By Mike Ives and Dharisha Bastians In the decade since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended, a former wartime defense chief has successfully dodged accusations of crimes against humanity. He may soon run for president. But the accusations, which are supported by United Nations inquiries, recently caught up with him in a California parking lot. The …

Continue reading ‘“My family and I have been pushing for justice for my father’s killing for 10 years now. This pursuit isn’t tied to any election. It is tied to a need for truth” Says Murdered Editor Lasantha Wickrematune’s Daughter Ahimsa.’ »

The President of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka is accusing a Member of the Anuradhapura Municipal Council from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna of leading a group that has repeatedly attacked one of their worship centers in Kumbicchankulama over the past few weeks. Methodist Bishop President Asiri Perera told reporters today (18) that Municipal …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s Anuradhapura Councillor Nalin Siriwardene Was Present at Police Station Meeting as the “Vocal Leader” of Group That Attacked “Adara Sevana” Centre Alleges Methodist Church Head Rev. Asiri Perera.’ »

By Sheain Fernandopulle Six individuals had been issued notices to appear in court on May 5 over their alleged involvement in the attack on a Methodist prayer centre at Anuradhapura on March 31, police said. They said the six individuals were issued notices after they appeared before the Anuradhapura Magistrate yesterday. Following a complaint by …

Continue reading ‘6 Persons Allegedly Involved in Mar 31 Attack on Methodist Prayer Centre in Anuradhapura Issued Notices to Appear in Courts on May 5; Methodist Church Holds Hour Long “Silent Prayer Stand” On Galle Road Opposite Kollupitiya Methodist Church on Good Friday.’ »

By Susitha R.Fernando and Gihan de Chickera While many Christians, non-Christians, politicians and government leaders in Sri Lanka were gripped by the fire that engulfed the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris last Monday, little attention was given to a mob attack on a small Christian congregation in the remote hamlet of Kumbichchikulama, near Anuradhapura. …

Continue reading ‘Palm Sunday “Attack” in Anuradhapura:Death Threats, Stone Pelting, Fire Cracker Hurling and Congregation Being Locked in at “Adara Sevana” Centre Happened with President – Bishop of Sri Lankan Methodist Church Rev Asiri Perera Being Present.’ »

by Ranil Senanayake The totally incredulous decision announced by the Prime Minister and by the Minister for Power and Energy that Sri Lanka should rely even more on fossil fuels, specifically on more coal powered-power plants, cannot go unanswered. The callous disregard of the health of the next generations or even the violation of our …

Continue reading ‘Callous Decision by Prime Minister and Power and Energy Minister To Endanger the Health of the People by Establishing More Coal -fired Power Plants Need to be Opposed.’ »

Leaders of the Methodist Church in Anuradhapura were summoned before the Police today where they were told to stop worshippers from other villages from attending the ‘Adara Sevena’ institute which can under attack on Sunday, April 14. As many as 12 worshippers and President Bishop Asiri Perera were locked inside the church while a group …

Continue reading ‘Instead of Taking Action Against Mob Which Attacked “Adara Sevana”Centre ,Police in Anuradhapura Tell Methodist Church Leaders Not to Allow People From Other Areas to Worship There.’ »

(Excerpts from Press Releases and Fact Sheets Issued by the Centre for Justice and Accountability in San Francisco,USA About the Lawsuit filed in California against Former Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Ahimsa Wickrematunge the daughter of Sri Lankan Newspaper Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge who was assassinated in cold blood by masked assailants on motor …

Continue reading ‘Contours of the Lawsuit Filed by Murdered Sri Lankan Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Daughter Ahimsa Against Ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the California Central US District Court.’ »

By Norman Palihawadana President of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, Rev. Asiri P. Perera, yesterday, criticized the police for their inaction as regards an attack on a Methodist Centre in Koombichchankulam, Anuradhapura, on Palm Sunday. Rev. Perera said that Palm Sunday was an important religious ceremony and that he was present when the incident …

Continue reading ‘Mob Pelts Stones at Methodist Cenre at Koombichchankulam in Anuradhapura on Palm Sunday But Police Fail to Take Action Alleges Sri Lankan Methodist Church President Rev.Asiri Perera.’ »

By Nuwan Senarathna Two parties that involved in the dispute over an alleged attack on a prayer centre in Anuradhapura have been summoned to Anuradhapura Magistrate Court today, police said. According the police, a group of youth staged a protest when the Methodist Church President Rev.Asiri Perera visited a prayer centre in Anuradhapura on last …

Continue reading ‘” When a Christian Goes to Lodge a Complaint Sometimes they are not even Willing to Take Down the Complaint” – Sri Lanka’s Methodist Church President Rev. Asiri Perera Faults Police for Inaction When Churches are Attacked in Sri Lanka.’ »

The two cases in which summons were served simultaneously on former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapapaksa in a parking lot of a grocery store in Los Angeles were against individuals has introduced a new element of uncertainty into Sri Lanka’s already uncertain political process, National Peace Council’s (NPC) Executive Director Jehan Perera …

Continue reading ‘Until such time as Cases Against Gotabaya Rajapaksa in California Courts are Decided Upon or Dismissed There Could be a Delay in his US Citizenship Renunciation Process Says National Peace Council Executive Director Jehan Perera’ »

By Ifham Nizam The government would go ahead with the proposed plan 2019 to establish 2700 MW of fossil fuel fired power stations by year 2020, a senior ministry official said. Ministry Secretary Dr. Suren Batagoda said that there would be 300 MW new LNG Combined cycle at Kerawalapitya by WindForce Consortium, 300 MW new …

Continue reading ‘Govt Fails to Honour Commitment to Reduce Green House Gas Emission by 4% and Plans to Establish Fossil Fuel Power Stations Generating 2700 MW by 2020 Ignoring Environmental Concerns.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, yesterday, said that the entry of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa into politics was a problem as he hadn’t even been a member at least of a village council. Rajapaksa has declared his readiness to contest the 2019 presidential election on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) …

Continue reading ‘Dr. Rajitha Senaratne Describes Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Allegation Against Sri Lanka’s Consul -General in Los Angeles Swarna Pushpa Kanthi Gunaratne as “Childish” and Says Slain EX-MP Bharatha Premachandra’s Sister Has Denied Any Involvement in the Judicial Action Against Gota’ »

By Megha Kaveri With less than ten days for Tamil Nadu to go to polls, media houses are busy publishing the results of the opinion polls. According to various opinion polls published by news channels, DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu is predicted to win a majority of seats (more than 30) in the general elections. …

