demands

Q: The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) which secured 18 local councils yesterday insists on the devolution of police and land powers without which they claim a political solution could not be reached, emphasizing that ‘lasting peace, justice and democracy’ in the North depends on such devolution.

Then the President has a bigger mandate not to give these powers.

Punish Lankan war criminals, TNCC chief appeals to PM

NCC president K V Thangkabalu today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that those responsible for alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka against Tamil civilians during the last phase of the offensive against the LTTE in Sri Lanka faced action.

Sri Lanka: Tamil hopes and national unity

R. K. Radhakrishnan
Sri Lankan voters walk to polling stations as a policeman stands guard in Jaffna on July 23, 2011. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the umbrella organisation of Tamil political parties, recorded convincing victories in local body elections in Sri Lanka's north and east.

Lankan soldiers 'whose hearts turned to stone'

This report contains details some readers may find distressing.
Over the last two years Channel 4 News has broadcast footage that the UN says constitutes "credible evidence of war crimes" in Sri Lanka.

Wildlife director sacked over Govt.’s loss of votes in Wayamba

By Ifham Nizam
Wildlife Conservation Director General Dr. Chandrawansa Pathiraja was removed from his post yesterday by Wildlife and Agrarian Services Minister S. M. Chandrasena.The Island learns that among the causes for the removal of Dr. Pathiraja were elephant drives and relocation, particularly in the Wayamba area.

Use prime time TV for studies- MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that all the TV channels should be requested not to telecast teledramas between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm so that schoolchildren could devote their time to studying.

Local polls show TNA is the pre-eminent entity among the Tamil people

by Dayan Jayatilleka
The TNA’s Northern success, running against the ruling coalition in an area with a heavy military ‘footprint’ means one thing above all else: Sri Lanka remains a functioning, competitive, multiparty democracy.

Diaspora groups must let TNA set the agenda for Tamil political aspirations

by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
The results of the second phase of the 2011 local government elections reveal a north/ south divide with the ruling UPFA winning comfortably outside of the north and east and the TNA capturing the overwhelming majority of local bodies in those areas.

The 65 results disclosed in the mini election reveals a one party domination in the South (UPFA) and the North (ITAK). The call is close only in the constituencies that do not have a Tamil domination where a keen contest was seen between the UPFA and the ITAK.

Magistrate does not see Manel, a six-yeared remanded

by Harshi C. Perera
All Magistrates in Sri Lanka are legally empowered to visit and inspect the conditions of pretrial detainees in prisons. This measure is introduced to stop torturing and inhumanly treating pretrial detainees in prisons.
Detaining a suspect in remand prison for over six years is a blatant form of torture.

Govt.-TNA talks on Monday

By Kelum Bandara
Following the local government elections which ensured a victory for the TNA in the North and East, the government will have its next round of talks with the TNA next Monday as part of its plan to evolve a political solution, the party said yesterday

Accountability issues and post-war stability

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says the government will not tolerate any party other than the police and armed forces carrying weapons. The Defence Secretary insists any party, including those who once supported Sri Lanka’s war against the LTTE will not be allowed retain weapons under any circumstances.

TNA insists on police, land powers

By Sandun A. Jayasekera
The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) which swept the board in Saturday’s local council elections in the North said yesterday it would be impossible to reach a political solution and bring about lasting peace, justice and democracy in the North without the devolution of police and land powers.

. . TNA MP Suresh Premachandran on the result of the Local Government elections

''The Tamil people’s demand is that they exercise full powers of self-rule within their homeland consisting of a merged North and East. Once again, the Tamil people have declared that they will not relinquish their political aspirations for any amount of giveaways or on account of any level of intimidation by ensuring the victory of the TNA.''

Economistic Thesis invalidated at northern elections

By Jehan Perera
Defeats suffered by the ruling alliance at the local authority elections in the North would have come as a disappointment to the government, which registered its accustomed victories elsewhere in the country. For the past month a formidable array of government ministers, said to be as many as 40, are reported to have spent much time campaigning in the North.

Deeds Not Words - re right to information bill

''The founder Editor of this newspaper was brutally killed by hired goons over two and a half years ago. The resultant investigation has been played out like a soap opera. The Cabinet spokesperson ventured as far as to give definite dates when the culprits would be brought to book''

Election commissioner's Powers Slashed

By Indika Sri Aravinda
The powers vested with the Elections Commissioner have been slashed by the 18th Amendment and powers to issue directives have been limited, Executive Director of the Peoples’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiararchchi said.

Media director Hulugalle Owes Rs. 900,000 to CEB

By Indika Sri Aravinda
A private radio station registered under the name of the wife of the Director General of the Media Center for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle, owes the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) over Rs. 900,000 on electricity bills.

By Charles Haviland/BBC News, Kilinochchi
The dirt road leading south-west from Kilinochchi town is pale red, the colour of the soil of the Vanni, the northerly extreme of the Sri Lankan mainland. It is a land that lost all its people. They retreated with the Tamil Tigers as the civil war swept through Kilinochchi more than two years ago. There are burnt-out husks of houses.

The day I realised I was poor

''Their fears are real and almost paranoid. They are not dissimilar to the fear of the so-called high castes in Jaffna including Tamil politicians of yesterday that only they could realise Tamil dreams and not the majority of those perceived to belong to the lower strata of Tamil society.''
by Pearl Thevanayagam

Northern Elections falls short of meeting International Standards -CaFFE Report

Elections in the Northern Peninsula did not meet the international standards due to certain disturbing malpractices and intimidations that took place in the Killinochchi District. The dominant presence of the military and the lack of civil administration did not aid the transparency and accountability of the first post-war local authority election.

Tamils sceptical of future in Sri Lanka’s north

By Shihar Aneez
JAFFNA: Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils say President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s post-war development and infrastructure projects in the former war zone in the island’s north have yet to address their real concerns and have not excluded their participation.

Sri Lanka a divided nation, under authoritarian rule- Chandrika

Former Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga said on Sunday that she still ‘agonizes’ over not using full presidential powers or authoritarian rule to implement the then draft constitution that would have ended dictatorial presidential rule.

UPFA wins in South, TNA sweeps North

By Kelum Bandara
Saturday’s local council elections saw the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) winning the local councils in the south while the main Tamil party the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won nearly all the local councils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Pitfalls in the President’s Alliance with the EPDP–A Visit to Kayts on Elections Day

by Professor S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, UGC Coordinator for Engineering, University of Jaffna
The EPDP, supposedly a former armed group which continues to be represented by gun-toting cadres led by Minister Douglas Devananda, is the main Tamil ally of President Rajapakse. The violent EPDP seemed the only way in which the President can show Tamil support and therefore it has become his most crucial ally in warding off calls for war crimes inquiries on the grounds that Tamils support him.

