Eastern Provincial Council nominations in Oct 2017

Nominations for the Eastern Provincial Council will be called on 2 October 2017, the National Elections Commission announced on Saturday. The Council's term will end 26 September 2017. Thirty-seven councillors will be elected for the Eastern Provincial Council. The last election for the EPC was held on 8 September 2012. Nominations for the North-Central and Sabragamuwa Provincial Councils will also take place in October.

US calls for 'swift justice' in Jaffna judge shooting

Condemning the suspected assassination attempt of a Jaffna High Court judge, Ilancheliyan, the United States embassy in Sri Lanka called for the perpetrators to face "swift justice". "Deeply concerned by shooting involving #Jaffna High Court Judge Illancheliyan. We call on govt to ensure perpetrators face due,swift justice," the US embassy tweeted on Sunday. The United States ambassador, Atul Keshap tweeted : "Heartfelt condolences to the policeman's family. This despicable attack is an assault on the judiciary, rule of law, & impartial justice." The judge’s car was shot at by two...

Two suspects arrested over Jaffna judge shooting

Two men were arrested on Sunday over their suspected involvement in the shooting of a Jaffna High Court judge on Saturday. Judge Ilancheliyan managed to escape unharmed but one police officer was killed in the incident. The identities of the suspects remains unknown. “This is a threat to the judiciary,” Judge Ilancheliyan told journalists, adding that he believed the attack to be related to any number of dangerous cases that he has been overseeing for the past eight months. The judge called for the Sri Lankan president and justice officials to take the incident seriously and ensure the...

Judge Ilancheliyan's police bodyguard dies of injuries from shooting

One of two of Jaffna High Court judge Ilancheliyan’s police bodyguards has died in hospital, succumbing to bullet injuries sustained while protecting the judge from an attempt on his life in Nallur yesterday. 51-year-old Sgt. Hemaratne died shortly after midnight, despite the efforts of the Intensive Care Unit at Jaffna Teaching Hospital. In an emotional tribute to his police escort of 17 years, Judge Ilanchelian wept and bowed down to Sgt. Hemaratne's family. A bullet wound sustained in the stomach had caused blood leakage to his lungs, with the police sergeant dying of excessive blood loss...

Sri Lanka to benefit from tariff free exports of travel goods to US market

Exports of travel goods from Sri Lanka will be duty free entry to the United States following a decision by the US to approve the inclusion of travel goods from all General System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary countries, reports Xinhua News. Sri Lanka was included in the expanded US General System of Preferences scheme on July 1 according to a statement released by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on Friday. “Following this concession, Sri Lanka’s travel goods exports to the United States will have the potential to regain the market share previously enjoyed by Sri Lanka by making the country...

Police given 2 months to complete investigations into high profile crimes by Rajapaksa regime

Sri Lanka's police have been given a two month deadline by the Ministry of Law and Order to complete investigations on high profile cases committed by the former government, Economy Next reported. According to the paper Minister Sagala Ratnayaka is taking a "hands on approach" to ensure progress after Mr Sirisena urged him "to deliver or depart". The cases are expected to include the assassination of a prominent Sinhala editor, Lasantha Wickremetunga and the murder of Wasim Thajudeen.

Sri Lanka's former Haiti peace-keeping mission commander appointed as Army Chief of Staff

The former of commander of Sri Lanka’s contingent of peace keeping troops to Haiti has been appointed as the Army Chief of Staff reports Adaderana.lk. Sri Lanka’s soldiers were implicated with rape and running child sex rings whilst serving as UN Peace Keeping forces in Haiti. In 2007 a group of Haitian children identified 134 peacekeepers from Sri Lanka in a child sex ring that lasted several years. Though repatriated none of the implicated soldiers were prosecuted in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Army Chief of Staff, Major General Amal Karunasekara also formerly commanded infantry battalions...

Shots fired at Jaffna High Court judge in suspected assassination attempt

The Jaffna High Court judge Ilancheliyan was fired at on Saturday evening, in a suspected assassination attempt which the judge believes to be linked to his overseeing of dangerous criminal cases.

Black July a reminder to remain vigilant against bigotry - Premier of Ontario

The Premier of Ontario said the Black July pogrom of 1983 serves as a reminder of the need to “remain ever-vigilant against all forms of bigotry and intolerance,” in a message of commemoration this week. “History is a great teacher — for those who are open to its lessons,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne. “That is why today, you pause to remember the victims of violent acts against Tamils. We also remember the lives lost and displaced in the Sri Lankan Civil War that followed.” “Reports of hate crimes in North America and around the world serve to remind us that we must remain ever-vigilant...

‘Time to focus on accountability in Sri Lanka’ – Jeremy Corbyn

The Leader of the Opposition in Britain Jeremy Corbyn has called for a focus on accountability in Sri Lanka and an audit of British funding for the training of Sri Lankan police, as he expressed deep concern over reports of the ongoing torture of Tamils. Responding to a report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) which documented continued human rights violations by Sri Lankan security forces, Mr Corbyn said he was “deeply concerned… about the ongoing torture of Tamils”. “It is the lack of accountability for the crimes of the past that has enabled these horrific violations to...

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