Continue reading ‘Pre – Election Opinion Surveys Predict That the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham(DMK) Led Alliance Will Sweep the Polls in Tamil Nadu by winning 30 to 33 pf 39 Lok Sabha Seats from the State.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Earlier this week, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Dayasiri Jayasekara, told the media that the chairman of his party and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, intends to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on the plea that his term of office should be deemed to have begun …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Wants To Continue as President Beyond Jan 9th 2020 By Seeking Favourable Supreme Court Ruling But Success is Very Likely to Elude him.’ »

Former Defence Secretary and presidential aspirant Gotabaya Rajapaksa landed in Colombo on Friday to a jubilant welcome from supporters eager to buttress his spirits as his criminal proceedings in Sri Lanka have been compounded with a lawsuit filed in the United States alleging his complicity in the extra-judicial killing of his old nemesis Lasantha Wickrematunge, …

Continue reading ‘If Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Bid to Renounce his US Citizenshp is Delayed Due to the Lawsuits Filed Against him in the US, the Ex-Defence Secretary Wont be Able to Contest 2019 Presidential Elections.’ »

BY DHATHUSENA YAHAPALANA (A PARALEGAL APPRENTICE) According to news reports, former Defence Secretary and Presidential aspirant Gotabaya Rajapaksa is facing two civil suits in separate cases linked to events in Sri Lanka during his term in office in the US federal district court in California. One is a suit filed by Ahimsa Wickrematunge who is …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Told a Sinhala Weekly “If Lasantha’s daughter wants to know who his murderers are,ask her to come to Sri Lanka and meet me. I will tell her what happened.” Now Ahimsa Wickrematunge Wants Gota to Tell her What he Knows in a US Court of Law’ »

By Manoj Colombage Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arguably once Sri Lanka’s most powerful man, faces legal battles in two countries after separate civil lawsuits were reportedly filed in the United States of America last week for allegedly instigating torture and extra judicial killing during his tenure as Defence Secretary. The fresh legal trouble followed Gotabaya Rajapaksa to …

Continue reading ‘Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa Embroiled in Several Court Cases in Sri Lanka Now Faces Fresh Legal Battles in the USA After Two Separate Civil Law Suits Were Filed Against him In the District Court of California.’ »

The brother of the former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa is being sued in a US court over alleged extrajudicial killing and torture, by the same lawyers who successfully brought a civil suit against the Syrian government for the killing of the Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was Sri Lanka’s defence secretary during …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Brother of Sri Lankan ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sued in a US Court Over Alleged Torture and killing During the Period he Served as Defence Secretary -The Guardian.’ »

(Excerpts From Political Column in the “Sunday Times”) The first tweet, surprising enough, came from a power centre within the government. It said that Ahimsa, the daughter of slain editor Lasantha Wickremetunge had filed civil action in a Los Angeles Court against Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Opposition presidential hopeful and former Defence Secretary. Lasantha’s brother Lal …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Family and SLPP Top Leaders “Livid” At Gotabaya For Letting a “Controversial Personality” Accompany him to the US and Take Part in all Engagements With Him Despite Warnings by Family Members Not to do so.’ »

by Sanjana Hattotuwa “The lie is revealed. There was no summons served. The photo depicts a lookalike of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The FBI is engaged in an effort to ascertain who produced this false information”. The Facebook Page with this content originally in Sinhala also featured a screenshot of a news story from a leading private …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Has Been Absolutely Silent Over News Reports About Gotabaya Facing Lawsuits in the US and has Not Issued a Statement of Denial or Indicating Strong Support for his Brother.’ »

By Don Manu When the Colombo High Court granted Gotabaya special permission to travel to the United States between March 26 and April 12, no doubt he would have been over the moon to be given the chance to spend a spring holiday in his adopted country. But as things stand today, this seeming blessing …

Continue reading ‘Can Gotabaya Rajapaksa Clear Legal Hurdles in the US and Contest the Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka?’ »

Former Defense Secretary and presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa who arrived in Sri Lanka this morning said the civil suit notices served to him at a Trader Joe’s in Pasadena, California, were politically motivated targeting his candidacy at the upcoming presidential elections. Speaking to journalists at the Silk Route lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Says Notice of Civil Suits Filed Against Him in the US were Not Served in the Appropriate Manner and Alleges that the Sri Lankan Consul -General In California Played an Important Role.’ »

(Text of Message posted on his Facebook by Former Defence Secretsry Gotabaya Rajapaksa) I was touched by the warm welcome I received at the Katunayaka Airport today. This was real proof in my mind that there are so many people who love this country as much as I do. The patriots of this country have …

Continue reading ‘“No one can Obstruct or Prevent me Fulfilling my Obligations to our Beloved Nation” – An Elated Gotabaya Rajapaksa Issues Special Message After Receiving Exuberant Welcome at BIA.’ »

By Hassina Leelarathna in Los Angeles Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has dismissed the two lawsuits filed against him as baseless and insisted that they would only motivate him and his supporters to push for political change in Sri Lanka. “These lawsuits have been filed to delay the process and discourage me. I have handed …

Continue reading ‘“Let Them Attack.I’m Prepared”: Defiant Gota Dismisses Twin Lawsuits Against him in US as “Baseless” and says that the “Charges Against him Wont Stand up in a Court of Law”’ »

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rakapaksa said all necessary measures to renounce his US citizenship have been taken successfully. Rajapaksa made this remark while speaking to the media upon his arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning. Rajapaksa indicated that the court cases filed in the US would have no bearing on his ability to …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Returning to Rousing Welcome at Katunayake Airport Tells Media that Necessary Measures have Been Taken to Renounce his US Citizenship Successfully .’ »

Legal circles are ablaze with discussions that Gotabaya Rajapksa could lose his Sri Lankan citizenship after being served with notice for two separate cases in the US. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is being flaunted as a potential Presidential candidate, however, his current dual citizenship in the US bars him from contesting. Rajapaksa renounced his Sri Lankan citizenship …

Continue reading ‘Speculation is Rife in Political Circles That US Citizen Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Acquired Sri Lankan Dual Citizenship May Be Revoked Under Section 2 of Citizenship (Amendment) Act No 45 of 1987.’ »

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to Sri Lanka today (April 12) to a rousing welcome by his supporters. Rajapaksa’s spokesman Milinda Rajapaksha told Daily FT that special arrangements had been made to receive the former Defence Secretary once he lands in Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa travelled to the US on 26 March and was …