Tamils voted for dignified political settlement-TNA

Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which won nearly all the local councils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces at the yesterday’s LG election, said that the Tamil people had voted for a dignified political settlement at this election despite intimidations and threats by the ruling UPFA.

An election that challenged democracy - JV

At the second phase of the local government election that was concluded yesterday the government, as in all other elections held so far, obtained its results not by allowing masses to express their wish independently within a democratic or fair and free election process states the JVP.

Bring to justice those behind Lanka war crimes: DMK

DMK, a key ally of UPA on Sunday said India and other "human rights respecting nations," should make efforts to bring to justice those who committed 'war crimes' against Tamils in Sri Lanka and called for a plebiscite for a political solution to the ethnic issue in the island.

Sri Lankan stability critical to New Delhi’s Indian Ocean ambitions

A controversial advisory panel report, published by the United Nations in late March 2011, called for a full investigation into the perceived breaches in the Laws of Armed Conflict during the endgame of Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Will India Take Sri Lanka To The World Court?

Sri Lanka may have won the war, but now it is time to face legal challenges from the international community and the international courts.

By S.V. Kirubaharan in France

All corrupt politicians and officials to be prosecuted under UNP government – UNP

All corrupt politicians and officials will be prosecuted by a future UNP government, the party’s Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said in a statement issued on Friday (22).

Local govet elections: Seats won by political parties

The governing United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has secured a comfortable win at the second phase of the Local Government Election 2011 wining a total of 45 LG bodies out of 65 bodies.

Ex-rebel proxies sweep Sri Lanka local elections

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press
A former proxy to Sri Lanka's defeated separatist Tamil Tiger rebels swept local council elections held in areas ravaged by the country's 25-year civil war, officials said Sunday, amid reports of intimidation and vote-buying.

Patta Pal Boru – President Mahinda Rajapaksa threatens media

''Instead of telephoning publishers and yelling at them Rajapaksa should have the foresight (he is after all President) to explain why his son was given USD half million? Why indeed did China choose to favour him with over one billion rupees to use at his discretion? Into which fund/account where these monies deposited? How are they to be utilized? Why was Parliament and the relevant line ministries bypassed?''

Ban aid to Sri Lanka resolution: full text

Just last week, the Channel 4 video Sri Lanka's Killing Fields was screened at the US Congressional Auditorium in Washington DC. This week, just days after the Clinton visit to New Delhi and Chennai, the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the US capital adopted a resolution to ban aid to Sri Lanka

Govt. ignoring epidemic of corruption - ST editorial

''Similarly, it seems that the Government of Sri Lanka has run out of ideas and innovative thinking to stop the accumulating incidents of financial setbacks that have cost the country and its citizens dearly.''

Election Law violations dominate LG polls

Men in uniform accused of participating in polls, according to monitors
By Saradha Mohan Kumar
The first Local Government (LG) elections in the Northern Province, in an environment free of threats from the LTTE, did not mean an entirely free and fair poll. Instances of threats and intimidation and buying of polling cards were among the election law violations reported from the North at yesterday’s elections, according to observers.

Unwanted post-war babies abandoned or killed in North

By Chandani Kirinde, with extra reporting by Priyantha Hewage in Vavuniya
Cases of abandoned or murdered infants are alarmingly on the increase in the North, especially in areas that were once under LTTE control. In the past two months, four infants have been found abandoned and two were found dead in Vavuniya and Chettikulam respectively, according to Police and hospital sources.

US uses aid weapon: Lanka may lose Rs. 1.4 billion

By Anthony David
Sri Lanka stands to lose 13 million dollars (Rs 1.4 billion) in development assistance from the United States if a ban on aid becomes law. Altogether US AID has sought US$ 55 million (Rs 6 billion) for aid programmes for the fiscal year 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012).

President reiterates police, land powers not subjects for PCs

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated his long-held view that police powers and land “were not subjects for the Provincial Council.
He has told ‘The Hindu’ in an interview that he had seen “what has happened in India, in the recent Mumbai bomb attacks.

Polls chief asked to annul Karachchiya PS voting

The poll monitoring body of the Intellectuals for Human Rights has asked the elections commissioner to annul elections held to the Karachchiya Pradeshiya Sabha as a number of incidents of election violence and violations have been reported from the area.

Widespread SLA attacks reported on voters, candidates in Ki'linochchi

The occupying Sri Lanka Army let loose its soldiers in civil cloths on house-to-house attack in many of the villages in Ki'linochchi district in the early hours of Saturday, causing panic and fear among the voters in Vanni and forcing the voters to stay inside their houses.

'Clinton, Jayalalitha discuss current situation in Sri Lanka'

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha had a long conversation over the current situation in Sri Lanka and felt the need for greater progress towards reconciliation there, a State Department official has said.

Party actions detered a free and fair election -CPA

''While it is too early to comment on the outcome of the elections, an important point to note is the tactics used by candidates, political parties and others to influence and deter a free and fair election taking place in the North. Violence and violations of electoral law were also reported from other areas of the country''

Sri Lanka stx hits 7-month low; rupee flat

* Index hits lowest since Dec. 23
* Foreign investors net sellers of 571.2 mln rupees on week
* State bank defends rupee amid importer dlr demand

British Lankans protest against BBC Sinhala service black out of SLcricket tour

''While BBC Sports pages carried match information in full, cricket reporting on BBC Sinhala home page was conspicuous by its absence, except when the story was about malpractices or other negative aspect of Sri Lanka’s Cricket administration or politics in general''.

Tamils sceptical of development, voting in Sri Lanka's war-weary north

By Shihar Aneez

Sri Lanka's minority Tamils say President Mahinda Rajapaksa's post-war development and infrastructure projects in the former war zone in the island's north have yet to address their real concerns and have not excluded their participation.

UNP protest against Govt.’s billion-rupee loss making decisions

A public protest will be held at Panduwasnuwara, in Hettipola, on August 6, to educate the public about the irrational decisions taken by the government, which has resulted in the country losing millions of dollars in foreign exchange, the UNP said yesterday.

A month on, Lanka ferry service has not many takers

The well-publicized Tuticorin-Colombo passenger ferry service is reportedly floundering. Since beginning operations on June 13, the 1,044-capacity vessel, Scotia Prince, is carrying hardly 150 passengers during each of its twice-a- week trips.

Hundreds of Polling Cards Forcibly Collected in Killinochchi,

One Killed in Anuradhapura, UNP Mayoral Candidate Assaulted in Nuwera Eliya, Illegal Propaganda Continues
Hours before commencement of polling on Election Day, a shooting incident took place in Paniyang Kadawala, Saliyapura in the Anuradhapura District, leaving one person dead. He was a strong UPFA supporter and this death is reportedly a result of an internal clash between UPFA party members in the area.

'Three new borns killed each day by mothers'

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Three infants are killed by their young mothers in Sri Lanka daily while one female child gets abused, Foundation for Law and Justice President, attorney-at-law Sumedha Senanayake said.
The rate of divorce too is rapidly increasing within Sri Lanka and a majority of couples divorce during the first year of their marriage, he said.

