By

Dharisha Bastians

Beside the aquamarine seas of Keerimalai, at the island’s northernmost tip stands a Hindu holy of holies. One of five Sivan kovils in Sri Lanka, the unique convergence of land, sea and freshwater have etched the significance of the Naguleswaram temple into the Hindu psyche for millennia.

For Hindus, the waters here are doubly sacred. The devoted believe freshwater springs at the site have divine curative properties and the ocean waves lapping at the temple grounds aid the passage of departed souls. For centuries, northern Hindus have travelled to Naguleswaram to scatter the ashes of the deceased into the seas of Keerimalai. Until the death ritual is complete, Hindus believe deceased souls remain restlessly in the mortal world, and the pollution of death remains with those left behind.

In May 2009, caught in a vicious crossfire on a shrinking stretch of beach in the Mullaitivu District, thousands of people – even by the Sri Lankan Government’s own count – could spare no thought for final rites. Shallow graves that were no more than mounds of earth had to compensate for the complex rituals. Sometimes, there were no graves at all. As scores of families fled for cover, they were sometimes compelled to leave the dead behind. Those are the scenes doctors and eyewitnesses on the scene in that final theatre of Sri Lanka’s bloody 26-year civil war have described.

Continue reading ‘How the Military Restricted People in the North From Publicly Expressing Collective Grief Over Loss of Loved Ones.’ »

By Zahrah Imtiaz

As the battle between the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the residents of informal urban settlements continue, Narahenpita Nivasa Himikam Surakime Sangvidanaya (NNHSS) Convenor, Sunil Watagala, said that they plan to take the UDA to Court once again for conducting illegal and forced evictions of people from their homes.

When those of the NNHSS and Watagala lodged a complaint against the UDA at the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission (HRC), at the case hearing on 9 May, officials of the UDA had openly declared that they did not force anyone to leave their homes and neither did they want to seize their lands. The settlements under discussion are that of 188 Watte, Bakery Watte and Kolombage Watte.

Continue reading ‘Narahenpita Residents Will Take Urban Development Authority to Court Again for Conducting Illegal,Forced Evictions of People From Their Homes’ »

By

Charumini de Silva

The government has restricted four new investment projects in the Jaffna peninsula, claiming that the projects would lead to a shortage of water, sources said.

Speaking to Ceylon FT the source said that with the support of Jaffna’s business chamber, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Yalpanam, a few industrialists finalized plans to set up four new water based projects namely, a fruit juice plant, a soft drink plant, a mineral water and a bottled water plant in the Jaffna peninsula.

Continue reading ‘Central Environment Agency Turns Down Proposals to set up Four Water Based Projects in Jaffna Citing Water Shortage in Peninsula.’ »

by

Priyamvada Gopal

It isn’t often that President Obama makes a flattering telephone call to a man who has been denied entrance to the United States for nearly a decade. But he did just that on Friday, May 16, when he telephoned Hindu nationalist hardliner Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister elect, to congratulate him on a clear victory in the Indian elections and to invite him to visit the land of the free. In doing so, some claim, Obama has “pressed the reset button.”

How does a man go from being an international persona non grata to a friend of powerful Western leaders?

Continue reading ‘Narenda Modi’s Transformation From International Outcast to India’s Prime Minister’ »

by

Vishwamithra

“Brand is not a product, that’s for sure; it’s not one item. It’s an idea, it’s a theory, it’s a meaning, it’s how you carry yourself. It’s aspirational, it’s inspirational.”
Kevin Plank

What is the ‘brand’ of the United National Party (UNP)? How does the average villager identify the Party? With what does he associate the UNP? What comes to mind immediately upon the mention of these three letters, UNP? Have the decision-makers in the UNP paid any attention to these questions? For that matter has any political party in Sri Lanka addressed this issue at all?

If a professional approach is adopted, not only in establishing a ‘brand’ for a political party but also in defining its basic parameters, its fundamental message and promise for the easy comprehension and digestion by the customer, the voter’s grappling with the unexpected and its orderly and successful management would be much less problematic and more rewarding.