Continue reading ‘Grand Ceremony Planned by Sri Lanka PoduJana Party at Bandaranaike International Airport to Welcome Ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa Who Is Expected to Arrive in Colombo From the USA on April 12’ »

by Saman Indrajith The UNP has sought to shift the responsibility for handling former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, according to sources. It was decided at a meeting between senior UNP ministers and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, to have Fonseka appointed Minister of Internal Affairs. The Internal Affairs Minister …

Continue reading ‘UNP Plans to Appoint Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka as Internal Affairs Minister With Powers to Handle “Citizenship Issues” of Ex – Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.’ »

By Nuwan Senarathna Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday questioned the intention behind the two lawsuits filed against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the United States, insisting a political motive was behind the developments. One case was filed by Ahimsa Wickrematunge, daughter of former Editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, and a second …

Continue reading ‘Cases Filed Against Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the US are Politically Motivated and Have the Backing of LTTE sympathisers Alleges SLPP Chairman Prof G.L. Peiris.’ »

By Ifham Nizam Following the recent landmark decision by the Supreme Court to pay compensation to the people affected by the Chunnakam power station, some Tamil politicians in the Jaffna Peninsula were now trying to take the upper hand to strengthen their vote bank, alleged the environmental group that fought for justice of the affected …

Continue reading ‘“We Took Up the Matter With All Tamil Politicians Including TNA Leader R.Sampanthan but None of Them Were Concerned About the Plight of the People” says Centre for Environment and Nature Studies (CENS) National Coordinator Dr.Ravindra Kariyawasam.’ »

By Nuwan Senarathna The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday criticised the possibility of President Maithripala Sirisena seeking the Supreme Court’s opinion on the length of his term, as a step that would delay elections indicating talks between the SLPP and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to form a coalition were not proceeding smoothly. SLPP …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka PoduJana Peramuna Opposes Moves by the SLFP To Seek Extension of President Sirisena’s Term of Office: SLPP Chairman GL Peiris Ready to go to Courts to Oppose Postponement of Presidential Elections.’ »

By Sandun A Jayasekera The SLFP is seriously considering whether to seek a Supreme Court ruling on when President Maithripala Sirisena’s five-year term of office expires under the 19th Amendment on the basis that it was signed into law by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on June 21, 2015, General Secretary and MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said. He …

Continue reading ‘Can Maithripala Sirisena Remain as President Till June 2020 Because 19th Constitutional Amendment Became Operative Only From June 21st 2015? SLFP Likely to Seek Supreme Court Ruling On This Question Very Soon.’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued on April 9th 2019 by the International Truth and Justice Project) Johannesburg, South Africa: The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), in partnership with the international law firm Hausfeld and human rights lawyer Scott Gilmore, have filed a civil damages case in California against former Sri Lankan defence secretary, …

Continue reading ‘International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) in Partnership With Hausfeld Law Firm and Human Rights Lawyer Scott Gilmore File Civil Damages Case in California Against Sri Lankan Ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.’ »

Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, has filed a case in the California Court against former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the assassination of her father in January 2009. She had reportedly stated that Mr. Rajapaksa, who is currently holidaying in California, should be held responsible for the murder of …

Continue reading ‘Will Case Filed Against Gotabaya Rajapaksa in California “obstruct” Ex -Defence Secretary From Contesting Sri Lankan Presidential Elections?’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Those who were close to President Maithripala Sirisena was damaging the reputation of the president and the institution of the executive president, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Professor G.L. Peiris told The Island yesterday. He said so referring to the statement made by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General …

Continue reading ‘Prof G.L. Peiris Dismisses Arguments Put Forward by his Former Pupil Dayasiri Jayasekara About President Sirisena’s Term of Office Beginning from June 21st 2015 and not January 9th 2015.’ »

by Rex Clementine Those of us who have followed Sri Lankan cricket closely had little idea how deep rooted corruption in the sport was when the International Cricket Council intensified investigations following the national cricket team’s shock defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe in 2017. We put down the defeats to the glorious uncertainties of …

Continue reading ‘International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit Investigations Reveal “Well-Connected Lady From Down South”Linked to an Indian Bookie Played Extensive Role in Corrupting Many Sri Lankan Cricketers.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued on April 9th 2019 by the Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa) According to the provisions in the Budget for 2019, all government servants are to be given a special allowance of Rs. 2,500. Pensions are to be increased. Samurdhi benefits are to be extended to an additional 600,000 families. …

Continue reading ‘Vicious Cycle of Increasing Election Related Govt Expenditure, Increasing Govt debt and increasing taxation – Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Uditha Devapriya Philip Cooray called Delovak Athara the most personal film that Lester James Peries ever made, and it shows. From the milieu depicted in it to its choice of subject matter, it may well have been a “statement” in the same vein that Truffaut’s The 100 Blows or Bergman’s Wild Strawberries had been. …

Continue reading ‘Lester James Peries Remained Until His Last a Polymorphous Artiste: In Isaiah Berlin’s Terminology Lester was a “Fox” Unlike Many Of His Critics Who Were “Hedgehogs”.’ »

(Text of Press Release issued by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP)on April 8th 2019) Johannesburg: The ITJP and the US law firm Hausfeld have filed a civil damages case in Califonia against former Sri Lankan defence secretary,Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on behalf of a Tamil torture survivor. Roy Samathanam made the complaint in the Central …

Continue reading ‘Civil Damages Case Filed Against Gotabaya Rajapaksa in US On Behalf of Sri Lankan Tamil Detained by TID From Sep 2007 to Aug 2010: Notice Served on Ex-Def -Secy at a Trader Joe’s Parking Lot in Pasadena on Sunday Night.’ »

A case has been filed in the US against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa related to the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. The case has reportedly been filed by Lasantha’s daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge. Lasantha Wickremetunge was killed in January 2009 while he was on his way to office.