Sri Lankan ruling party resorts to violence in northern elections

By Subash Somachandran / 21 July 2011
Sri Lanka’s ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is engaging in violence against opposition candidates and flouting election laws in the local government election campaign in war-torn northern Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapakse is mounting a desperate attempt to capture the local government bodies to counter criticisms of his government’s involvement in the military’s war crimes during the final stages of the island’s civil war and to claim his government has the support of Tamil people.

Rajapaksa gives Tamil Nadu trio stage fright

Three film singers from Tamil Nadu who had accepted a Sri Lankan government invitation to perform for Tamils in the former warzone town of Kilinochchi pulled out Thursday after finding out the event was to be part of the ruling party’s election campaign and that Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be attending, Indian press reports said.

US panel votes to bar aid to Sri Lanka

AFP
A US congressional committee voted to ban aid to Sri Lanka unless the nation shows "accountability" over the bloodshed in the final stages of its civil war in 2009.
In a voice vote, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a measure that would ban all US government funding to Sri Lanka except for humanitarian aid, demining and activities to promote democracy and governance.

Polls in North will impact entire country

By Saman Indrajith
Saturday’s elections in the North will have an impact on the whole country, UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.
Making a special statement, the Opposition Leader said that the future of the will to find solution to the national problem, displayed by the TNA and the Government to a large extent, depend on what happens at the Local Authority elections in the North.

Police top HR violators in 2009

By Saman Indrajith

The highest number of complaints of human rights violations had been received against the Police Department for violating human rights in 2009, Parliament was told yesterday.

250 CTB buses for Presidents meeting in the North – NEM IHR

The Network for Election Monitoring of the Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEM IHR) states by 8.00 a.m. today (21st) it had received 88 complaints of election violence and violations in relation to the forthcoming local government elections.

People were brought to President’s election meeting by force – JVP

People from various places were transported by 250 buses to the election meeting held under the patronage of the President at Killinochchi said former Parliamentarian of the JVP Ramalingam Chandrasekar. He said people were brought to the meeting making false promises that they would be given houses and relief packages and some were threatened that relief to them would be taken away if they did not attend the meeting.

Sri Lanka should take immediate steps to resettle IDPs: Jaya

Chennai, Jul 21.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked the Sri Lankan government to take immediate steps to resettle Internally Displaced persons, who are currently housed in temporary shelters in the island nation.

Former CJ on Hedging Deal: Executive’s disregard for SC rulings may cost country over US $ 400 mn

Loss equal to total investment in Norochcholai power plant

By Harischandra Gunaratna

If the Executive had carried out two Supreme Court rulings way back in 2008 in respect of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) hedging deal, the country would not have been faced with the prospect of having to pay as much as 400 million US dollars to three banks, former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva said on Tuesday.

TMVP mastermind of Rs. 175 mn bank robbery arrested

By Lal Gunasekera

A senior cadre of Eastern Province Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan’s party TMVP was arrested yesterday by the CID at Wennappuwa for masterminding the robbery of Rs. 160 million cash and Rs 15 million in jewellery from the People’s Bank branch at Puttur two weeks ago.

Sri Lanka’s white vans deliver fear and oppression

''Entering on tourist visas to a former Tamil Tiger administered region RNW spoke to locals, on subjects as diverse as business, sport and the UN’s development role. During one such conversation in a restaurant they were spied on and reported to the police, who later that night arrived at the hotel for a midnight interrogation. Ten police officers, including the Chief of Police, scared the team into leaving the region. The following morning, on their way back to the well trodden tourist path, they were robbed and attacked at gunpoint by a gang in a white van.''
By International Justice Desk in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tamils: US looking at innovative ideas to break impasse, says Hillary Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday voiced concern over the plight of Internally Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka and said United States was looking at some innovative and creative ideas to break the impasse over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Sri Lankan Jails ‘Hell’ for Females

By Ranmali Bandarage
Monthly ‘visiting hours’ at the female ward of Sri Lanka’s notorious Welikada Prison are as traumatic for the inmates as they are for their family and friends. A tiny room, measuring 10 feet by seven feet, is divided in half by a mesh counter. On one side, mothers, fathers, children and relatives jostle for standing room. On the other the inmates, in white prison clothes, shout to be heard over the din.

Rs.2.3 bn. squandered on sub standard petrol, but no inquiry – Tissa

UNP to launch "public movement against alliance curse."
by Zacki Jabbar
Rupees 2.3 billion has been squandered on importing sub standard petrol, but nearly two months later the government was yet to commence a proper investigation into the fiasco, the UNP said yesterday.

Lack of transparency in the Executive:The cause of many problems – Ex-CJ

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
Lack of transparency in the Executive has led to many problems in the country, said former chief justice Sarath N. Silva yesterday. Addressing a seminar entitled, “Is the Executive, a Challenge to the People’s Sovereignty?” in Colombo, the former chief justice alleged that there was no openness or transparency in the Executive.

BJP vows to take up Eezham Tamils plight in Indian Parliament

Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari who met a top delegation of the British Tamils Forum (BTF) last weekend in London, has said that the BJP was very serious on taking up the ‘Sri Lanka issue’ in the Indian Lok-Sabha.

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Sri Lanka Police Inspectors’ Association is pushing for action against UPFA Galle District MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama for abusing the Officer-in-Charge of Akmeemana police recently.
A spokesperson for the 8,000-member strong association told The Island that they expected Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to take the SLFP politician to task. Asked whether the association intended to launch a campaign to pressure the government to discipline the MP, the spokesman said "We aren’t a trade union.

We don’t need advice from other countries -- MR

By Sandun A. Jayasekera in Chavakachcheri
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that the government had no intention of taking advice from Europe or any other power to resolve the country’s problems.Addressing an election rally in Kilinochchci in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the local government elections in Jaffna, he said, “We do not intend to get advice from Europe or any other power to resolve our problems.

Court orders arrest of journalist Radaliyagoda for corruption

19 July 2011 / By Lakmal Sooriyagoda
The Colombo Fort Magistrate today ordered the Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau to arrest and present in Court ITN journalist Sudharman Radaliyagoda who is alleged to have provided forged document to two scrap iron traders to obtain 1828 tonnes of scrap iron from Sri Lanka Telecom.

Sri Lankan media voices concerns about Rajapakse’s pro-China orientation

By Saman Gunadasa
A lengthy editorial in the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka late last month highlighted the nervousness in the country’s political and business circles that President Mahinda Rajapakse is aligning the country too closely to China, with potentially damaging consequences.

