A joint investigation has been launched by the Indian High Commission (IHC) and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) into complaints of soliciting sexual favours from women in the North in return for houses from the Indian Housing Project (IHP), an Indian High Commission spokesman said. “The IHC took up the issue with SLRCS …
By Malinda Seneviratne Regimes acquire tags, leaders too. When they resonate with general public perception they become part of everyday usage. It was Victor Ivan who called President Chandrika Kumaratunga ‘Chaura Regina’ (The Thieving Queen). It stuck. No one knows who first used ‘Sahodara Samaagama’ (‘The Company of Brothers’ or perhaps ‘Brothers Incorporated’) to describe …
SCARBOROUGH, ON – A re-elected Conservative Government will expand the presence of Canada’s High Commission to Sri Lanka by opening a consulate in Jaffna, the Honourable Jason Kenney announced today. “A re-elected Conservative Government will continue Canada’s strong commitment to peace and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,” said Kenney. “Expanding our diplomatic reach to Jaffna …
By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that the government would not cancel the Central Bank transfers and it would further pursue its objective of creating a better banking service to the people. The PM, responding to a special statement made by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena, said: After the elections I met …
By Saman Indrajith Opposition members of the UPFA yesterday walked out of the Chamber of Parliament protesting against what they called Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s use of unparliamentary language. The group of MPs who walked off were led by NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, NLF leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Dullas Alahapperuma, Kumara Welgama, Johnston Fernando, …
By Ishara Rathnakara Additional Magistrate of Colombo Nishantha Peiris ordered the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday (8) to inform Court why former President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and former Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Anusha Pelpita, who had been clearly identified as suspects in the case of misappropriating Rs 600 million from the Sri …
COLOMBO: Four Sri Lankan soldiers were today sentenced to 25 years in prison by a court in Jaffna for raping two Tamil women in the island’s former war zone in 2010, in a rare prosecution of military personnel for sex crimes. Jaffna High Court judge Manikkavasagar Ilancheliyan ordered the convicted soldiers to pay a compensation …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The government is contemplating a new law to regulate social media, particularly in a bid to curb posting of sexual images and defamatory material. The move is to protect the privacy of individuals in the wake of a spate of complaints received by relevant authorities. According to well informed sources, the Law …
By Saman Indrajith The government yesterday submitted a supplementary estimate seeking parliament’s approval to allocate 526 million rupees to cover expenses coming under the expenditure heads of President Maithripala Sirisena. According to the supplementary estimate presented to Parliament by Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake, approval has been sought to allocate Rs 526,099,939 to pay for various …
By Zacki Jabbar in Tokyo, Japan The government says that it is planning to create a new judicial structure to inquire into human rights violations. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the Japanese Parliament on Tuesday, said that under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena the national government they had established after the January 9 presidential …
By Shamindra Ferdinando (The following are excerpts from a brief interview with former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa) Q: Do you really believe the proposed judicial mechanism can help address accountability issues? A: Execution of surrendering LTTE cadres during the last phase of the offensive on the Vanni east front was one of major accusations directed …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Different views and thoughts have surfaced amongst top government ranks in Colombo over the conduct of the United States of America with regard to the recent developments in Geneva and New York. Prior to the tabling of the UNHRC Resolution, US Senior Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal arrived in Colombo …
By Saman Indrajith Pandemonium reigned in Parliament yesterday following a protest mounted by opposition MPs inside the Chamber against the alleged moves to set up a hybrid court to prosecute the military personnel who crushed terrorism. The rumpus led to the suspension of sittings for ten minutes. When Parliament commenced notice of motions and orders …
By Saman Indrajith The government yesterday submitted a supplementary estimate seeking the approval of Parliament for an allocation of Rs. 180 million to renovate and refurbish the official residence of President Maithripala Sirisena. The supplementary allocation of Rs. 180,688,000 was presented to Parliament by Chief Government Whip Media Minister Gayantha Karunatillake.