By Maneshka Borham The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) this week further strengthen its case against Sri Lanka’s top military chief, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne after he was linked to the now famous case of 11 missing youth believed to have been abducted by a ‘Navy abduction for ransom gang’between 2008 – 2009. Arrested by the CID …

Continue reading ‘CID Informs Court That Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijegunaratne When Serving as Navy Commander Aided and Abetted Lt Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi To Evade Arrest By Allowing Him To Hide Within Premises of SLNS Parakrama in March 2017’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa A false front page in a leading English daily newspaper last week highlights two significant and inter-related problem sets. The false page advertised the campaign against illegal drugs by the President. On Twitter, I quipped that it was a collector’s edition. The English is so bad, it borders on the poetic and …

Continue reading ‘Four out of Seven Members Of the Committee Appointed by Minister Mangala Samaraweera to Monitor State Media Institutions Have Resigned In Around a Month After it was Constituted.’ »

By Aanya Wipulasena When post-modernist, award winning novelist Shakthika Sathkumara walked into the Polgahawela Police Station on 1st April morning along with his lawyer and two other associates, what followed was completely unforeseen. About four Buddhist monks were at the station already. Sathkumara, a 33-year-old father of two, was hoping to avoid a confrontation with …

Continue reading ‘Polgahawela Police Pressured by Buddhist Monks Charge Writer Shakthika Sathkumara Under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act of 2007 and Section 292 of Penal Code For Writing Short Story about Issues of Homosexuality and Sexual Harassment Within Buddhist Clergy’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The casually irreverent manner in which state entities such as the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Board of Investment (BOI) treat issuance of mandatory environmental approvals received a sharp reprimand by the Supreme Court in this week’s ruling on the pollution of ground water in Chunnakam as a result of …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court in Landmark Judgement Faults Central Environmental Authority and Board of Investment for not Looking into Persistent Complaints by Chunnakam Residents that “noise, air emission and discharge of wastewater containing oil causing pollution to the surrounding environment” had been Caused by the Operation of the Power Station.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court yesterday ordered Northern Power Company, which operated a thermal power station in Chunnakam that polluted ground water in the Chunnakam area and made ground water unfit for human use, to pay Rs. 20 million to offset a part of the substantial loss, harm and damage …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court adopts “Polluter Pays Principle” in Landmark Judgement and Orders Northern Power Company That Operated a Thermal Power Station in Chunnakam To Pay Rs 20 Million To Residents For Contaminating Ground Water in the Area; Board of Investment and Central Environmental Authority Admonished’ »

By Ishara Mudugamuwa The government has declared April 5 (today) as ‘National Cinema Day’ as a tribute to late Veteran film director Dr. Lester James Perie Addressing the media yesterday at his Ministry, Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa said that the Ministry has decided to declare a National Cinema Day to mark …

Continue reading ‘April 5th the Birthday of Renowned Film Director Lester James Peries Will Be Celebrated Annually as National Cinema Day Announces Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa.’ »

By Col. R.Hariharan The decision of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to bury their political hatchet, at least temporarily, appears to have helped Sri Lanka to gain two more years to fulfil its commitment made at UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to promote accountability and human rights in 2015. The 40thsession of …

Continue reading ‘Unanimous UNHRC Resolution Shows Sri Lanka Continues to Enjoy International Credibility Despite the Tardy Progress it has made so far but Sri Lanka has to Complete Three Requirements by 2021 To Retain It.’ »

Shakthika Sathkumara, a Sri Lankan poet and writer, has been arrested by the police yesterday for insulting Buddhism in one of his short stories. The Polgaawela Magistrate has remanded the writer until April 09 when he was presented before the court last afternoon. Sathkumara was arrested by the police following a complaint lodged by a …

Continue reading ‘Writer Shakthika Sathkumara Who Wrote Short Story about Sexual Abuse in a Buddhist Temple Arrested by Police and Remanded Due to Complaint Lodged by Buddhist Monks From Polgahawela.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The anti-Muslim campaign of the fringe Sinhala Buddhist ultra-nationalist bigotry is regenerative. It is adept at finding a new ruse every now and then. The list ranges from Halal, cow slaughter, Muslim clothing stores, wada pethi (sterilizing tablets) and the latest ‘Save Wilpattu.’ All the past campaigns culminated in a violent upheaval, …

Continue reading ‘Creeping Islamaization and Arabianization of Sri Lankan Muslims as well as Growing Islamaphobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Promoted by Fringe Buddhist Organizations Need to be Addressed Urgently.’ »

By Radhika Coomaraswamy I recently attended an event organised by the Walpola Rahula Institute. In just a few years Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thero has created a safe space where Buddhists, women and minorities can have a discussion about the important ideas of our time and the best way forward for reconciliation. Venerable Dhammananda Thero has …

Continue reading ‘Ven.Galkande Dhammananda Thero Has Created a “Safe Space” at the Walpola Rahula Institute Where Buddhists and Non -Buddhists Can have Discussions About Important Issues of Our Times Inclusive of Reconciliation.’ »

By Anjana Shekar Veteran director J Mahendran, who has given Tamil cinema several important films including Aadu Puli Attam (story, dialogues) Mullum Malarum (debut as director), Uthiripookkal and Nenjathai Killadhe passed away at his residence in Chennai early on April 2. Public homage for the director will be held from 10.00 am and his last …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Tamil Film Director J.Mahendran of “Mullum Malarum”, “Nenjathaik Killaathae”, “Uthirip Pookal” and “Pootaatha Poottukkal” fame Passes Away in Chennai at the age of 79.’ »

By Mangala Samaraweera (Full Text of a media communique issued on behalf of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera Outlining the former Foreign Affairs Minister’s response relating to the current UNHRC Resolution controversy under the heading “The truth about the Geneva Human Rights Council Resolution”) During the past few weeks, I have been watching the many headlines, …

Continue reading ‘“Rather than Demonstrating Diplomatic Skill, Finesse, Grace and mMturity, We Made a Spectacle of Ourselves in Geneva” – Mangala Samaraweera Lashes Out at Egocentric One-upmanship, Emotional Manipulation and Nationalistic Propaganda’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As Sri Lanka suffers from extraordinary heat, the Government’s decision to impose nation-wide power cuts excepting Colombo city and other ‘privileged’ locations where parliamentarians reside, speaks not only to its witless actions in respect of a major crisis but also imputes a ‘selectiveness’ that has deadly import in an election year. …

Continue reading ‘“Yahapalanaya” Government’s Bungling of Power Crisis Provides Fresh Emphasis to the Saying “Kolombata Kiri, Gamata Kekiri” (Milk for Colombo and Snake Gourd for the Villages)’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda In democracies, elections usually are significant political turning points. In democratic theory, an election marks two key opportunities to the people as well as the rulers. For the people, it marks the periodic occasion to elect their rulers and grant them authority to rule over them for a specific period of time, …

Continue reading ‘Forthcoming Presidential Election Likely to See a Head-on Clash Between The Two Political Projects of Parliamentary Democracy and Autocratic Authoritarianism.’ »

By Maneshka Borham and Rajitha Jagoda Arachchi in Marichchukkaddi Mohammad Thoufeek of Marichchukaddy the most Southern village of Musali, was 29-years-old when he entered the Wilpattu forest on October 28, 1990 accompanied by his family and other villagers, following the LTTE order to evict their village in 24 hours as it suspected that Muslims provided …

