A group of Tamil women called for a quota for female politicians to be instituted during consultations by the Jaffna Zonal Task Force of the Consultation Task Force earlier this month. At the consultation which happened at the Jaffna Kachcheri on August 5, a group of Tamil women including a local TNA village councillor and the Women's Society President, expressed frustration at the lack of political space given to women by both the TNA and the NPC. They stated that there are many Tamil women ready to join politics but Tamil political parties must do more to bring women into their parties. The...
The Sri Lankan president was left waiting in his car whilst on a trip to Tirumala on Sunday, in what has been described as a major lapse in his security. Maithripala Sirisena was on a visit to a temple in the city, when an apparent lack of communication left the Sri Lankan head of state waiting for 12 minutes in his car, waiting for his driver to arrive. Mr Sirisena and his wife sat inside the vehicle, as security stood on guard and staffers searched for the driver. According to the New Indian Express “ the driver coolly returned ” having spent his own time inside the temple, conducting his...
The proposal by a Sri Lankan presidential commission for “accountable amnesties” for those guilty of violating international humanitarian law is “not a real way forward” said James Ross, Legal and Policy Director at Human Rights Watch. Mr Ross said the idea of “accountable amnesties” for such grave crimes was an oxymoron, as he criticised the commission’s recommendations of running contrary to an earlier UN Human Rights Council resolution, co-sponsored by Sri Lanka. “Were the Sri Lankan government to adopt this approach, a military commander or government official may be able to buy their way...
Sri Lanka's Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade said the foreign ministry was fully aware of the hiring of a US lobby firm to help the government's international ties. Malik Samarawickrema said he had received Sri Lankan cabinet approval for the move, which is costing the government some $30,000 a month. The Sunday Times reported that the firm, Travis and Rosenberg (ST&R), has been hired "to educate officials on a non-existent peace process, increase economic ties and market access". Colombo had received proposals from two different US-based firms said the minister...
A Muslim businessman was reported missing on Sunday after reports that he had recently complained to the CID about frauds committing by other business people amounting to Rs 70 million, the Daily Mirror reported. The 29 year old man, named as Mohammed Sakeem Sulaiman was reported missing by his family. Bambalapitiya police have launched an investigation into his disappearance.
A Tamil mother holds a photograph of her missing son at a protest outside Sri Lanka's presidential commission sitting in Jaffna last year. Sri Lanka’s presidential commission to investigate disappearances across the island has recommended amnesties for those accused of human rights abuses in its final set of recommendations, reports the Sunday Times . The Paranagama Commission also recommended the creation of yet another commission, to be named the “Special High court and a Truth Commission”, and called for the barring of international figures from joining proceedings. The final report said...
The Sri Lankan government has hired yet another lobby firm based in the United States, reports the Sunday Times . The firm, Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg (ST&R), has reportedly been hired with the blessings of Sri Lanka’s Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema to “educate officials on a non-existent peace process, increase economic ties and market access”. The firm is charging a monthly fee of US$ 30,000. Lobby firms were used extensively during Sri Lanka’s previous government, with one group even claiming to have scripted the former president’s...
The Sri Lankan army has denied reports that it will be closing down camps in the Eastern province. Hiru News reported the Ministry of Defence as stating “there is no truth” to a report that 64 camps were set to be withdrawn from the Eastern province. It went on to label such reports as “misinformation” adding that there would be no reduction in the number of camps in in Trincomalee, Amparai and Batticaloa. Camps are to been maintained “as part of a holistic plan to ensure national security” it said. Just this week, the Sri Lankan military announced an expansion of its base in Vanni. Meanwhile...
Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa criticised his predecessor Chandrika Kumaratunga this week, rubbishing her claim that “75%” of the war against the LTTE had been completed under her government. "The aristocrats can make all sorts of claims, but the people of this country know the truth,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “They are the best judges." Ms Kumaratunga made the comments in 2014, when she questioned “How can one deny it?” “Are our people a bunch of donkeys to believe in untruths?,” she asked. “Nearly 75 per cent of the areas controlled by Prabhakaran were liberated under my...
Despite widespread criticism over Sri Lanka's historic lack of judicial process over state crimes committed against the Tamil people, the prime minister on THursday defended the country's legal system, stating that any prosecutions to emerge from the Office of Missing Persons would occur under the present laws. Stating that "the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) will lead to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, "truth should not lead to retribution. We should put the past behind us. We have a future ahead." “If there is to be...