TNA: Sri Lanka performance lacking on solving key Tamil issues

While Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has endeavored to work in the spirit of co-operation with the Sri Lanka Government, the Government has yet to address the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of all displaced Tamil families, continued to unlawfully repossess the land from Tamil people, and has failed to craft a political solution within the framework of united and undivided country that will enable the Tamil people to live in security and dignity, fulfilling their legitimate political, economic, social and cultural aspirations, TNA said in a press release issued before the local authority elections in the North East. "The Government has not even kept its several commitments to the Tamil National Alliance on the release of Tamil detainees," the release added.

Free and fair election will be cornestone of political solution - NPC

''The National Peace Council calls for the Tamil people to be provided with the right and opportunity to elect their representatives through a free and fair election. Any conclusions regarding the state of mind of the Tamil people and their attitude to the government can be judged only if a free and fair election is held. ''

People living off NGOs ruining Sri Lanka – President

Dharma Sri Abeyratne
“Certain people who made money through NGOs are trying to tarnish the image of the country by spreading false propaganda”, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. President Rajapaksa was addressing a mammoth rally in Tamil at Velanei, Kayts in Jaffna yesterday in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the forthcoming local government elections.

Sarath Fonseka and Arjna Ranathunga on corruption in Sri Lanka

(LeN)Two opposition party leaders made two announcements. These announcements were made by two of the greatest Heroes which this country has ever produced and of whom the country is proud of.

Senior Indian officials have claimed that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first ever trip to Chennai will be a strictly non-governmental visit with no discussion on Sri Lanka.
But a senior official in the Barack Obama administration, who will accompany Clinton, has said that Sri Lanka would definitely figure in the discussions between the secretary of state and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa when they meet for the first time.

Sri Lanka tolls without thought: Backed up traffic and black money

''For the eight lanes of the New Delhi-Gurgaon expressway there are 32 toll gates (and lanes).
And how many toll gates and lanes are there on the eight-lane Southern Expressway? No extra lanes. No toll gates. No toll plaza, except on the State Engineering Corporation website.''
By Rohan Samarajiva

Lanka’s talent poor - 59 out of 60 countries.

Sri Lanka seems to be poor on talent, at least according to a new global survey released today.
The new study, released today by research group Heidrick & Struggles in conjunction with the Economist Intelligence Unit, placed Sri Lanka at 59 out of 60 countries.

Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Harder than Ever - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Asia Report N°209 18 Jul 2011

Two years since the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka is further from reconciliation than ever. Triumphalist in its successful “war on terror”, the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has refused to acknowledge, let alone address, the Tamil minority’s legitimate grievances against the state. The regime destroyed the Tigers by rejecting the more conciliatory approach of prior governments and adopting the insurgents’ brutality and intolerance of dissent.

Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Harder than Ever - ICG

Colombo/Brussels, 18 July 2011: President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s authoritarian and Sinhalese nationalist post-war policies are undermining prospects for reconciling Sri Lanka’s ethnic communities, weakening democracy for all Sri Lankans and increasing the risk of a return to violent conflict.

Yet another move by Executive President to embarrass the SC and independent judiciary

According to sources within the Presidential Secretariat , the Executive President is once again making illegal preparations to embarrass the supreme court and override the independent judiciary.

Interpol misused by Sri Lanka to punish opponents - ICIJ

‘Interpol misused to punish opponents’
Interpol supposed to chase criminals across borders is being used by some countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Russia and Venezuela to punish political dissenters and opponents, a new investigation done by a Washington-based journalists’ consortium finds.

Ranil says four times (Rs 4300 million) the estimated cost spent on Sooriyawewa stadium

By Piyasena Dissanayake
UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called upon the government to tell people the reasons it had spent four times more money than architect’s estimate to construct Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Addressing a party rally at Akurana on Saturday (16), Wickremesinghe said that architects had estimated the construction cost at Rs 1200 million yet the government has spent Rs 4300 million to build the stadium.

There are positive signs in the direction that the trade union action of the university teachers would come to an end soon. However, the fundamental issues raised by the University Teachers’ Association remain unresolved although the government responded positively to their demands on salaries and working conditions. The fundamentals are incorporated in the demand for an increase in state expenditure on education and higher education, a new University Act ensuring academic freedom and institutional autonomy, and quality improvement of the state universities.

TNA may withdraw from the election

The Tamil National Alliance says it may pullout from contesting the upcoming local government elections in Jaffna if its members continue to face harassment and intimidation.

EC or police cannot control election violence in the North - Tilvin

Sunday, 17 July 2011
Many candidates of the ruling party are engaged in election violence and violations but the Commissioner of Elections or the Police are unable to control them says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.

HRC Cash Strapped

By Indika Sri Aravinda
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) is unable to inquire into 2,000 complaints received due to the lack of funds to operate the Commission, a member of the HRC Prof. Ananda Mendis said.

Dead dog politics in Jaffna

'' The key challenge faced by democratic forces in Sri Lanka in the context of this reality is to reaffirm the democratic rights of the Tamil people by removing military rule and installing a civilian administration in those areas, while in the south, we need to debunk triumphalism by exposing the realities of the war.''

by Sunanda Deshapriya

Chinese Economic Hitmen And The Rajapaksas - 9M USD given to MR

By Frederica Jansz

In an unprecedented move China has given President Mahinda Rajapaksa 9 million USD (approx. one billion rupees) as a grant in March this year to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to use at his discretion. According to highly places sources at the External Resources Department of the Treasury these monies were part of a grant amounting to a total USD 12 million for “enhancing friendly relations and bilateral economic and technical cooperation.”

Sri Lanka Killing Fields - India taks a position

''There are two underlying messages to Sri Lanka in the statement. One is India's stance that in addressing Tamil grievances, the Sri Lanka government "must move towards a new system of institutional reforms, where the Tamil people will have a feeling that they are equal citizens of Sri Lanka, and they can lead and live a life of dignity and self-respect." Equally important, India also takes up the position that with regard to the UN Advisory Panel on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, "there are still questions on the report." To drive the point home, the statement acknowledges that "some countries have raised this in the UN Human Rights Council" which met in Geneva last month''

SrI Lanka Killing Fields screened for US congress members

On Friday night, the Channel 4 video was screened in Capitol Visitors Centre, Congressional Auditorium in Washington DC, for members of the United States Congress. The Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International-USA, the International Crisis Group, and Open Society Foundations were responsible for organising this event.

by Tisaranee Gunasekara
“Crime is contagious”. Louis Brandeis (Dissenting opinion in Olmstead vs. United States)
It was a shock, though not an unexpected one. Last week Sri Lanka lost her first hedging case, to the Standard Chartered Bank.
Given this precedent-setting verdict, the other two arbitration suits – filed by the City Bank in the US and the Deutsche Bank in Singapore – are also likely to end in defeat. Ultimately, Sri Lanka will end up by paying around US$500 million to the three banks, money the country can ill-afford.

