• Zeid to arrive tomorrow for 4 day visit

    Feb 04
    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein will commence his four day visit of the North-East and Sri Lanka tomorrow.

    "During his visit, the High Commissioner will discuss a range of current challenges and opportunities for strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights in Sri Lanka, including reviewing the implementation of the recommendations made in his report to the Human Rights Council, and in its subsequent Resolution 30/1 on “promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka," his office said in a statement on Friday.

  • Wigneswaran appreciates national anthem being sung in Tamil
    The chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran welcomed the Sri Lankan government's decision for the national anthem to be sung in Tamil on Thursday at a ceremony marking Independence Day, reported Adaderana.

    "Although it is a very small action in the name reconciliation it should be appreciated and that now a background has been created to foster unity and brotherhood between communities," he was quoted by the paper as saying.

  • Tamil Nadu parties concerned about Sri Lanka's constitution plans
    Tamil Nadu's DMK and MDMK parties expressed concern on Friday, over the Sri Lankan president's statement that the new constitution will not be based on the idea of a 'federation', reported AFP.

    "If the doors of Federation are not opened and rights not devolved, how can Tamils live with dignity, relief and equality," DMK leader M Karunanidhi said.

    "Sirisena's announcement that there will be no possibility for federation amounts to rubbing salt to injury," he added, demanding that the Sri Lankan military should be withdrawn from the North-East.

  • World is watching says US on Sri Lanka's independence day

    Sri Lanka is being watched by the world said the US Under Secretary for Management Organisation of American States during an independence day address to Sri Lanka’s High Commission in the US.

    Welcoming Sri Lanka’s co-sponsoring of the UNHRC resolution and returning of some lands to Tamil owners, the Patrick F Kennedy said,

    “The world is watching Sir Lanka. Your solutions, if successful, can become the blueprint for future nations, who are trying to find their way back to peace, justice and harmony.”

    Full statement reproduced below.

  • India foreign minister meets Sri Lanka prime minister to discuss bilateral issues
    India’s External Affairs Minsiter Sushma Swaraj on Friday met with Sir Lanka’s prim minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss Indian investment and the Trincomalee harbour area, reports firstpost.
  • Tamils in Amparai mark Independence Day with protest for the disappeared

    Dozens of Tamils in Amparai held a protest demanding information regarding their missing relatives as the Sri Lankan government celebrated Independence Day in Colombo on Thursday.

    Women held photos of their missing loved ones, and demanded answers from the Sri Lankan government regarding their whereabouts.

  • Kilinochchi protestors demand information on their missing loved ones

    Protestors in Kilinochchi joined others across the North-East on Thursday, demanding the Sri Lankan government reveal the whereabouts of their missing relatives.

    Taking place as the Sri Lankan government held a military parade to celebrate Independence Day, Tamils in Kilinochchi joined others across the North-East in protest.

  • Sri Lankan president ‘determined to face UN resolution to protect pride of armed forces’

    Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena declared his government was “determined to face” a UN Human Rights Council resolution in order to protect the “pride and dignity” of the armed forces.

  • Protest against UN Human Rights chief planned in Sri Lanka
    A protest is set to take place against UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein as he visits the island later this week.

    Posters have appeared calling on protestors to gather at Lipton Circus in Colombo on Saturday, when UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein lands on the island.

    The High Commissioner will be holding talks with government officials and will visit Jaffna, where he will speak with Tamil representatives during his visit.
  • Former Sri Lankan president and Buddhist monks decry ‘Tamil national anthem’
    Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed attempts to sing the ‘Sri Lankan national anthem’ in Tamil, stating that it was part of an attempt to appease the Indian government.

    Mr Rajapaksa added that he would be boycotting the ‘Independence Day’ commemorations in Colombo, alongside members of the joint opposition.
  • Black flags raised in Jaffna to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day

    Black flags were hoisted at Jaffna University to mark Sri Lankan Independence Day today, as a symbol of protest against the ongoing repression in the Tamil homeland.

  • Tamil families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu mark independence day with protest
    Tamil families of the disappeared held a protest in Mullaitivu to mark Sri Lanka’s independence day.
    Photograph: Tamil Guardian

    Marching from the Mullaitivu people’s bank to the Mullaitivu district secretariat, the protestors chanted slogans condemning the island’s celebration of independence day whilst Tamils were yet to obtain their freedom.
  • Sri Lanka's president receives death threats in light of BBS arrest
    Sri Lanka’s CID has launched an investigation into death threats aimed at Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena said police on Thursday.

    The Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara said that the number of messages had increased in the wake of the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena leader Gnanasara Thera.
  • Families of the disappeared mark Independence day with protest in Batticaloa
    As part of protests that took place across the Tamil North-East to coincide with Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, families of the disappeared in Batticaloa took to the streets demanding answers from the Sri Lankan state.
     
    Banners questioned which communities actually experienced freedom in Sri Lanka.
  • TNA welcomes singing of Sri Lanka's national anthem in Tamil
    The Tamil National Alliance welcomed the singing of Sir Lanka’s national anthem in Tamil, as a ‘giant step’ towards reconciliation, reports eocnomoynext.

    Tamil National Alliance spokesperson MA Sumanthiran, said,

    “It may be a small symbolic thing, but a very important step in telling the Tamil speaking people that they are equal members of this country and that the state recognises that. It is in fact a giant step from that perspective. I hope more substantial issues that remain to be resolved will be resolved from that perspective.”

    Though     the leader of the Tamil National Alliance R Sampanthan attended Sri Lanka's independence day celebrations, the TNA official party policy has been to boycott Sri Lanka’s independence day events.

    Speaking to Ceylon News, the Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian that won the most votes during parliamentary elections MP S Sritharan said,

    “Until the Tamils achieve dignified status in the country, they do not consider Sri Lanka’s independence as their own.” We as a party, did not make any decision on attending Sri Lanka’s 68th independence day functions. The situation has still not arisen for us to take part in that.”
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