A copy of the speech given at the GTF launch by the shadow foreign secretary, Rt Hon. William Hague MP.

Sri Lanka missed the budget deficit targets for 2009 set by the International Monetary Fund as a condition for a $2.6 billion loan, according to data published by the finance ministry.

Presenting her report to the annual session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay criticised Sri Lanka for failing to examine abuses committed during the civil war last year between the government forces and Tamil Tigers.

Dismissing the response by Colombo that Ban Ki Moon had not appointed panel of experts on other countries where there are "continuing armed conflicts on a large scale, involving major humanitarian catastrophes and causing the deaths of large numbers of civilians due to military action," as "simply untrue nonsense," Francis A. Boyle, professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, said that during the past year alone UN Human Rights Council had authorized Goldstone Commission investigation into Israel war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.

China has emerged as Sri Lanka's biggest single lender in 2009, overtaking the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, the treasury said Wednesday, March 3.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon plans to setup a panel of experts to advise the world body on "accountability issues" relating to possible human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, Reuters reported quoting UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky.

Despite the efforts of the Sri Lankan government and Central Bank to paint a picture of a vibrant economy on the brink of an historic expansion, the island confronts a worsening economic crisis.

The Sri Lankan government has approached Emirates airline about buying the Dubai-based carrier's stake in state-controlled SriLankan Airlines

Writing just before the Sri Lankan Presidential polls, the author, who served on the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons, argues that the chances for true investigation into war crimes allegations in the country is remote.

Tamils in another three mainland European countries have mandated Eelam at referenda held in January.

British Tamils made a united democratic call for the independence of Tamil Eelam in a nationwide referendum held over the weekend of January 30 and 31.

Violent clashes between opposition supporters and government supporters backed by the police have followed the arrest of the main opposition candidate at the last presidential polls.

The arrest of the main opposition candidate at the recent presidential elections, General (retd) Sarath Fonseka, has drawn protests and condemnation from opposition parties in Sri Lanka, while the government claims it is now a natter for the courts.

According Sri Lankan state media an alleged Russian style coup attempt by defeated presidential candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka has prompted Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to undertake a major purge in the top brass of the military.