SOUTH SUDAN - Sri Lanka minister sees danger while president congratulates

Government of Sri Lanka has expressed opposite opinions regarding the newest country, the South Sudan. Sinhala nationalist groups in Sri Lanka have been campaigning against the establishment of South Sudan as an independent country and have supported the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in recent times. Now in new turn of events Sri Lanka President has congradulated the establishment of South Sudan while one of his close leftinets has blamed the separation of southern Sudan.

Former IGP in ruling party election campaign in Jaffna

It is reported that former IGP Dr. Mahinda Balasooriya is visiting Jaffna to engage in government’s election campaign.
According to our correspondent the former IGP is engaged in the election campaign using government vehicles to bring victory to the ruling party at the local government election to be held on the 23rd of this month.

16 July 2011
After a Capitol Complex screening of the Channel 4 documentary that purports to show war crimes in Sri Lanka, US lawmakers and rights advocates stepped up calls for an international probe into the allegations.
“Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” was shown to the public inside the US Capitol complex yesterday (July 15), AFP reports.

India asks Sri Lanka to probe war crimes claims

July 15, 2011 (AFP)
India on Friday urged Sri Lanka to examine claims made in a British documentary that said it targeted civilians while crushing Tamil Tiger rebels two years ago. The Channel 4 documentary, “Sri Lanka's Killing Fields” aired last month on British television contained footage of what it said were prisoner executions.

Major General Mahinda Haturusinghe the commanding chief of the north has given orders to the Jaffna Municipal Council Mayor Yogeshwary Pathgunam to remove the statue of the last King Sankili of Jaffna which has stood at the Muththirai junction for over hundred years. The Mayor in accordance with this order has taken measures to clear this statue from its place, and since yesterday this statue is covered by a cloth.

Police investigations have revealed that a group of members of Thamil Makkal Vidudal Puligal (TMVP) or TamilPeoples Liberation Tigers of the Chief Minister for the Eastern Provincial Council Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan aka Pilleyan is responsible for the heist at People’s Bank at Pudur.

Assets of state TV to Namal’s channel

Assets of ‘Rupavahini’ and TNA are being illegally used by Namal Rajapakse to commence broadcasts of Carlton TV channel say employees of ‘Rupavahini.
They say the relevant equipment for broadcasting the channel of President’s son are being fixed on the TNA tower in Sinharaja and two transmitters have been already fixed in a rest room of the employees.

CATIC cover up?

UNP alleges serious misappropriation in second 10-acre Galle Face Land deal; Says agreements have not been carried out with only US$ 54 million paid of US$ 136 million total hence deal invalid; Wants Government to reveal details of transaction; Says suspicious company handling deal, wants company financials divulged

Col. R. Hariharan: FAQs on Channel 4 Video on War Crimes

By Col. R. Hariharan
I have received a number of mails asking for my comments on the Channel 4 video Killing Fields on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army, particularly after I participated in a panel discussion on the subject in the Headlines Today TV channel recently. I am giving my views and comments on questions summarised below:

If not we will start civil disobedience campaigns - full text of the Sampanthan's speech

''In regard to matters of immediate concern for our people, high security zones,demilitarization, housing, livelihood, all that type of things ,and these deliberate, diabolical actions by some people with influence, they must be stopped. If they are not stopped, we will start civil disobedience campaigns in those areas. I will lead that campaign. I will take my people there. We will defy the Government. I want to make that perfectly clear to you.''

Genuine elections not possible in Jaffna: TNA

Thoroughly intimidated and prevented from making their campaign for the civic elections scheduled for next week, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leaders on Tuesday said that genuine elections are not possible under the current circumstances

SL Navy, EPDP, seal off election campaign in the islands of Jaffna

Occupying Sri Lanka Navy and the EPDP collaborating with Rajapaksa regime have sealed off the islands sector of the Jaffna Peninsula for the civic elections scheduled to 23rd of this month, by ordering the TNA candidates not to leave the islands and by preventing TNA campaigners coming into the islands sector from outside.

SL police refuses permission to TNA to hold election meetings

Sri Lanka police in Jaffna refuses permission to civic election candidates of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to conduct public meetings. Instead, the ‘advise’ the candidates to engage in door-to-door campaign. But in the meantime, presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa and a team of 13 SL ministers are camping in Jaffna to conduct Colombo’s campaign in various ways, misusing SL government’s administration and resources, complain the TNA candidates.

JVP complains to Commissioner of Elections again regarding obstructions by security services

The General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva has complained to the Commissioner of Elections again regarding the endless obstruction that are being carried out against political activities of the party in the North.

Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera warns that Sri Lanka could face an explosive situation similar to that causing chaos in the Arab World unless swift action is taken to tackle acute unemployment.The General Secretary of the Communist Party and National List MP says demand for democracy and struggle against authoritarianism rule emerged from economic factors.

14-year-old boy taken for anti-UN demonstration reported missing

A 14-year-old student of Yarltan College in Kaarainakar, Jaffna, Thiruchelvan Kajeethan, who was enticed by the EPDP and taken to Colombo to participate in the anti-UN panel report demonstration that took place on May Day, is so far missing.

Canadian Tamil Congress sues global terror expert

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), which claims to represent over 300,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Sri Lankan-born terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna.

President Rajapaksa spearheads Northern polls campaign in bid to prove Tamil people are with govt

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The president will spend at least 3 days in Kilinochchi & Jaffna districts this week & invigorate the United Peoples Freedom Alliance campaign

One in four women face harassment

By Olindhi Jayasundere
In a shocking exposure it has been found that one in every four women in the country are being subjected to harassment daily when using public transport.

Greatest Governance Boundary from Sanga – Looking at Sangakkara’s speech from governance perspective

''So much is spoken about this speech and much was written about it. This article attempts briefly to discuss seven governance points worth elaborating in the backdrop of the contemporary governance realities of the country.''

By JC Weliamuna

Demand of autonomy has long history

By Paikiasothy Saravavanamuttu
There is to be another parliamentary select committee to find a political settlement of the ethnic conflict. The simple question is why, given that there have been many committees, all party ones, the famous Mangala Moonesinghe Committee way back when and the more recent APRC. All labored and reported and that was that.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International-USA, the International Crisis Group, and Open Society Foundations in conjunction with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission are co-hosting the screening of Channel-4's documentary "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" at the Congressional Auditorium this Friday according to political sources in Washington D.C.

LLRC disputes Prof. Wijesinghe’s response to BBC

LLRC spokesperson Lakshman Wickramasinghe yesterday expressed concern about a statement made by UPFA National List MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe in an interview with the BBC.

MOD further sans pre-travel approval to North

According to Military Liaison Office, pre-travel approval for diplomats, INGOs/NGOs has been lifted from today (12th July), facilitating North bound travel without producing MOD travel approval document.

JVP states group in Army uniform videoed it Killinochchi office

12 July 2011 The JVP in a communiqué states it has lodged a complaint (No. EIB 18/17) at Killinochchi Police charging that the government, deploying a group of Army soldiers, obstructed its election campaign. The complaint has been lodged by the accredited representative of the JVP for Killinochchi District Lalith Kumar Weeraraju.

