• Sri Lanka to issue 'certificate of absence' for missing

    Jun 07
    The Sri Lankan cabinet on Tuesday passed draft legislation to issue a 'certificate of absence' for people missing during the armed conflict, reported Colombo Page.
  • Closing window of opportunity in Sri Lanka warns Pasumai Thaayagam
    Sri Lanka’s window of opportunity for reconciliation will close if it fails to act on accountability and militarisation, said the Pasumai Thaayagam Foundation in a written statement to the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

    In a statement endorsing the findings of an investigative report by People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), Pasumaya Thaayagam said,
  • TNA to brief UN on Sri Lanka
    A delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to brief the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ahead of the upcoming Human Rights Council session, on progress made in Sri Lanka on the implementation of the resolution passed last year, TNA spokesperson MA Sumanthiran told Tamil journalists this week.
  • British head of diplomatic service discusses political settlement with TNA
    The head of the British diplomatic service, Simon McDonald and the secretary at the UK Department for International Development visited Sri Lanka on Wednesday held discussions with the Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan regarding political settlement and the challenges facing Tamils in the North-East.



    The visiting diplomats also met with the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and other government officials, discussing the government's progress on reconciliation and implementation of reforms.

    Meeting with the minister for prison reforms, rehabilitation, resettlement and Hindu religious affairs, MA Swaminathan, the UK diplomats discussed land-returns and the return of IDPs.

  • Sri Lanka must not ‘squander good will’ says Amnesty International
    The Sri Lankan government must not “squander the good will” of those who have “waited decades for their human rights demands to be addressed” said Amnesty International, in a written statement released last week.

    The statement, which was submitted to the 32nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council taking place this month, said the “vast majority of alleged abuses before, during, and after Sri Lanka’s armed conflict has not been effectively investigated”.

    It also called on the international community to monitor “progress and implementation” of a United Nations resolution that Sri Lankan co-sponsored, which calls for an accountability mechanism with international judges to prosecute perpetrators of mass atrocities.

    “Perpetrators have not been prosecuted and torture in police custody persists with impunity,” said the human rights organisation.
  • UK officials arrive in Sri Lanka
    Two UK officials arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, for discussions on reconciliation and human rights, as well as wider areas of cooperation between the two countries, the British High Commission said.
  • Sri Lanka tightens defence cooperation with Russia
    Sri Lanka agreed to increase its defence ties with Russia following a meeting between Russia's deputy defence minister, Anatoly Antonov and Sri Lanka's defence secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi, on Sunday.

    Looking to the future, cooperation will extend to the training of Sri Lankan military officers at Russian institutions.
  • Sri Lanka's foreign minister encourages French businesses to invest in 'business paradise'

    Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samarweera highlighted Sri Lanka’s potential to be a investment paradise during an investment meeting in Paris, reports Colombo Page.

  • EU development strategy aims at ‘implementation of UNHRC Resolution’

    The European Union is revising its development strategy for Sri Lanka, in order to assist with the implementation of a UN resolution that calls for trials with foreign judges to prosecute those accused of committing mass atrocities.

  • Pon Sivakumaran remembered by Tamil politicians in North-East
    Tamil parliamentarians, politicians and civil society gathered to mark the 42nd anniversary of his death on Sunday.
     
     
    Speaking at an event held by a statue erected to remember Sivakaumaran,Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian D Siddhartan said Sivakumaran was a pure fighter who fought to secure the legitimate rights of the Tamil people.
     
    Also present at the event were former TNA parliamentarian Suresh Oremachandran, Northern Provincial Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan and MK Sivajalingam and the Northern Provincial Council opposition leader S Thavarasa.
     
    See also:
  • Jaya sends second letter to Modi after another 4 fishermen arrested
    The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha on Saturday sent another letter to the prime minister, Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure the release of Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan navy.
  • Two arrested over Sri Lankan journalist attack
    Police arrested two men on Saturday on suspicion of attacking the Sri Lankan web journalist Freddy Gamage, the Colombo Page reported.

    The arrest came only 48 hours after the attack against Mr Gamage on Thursday, during which time Sinhala media and civil society organisations held a protest calling for action over the attack.
  • Protests after military attack on forest conservation officials in Batticaloa
    Tamil officials from the Forest Conservation department and local civil society in Batticaloa staged a protest after being attacked by two Sinhala military personnel.
  • Tamil school opens buildings in High Security Zone amidst military surveillance
    The Jaffna Nadeswara College and School reopened their buildings in the High Security Zone amidst the surveillance of army intelligence and police, on Thursday.
    Photographs: Tamil Guardian

    People from the army intelligence team photographed and videoed guests, students and well wishers who attended the school’s inaugural event.

    The educational buildings have remained in the High Security Zone for 26 years, and have been opened whilst the High Security Zone fencing and military presence remains surrounding the area.

    Speaking at the event Northern Provincial Councillor M.K.Sivajilingam said there should be a conducive environment created for the students and teachers to carry out their academic activities without any hindrance, adding that the “military should take steps to release the rest of the nearby lands to ease the environment.”

    Mr Sivajalingam called for the security check points at the school entrance to be removed for easy access with adequate transport facilities for the students and staff to access school. The road that leads from the school to the local railway station is currently barred from civilian use.

  • $1.5 billion IMF loan approved for Sri Lanka
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday approved the three year $1.5 billion loan to Sri Lanka.

    The loan is armed at averting the balance of payments crisis and supporting the economic reform agenda agreed with the IMF.

    The decision by the IMF's executive board will allow an immediate amount of US $ 168.1 million, followed by six further installments, depending on quarterly reviews.

    “A return to fiscal consolidation, targeting a reduction in the overall fiscal deficit to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2020, is the linchpin of the reform program," the deputing managing director and acting chair, Min Zhu said in a statement.

    "Rebuilding tax revenues through a comprehensive reform of both tax policy and administration will be key in this regard, supplemented by steps toward more effective control over expenditures and putting state enterprise operations on a more commercial footing."

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