Continue reading ‘Wilpattu Has Not Been De-Forested For Muslim Re-settlement but Vicious Campaign Underway To Spread Anti -Muslim Racism’ »

By Anurangi Singh In the clearest sign that the CID investigations into the February 2015 treasury bond scandal are fast reaching a conclusion, sleuths last Monday (25) arrested five additional suspects, including four board directors of Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) and a retired senior Central Bank official. Last February, when PTL owner Arjun Aloysius and …

Continue reading ‘Arrests of Four Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Board Directors and Ex-Central Bank Deputy Governor Simultaneously in “Morning Operation ” Indicates CID Probe Into Bond Scam Is Reaching Decisive Phase’ »

By Maneshka Borham On Thursday when the magisterial inquiry into the abduction of eleven youth by a Navy abduction gang for ransom concluded for the day, parents of the missing boys waited near courts hoping to attract the attention of investigators led by OIC of the Gang Robberies Unit of the CID, IP Nishantha Silva. …

Continue reading ‘CID Informs Magistrate That Ex- Commander of the Navy Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda Knew Where, When and How the 11 “Missing” Youths were Abducted and That he Also Knew of Their Eventual Fate.’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa It’s the birth-rates. It’s the birth-rates. It’s the birth-rates. In June 2018, a senior politician publicly condemned the incarceration of Buddhist monks, noting that the clergy would do well to transform their saffron robes to saffron jumpers. The dog-whistling and coded message was clear to the intended recipients. The infamous Gnanasara Thero …

Continue reading ‘Right Wing Extremism and Fascism Present in Sri Lanka is Openly Promoted by Prominent Politicians, Influential Monks, Leading Traditional Media Outlets as well as Through Personal Social Media Accounts’ »

By Aanya Wipulasena The family of murdered Sri Lankan Rugby Captain Wasim Thajudeen broke its silence last week, after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa quipped callously at a SLPP event in Kegalle that it was speed that had killed the young sporting icon, even after a court ruled his death a murder three years ago. Ayesha …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Callous Remarks About Wasim Thajudeen Being Killed by Speed Saddens and Angers Family of Murdered Rugby Captain’ »

By Sudarshan Varadhan and Shihar Aneez Reuters: An agreement to build a proposed $3.85 billion oil refinery in Sri Lanka will take at least a year to be finalized as its main investor, India’s Accord Group, says it is yet to recruit partners and conduct an assessment of the plan’s viability. The comments add to …

Continue reading ‘Hambantota Oil Refinery Project Will Take At Least A year To be Finalized as Main Investor India’s Accord Group is Yet to Recruit Partners or Conduct Assessment of Plan’s Viability.’ »

By Janane Venkatraman Actor Nayanthara on Monday released a statement registering her “condemnation and protest against the derogatory speeches made by Mr. Radha Ravi against women and children in general and me in specific” (sic). In a strongly worded statement, she demanded that the South Indian Artistes’ Association, also known as the Nadigar Sangam, set …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Filmstar Nayantara Issues Statement Condemning Veteran Actor Radha Ravi’s Derogatory Comments Against Her and Urges South Indian Artistes Association To Hold an Internal Inquiry Into the Incident.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Mano Tittawella, in his capacity as the Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) instructed Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva A. L. A. Azeez to accept the latest resolution 40/1 on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka. Tittawella was appointed, on March 29, 2016. In Aug 2017, …

Continue reading ‘SCRM Secy -Gen Mano Tittawela Instructed Envoy in Geneva ALA Azeez to Accept 40/1 Resolution Co-sponsored by Sri Lanka at UNHRC On Behalf of Country in Accordance With Decision Taken by Govt Headed by President Sirisena.’ »

By Bhavani Fonseka and Luwie Ganeshathasan In a few weeks, Sri Lanka marks a decade since the end of its brutal war, but its long legacy of abuses remains unaddressed. Decades of inaction, denial and silencing have contributed to and exacerbated a culture of impunity that protected perpetrators and at times, even promoted them. In …

Continue reading ‘Countering Falsehoods: The Case for Foreign Judges in a Judicial Mechanism in Sri Lanka.’ »

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) believes the controversy surrounding the proposed USD 3.85 billion oil refinery in Mirijjawila, Hambantota, could have a negative impact on Sri Lanka’s efforts to remove itself from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘Grey List’ of countries vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing. The main investor in the project, …

Continue reading ‘Proposed Hambantota Oil Refinery Could Have Negative Impact on Sri Lanka’s Efforts To Remove Itself From “Grey List”of Countries Vulnerable to Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Warns Transparency International.’ »

A top official handpicked by Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena to represent the country came in for harsh criticism by the UN for “putting a spin” on a high level bilateral meeting in Geneva. In a strongly worded statement the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday, that a newspaper article …

Continue reading ‘UN Human Rights Commissioner Michele Bachelet Upbraids Northern Province Governor Dr.Suren Raghavan over Serious Misrepresentations in the Media About What She Told the Sri Lankan Delegation at a Discussion in Geneva’ »

Plantations in Sri Lanka that supply “slavery-free” tea to top global companies are under investigation by ethical label groups after an expose found illegal wage deductions that have left some workers ill and unable to afford health care. An investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found that some workers at tea estates certified by Rainforest …

Continue reading ‘Two Year Research by Thomson Reuters Foundation Reveals Ruthless Exploitation of Plantation Workers in Nuwara – Eliya District With Daily Earnings Being Slashed Without Consent by 75% in Some Instances.’ »

By A.J.A.Abeynayake Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne refused bail to Chairman of Perpetual Treasuries Jeffrey Joseph Aloysius, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Pattinige Samarasiri and three directors of Perpetual Treasuries (PTL) when they were produced before her yesterday in connection with the bond scams. The suspects were remanded till April 5. The defence …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne Refuses Bail to Central Bank Ex-Deputy Governor , Chairman of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd and Three PTL Drectors Charged Under Artile 56 of Stocks and Securities Ordinance and Remands all Five Until April 5’ »

By Hemantha Randunu A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and the Chairman and three Directors of the Perpetual Treasuries (Pvt.) Ltd. (PTL) were arrested by the CID, yesterday, in connection with the Central Bank bond scams. They are former Deputy of the Central Bank Pattinige Samarasiri, PTL Chairman Jeffrey Joseph Aloysius and PTL …

Continue reading ‘Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Chairman Jeffrey Joseph Aloysius Arrested at his Residence at 10.55 am by CID Despite Family Members Allegedly Telling Police he was not at home’ »

