• TNA's concerns about government progress are "shouts" to keep identity - Chandrika

    Former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said the Tamil National Alliance needs to "shout once in a while" to keep their identity, when she was questioned about concerns raised by the TNA on the pace and direction of government efforts to address Tamil issues.

    Speaking to The Hindu, Ms Kumaratunga, who is working closely with the new regime, stressed that in her view engagement between the government and the TNA has been "excellent".

    “They [the TNA] have to shout once in a while to keep their identity but we have very good relations,” she said.

  • Accountability required to achieve reconciliation and peace in Sri Lanka - US official

    The US Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski said Sri Lanka has a chance to achieve peace and reconciliation, but that this will require accounting for the "wrongdoing of the guilty", on all sides.

    Mr Malinowski is currently in Sri Lanka and met with government officials on Thursday before arriving in the North-East on Friday, where he paid respects to those who died in Mullaitivu.

  • China welcomes Sri Lanka's stance on Dalai Lama visit

    China has welcomed Sri Lanka’s announcement that exiled Tibetan leader the  Dalai Lama was unlikely to be allowed to visit Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page.

    The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, speaking on Friday,  said,

    “The Sri Lankan side fully understands and respects China’s concerns on relevant issues, and we appreciate that.”

    “The Chinese government is firmly opposed to Dalai’s engagement in separatist activities in any country under any name and excuse. This remains clear and consistent,” she added.

    Speaking to Reuters, a senior Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official said that Sri Lanka-China relations were more important than the Dalai Lama and that Sri Lanka had not changed stance on its once China policy.

  • Sri Lanka to review Chinese investment projects approved by previous government
    Sri Lanka ordered a review of 35 Chinese investment projects, which were approved by the previous government, on Friday.
  • Sri Lanka navy arrest 37 Indian fishermen
    Sri Lanka's navy arrested 37 Indian fishermen on Friday and seized five trawlers, reports Daily Mirror.

    The men were arrested off the coast of Point Pedro, accused of alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters and have been transferred to the Kankesanthurai fisheries harbour, said the navy spokesperson, Indika Silva.
  • Sri Lankan president confirms navy instructed to arrest straying Indian fishermen
    The new Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena reiterated this week that he had ordered the Sri Lankan navy to arrest any Indian fishermen who cross the maritime border.

    Rejecting comments made by the Sri Lankan opposition that the new government had given permission to Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters, Mr Sirisena told members of the fisheries industry on Thursday that he had given "clear instructions" to arrest such fishermen.

    "We have not allowed fishing in our waters for the Indians. I have given clear instructions to navy to arrest boats or trawlers that violate our water limits," Mr Sirisena was quoted by PTI as saying.

  • Sri Lankan president to visit Pakistan next week
    The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena, will be visiting Pakistan next week on April 5-7, reports Daily Mirror and ColomboPage.

    According the cabinet spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the two countries on shipping and academic cooperation.

  • China happy to see strengthening of India Sri Lanka relations
    China is happy to see the growing relationship between Sri Lanka and India a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

    Commenting on reports that the Chinese president had proposed a trilateral meeting with China, India and Sri Lanka, Hua Chunying, said,
  • 11-year old missing in Jaffna

    An 11-year old girl has been reported missing from a children's home in Anaippanthi in Jaffna, the Uthayan reported.

    An official from the home reported to Jaffna police that Thilakki Nishanthan has been missing since March 31.

  • Sri Lanka 'unlikely' to allow Dalai Lama visit

    A Sri Lankan government official said the Dalai Lama is unlikely to be allowed to visit Sri Lanka, after an invitation was extended by a some Buddhist monks.

    "They can invite, but the government may not grant a visa," a top foreign minister official told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject.

    "The Dalai Lama is very important. But the close relationship with China is more important and we have not changed our stance on 'One China' policy."

    The invitation was extended by a group of high-ranking Theravada monks from Sri Lanka's Mahabodhi Society when they attended a theological discussion in late March in New Delhi, according to senior monk Banagala Upatissa.

  • Indian couple found dead in Wellawatta
    An Indian couple were found dead under suspicious circumstances in a hotel in the Wellawatta region of Sri Lanka's capital this week, reports the Daily Mirror.

    The couple, a 28 year old woman and 30 year old man, arrived to Sri Lanka on March 27.
  • China to assist Sri Lanka evacuate citizens from Yemen
    China has agreed to assist Sri Lanka evacuate its citizens from Yemen, the Daily Mirror quoted the Chinese embassy in Colombo as saying on Thursday.

    According to the paper, the offer of assistance was in response to a request from the Sri Lankan government.

    The Indian government has also responded favourably to Sri Lanka's request for assistance.

  • Success depends on accountability and reconciliation' in Sri Lanka says US official

    The United States Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor met with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister today, emphasising the importance of accountability and reconciliation.

    Tom Malinowski met with Sri Lanka's Mangala Samaraweera in Colombo where the issue of accountability was discussed.

    Mr Malinowski also addressed a forum on 'Women's Role in Post-War Reconciliation', telling the audience, “thanks to your dedication, Sri Lanka has a chance now to achieve reconciliation, justice and true peace.”

  • Sri Lanka justice minister denies mass detentions under anti-terror laws
    Sri Lanka's justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa this week dismissed reports of the mass detention of Tamil political prisoners, stating that only 210 persons were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

    The Island newspaper, quoted Mr Rajapaksa as saying 134 people had been remanded, and 25 held under the PTA. Nine have been released on bail.

  • Naangal holds welfare projects across North-East Sri Lanka
    All Photographs:Naangal
    A local civil society group called ‘Naangal,' which operates in the North-East of Sri Lanka, over past weeks has carried out a series of welfare activities across North-Eastern districts.

    On the 28th of February, activists in Jaffna handed out school stationary and shoes to students from families that were detrimentallly affected by the ethnic conflict.
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