The Islamic State group’s elusive chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in a propaganda video released Monday by the jihadist organisation. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred to last week’s deadly attack in Sri Lanka and to …

Continue reading ‘Islamic State Chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Appears on Video for First Time in 5 Years Saying “Battle for Baghous is Over” and that the April Easter Attacks in Sri Lanka were “Vengeance for their Brothers (Killed) in Baghous”.’ »

by Norman Palihawadana and Rex Clementine Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith the Archbishop of Colombo flayed the government for its lackadaisical attitude and not doing enough to bring those responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings to justice. Addressing the media, yesterday, in Colombo, the prelate said: “I am not happy with the security measures that have been …

Continue reading ‘“If Parliamentarians and politicians were behind these attacks – directly or indirectly – people expect them to be arrested, questioned and punished if they have any connections” Says Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka has banned veils citing “security” reasons following Easter attacks, but the decision has sparked a host of concerns within the Muslim community. President Maithripala Sirisena said that the ban, being brought under emergency law, was in the interest of national security and public safety, so that individuals were easily identifiable. …

Continue reading ‘The Banning of “Face Veils” Under Emergency Laws by President Sirisena Gives Rise to Concerns Within Muslim Civil Society in Sri Lanka.’ »

(Text of Statement Released by the New York Based Human Rights Watch) The Sri Lankan government should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of South Asian refugees and asylum seekers from violence. Since the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday bombings by alleged Islamist militants on churches and hotels that killed more than 250 …

Continue reading ‘Persecuted Ahamadia Muslims and Christians From Pakistan and Afghanistan Who Sought Refuge and Asylum in Sri Lanka Face Violence and Threats Due to Backlash After Easter Day Attacks.’ »

BY Kelsey Ables ON APRIL 21, Easter Sunday, a series of coordinated bombings killed hundreds in Sri Lanka. In the tense hours following the attacks, a social media blackout left much of the country barred from major communication channels—Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp—in the interest of “national security.” The ISIS-supported attack marks the most violence the country …

Continue reading ‘Blockade of Social Media in Sri Lanka: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.’ »

Questions are being raised about how much President Maithripala Sirisena knew about warnings provided by foreign intelligence agencies ahead of the Easter Sunday bombings that left at least 253 people dead and injured more than 450. State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Nilantha Jayawardena provided detailed reports to the President …

Continue reading ‘Senior Police DIG Nilantha Jayawardena the State Intelligence Chief Warned President Sirisena Thrice of Impending Terrorist Attacks on April 11th, 16th and 20th But No Action Was Taken by Sri Lanka’s Head of Government Holding Defence and Law and Order Portfolios.’ »

Responding to the Easter Sunday Attacks We write today as a group of Sri Lankan Catholics and Christians, deeply saddened by the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. We grieve with the families of all victims – whether they are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or non-religious. We cannot understand …

Continue reading ‘“We Must Never Allow Evil to Become an Excuse for Revenge and Hate” – A Response to the Easter Sunday Attacks by a Group of Christians Comprising Catholics,Protestants and Evangelicals.’ »

(Reuters): The wife and daughter of Mohamad Zahran Hashim, the suicide bomber cum mastermind of the serial bombings in Colombo and two other cities on April 21, were injured in the explosion in the Islamic State safe house at Sainthamarudu in Eastern Sri Lanka on Friday night. The shootout at a safe house erupted as …

Continue reading ‘Easter Day Explosive Attack Ring Leader Mohomed Zahran Hashim’s Wife Hadiya and Child Hospitalised Due to Injuries Sustained At Rented House in Saainthamarudhu Where Gun Battle and Three Explosions Took Place.’ »

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for three men who blew themselves up in clashes with Sri Lankan police, the militant group said in a statement. The men set off explosives after an hour-long gun battle with police Saturday, inside what was believed to be a jihadist hideout near the eastern town of Kalmunai, …

Continue reading ‘Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency Claims IS Responsibility for Saainthamarudhu Gun Battle by Saying Three IS Fighters”clashed with them (Sri Lankan police) with automatic weapons, and after exhausting their ammunition, detonated on them their explosive belts.”’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Muslim neighbours and the cleric in charge of the local mosque had tipped off the Security Forces about the existence of a safe house taken on rent by the followers of the Islamic State in the Muslim-majority town of Sainthamarudu in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, locals said. In a gun battle between the …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Neighbors and Cleric in Charge of Local Mosque Tipped off Security Forces About Safe House Rented Out By Islamic State Followers in Saainthamarudhu Where Fifteen Bodies Were Found After Shoot out and Explosions.’ »