Continue reading ‘The UNP Brand Has Suffured Badly Over the Years but is Still Retrievable.’ »

By Mark Sappenfield

On Friday, May 16th President Obama did what just about everyone knew he must and invited Narendra Modi, India’s new prime-minister-in-waiting, to the United States.

It was anything but a routine invitation.

Mr. Modi remains the only person ever to be banned from traveling to the United States under the International Religious Freedom Act. Until Friday, the Obama administration had not officially clarified whether the future leader of the world’s largest democracy would even be allowed to come to Washington.

Continue reading ‘Indian People Have Forced the USA to Embrace Modi the Face of 2002 Gujerat Communal Violence.’ »

By

Hafeel Farisz

United National Party (UNP) Leadership Council Chairman and parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya agreeing that the parties slogans used in the past had not struck a chord with the masses appeared confident in the revival of the UNP under the new structure that is being implemented.

He said that the results of the recently concluded provincial council elections showed that a united opposition could defeat the incumbent regime but stopped short of naming himself or any other as the ideal opposition candidate to take on Mahinda Rajapaksa at a presidential election.

Excerpts from an Interview-

Question: To start off with, there is speculation about a presidential election; what is your view on this impending election, and on the fact that there is a notion that you will be coming forward as the common opposition candidate?

Continue reading ‘“We Must Have a Single Candidate who could Unite the Opposition for Presidential Elections”-Karu Jayasuriya’ »

by

Upul Joseph Fernando

The way the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime thinks about India’s new Prime Minister is different. They estimate that Narendra Modi may take about a year to consolidate power at the centre. By that time he would not have time to focus on Sri Lanka and other regional issues, or so they think. They also think that Modi may not support the US agenda on Sri Lanka since he himself had no good relations with the US when he was Gujarat’s Chief Minister.

Modi is not that exposed to international politics and therefore he may not interfere in regional issues since he may focus on the internal politics of India, the Rajapaksa regime thinks.

Continue reading ‘Will Hardeep Singh Puri be Point Man for Sri Lanka if Appointed as National Security Adviser by Narendra Modi?’ »

By

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Dear Prime Minister-designate,

This comes with my hearty felicitations. I mean and say that in utter sincerity, which is not very easy for me to summon, because I am not one of those who wanted to see you reach the high office that you have reached. You know better than anyone else, that while many millions are ecstatic that you will become Prime Minister, many more millions may, in fact, be disturbed, greatly disturbed by it.

Until recently I did not believe those who said you were headed there. But, there you are, seated at the desk at which Jawaharlal Nehru sat, Lal Bahadur Shastri did, and, after a historic struggle against Indira Gandhi’s Emergency, another Gujarati, Morarji Desai did, as did later, your own political mentor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Those who did not want you there have to accept the fact that you are there.

Despite all my huge misgivings about your deserving that rare privilege, I respect someone coming from so sharply disadvantaged a community and family as yours, becoming Prime Minister of India. That fulfils, very quintessentially, the vision of our egalitarian Constitution.

Continue reading ‘“69% of Voters did not see you as their “Saviour of the Nation”-An Open Letter to Narendra Modi.’ »

By GARDINER HARRIS and DHARISHA BASTIANS

Sri Lanka’s government on Sunday marked the fifth anniversary of its victory over Tamil insurgents with a military parade in the south and a broad crackdown on journalists, opposition politicians and students in the once-restive north and east.

Government troops largely sealed off the offices of Uthayan, a newspaper based in the northern city of Jaffna that has long been critical of the governing alliance. The government also closed Jaffna University. In Pottuvil, in the east, troops blocked a meeting of the Tamil National Alliance, an opposition party.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Celebrates “Victory Day”with Military Parade in “Sinhala”South and Broad Crackdown in “Tamil”North-East.’ »

By

T. M. KRISHNA

I am a Carnatic musician and that, by default, ‘places’ me in terms of caste and the caste group that I most associate with. I was born — need I say it — into a Brahmin family. Almost 99 per cent of the people within my artistic world including musicians, impresarios, organisers and connoisseurs are from this ‘top of the food chain’, privileged. Even those who are not ‘born Brahmins’ and yet lovers of this art are, in many ways, very ‘brahminical’ .