EPDP – Army intelligence suspected of attacks in Jaffna to terrorise TNA candidates

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
EPDP cum military intelligence suspected of perpetrating series of “attacks” to terrorize TNA candidates in Jaffna local authority polls.
Proliferation of “low-level” incidents targeting individual candidate residences during night aimed at instilling fear into TNA, party says.

CPC loses hedging case in London - hundreds of million of dollars to pay

High Court in a 140-page judgment awards case to Standard Chartered Bank on all counts; State oil utility liable to pay minimum of $ 162 m previously withheld plus interest Government likely to appeal against the ruling in a higher court; Ruling on $ 200 m-claiming Citi’s arbitration scheduled for late July; $ 60 m claiming Deutsche Bank’s arbitration in Washington to start in Sept.

Santhakumari Krishnapillai , Raped and killed - TN / Killed by a wild animal ?SLM

Two versions of a story of a death of a Tamil women has appeared on different sites today. According to Tami Net she was raped and killed by the military. According to media in Sri Lanka she was killed by a wild animal. Suprisinly president Rajapksha has ordred a state funaral for the victim. -SLB

TNA calls for foreign monitors

By Charles Haviland
TNA says people connected with the ruling coalition are intimidating its candidates
The largest Tamil party in Sri Lanka has called for foreign monitors to have a presence at local elections in northern Sri Lanka that are due to take place later this month.

Nirupama Rao.

Lanka war crimes: Govt can't sit quiet, says Jaswant Singh•Lanka war crimes: Briton arrested in connection with Channel 4 video•Documentary on Sri Lankan war crimesThe Indian government has had nothing to say for the last four days on the gross violation of human rights in Sri Lanka.

Guru Nadarajah for GTN

In the guise of solving the problems of the Tamil people, Rajapakse government is engaged in Sinhalizing the traditional Tamil villages in the North and East.

By M.A. Sumanthiran MP
Militarization
· Every activity that takes place in the North and East first requires approval by the Presidential Task Force and the military.
· Lists of beneficiaries for projects in the north now have to be sent to the military. Incidents have been reported of the military altering these to include as beneficiaries individuals they want assistance to go to.

R.SAMPANTHAN, 5TH July 2011, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, TRINCOMALEEParliamentary Group Leader – Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi-I.T.A.K, Tamil National Alliance-T.N.A

Hon Speaker
Adjournment Motion, Parliament
I hereby give notice that I shall after question time on the adjournment of Parliament on Thursday the 7th July 2011 move the following motion as a matter of urgent public importance.

Threats escalate on TNA candidates ahead of civic elections in North

Following the Sri Lanka Army attack on Tamil National Alliance (TNA) meeting last month and the systematic harassment on building owners not to provide their halls to TNA for campaign meetings, the residences of various candidates of the TNA, including the former parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingam, have been targeted by SLA-operated squads that are engaged in threatening the candidates

12 hospitals in N & E have one doctor!

Recently , it was exposed that there are six Hospitals in the North East which merit a place in the Guinness book of records , not for excellence but for Govt.’s monumental neglect of those Hospitals. Six Hospitals in North East are without doctors , and there is only one doctor for 12 Hospitals in the North East !

''Herein are pictures depicting how the participants in the protests launched on the 6th by the Lanka Teachers’ Association were mercilessly attacked by grade 9 Johnny’s goons and gangs.'' ( see photos below the post)

JVP says Parties using terror tactics in North

By Yohan Perera
Certain powerful political parties were using the security forces to inflict fear on the opposition candidates contesting the local government elections in the North, the JVP charged yesterday.

Police Force - heal thyself

''Today the entire Police Department is in a disreputable condition. The fundamental problem with the police today is an acute lack of knowledge, honesty, transparency and credibility. People believe that the police are powerless to act on their own as they used to do formerly. . They believe that the Police will act only if the government would give them the green light, especially in sensitive matters ''
By Colvin Nihal Karunaratne, Ret; D.I.G Police

Ranil’s appeal for more time for Govt; Ban responds cautiously

President must show remorse for killings like Emperor Asoka, says UNP leader
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has agreed to give Sri Lanka more time to engage in what he called a “meeting of minds” to address the concerns of the International Community, but said this could not be an indefinite period.

Lakshman Kadirgamar

''He believed in a future where Sri Lanka was united and where all citizens were equal, irrespective of their ethnicity or religion, and offered an opportunity to live without fear and share in the country’s future as it emerged from the shadows of terrorism. He believed in an independent judicial system complemented by political reform and underpinned by a free press.''

by Dr. Liam Fox

Eliyantha White

By Tisaranee Gunasekara
“Even if your people die of hunger
We’ll elect you for life….
We don’t have opinions
We have your light blinding our eyes…” – The Strong Heroes of Moscow (For the Assad Nation)

Imagine a man with no medical qualifications or training becoming the ‘official physician’ of the president of a country. Imagine that president proudly offering the ‘miraculous’ services this ‘personal physician’, to the rich and the famous, nationally and internationally.

photo-Mariya Baskalin hangs laundry at her bombed out home in Sri Lanka's north. She has been home a year, but hasn't

''Monday's ABC Four Corners broadcast of Sri Lanka's Killing Fields was almost unwatchable horror. It showed in gory detail the killing of children, the mutilation of prisoners, the cold-blooded execution of unarmed people, and overwhelming evidence of the rape and killing of women.''
Gordon Weiss/ July 10, 2011

Lanka war crimes: ‘Killing Fields’ steps up pressure on Delhi

July 9, 2011
The horrific visuals of the British Channel Four video, ‘Killing Fields’, repeatedly telecast by a TV channel to stunned homes across the country have brought fresh pressure upon the Indian Government to act firmly against Colombo for delivering justice to the minority Tamils in the island nation.

The New Indian Express
TIRUCHY: Urging the Centre to introduce a resolution at the UN for declaring Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa as a war criminal, the CPI on Friday made it clear that it was ready to join hands with its arch rival, the BJP, to press for this demand in Parliament.

by V. Anandasangaree

The sudden demise of Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby is a great loss to the Tamil World. I knew prof. Sivathamby as a student. He was just one year above me at Zahira College Colombo, where he headed the Tamil Association. He was much loved and respected by all students and teachers of Zahira.

52 British MP’s have signed motion calling for independent international investigation into Sri Lankan war

8 July 2011

In a press statement issued following the APPGT/GTF parliamentary reception this week Chairman for the British All party parliamentary Group for Tamils , Lee Scott MP,said “the event was a great success, attended by over 40 Members of Parliament including Government Ministers, Shadow Ministers, Lords, representatives of NGOs and High Commissions”.