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is facing a civil lawsuit alleging extra-judicial murder and crimes against humanity in the United States for the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, has requested a 30-day extension to respond to the charges. The filing by his lawyers in the US District Court of Central California, seen …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabaya Rajapaksa Seeks 30 Day Extension to Respond to Civil Lawsuit Filed by Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Daughter Ahimsa in the US: New Due Date Changed From April 29 to May 28 .’ »

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena had decided to ban two Muslim organizations linked to Easter Sunday bombings which killed more than 500 people, his office said. National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem (JMI) will be banned using newly invoked emergency laws. Members of NTJ and JMI carried out Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena to Ban Under Emergency Laws the National Thawheed Jamath and Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim Radical Muslim Organizations Allegedly Involved in the Ester Day Suicide Bomb Attacks’ »

By Hafeel Farisz Three suspects allegedly radical Islamist extremists and two weapons of the two Policemen killed at a checkpoint in Vavunathiwu on November 29, 2018 were recovered by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department today. Sources confirmed that the three suspects were arrested and the weapons were recovered. ” They were members of the …

Continue reading ‘Weapons of Two Policemen Killed at Checkpoint in Vavunatheevu in Batticaloa on Nov 29 Lat Year Recovered From Three Members of Radical Islamic Organization Arrested in the East.’ »

By Paul Maley and Primrose Riordan The Sri Lankan suicide bomber who studied at a Melbourne university was one of the subjects of a ­terrorism investigation by Australian security authorities after ­intelligence emerged linking him to ­Islamic State operative Neil Prakash. The Australian can reveal that Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed, one of nine suicide bombers …

Continue reading ‘Suicide Bomber Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed Who Did Post-Graduate Studies in Technology at Swinbourne Univesity in Melbourne From 2009 to 2013 Had Been Investgated By Australian Authorities for Suspected Terrorism.’ »

A senior officer in the Defence Ministry says that a statement made by SLPP MP – Piyal Nishantha de Silva during a live TV programme yesterday (26) is false. Appearing on the ‘Swarnawahini’ TV channel, the MP had claimed that 11 security force personnel had died during last night’s confrontation in Kalmunai-Saindamarudu area between the …

Continue reading ‘SLPP MP Piyal Nishantha de Silva Appearing on “Swarnavahini”TV Claims 11 Security Force Personnel Were Killed in Kalmunia Shoot -out but Senior Defence Ministry Official Refutes It’ »

Reuters: Sri Lanka’s former wartime Defence Chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said on Friday he would run for president in elections this year and would stop the spread of Islamist extremism by rebuilding the intelligence service and surveilling citizens. Gotabaya, as he is popularly known, is the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the two …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Says He Will Contest Presidential Elections and if he won his Immediate Focus Would be to Tackle the Threat from Radical Islam and to Rebuild the Security Set-up.’ »

The bodies of 15 people, including six children, were discovered from the site of a severe overnight gun battle on the east coast of Sri Lanka on Saturday, the military said, six days after suicide bombers killed 253 people and injured over 500. The gun battle between troops and terrorists suspected to be affiliated to …

Continue reading ‘Fifteen Bodies Comprising Six Men, Three Women and Six Children Recovered From House in Saainthamarudhu After Prolonged Shoot -out Between Two Gunmen and Security Forces’ »

Combined Army, Special Task Force and Police teams are continuing search operations in the Kalmunai area where 15 people including 6 six children were killed in a confrontation between troops and suspected terrorists last night (26). There are no dead or injured among the security forces. One woman and a child were admitted to hospital …

Continue reading ‘Bodies of Three Men, Six Women and Six Children Recovered From House Shattered by Explosion After Shoot -Out in Saainthamaruthu Between Armed Men and Security Forces Comprising Army Police and STF:One Woman and Child Hospitalised.’ »

The Army and the Police found a massive haul of explosives when they raided a safe house in Samanthurai in the Eastern province the Police Media Spokesman said.

