• TNA's demands 'impossible' - Mahinda Rajapaksa

    In an interview with Bhagwan Singh, published in the Deccan Chronicle, Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed calls for a war crimes inquiry as "baseless issues" contrived by the Tamil diaspora, and dismissed the TNA's demands as "impossible".

    See here for interview in full.

    Extracts of Rajapaksa's responses reproduced below:

    On calls for a war crimes investigation

    "The LTTE remnants in these Western countries are bringing pressure on political leaders there to raise baseless issues against Sri Lanka."

    "After the 1880 uprising in Ceylon’s Uva (in the south), the British rulers killed every male aged above 14, and destroyed all water reservoirs to force the people into starvation. They took away land. They did that in India, too. And they talk of human rights now. The West wants me to be their lackey and I refuse to be that."

     

    On relationships with India

    "For me, India is first, and others come only after India. As soon as I came to power, I went to India and got their support; after that, I did not have to bother about the UN, UK, US, and so on."


    On TNA and devolution

    "They (TNA) have the same attitude as the LTTE.

    "They demand impossible things — merger of the north and the east, land policy and police. See what happened in your country [India] when Rahul Gandhi was travelling in Uttar Pradesh. Chief minister Mayawati tried to get him arrested. Do you think I want to get arrested by these people (by giving the Tamils a police force)?

  • Investigation of British tourist's murder under scrutiny

    An anonymous letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police has alleged that attempts are being made to undermine the investigation of the murder of former Red Cross worker holidaying in Tangalle.

  • Russia praises LLRC report

    Russia has welcomed the release of the LLRC report and the ‘great contribution’ it would make to reconciliation, ignoring widespread criticism of it.

  • India 'incorrect' on Sri Lanka's intentions - JHU legal advisor

    The JHU's (Jathika Hela Urumaya) legal advisor, MP Udaya Gammanpila, criticised India's statement, made 25th December on the LLRC report, as "incorrect", reasserting the Sri Lankan government's refusal to devolve land and police powers to the North-East. 

  • LLRC report through the eyes of the JHU

    Slamming the LLRC report as "one-sided", the secretary of the JHU, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka condemned the report for only recommending investigations in the Sri Lankan army and navy, whilst criticising the report for going "beyond its mandate".

    Ranawaka reportedly said, 

  • As foreigners sell, rupee defended

    As foreign investors sold their shares in the Colombo Stock Exchange Tuesday, the Central Bank stepped in to preserve the value of the rupee.

  • Rajapakse associate arrested for murder and rape of tourists

    A close associate of the Rajapakse clan has been arrested in connection with the murder of a British tourist and the suspected rape of his Russian girlfriend.

    Kuram Shaikah Zaman, who was 27 years old was killed on Christmas eve after intervening in a dispute between locals in Tangalle.

  • Lucky cattle

    The Sri Lankan army, having been whale-watching, sold vegetables and run hotels, are now trying their luck with herding cattle.

    Stray cattle in the Vanni have been herded and are being returned to civilians according to military officials.

  • British tourist murdered on Christmas Eve after row with local politician
    Several journalists have faced death threats and intimidation after reporting on the murder of a British tourist in southern Town of Tangella on the 24th of December.
  • From combatants to criminals'

    Crimes by former and current members of the Sri Lankan security forces are on the increase, the Sunday times reports.

    The paper details in its article several crimes committed, including the killing of MP Bharatha Lakshman and grease devil attacks in the Tamil homeland.

    Extracts from the report:

  • Fonseka ignored in Sri Lankan 'epic'

    Incarcerated, former commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Sarath Fonseka, is to be ignored in the write-up of the new chapters of the Sri Lankan epic, the Mahavamsa, The Sunday Leader reports.

  • Act decisively' on devolution of power - India

    India expects Sri Lanka to "act decisively" to achieve a "political settlement based on the devolution of power' announced the External Affairs Ministry in a statement made Sunday on the release of the LLRC report.

    Urging resettlement and normal civilian life, India continues to avoid the issue of accountability and justice.

  • Public services corruption in Sri Lanka - survey

    Political parties and police are amongst the most corrupt in Sri Lanka, according to a survey of South Asian countries by Transparency International.

    The anti-corruption organization surveyed six countries and found that more than one in three people said they pay bribes when dealing with public services.

    In previous surveys of this nature, only Sub-Saharan Africa had a higher rate of bribe-paying,” Transparency International said in its press release.

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