UPFA parliamentarian Janaka Bandara Tennakoon was today arrested by the CID in connection with a killing that had taken place in 1999. Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said the former minister was arrested while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
BY THYAGA SRIMALI BANDARA FROM TOKYO Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is now on an official visit to Japan announced that he would introduce a new Foreign Service in the country and noted he was working with the belief that there is no Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka. ” There appears to be utter confusion …
By Col R Hariharan Sri Lanka agreed at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at Geneva last week to what it had resisted for six years: International intervention in investigating alleged war crimes and human rights excesses committed during the Eelam War. But handing over the whole process to international judges …
By N. A. de S. Amaratunga Sri Lanka’s history is replete with betrayals of catastrophic proportions. The Island editorial of 30th September 2015 aptly titled ‘D-Day’ mentions most of these and to good effect and they include the Peace Agreement entered into with the Tamil separatist terrorists, the LTTE, a deed done by the then …
By R. Chandrasoma We are told by high authorities in the government that our former President has good hopes of being alive in the years ahead because of the political heroism and encompassing compassion of those who defeated him at the recent historic elections. Indeed, the claim has been made by no less a person …
More than 200 new species of animals discovered in the Easter Himalayas have thrown up several oddities – including a walking fish and a sneezing monkey. The report on wildlife in Nepal, Bhutan, the far north of Burma, southern Tibet and north-eastern India has revealed discoveries in the past five years including 133 plants, 26 …
by Prasad Gunewardene Six weeks ago the Government of Unity took office to establish Good Governance. It pledged to establish law and order for people to live without fear. On the contrary we witness that the law and order and public discipline is being eroded. Innocent youth and students arrested on suspicion are being mercilessly …
(The full text of a statement issued by Former President and current Kurunegala District Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa) Though the passage of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC without a vote last Thursday is being hailed as a diplomatic victory for Sri Lanka, I am unable to share that view. Operative paragraph …
by Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema The police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) has last week raided a company operated by former First Son and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa as part of a probe being carried out under the Money Laundering Act. The FCID is carrying out a probe covering the operations of …
By Ranga Jayasuriya In the Buddhist folklore, there was this monkey that a king reared as his trusted companion. The king had full faith in the ape, who accompanied the sovereign anywhere he went. On one fine day, after attending the affairs of the State, the king took a short afternoon nap, leaving his sword …
Placed on the table as they took their seats at the conference room of ‘Temple Trees’ was the English text of the US backed resolution on Sri Lanka together with a translated Sinhala text. Army officers of two-star rank or Majors General and above were there. So were the equivalent counterparts, Rear Admirals of the …
BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA “You serve them well I’m not surprised You’re of their kin You’re of their kind Never mind Never mind The story’s told With facts and lies You own the world So never mind” –Leonard Cohen, ‘Never Mind’ It is difficult to predict how things will look in the rearview mirror, but …
Continue reading ‘October 1st 2015 is the most Shameful day in Sri Lankan History in my Lifetime’ »
(Following are excerpts from the Political Affairs Column by the Political Editor appearing in the “Sunday Times” of October 4th 2015) The event at Palais de Naciones in Geneva clearly showed that the opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is sharply divided. Two of its parliamentarians and a Provincial Councillor used the good offices of UNHRC-recognised …
By Col R Hariharan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe consolidated their hold on power by luring some of the senior members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to join the national unity government. This had dissipated the effectiveness of SLFP to function as the main opposition party. As a result, the …
By Rasika Jayakody The grand reception organized to welcome President Maithripala Sirisena at the Bandaranaike International Airport, (BIA) Katunayake, on his arrival from Geneva was certainly a throwback to the Rajapaksa era. For instance, when former President Rajapaksa arrived from an official visit to Jordan, on May 17, 2009 – a day before the end …
By C.A.Chandraprema The passage of the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka without a vote in the UNHRC is being hailed in Sri Lanka as a major victory for the government. The prime minister himself went on record as saying that Sri Lanka has now been ‘taken off the UNHRC agenda’. He was also reported …
by Shamindra Ferdinando Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been summoned by a special presidential commision again over his alleged failure to pay over Rs. 103 mn to the State-run Independent Television Network (ITN) for carrying his advertisements during the last presidential polls campaign will commence on Oct.15. Well informed sources told The Island that former …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan, Umesh Moramudali and Ruwan Laknath Jayakody President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (2) said that the country had achieved a great victory at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by managing to exclude the ‘electric chair’, an international investigation, and a hybrid special court from being included in the United States sponsored …
(Text of a statement issued by the Tamil National Alliance) The Tamil National Alliance welcomes the passage of today’s resolution on Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council. We welcome, in particular, Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship of the resolution indicating their willingness to implement it in full. The TNA has already welcomed the tabling of the …
British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’.Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement : ” Today’s resolution is a crucial step towards uncovering the truth about alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, ensuring accountability for the past and respect …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The long awaited UN report on Sri Lanka compiled by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released last week has predictably evoked much excitement and controversy. The UN investigation report on Sri Lanka abbreviated as OISL has provided much information about the alleged activities of the Sri …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said that failures and shortcomings on the part of the previous government in handling accountability issues was not the reason for external intervention by way of a hybrid court to inquire into alleged atrocities committed during the conflict. The military had brought the war to …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The SLFP yesterday stressed that the US resolution on Sri Lanka had been based on opinions of different people who had no knowledge of either the country’s Constitution or the judicial system. Addressing a press conference at the SLFP Headquarters in Colombo, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva noted that whatever the …
By P.K.Balachandran India told Sri Lanka at the 30th. Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Thursday, that “meaningful devolution of authority” to the provinces under the 13 th. Amendment of the Lankan constitution, and “building on it”, are essential for ethnic reconciliation in the island nation. Speaking after the consensual …
Sri Lanka said on Thursday (1) it would heed a UN resolution urging it to establish a credible judicial process, including foreign judges and prosecutors, to investigate alleged war crimes during its conflict with Tamil rebels that ended in 2009. The United Nations Human Rights Council, composed of 47 member states, adopted the resolution brought …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka has agreed to set up a Special Judicial Mechanism with the participation of Commonwealth and foreign judges, defense lawyers, prosecutors and investigators to try cases of war crimes and other human rights violations in the period between 2002 and 2011. This was implicit when the Lankan government co-sponsored a US-led resolution …