A deputy governor of Sri Lanka’s central bank and directors of a dealer in government securities linked to the biggest securities scam in the island have been arrested, police said. Retired Deputy Governor Pathinige Samarasiri, directors of Perpetual Treasuries Chithra Ranjan Hulugalle, P Gunewardene and Muthuraja Surendran was arrested by the criminal investigation department, police …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Central Bank Deputy Governor Pathinige Samarasiri along with Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Directors Ranjan Hulugalle, Muthuraja Surendran and P.Gunewardene Arrested by CID.’ »

Twelve suspects were arrested in connection with a plot to assassinate an active Tamil politician, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) told court last week. Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne allowed the CCD to detain the 12 suspects for questioning about the alleged assassination plot. The arrested persons included members of the underworld and persons with …

Continue reading ‘Another Overseas LTTE Plot to Use Underworld Gangs to Allegedly Assassinate MA Sumanthiran MP ? 12 Suspects Arrested and Detained for Investigation by Police Colombo Crimes Division.’ »

By Maneshka Borham The now famous CID investigation into the abduction and murder of 11 youth by a Navy extortion gang, helped sleuths to break open a secondary racket involving a separate group of naval personnel, including high ranking officers, to abduct businessmen for ransom In June 2010 the gang robbery unit of the Criminal …

Continue reading ‘Former Navy Commander Jayantha Perera and Ex-Naval Intelligence Chief Ananda Guruge Allegedly Implicated in CID Investigations Into Disappearances of Vadivelu Loganathan and Ratnasami Parmananda Reportedly Abducted in Wellampitiya on January 11, 2009.’ »

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament M.A. Sumanthiran’s constitutional justification for seeking foreign judges to serve in the proposed Judicial Mechanism to try alleged war crime cases, has put the government in a spot, and his Tamil rivals in the shade. In a statement in parliament on Friday, Sumanthiran said that there …

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Spokesperson MA Sumanthiran MP Places Lankan Government in a Spot and Puts Tamil Political Rivals in the Shade’ »

By Maneshka Borham The Police commenced an investigation this week into the defacing of the newly installed signboard at the bottom of the steps leading to Sri Pada on the Hatton-Nallathanniya trail. The tri lingual signboard displaying the name of the revered mountain, and its Tamil translation in particular appeared to have irked certain Sinhalese …

Continue reading ‘After Weeks of Hate Campaign Spearheaded by Mahasona’s Dan Priyasad and Namal Kumara the Tamil and English Letters in Newly Installed Signboard at Bottom of Adams Peak – Sri Pada – Sivanolipadamalai Defaced with Black Tar by Vandals.’ »

By Anurangi Singh Just a day after the grand tamasha that took place at the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, to launch the ‘National Action Plan for combating bribery and corruption’, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), promptly went before the Colombo Magistrate, and, based on technical grounds, withdrew cases filed against MP …

Continue reading ‘Several “Sharks”Being Investigated For Bribery and Corruption Were Prominent Psrticipants at Grand Tamasha Held at Shangri-La Hotel by Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption(CIABOC)’ »

By Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Recently at a workshop that focused on the events of October 26 and thereafter, a participant remarked that the one thing that stood out with respect to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was his ability to maintain grace under pressure for the duration of the coup against the Constitution. There are many …

Continue reading ‘Happy Birthday Prime Minister ! Ranil Wickremesinghe Deserves Our Deep Appreciation and Admiration for not Capitulating to the Coup and Standing Straight as the Legal and Constitutional Premier of Sri Lanka.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Accountability in Sri Lanka was always about the working of the criminal law. And Justice was always about the clash of the ‘non-equals’ with the ‘more than equals.’ In that clash, seldom have the ‘non-equals’ triumphed in this country, as bitter lessons of our legal history so persistently teach us. Refresher …

Continue reading ‘Justice in Sri Lanka is About the Clash of “Non Equals” Like the Families of Missing Children and the “More Than Equals” Like The Navy Personnel Under Investigation for Allegedly Abducting Those Children For Ransom’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The son of a controversial Indian politician from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is a director in, not just one, but two companies recently incorporated in Sri Lanka. The second was set up ostensibly to implement a US$ 3.85 billion (Rs 685.5 billion) oil refinery project in Hambantota. But the initiative is …

Continue reading ‘Silver Park Petroleum (pvt)Ltd Owned by Family of India’s DMK politician Jagathrakshakan Was Formed on Feb 21st 2019 Just 6 Days After Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama Submitted Cabinet Paper For Rs 685.5 Billion Oil Refinery Project in Hambantota’ »

By Manoj Colambage Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Yasantha Kodagoda is set to take oaths as President of the Court of Appeal, ending months of sparring and deadlock over the judicial appointment, the Sunday Observer learns. Kodagoda was nominated to head the Court by President Maithripala Sirisena. The Constitutional Council yesterday unanimously approved the …

Continue reading ‘Addl Solicitor -General Yasantha Kodagoda PC To Be Sworn in as Court of Appeal President as Constitutional Councl Unanimously Approves President Sirisena’s Fresh Nomination.’ »

By Disna Mudalige and Camelia Nathaniel Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran made a stern appeal to the government to adhere to the time bound implementation of the UNHRC resolution which the country co-sponsored for the third time last Thursday. Joining the Committee Stage debate in Parliament yesterday, Sumanthiran warned, “I want to make …

Continue reading ‘“If Govt Does Not Honour Commitment Given in UNHRC Resolution to Set Up a Hybrid Court With Independent Foreign Judges The Tamil People May Demand an Entirely International Judicial Mechanism “States MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s resolution on the rights situation in Sri Lanka, which was passed in Geneva on Thursday through consensus, meets Colombo’s requirements. Resolution 40/L.1 not only gives two years’ extension for the implementation of resolution 30/1 of 2015, but also says that the recommendations will be implemented “with the …

Continue reading ‘Consensus Resolution on Sri Lanka Passed by UNHRC Gives Colombo the Right to Decide What Would be Implemented and To What Extent a Recommendation Would be Implemented.’ »

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday through consensus passed a resolution giving the government of Sri Lanka two more years to implement the resolution 30/1 of 2015, ie: until March 2021. After the resolution was adopted the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, said that the passing of the resolution 40/L.1 is a …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Co-sponsored Resolution Passed Without Opposition Through Consensus by United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The UNCHR has adopted the resolution on Sri Lanka, without a vote. We have two more years to give further proof of peace building and reconciliation. Don’t we feel great about using the Lord Naseby facts to strengthen our case? Shouldn’t we feel even greater that the number of Tamil civilians allegedly …

