Mullaitivu locals are urging the Chief Minister to fight for their land to be returned from military occupation.

Residents from the east of Mullivaikaal who had over 600 acres of land grabbed to make way for a massive Sri Lankan Navy camp have urged the Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran to do more in his capacity as land minister to ensure that land is returned to them.

A domestic accountability process on the final stages of the war will begin next week said Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister in a press brief on Thursday.

Following talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Borge Brende, Mangala Samaraweera said,

Sri Lanka welcomed the first visit of Norways Foreign Minsiter to the island in 11 years on Thursday.
Speaking after a meeting with Norway’s Foreign Affairs Minister Norge Brende, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera, said,

“As Sri Lanka embarks on this new path, we are encouraged that we have been able to gain the support and confidence of the international community after years of censure and isolation.”

Mullaitivu villagers protested against militarization and demanded the return of their occupied lands on Monday.

Keppappilavu residents demonstrated against the occupation of 475 acres of their land and called out slogans demanding the army get out.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), today requested President Maithripala Sirisena to postpone the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement until a national policy on trade agreements was worked out.

IN a letter to the president, the general secretary of the GMOA Dr Nalinda Herath said trade agreements should be drafted while maintaining the country’s identity and security.

“Resolving the shortcomings of an agreement will consume a massive amount of money. This was evident during the arbitration regarding the hedging agreement. The massive loss caused by hedging the agreement will have to be borne by generations to come.

Commenting on the existing Free Trade Agreement between India Dr Heath added,

“The existing Indo-Sri Lanka FTA has not benefited Sri Lanka. Those who drafted this agreement have failed to pay attention to the needs and responsibilities of Sri Lanka and the burden is now upon its citizens.

Sri Lanka to finalise India trade agreement by mid-2016 announces ministry (30 Dec 2015)

See our editorial:

Sri Lanka’s Indophobia (07 Aug 2015)

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