Southern universities hold anti-SL government demonstration in Jaffna

Teachers associations of universities in the south of the island of Sri Lanka held an anti-SL government demonstration and meeting in Jaffna on Friday that was also participated by teachers of the University of Jaffna. It was an impressive demonstration and meeting held in Jaffna in recent times, news sources in Jaffna said.

Political solution - Sampanthan proposes SL minister dismisses

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan, moving an adjournment motion in Sri Lanka’s parliament Thursday and speaking on it said that his objective was “to develop a just settlement within an undivided Sri Lanka,” adding that this approach has been widely endorsed by the international community, notably India. The co-chairs have clearly stated and have clearly ruled out any form of division of this country, he further said.

Open letter to His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

Without going into specifics, your general comment on the handling of the international community infer that you have taken the side of the government to hide the truth about the war and to prevent the much needed fair process of reconciliation and justice for the war victims.
by Rajasingham Jayadevan

2011.July.08, Yesterday night , a most strange and disgracefully despicable vindictive action was launched on a TNA candidate in Jaffna. The dog reared in the house of C . Sivakumar ,Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidate for the Waligamam municipal council elections , Jaffna had been cruelly killed and its decapitated head hung on the gate of this candidate by his opponents in order to take political revenge on him.

British APPGT and Global Tamil Forum parliamentary reception rallies support for truth and justice in Sri Lanka

7 July 2011
A packed reception in the British Parliament on July 5th highlighted the level of support amongst parliamentarians and key decision-makers for truth, accountability and justice in Sri Lanka.
Hosted by Hon. Lee Scott MP and Hon. Siobhain McDonagh MP, Chair and Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG – T), and facilitated by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), the event was attended by over 40 Members of Parliament including Government Ministers, Shadow Ministers, MPs and Lords.

Australia Senate unanimously adopts resolution calling for investigation of war crimes by Sri Lanka and LTTE

Full Text of Resolution Via Parliament of Australia
SJ No 41 – 7 July 2011
The Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown) amended general business notice of motion no. 323 by leave and, pursuant to notice of motion not objected to as a formal motion, moved—That the Senate:

Militarisation of Lanka - SLFS dominated by military damaging Lanka’s reputation

July 7, 2011 /By Saman Indrajith
The main Opposition in Parliament, the UNP, on Thursday alleged that the government had created the impression among the international community that Sri Lanka was a military State by packing the Sri Lanka Foreign Service with military personnel.

If Sanga had dropped out of school at a tender age, cut his teeth on crime, taken to dirty politics and become a minister instead of pursuing his studies, playing brilliant cricket and bringing glory to his country, he, too, would have been able to commit murder, plunder public funds, tie public officials to trees, deal in narcotics, extort money and unleash brutal violence against his critics with impunity. Sanga's crime appears to be that he has signed a contract with that rotten outfit called Sri Lanka Cricket!

China, seeking to gain influence in the Indian Ocean , has reportedly increased its aid to Sri Lanka dramatically since 2005, a US Congressional report has said.
"In the view of some analysts and observers, China is seeking to gain influence with the Sri Lankan government as part of a 'string of pearls' naval strategy to develop port access in the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean," said the report by bi-partisan and Congressional Research Service.

Rajiva: UN expert panel copied from Weiss’s book, Channel 4 documentary

Speaking on BBC’s HardTalk program Tuesday, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe, advisor to the Sri Lankan President on reconciliation, claimed the UN panel of experts’ report on Sri Lanka’s war crimes had “taken stuff, some of it verbatim” from former UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss’s recently published book, and from Channel 4’s recent documentary.

Teachers forced to conduct SL military’s census hiding war deaths

While the Nazi-style registration of people in the north by the occupying SL military is challenged in the SL courts by Tamil politicians, the SL Army is now engaged in another way of registering people by a census it is conducting on its own, forcing Tamil school teachers and through them exploiting school students.

The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) has demanded that the government immediately withdraws the plan to sell to foreign students opportunities of thousands of children in this country to study in universities.

Spotlighting Lankan Tamils - An Indian perspective

''But despite the Indian foreign secretary’s persuasive powers, Colombo is unlikely to budge so easily. India will have to do more than one visit and some good statements. It’s support for negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance, that began in January 2011, needs to be pressured to move much faster within a fixed timetable. The talks should have devolution of powers and demilitarisation as priority objectives ''
Anuradha M Chenon

India should play pro-active role on Lankan Tamils issue: CP

Seeking India's pro-active role in addressing the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, CPI today said it will organise a nationwide solidarity day tomorrow to highlight the sufferings of the ethnic minority in the island

Star batsman, smart operator

CRICKET is supposed to uphold the virtue of fair play. The preamble to the Laws of Cricket talks about “the spirit of the game”; their English custodians even hold an annual “Spirit of Cricket” lecture at Lord’s in London, the game’s home.

Check point Omanthai

Authorities in Sri Lanka have prevented a group of journalists from visiting northern Sri Lanka despite assurances that there will be no restrictions to travel to the north.
Dinasena Ratugamage who was among the group says security force personnel at Omanthai checkpoint told him not to take photographs or interview people, local and foreigners, waiting to visit north on Wednesday.

Activists and collegues have been campaigning for justice for Lasantha and family
Police in Sri Lanka say that there is evidence to suggest the involvement of a Sri Lanka army (SLA) intelligence officer in the murder of Sunday Leader editor.

By Elisha Yoon
The documentary screening of Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, held in New York, laid bare disturbing images of execution, death, and murder.
“I think this is a blatant lie,” Palitha Kohona, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United Nations, declared before gathered journalists, diplomats, and human rights activists.

The island nation should abide by its promise to meet the legitimate aspirations of its Tamil population.
The Sri Lankan President, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse, seems to be having second thoughts on his past assurances.
July 7, 2011/ by G.PARTHASARATHY

Teachers Attacked In Kurunegala

Three persons were injured today when a protest organized by JVP affiliated Ceylon Teacher Services Union (CTSU) in Kurunegala was attacked by a group of thugs.
The protest was organized by the CTSU opposite the Wayamba Province office of the Education Department Cooperative Society (EDCS) against the taking over the EDCS administration by the government.

Basil-show ‘resettlement’ ends up in further misery and abandonment of IDPs

Abandoned IDPs in Vadamaraadchi East

The Raamaavil camp inmates, who were suddenly herded out in the middle of the night by the occupying SL Army to make a show of ‘resettlement’ during the visit of the presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa to Jaffna, are now facing further misery.

India sensitive to TN concerns: Rao

06 July 2011 06:40
The Indian government cannot remain insensitive to the sentiments expressed by the Tamil Nadu government, the Tamil Nadu people and politicians about issues affecting the Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka,Indian foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told journalists.

Sri Lanka 'war crimes' video false: military

By Ishara S. Kodikara | AFP
Sri Lanka's military said Wednesday it had original footage that exposed the "malicious intentions" behind a British documentary on alleged war crimes committed by government troops. Major General Ubaya Medawela said the "unaltered" video suggested that what the documentary had presented as soldiers executing Tamil rebel prisoners actually showed rebels dressed in army fatigues.