Continue reading ‘Should We Not Feel Great and Proud That Lord Naseby a White Lord of the UK Our Former Colonial Master Helped Us By Reducing The Number Of Alleged Civilan Deaths to 8000 From 40000?’ »

Sri Lanka today rejected UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s proposals to establish an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sri Lanka and calling to implement a detailed and comprehensive strategy for the transitional process with a ‘fixed timeline’. “We all are eager to see results. However, pressing for …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana Makes Statement at UNHRC in Geneva Rejecting Proposals to Appoint International Judges for Judicial Mechanism, Establishing an UN Human Rights Office in Sri Lanka and Setting up a Fixed Timeline for Transitional Justice Process.’ »

Singapore rejected Wednesday Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s allegation it was sheltering a former central bank chief wanted for fraud, saying Colombo failed to provide documents to support its extradition request. Sirisena on Monday accused Singapore of sheltering Arjuna Mahendran, one of his country’s former central bank chiefs wanted in connection with a high-profile $74 …

Continue reading ‘Singapore Refutes President Sirisena’s Allegation of Sheltering Ex-Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran While Faulting Sri Lanka For not Providing Documents Seeking Extradition.’ »

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has criticized former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for challenging the Geneva Resolution on the basis of disclosure made by Lord Naseby in the House of Lords. Samaraweera issued the following statement in response to Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement dated17 March 2019 instructing the government on what its position should be when …

Continue reading ‘Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera Flays Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa For Misleading the Public Through Falsehoods about the Co-sponsored Resolution at the UNHRC in Geneva’ »

Sri Lanka’s has failed to fully implement its commitments to ensure accountability for war-time atrocities because of a lack of vision at the highest level of leadership in the county, the UN human rights chief said today. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told the council in Geneva that Colombo cooperated with the …

Continue reading ‘UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Tells UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Colombo cooperated with the UN, but there was very slow progress in delivering the 2015 commitments on accountability.’ »

The UN human rights chief yesterday warned Sri Lanka it could slip back to conflict unless it addressed the “worst crimes” during the final stages of its ethnic war. Michelle Bachelet told the Human Rights Council that Sri Lanka was yet to set up the special judicial mechanism as promised four years ago to try …

Continue reading ‘UN Human Rights Chief Michele Bachelet Tells Human Rights Council that Sri Lanka Could Slip Back to Conflict Unless it Addresses Through a Judicial Mechanism the “Worst Crimes” Committed During War’ »

Presenting the report on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka to the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on Sri Lanka to implement a detailed, comprehensive strategy for the transitional process with a fixed timeline. Acknowledging the Sri …

Continue reading ‘UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Wants Sri Lanka to Implement a Detailed, Comprehensive Strategy for Transitional Process with a Fixed Timeline.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya For years, foreign policy mandarins and their political bosses in this country lived and re-lived a lie that Sri Lanka’s destiny would be decided in Geneva. They were joined by the acolytes of the Tamil Tiger terrorists, their financers and paid and otherwise propagandists, who made the gullible in the diaspora part …

Continue reading ‘No Need To withdraw Itself From UN Resolution as Previous Co-sponsorship Was a Mere Formality That Served Sri Lanka’s Interests and Diluted International Interest’ »

The Supreme Court, yesterday, issued a restraining order preventing Nagananda Kodituwakku from practising as a lawyer for three years. A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justices Sisira de Abrew and Prasanna Jayawardena issued the order over a 2015 defamation case. The case was filed by Justice Vijith Malalgoda, while he was the President …

Continue reading ‘Three Judge Supreme Court Bench Headed by Chief Justice Nalin Perera Issues Restraining Order Preventing “Activist Lawyer” Nagananda Kodituwakku From Practising as an Attorney -at -Law For Three Years After Hearing Defamation Case Filed by Justive Vijith Malalgoda.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena In contrast to Colombo’s largely polarized sound and fury on the Counter-Terror Bill, it is refreshing to look at the manner in which South Africa has dealt with uncannily similar dilemmas of balancing national security imperatives and constitutional rights in bringing its counter-terror law into effect more than a decade ago. …

Continue reading ‘Is This Govt Going to Push Forward the Counter Terrorism Act by Water Cannoning Trade Unions Protesting Provisions of the Bill?’ »

The UNF government must officially communicate to the UN Human Rights Commissioner and members of the UNHRC that Sri Lanka will no longer co-sponsor resolutions against itself in the UNHRC; Sri Lanka does not accept the allegations made in OHCHR Report No: 30/61 of 28 September 2015 and will not set up a hybrid war …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Wants Govt to Inform the UNHRC and UN Human Rights Commissioner That Sri Lanka Would No Longer Co-sponsor a Resolution Against Itself in Geneva.’ »

By Aanya Wipulasena Exorbitant debts from loans provided by Microfinance institutions to failing businesses have pushed at least 170 people into suicide, islandwide,in the past year alone, with the highest suicide rates being reported among women, and area-wise in the Vavuniya, Jaffna and Batticaloa districts, Progressive Peasants’ Congress (PPC) shows. The suicide rates are just …

Continue reading ‘At Least 170 Island -wide Suicides in 2018 By People Unable To Repay Loans Obtained From Microfinance Institutions; Highest Rates Among Women From Vavuniya, Jaffna and Batticaloa Districts.’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda The controversy over whether the former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda would be arrested captured public attention last week. The saga has left the citizen concerned about the independence of the judiciary, and its responsibility to protect powerless and helpless citizens when their rights are repeatedly violated. It also highlighted the need …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s System of Justice is now Facing an Entirely New Source of Threat, Because the Very Issue of Justice has been Excessively Politicised Blurring the Distinction Between Power and Justice.’ »

By Aanya Wipulasena Over the past decade, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has been exclusively probing graft cases involving ‘small people’, while cases of corruption of over Rs.10 million are left largely uninvestigated, a Right to Information application has revealed. Good governance activist Chandra Jayaratne, wrote to President Maithripala Sirisena …

Continue reading ‘CIABOC(Bribery Commission)Goes After Sprats and Not Sharks! Most Cases Probed are Offences Involving Ten Million or Less by “Small People”: Only One Case Above 10 Million;Not a Single Case Filed for 25 Million and Above Offence.’ »

By Yasmine Gooneratne Sri Lanka recently received high praise from the writers of The Lonely Planet as a country they rate as Number One in a list of places which well reward visitors’ interest. Their views have been echoed by Hidden Travellers, a group of travel writers who aim to disclose the good as well …