By Chathuri Dissanayake and Uditha Jayasinghe The Government yesterday said a new splinter group of the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) had been identified as having links to the Easter Sunday attacks, as the number of arrested grew to 60 and the death toll rose to 359, with the country’s security remaining on high alert. The …

Continue reading ‘Well-Known Businessman in Spice Trade Mohammed Ibrahim In Custody After Two of his Sons Were Identified As Suicide Bombers Who Attacked Two Hotels and Daughter in Law Set Off Explosion at Dematagoda Residence.’ »

By Camelia Nathaniel, Amali Mallawarachchi and Lahiru Fernando TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran yesterday demanded that Eastern Province Governor M. L.A. M. Hisbullah’s alleged connections to National Thowheed Jamaath must be investigated. Sumanthiran also said that all connections this terrorist group has had with various other politicians and previous defence officials must be investigated as …

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran MP Wants Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hisbullah’s Alleged Connections to National Thowheed Jamath to Be Investigated Along With Terrorist Group’s Suspected Links to Other Politicians and Past Defence Officials.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Taking no prisoners, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday slammed top Government members for crippling national security in post-war Sri Lanka by failing to support intelligence agencies and take prompt action when warnings were received and for making political appointments to key positions. Proposing that lawmakers from both sides should join hands if …

Continue reading ‘Sarath Fonseka Lashes Out at Sirisena for Not Returning From Singapore to Lanka Immediately After The Easter Blasts and Flays Ranil and Ruwan for Not Informing Parliament That They Were Denied Entry to National Security Council Meetings.’ »

By Gehan Gunatilleke Sri Lanka’s president issued a new set of Emergency Regulations on 22 April 2019. This note explains the contents of Emergency Regulation 15, which concerns the ‘control of publications’, and certain other regulations relevant to publication. There are four features in Regulation 15 worth discussing. Before explaining these features, we should note …

Continue reading ‘Explaining Sri Lanka’s New Emergency Regulations on “Control of Publications” and ‘Publication’’ »

(Text of Speech Made in Parliament by Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran MP on April 24th 2019) Hon Presiding Member, I rise with a heavy heart to say a few words at this time. Firstly, I wish to convey our deepest condolences to all the relatives and friends of those who were …

Continue reading ‘By Unlawfully Holding on to the Law and Order Portfolio the President has now Become the First Person who Should take Responsibility for these Attacks that Could have been Prevented – MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament’ »

Police say the death toll in the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 and more suspects have been arrested. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara also said on Wednesday morning that 18 suspects were arrested overnight, raising the total detained to 58. The Prime Minister warned on Tuesday that several suspects armed with explosives …

Continue reading ‘Death Toll in Easter Day Suicide Bomb Attacks in Sri Lanka Rises From 321 to 359: Number of Arrested Suspects Goes Up From 40 to 58.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya On December 26 last year, scores of Buddhist statues in Mawanella were vandalized. A Criminal Investigation Department (CID)investigation led to the arrest of seven suspects, including one who was caught by the locals, allegedly while undertaking the act of vandalism. Suspects were accused of being members of a radical Islamic group. They …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Intelligence Service Informed Colombo that National Thawheed Jamath (NTJ) Leader Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Zahran alias Zahran and his Followers Were Planning Suicide Attacks in Sri Lanka’ »

By Nadira Gunatilleke The death toll after the series of suicide bomb explosions that took place in eight places including three churches and three leading hotels on Easter Sunday, reached 321 by yesterday. Over 500 people were also injured. As of noon yesterday, 211 were receiving treatment at five state hospitals and 85 percent of …

Continue reading ‘Easter Explosions Death Toll Rises to 321: Of More Than 500 Injured 211 Are Yet Hospitalised With 37 Getting ICU Treatment; 22 Foreigners Injured and 45 Dead But only 31 Identified: Bodies of 35 Locals and 14 Foreigners Still Unidentified.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The Islamic State and the Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania group have both claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks carried out in Sri Lanka on Sunday. Reuters quoted the Islamic State’s AMAQ news agency to say that the organization has claimed responsibility for the multiple suicide bombings which took the lives of more than 300 …

Continue reading ‘Both Islamic State and Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania Claim Responsibility for Easter Attacks in Sri Lanka:Reuters Quotes Islamic State’s AMAQ News Agency About ISIS Claim While TASS quotes Al-Arabiya TV channel About Jamaat al-Tawhid al-Watania’s Claim’ »

TWO DECADES ago al-Qaeda made its name by mounting a succession of bombings against America across the world. These included the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998; an American destroyer moored in Yemen in 2000; and, most bloodily of all, the attacks of September 11th 2001 on American soil. Though Osama bin Laden, …

Continue reading ‘“Latest Bombings in Sri Lanka Suggest That Religious Sites in All Countries Have Become Fair Game for Jihadists” -The Economist’ »