Photo: Amantha Perera/IRIN

More than two years after Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war officially ended, returnees to remote villages face tough times and uncertain futures, despite governmental and international efforts at reconstruction.

Channel 4 rejects Sri Lanka 'war crimes' film criticism

Sri Lanka maintains that no civilians were killed by troops during the war Continue reading the main story
Sri Lanka After WarSri Lanka report: Main allegations The British TV station Channel 4 has strongly rejected claims by Sri Lanka's government that footage broadcast in a recent documentary is false.

Sri Lanka minister orders probe into Sangakkara comments

Shihar Aneez/ reuters
Sri Lanka's sports minister has ordered a probe into former captain Kumar Sangakkara's comments about the island nation's cricket administrators and political meddling during his speech to Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members at Lord's on Monday.

Australia urge UN to review Sri Lankan civil war

Last year, a United Nations panel of experts found there was credible evidence that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the war.Last year, a United Nations panel of experts found there was credible evidence that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the war.

by Rajani Iqbal
A recently published book – Invisible, Forgotten Sufferers: The Plight of Widows Around the World – reveals that there are an estimated 245 million widows worldwide, 115 million of whom live in poverty and suffer from social stigmatisation and economic deprivation purely because they have lost their husbands.

Free media: Headlines and deadlines - Editorial Daily Mirror

05 July 2011
According to the highest and most hallowed principles of the free media, their main role is to be a powerful and prophetic voice of the voiceless, marginalized or oppressed people and the instruments through which the common people especially exercise their fundamental right to the freedom of information and expression.

Pinch of dictatorship good for sri lanka: minister

05 July 2011/By Sandun A. Jayasekera
The law and democratic principles sometimes hamper development but a pinch of dictatorship can expedite the expected target at the expected time as witnessed in many Asian Tiger countries, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

• Former captain uses MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture for speech
• 'Players became involved in power games within the board'

Kumar Sangakkara has chosen the MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture to launch a scathing attack on the endless political power-struggles that bedevil Sri Lanka Cricket and to reflect upon the heavy responsibilities on Sri Lankan cricketers to promote reconciliation after the end of the civil war that blighted the country.

SLFP gang comes for campaign after militarily attacking TNA, SL governer take part in SLFP meeting

A gang of SLFP ministers and parliamentarians, including presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa were camping in Jaffna last weekend to plan and campaign for the forthcoming civic elections to the town and village councils scheduled to take place in the north on 23 July.

Law to protect right to information is unnecessary - President

By Namini Wijedasa
President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week categorically told newspaper editors that a law to protect the people’s right to information was unnecessary. He said instead that he could ensure access to information excluding what was covered by the Official Secrecy Act and national security.

Travel restrictions to north by foreign passport holders lifted

04 July 2011
The Ministry of Defence has lifted the travel restrictions on foreign passport holders to visit north from today. This restriction had also affected many former Sri Lankans who have obtained citizenship in other countries when they visit north.

Villagers in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Amapara have been protesting against the moves by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to acquire their ancestral land in order to establish a new camp.

JDS challenges Sri Lanka 'new video'

A group of exiled journalists from Sri Lanka have dismissed the "new executions video clip" with Tamil speech aired in a pro government television channel as "fake" and one that emerged two years ago.
Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) say that the "newly emerged" video was first published in a pro government website on 18 September 2009.

Police kills another suspect in custody

Gurusinghage Priyantha alias Neluwe Priyantha a criminal allegedly involved in a number of crimes died when the police task force opened fire on him this morning.

Harsha sounds some timely warnings - Militarisation of Sri Lanka

There is a very critical structural shift in policies towards militarization of this country.Unlike in the past we see that the Navy has started a water bottling company.It is taking tourists on whale watching tours in the East. The Air Force is running helicopter services. The Army is selling vegetables. In the same brush that I paint the taking of 18 year old kids into military camps for military training.

UN lists 220,862 IDPs as still displaced from ‘former conflict affected regions’

The May 2011 Joint Humanitarian and Early Recovery Update released on June 24th by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states, that a total of approximately 220,000 persons are still displaced in the ‘former conflict regions’.

Fighting terrorism is one thing but a civil govt can never commit crimes against humanity in the name of winning that fight

If the videos in Killing Fields have indeed been doctored, the truth must come out. However, the government of Sri Lanka’s previous behaviour in keeping stories of the war quiet affects its credibility in relation to these allegations. Sri Lankan situation: the truth must come out
by Sunili Govinnage

SL government manipulates IDP statistics in East: TNA MP

Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Batticaloa district, P. Selvarajah has blamed the Mahinda Rajapaksa government for false records of resettlement in the province. While many thousands people still find themselves displaced, their names are marked as resettled in the SL government records.

Examining the reasons for the absence of outrage

by Basil Fernando
In my earlier short essay titled Replacing investigations with gossip, I tried to point to the absence of outrage against forced disappearances in Sri Lanka, which I ended by saying that there must be some cultural for such an attitude. In this second short essay I venture to look into what that cultural root may be.

Ensuring the integrity of our public institutions and democratic freedoms

The country today desperately needs a vigorous civil society that will stand up and speak up for the preservation of our democratic freedoms. These freedoms include not only the freedom of speech and association and equality before the law but also economic and social freedoms as the right to work, to an adequate livelihood and the right to education.
by Shanie

Why is President Mahinda Rajapakse shy of a solution?

What President Rajapakse and his brothers – the real government – need at this time are friends – both local and foreign. Credible policies and a track record to show good intent will do well too.
by I.S. Senguttuvan

PSC’s observations on selected NGOs

July 3, 2011/by C.A.Chandraprema
In the course of their deliberations, the Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs made certain observations on selected organisations which we publish below. It should be borne in mind that the interim report of the PSC on NGOs was signed by the UPFA, the UNP and the JVP

Election Commissioner fires warning shot

July 3, 2011/ By Franklin R.Satyapalan
Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya told Political Party Secretaries on Friday that he could take action on hear say or their press releases or news reports in the media exposing any instances of interference by the Army in the election campaign for the forthcoming local elections in the North.

Lanka would not join ICC:Hakeem

04 July 2011/By Rifthi Ali
As a member of the Asian – African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), Sri Lanka would not join the International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said.

Law enforcement 2010: Kelaniya worst, followed by Mt. Lavinia

Northern and Eastern divisions relatively better, though B’caloa remains major trouble spot
July 3, 2011/ By Shamindra Ferdinando
In the post-war era, Batticaloa police division has logged the highest number of incidents among the Northern and Eastern divisions for two consecutive years.Police sources told The Island that in spite of dawn of peace Batticaloa division remained a major trouble spot with a section of ex-LTTE cadres and members of other groups causing problems.

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Loss equal to total investment in Norochcholai power plant

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