Continue reading ‘Many Sri Lankans are fully aware that we are fortunate in our birthplace, but we do not realize that some sensitive and intelligent visitors share our sense of wonder’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa Our wait for a telephone was just a few years. At the time, in the early 90s, we knew of families who were on a waiting list for close upon a decade. I was at school when Sri Lanka Telecom had installed the rotary device. Like the first mobile phones from Motorola …

Continue reading ‘The Original Web Sir Tim Berners-Lee Created 30 Years Ago is Now Indistinguishable From What Frames and Fuels Politics, Elections, society, institutions,Communications,Relations and Community’ »

TNA MP M.A Sumanthiran queried how Parliament can approve the President’s expenditure head when the President is trying to send a separate Opposition delegation to Geneva to represent himself when a government delegation is also attending the UNHRC sessions. He noted that this is an important head of expenditure that has been proposed in this …

Continue reading ‘“Proceedings in Karannagoda Case Show The Partisan Manner In Which The Judiciary and Attorney -Generals Dept Function in Matters Like These” States MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa whose passport was impounded in connection with the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case was yesterday temporally permitted to travel abroad by the Permanent High Court-at-Bar. The Trial-at-Bar bench comprising High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne allowed Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel abroad between …

Continue reading ‘Ex -Def Secy Gotabaya Rajapaksa Whose Passport Was Impounded in Connection With DA Rajapaksa Museum Case Given Permission by Permanent High Court Trial at bar Bench hearing Case to Travel Abroad Between Mar 26 to Apr 12.’ »

By Manekshaw A memorandum was handed over by the representatives of the aggrieved families of the disappeared persons two days ago to Northern Governor Dr. Suren Raghavan who is one of the five members of the delegation sent by President TMaithripala Sirisena to attend the UNHRC session in Geneva. It was on the request made …

Continue reading ‘Northern Governor Dr.Suren Raghavan Obtains Memorandum From 8 Member Delegation Representing Families of Disappeared Persons Before Going to UNHRC In Geneva as Part of Govt Delegation.’ »

Multiple fatalities were inflicted at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday when at least one gunman opened fire on worshippers, police said. Witnesses told media that a man dressed in a military-style, camouflage outfit, and carrying an automatic rifle had started randomly shooting people in the Al Noor mosque. The …

Continue reading ‘Bangladesh Cricket Team in Christchurch to Play Third Test Against New Zealand was Arriving at Al Noor Mosque at Time of Shooting Were Not Affected and are all Safe.’ »

The New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Arden has given a short speech responding to the shooting at mosques in Christchurch that has left several people dead. Jacinda Ardern said the incident was “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and that the victims had chosen to make New Zealand their home. “They are us,” she said. …

Continue reading ‘“Many of those directly affected by this shooting have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home.They are us. The person who has perpetuated this violence against us is not”- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’ »

By Michael Mcgowan Before the shooting starting, the Al Noor mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch was “peaceful, calm and quiet”. “As it is when the sermon starts, you could hear a pin drop,” a man identified as Ramzan told reporters on Friday. Then about 1.40pm during afternoon prayers, gunfire broke out. “It …

Continue reading ‘Survivors of Horrendous Shooting at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque in New Zealand Provide Eyewitness Accounts of Their Terrifying Ordeal to Media.’ »

by Lisa Martin Forty -nine people have been shot dead and 20 injured in attacks at two mosques during Friday afternoon prayers in Christchurch in what is the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s history. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” as police uncovered multiple explosive devices attached …

Continue reading ‘49 Killed and 20 Injured in Mass Shooting of People Gathered For Afternoon Prayers at Two Mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand: 4 Suspects Arrested for “Right wing Extremist Attack”.’ »

By Saman Indrajith Women and children in the Northern Province were being exposed to a sinister racket of producing rape films sponsored by members of the same community who were resident abroad, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake, yesterday, told parliament. Participating in the Committee Stage Debate of the Appropriation Bill 2019 on the Ministry of National …

Continue reading ‘Women and Children in North Being Sexually Violated by Maniacs and Filmed for Screening Abroad by Some Members of the Tamil Diaspora Alleges JVP Parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake.’ »

By Shivani de Zylva The commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka four years ago at the UNHRC session in Geneva have had lasting impressions on its citizens. While some perceive the commitments of Resolution 30/1 (Res 30/1) as an international obligation that threatens our sovereignty or a political tool and a box ticking …

Continue reading ‘Could Sri Lanka Have “Ignored” the Resolution 30/1 Passed By the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva Four Years Ago?’ »

By Prof N. Shanmugaratnam ´Economic Development Framework for a Northern Province Master Plan´, is a study commissioned by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and carried out by a team of seven members with competence in relevant fields and knowledge of post-war conditions in the province. The study provides an opportunity for an open discussion …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Commissioned Study “Economic Development Framework for a Northern Province Master Plan” Provides an Opportunity for Discussion On Post -War Development of Province’ »

The Core Group on Sri Lanka, led by the United Kingdom on Monday tabled the Resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. The Core Group on Sri Lanka, comprising Canada, Germany, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland presented the resolution A/HRC/40/L.1 titled …

Continue reading ‘Core Group on Sri Lanka Comprising UK, Canada, Germany, Montenegro and North Macedonia Present Resolution A/HRC/40/L.1 Titled “Promoting Reconciliation,Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka” at UNHRC In Geneva.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal yesterday directed Petitioner Gotabaya Rajapaksa to re-issue notices pertaining to his Writ Petition contesting the Order of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, which is hearing the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum Case, on the Respondents. The Bench comprising Justices Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekere fixed the matter for 26 March.

By Dinasena Ratugamage A special note would be sent to the UNHRC via the Governor of the Northern Province, Suren Raghavan, former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M. K. Sivajilingam said. Sivajilingam said that after learning that Raghavan would attend the UNHRC sessions, as a representative of the President, he had handed over the letter …

Continue reading ‘Ex-MP Sivajilingam says he Handed Over Letter Seeking Independent International Investigation Into Alleged War Crimes and Violationsto Northern Province Governor’s Secretary to Be Submitted to UNHRC In Geneva By Suren Raghavan’ »

By Manoj Colambage For 10 long years, Sarojini Naganathan has gone from court house to court house, in a seemingly endless search for her only child, Rajiv. On Thursday, when former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda’s fundamental rights petition seeking to block his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was taken up by a three …

Continue reading ‘Hearing Of Fundamental Rights Petition Filed By Ex-Navy Chief Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda By Three -Judge Bench Of Supreme Court Provides Illuminating Insight Into How The Justice System Works In Sri Lanka’ »