Claiming responsibility for the Sri Lanka Easter Day bombings via its Amaq news portal, ISIS said the blasts were in retaliation to the recent firing at two mosques in New Zealand which led to the death of 50 Muslims. The gunman was a White Australian. The message was aired on Amaq’s channel on Telegram app, …

Continue reading ‘“This Bloody day is our Reward to you”: ISIS Says Easter Day Attacks in Sri Lanka Were in Retaliation for Firing Spree by White Australian on Two Christchurch Mosques in New Zealand’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka) It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the devastating attacks on Easter Sunday targeting churches and leading hotels in Sri Lanka. According to media reports, the attacks have killed 321 and injured more than 500 people. While standing in …

Continue reading ‘“Let us Unite and Rise up From the Ashes of Destruction” -Statement Issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka’ »

By Prof A.N.I. Ekanayaka The monstrous Easter Sunday massacre of Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka which killed nearly 300 needs to be seen in the broader context of the worldwide persecution of Christians in our day and age. It then becomes apparent that other incidents like the massacre inside two mosques in New Zealand last …

Continue reading ‘World Is Preoccupied with “Islamaphobia” ‘xenophobia’, “Homophobia” and ‘anti Semitism’ but Indifferent to the Global Epidemic of Rampant “CHRISTOPHOBIA”.’ »

(Text of English Translation of the statement made by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on 23 April 2019 regarding the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks) Hon Speaker, We are gathered here today, to discuss the future of our country following the bomb attacks that took place on Easter Sunday. More than 300 people were killed …

Continue reading ‘“Having Received Information That an Attack Could Take Place, all that the Government did was to Ensure That They Themselves Were Safe” – Speech by Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe, Charumini de Silva and Nuwan Senaratne The Government and the Opposition yesterday traded accusations over intelligence failures following Easter Sunday’s deadly attacks that left nearly 300 dead. Government Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne acknowledged security lapses despite warnings from both international and local intelligence agencies. However, he insisted that the Government was doing …

Continue reading ‘Govt Officially Names Organization Known as “National Thowheed Jamath” as Being Responsible for Easter Sunday Attacks by Suicide Bombers:Death Toll Rises to 290, Injuries 450, Arrests 26: Island Wide Emergency Declared’ »

Before the blasts in Colombo and other towns in Sri Lanka on Sunday, a memo warned of a potential attack and requested heightened security, a police source told CNN. State Intelligence service had said in the memo that information had been received regarding an alleged plan of suicidal attack by the leader of ‘ Nations …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service in Memo Dated April 11th Warned that Suicide Attacks Were Being Planned by Mohomad Saharan the Leader of “Nations Thawahid Jaman” Reveals Cabinet Minister Harin Fernando.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The government ordered an immediate nationwide curfew “until further notice”, and a “temporary” social media ban. Prior information on possible attacks was available with Sri Lankan authorities ahead of blasts, but “neither I nor the Ministers were kept informed,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Sunday. While it was important to probe …

Continue reading ‘Prior Information on Possible Attacks Was Available With Authorities But “Neither I nor Ministers Were Kept Informed” Says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Statement Deflecting Blame Deftly on President Sirisena.’ »

The three hotels which were subject to the terror attack yesterday each had a guest with an identical name and National Identity Card number. Daily FT learns this information had been revealed during a high level industry meeting with Tourism Minister John Amaratunga yesterday. The meeting also discussed other findings via CCTV in the respective …

Continue reading ‘Three “Guests” With Identical Name and Same National Identity Card Number Registered at Shangri-La, Grand Cinnamon and Kingsbury Hotels in Colombo Where Explosions Took Place on Easter.’ »

The Taprobane restaurant at the Cinnamon Grand hotel was having Sunday Breakfast Buffet at Hotel’sone of its busiest days of the year for the Easter holiday weekend.The suicide bomber waited patiently in a queue for the Easter Sunday breakfast buffet at Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Grand hotel before setting off explosives strapped to his back. Carrying …

Continue reading ‘Bomber who Registered at Cinnamon Grand Hotel Under the Name of “Mohammed Azzam Mohammed” Queued up Patiently for Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet at Hotel’s Taprobane Restaurant Before Triggering off Explosives Strapped to His Back.’ »

By Hafeel Farisz Two men checked into the Shangri-La which now takes pride of place in the heart of the city on April 20, 2019. They had provided an address in Dematagoda when checking in. Close to 9 a.m. yesterday (April 21) the duo detonated two bombs. One at the packed restaurant cum cafeteria on …

