The Colombo based Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) on Friday expressed concern over what it described as "a spate of recent events with ominous portents for ethnic and religious harmony and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."

Pointing to increasing hate speech against minorities particularly by Buddhist monks and social media uses, as well as the murder of two Jaffna university students at the hands of the Sri Lankan police, the CPA said it was "extremely concerned at the appearance of signs that, yet again, legal reforms aimed at improving our democracy and governance are being undermined by the forces of chauvinism and intolerance."

The Brussels based media organisation, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Free Media Movement on Friday condemned the attacking of a journalist in Trincomalee on November 15. 

“The IFJ condemns the attack and threat to journalist in Trincomalee and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to take every measure to ensure punishment to the responsible; and to establish a safe working environment for journalists in Sri Lanka," the IFJ said in a statement. 

See full statement here. Extract follows: 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Thursday demanded foreign judges to be involved in the post-conflict accountability process. 

“The president has told Meera Srinivasan of The Hindu in an interview that he will not agree to foreign judges. Then how can we expect justice?” TNA parliamentarian, S.Sritharan was quoted by Colombo Gazette as asking parliament. 

The inclusion of international participation is the only mechanism to ensure transparency and justice – as also noted by the UNHRC, Mr Sritharan added.  

By Dr Arujuna Sivananthan

IMPROVEMENT

Sri Lanka’s 2017 budget seems to be receiving several accolades, not from those outside Sri Lanka or anyone credible within, but from politicians in the ruling coalition. So it should!

The coalition’s attempt to shed its statist skin by expressing an intent to privatise loss making state owned enterprises (SOEs) must be welcomed along with permitting foreign nationals to buy property. It also makes good economic sense.

Sri Lanka’s delegation to the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) deflected questions from UN experts regarding a member of the delegation’s knowledge of well-documented cases of torture by Sri Lanka’s armed forces and Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).

The Head of the Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena has issued a one day ultimatum for the arrest of a Muslim leader, claiming that a blood bath will begin otherwise.

Speaking after the arrest of a Sinhalese man who threatened to bomb Muslims in Sri Lanka, Galagoda Gnanaara, said,

“The Sinhalese is getting attacked in the North, East and Colombo while some are being safeguarded. This is not fair.. We will sort this issue out with stones, poles and blood, because if this is what they want, then this is what they will get.”

The International Truth and Justice Project has submitted a memo to the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) implicating Sri Lanka’s former Deputy in Charge (DIG) of the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID)  Sisira Mendis, with responsibility in failing to prevent torture and hold perpetrators accountable.  

The report submitted whilst Sisira Mendis was present with Sri Lanka's delegation at the UNCAT review of Sri Lanka in Geneva on Tuesday, concluded,

The British Tamils Forum (BTF) and US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) expressed their dismay at the presence of the former head of Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division, Sisira Mendis at the UN Committee Against Torture meeting in Geneva on Tuesday as a representative of Sri Lanka, and called for his arrest on the basis of universal jurisdiction. 

“His attendance in Geneva deeply disrespects Sri Lanka’s torture victims and mocks the esteemed work of the Committee Against Torture," the groups said in a joint statement. 

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS)  expressed their dismay at the presence of Sri Lanka's former head of the Terrorism Investigation Division at the UN Committee Against Torture meeting in Geneva on Tuesday.  

Sisira Mendis, who was in charge of the TID and the Criminal Investigation Department from March 2008 till June 2009, is accused of overseeing the routine use of torture and sexual violence against detainees. 

The Sri Lankan government reiterated that reconciliation was one of its priorities. 

“Reconciliation is not a box that can be ticked or a journey that can end as per a timeline. There are no magic portions to achieve what we set out to achieve,” the deputy foreign minister Harsha de Silva was quoted by LBO as saying at an event on transitional justice on November 9. 

“It requires hard work and constant striving, and a commitment towards which our nation should be bound across generations.”