Updated 1300 GMT Sri Lanka's ambassador to Brazil has fled the country after human rights groups filed lawsuits accusing him of overseeing war crimes on Monday night. Jagath Jayasuriya has now returned to Colombo via Dubai after fleeing Brazil on Sunday. A former military general, Jagath Jayasuriya stands accused of overseeing Sri Lankan units that bombed hospitals, as well as the execution and torture of surrendees and disappeared civilians amongst a litany of human rights abuses against Tamil civilians and militants during the final phase of the island's armed conflict in May 2009. " This...
There can be no further delay in bringing a solution for families of the disappeared, Tamil civil society groups have said in a statement of solidarity on International Day of the Disappeared. With hundreds of families of the disappeared protesting across the North-East since February, the Sri Lankan government has failed to answer any of the their demands to uncover the fates of their disappeared loved ones, the groups said. Families of the disappeared protesting across the North-East have been ignored by the Sri Lankan government for far too long, and must finally receive the truth and...
Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged the country would be debt free of the debt burden by 2020, Colombo Page reported. Speaking at an event by the Ministry of Housing, Mr Wickremesinghe said, "the government's intention in the next two years is to create an economy with the debt burden is stabilised and increasing income enabling to repay the debt in the future." "What we have done during the past two years is taking the country out of the debt trap," he added. "The country still has no strength to repay the loans in time but a good program has been initiated and it is...
Sri Lanka's Southern Provincial Council (SPC) rejected the government's proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution, the Daily Mirror reported. Twenty-seven Joint Opposition SPC members reportedly voted against it, whilst one UNP member abstained. A tense situation prevailed following the vote with the mace being forcibly removed from a UNP member, and UNP members leaving the Council chambers in protest until the mace was returned. See more here .
Marking International day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Tamil National Alliance urged to government to bring those responsible for the many thousands who have been forcibly disappeeared for justice. Highlighting the ongoing protests in the North-East by mothers and relatives of the disappeared, the TNA said in a statement, “all that they demand is to ascertain the truth as to what happened to their loved ones. The armed conflict came to an end 8 years ago, yet the issues of the missing persons has not been addressed satisfactorily so far.” “We urge the Government to give its...
The Sri Lankan election monitor, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) criticised the Tamil National Alliance leadership's support for the government as it seeks to pass the 20th Amendment to the constitution, calling the leader, R Sampanthan a traitor. CaFFE's executive director, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying "Sampanthan will become a traitor not only to the people of the North but also to those from the south who died fighting for the devolution of power". "In 1982 when President J. R. Jayewardene wanted to hold a referendum giving the people the...
The National Polls Observation Centre (NPOC) warned on Tuesday that the Eastern Province would be the "biggest loser" if the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution was adopted. "It took a long time for the people of the Eastern Province to have a provincial council of their own. The current Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) was established after the 8 September 2012 election. If the election is not held this year, which will happen if the 20th Amendment is passed, the people will have to wait another two years to elect representatives," National Coordinator of National Polls Observation...
Sri Lanka's former justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who was removed from his post over his failure to investigation alleged corruption by the former government, is to remain in the Constitutional Council, the Sunday Times reported. According to the paper, the Council has no provisions for members to be removed, instead they must either complete their three year term or resign. Mr Rajapakshe was nominated to be in the Council by the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The JVP on Saturday called on the government to hold local government elections immediately, arguing that there was no reason why it should not be held after the passing of the Local Government Elections Amendment last week. “The Speaker should endorse the Bill immediately while Local Government Minister should do the rest so that elections could be held within 70 days as assured by the Chairman of the Elections Commission,” JVP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. “The Amended Bill has ensured that the true will of the people is reflected by selecting 60...
Hundreds of Sri Lankan soldiers stationed in Kilinochchi carried out activities under a dengue prevention scheme earlier this month, reports the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence. More than 700 Army personnel from the 57, 65 and 66 Divisions of the Sri Lankan army took part in operations in Kilinochchi, Poonakari, Mulankavil, Visuvamadu and Kandavalei. They also oversaw clean-up operations with local Tamil residents to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.