Continue reading ‘13 Persons Arrested with 10 Being Detained for Questioning: Police Say Suspects are ” All Local” and Part of a “Radical Islamist Group” With “One Single Ideology”.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Over 200 people were killed and nearly 500 injured in a series of blasts that shook Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Churches and luxury hotels were targeted in the deadliest incidents since the civil war ended a decade ago. As many as eight blasts occurred in and around the capital Colombo and …

Continue reading ‘26 Killed in Bomb Explosion at Batticaloa’s Protestant Christian Zion Church During Easter Service : 69 of Injuured Admitted to Hospital, 6 Serious in ICU.’ »

Reporting was contributed by Dharisha Bastians, Ellen Barry, Kai Schultz, Max Fisher, Elisabetta Povoledo, Mujib Mashal, Keith Bradsher, Gerry Mullany, Iliana Magra and Vindu Goel. As Christians in Sri Lanka gathered on Sunday morning to celebrate Easter Mass, the culmination of Holy Week, powerful explosions ripped through three churches packed with worshipers, leaving hundreds of …

Continue reading ‘A Single Group Believed To Be Responsible for Coordinated Easter Explosions Set Off by Suicide Bombers in Sri Lanka: State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene says “Seven Persons Arrested and Identified” But Requests Media Not To “Name The Attackers and Make Them Martyrs”’ »

By Dharisha Bastians, Jeffrey Gettleman and Kai Schultz Coordinated bombings ripped across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, striking hotels and churches, killing more than 200 people, wounding hundreds and shattering the relative calm that the war-torn nation had enjoyed in recent years. The targets were members of Sri Lanka’s small Roman Catholic minority attending Easter …

Continue reading ‘Coordinated Bomb Explosions in Sri Lanka by Suspected Suicide Bombers on Easter Sunday at Two Catholic and One Protestant Churches and Four Tourist Hotels in Colombo, Dehiwela, Negombo and Batticaloa Kill at Least 207 and Injure More Than 450.’ »

By The “Sunday Times”Political Editor” :Excerpts Retired Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary, handed in documents to the United States Embassy in Colombo on Wednesday (April 17) to relinquish his United States citizenship. That included the surrender of his US passport and signing an oath of renunciation. Unlike other aspects of the relinquishment, …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Surrenders his US Passport and Submits Necessary Documents For Relinquishing his US Citizenship to the US Embassy in Colombo on April 17: Will Cases Against him in California Courts Affect the Renunciation Process?’ »

By Ruki Fernando From February 3 to April 14 this year, across Sri Lanka, there has been some sort of disruption against a Christian worship service every Sunday – on 11 successive Sundays to be specific. Christians in Sri Lanka suffer violations of their right to religion and belief regularly, but most incidents do not …

Continue reading ‘In the First 14 Weeks Of 2019 At Least 13 Christian Churches in 9 Sri Lankan Districts Have Been Affected by 35 Incidents Like Disruption of Worship, Assault, Death threats, Shouting of Obscenities and Property Damage’ »

by Sanjana Hattotuwa “Victor Hugo remercietous les généreux donateurs prêts à sauver Notre-Dame de Paris et leur propose de faire la même chose avec Les Misérables”(Victor Hugo thanks all the generous donors ready to save Notre-Dame de Paris and proposes they help the poor by doing the same) – Ollivier Pourriol The quip by French …

Continue reading ‘Our Political Leadership Showed Much Concern and Grief For the Notre Dame Cathedral Under Fire in Paris Than for the Methodist Centre for Worship Under Attack in Anuradhapura.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The attack by stone-wielding and fire-cracker throwing ruffians, reportedly led by a provincial politician of the newly minted Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP), holding the President of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and twelve terrified worshippers hostage in a prayer centre in Anuradhapura on Palm Sunday is no isolated, …

Continue reading ‘Why Cant the IGP Order his Police to Take action Against the Mob Which Attacked the Anuradhapura Methodist Centre Without the Prime Minister Instructing Him to do so?’ »

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.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Are we heading with speed towards Solar Relief? The Avurudu highlights of solar tradition were completed with joyous participation of the people, and we had the recognized leader of the nation, President Sirisena, travel at speed to India the next day, to participate in a ritual at the Thirupathi Kovil. For those …

Continue reading ‘The Hindu Deity Sri Venkateswara (Lord Vishnu) At “Thiruppathi” Has Greater Influence on the So – called Sinhala Buddhist Leaders of Sri Lanka Than Our National Heritage “Thripitakaya”.’ »

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.’ »