In my conversations with a number of Brahmins and other ‘higher caste’ men and women across South India, I have found a deep-rooted belief in the Brahmin way, in its rituals, identity and, generally, in the Vedic tradition. There is great pride in the systems that the Brahmins have put in place and a strong sense that these need to be nurtured and, even more significantly, protected. Even in families where there is no strong ritualistic streak, this ‘protectionism’ can be seen in the support of Vedic schools, temple reconstruction and programmes to protect the sacred cow. The buffalo, of course, is a lesser breed! In some ultra-traditional households, an air-wall stops non-brahmins at the kitchen door and house-help have taboos imposed on what they can touch and what they cannot.

Continue reading ‘Why “Upper” Caste Brahmins are Whole Heartedly Supporting Narendra Modi from “Other Backward “Modh-Ghanchi Caste as Prime Minister?’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy

With the outgoing Congress-led UPA Government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having made a significant departure on the UNHRC front before demitting office, Sri Lanka can expect ‘continuity with change’ on post-poll India’s approach and policy towards the southern neighbour.

While the temptation in Colombo may be to believe that a new prime minister, particularly if it is BJP’s Narendra Modi or anyone else from the north of the Vindhyas, will be easy to do business with owing to identifiable religion-based ‘nationalist sentiments’, that would be limited to the personal-level.

Continue reading ‘New Govt in New Delhi Would Want Tamil cause Addressed in Full for India to Appreciate the Larger Sri Lankan National Cause.’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

An Indian government led by Narendra Modi is now officially upon us and Sri Lanka has to take stock of the situation and weigh its options. The good news is that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has secured a landslide victory winning 339 seats in the 543 member Lok Sabha. The BJP on its own has won 282 seats, more than the 272 required for a simple majority in parliament.  As such the BJP is in a position to form a government even without its alliance partners. The best part of this good news is that Tamil Nadu’s contribution to the BJP victory is almost zero, with the BJP led Alliance in Tamil Nadu  winning only two Lok Sabha seats. The BJP has no truck with the major parties in Tamil Nadu with both the DMK and Jayalalitha’s AIADMK remaining aloof from the BJP. Sri Lanka’s ultimate nightmare would have been if Modi came into power with Jayalalitha as a partner in the BJP-led NDA. The nightmare would have turned into a fully fledged horror story if the BJP government had actually been dependent on Jayalalitha to keep the government going.

But we have managed to escape both situations – Jayalalitha is not a member of the ruling alliance and nor does the BJP require her help to remain in power.  As we observed in this column, the relationship between her and Modi became increasingly acrimonious as the election campaign drew to a close mainly because the BJP had its own alliance in Tamil Nadu vying for seats with the AIADMK.  The people of Tamil Nadu completely ignored the BJP despite the fact that a Modi wave was sweeping through the country – which shows how out of synch Tamil Nadu is with the rest of India. The Tamils are Hindus, but Hindutva has no appeal in that part of India. The relationship between the BJP and the AIADMK had reached such a pass that just before the election results were announced last Friday, Jayalalitha sacked former AIADMK Rajya Sabha member K Malaisamy for merely hinting that his party could support the BJP if the latter won the election.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankans Should Exult Because Narendra Modi’s BJP Government is not Dependent on Tamil Nadu and Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK Party.’ »

By

Adam Ziegfeld

After an election that took a month and a half to complete, the BJP — a party usually described as right-of-center and Hindu nationalist— looks to have won a majority of seats in India’s lower house of parliament. (Votes are still being counted, so all seat and vote totals are tentative). Opinion polls had predicted a BJP win, but not one of this magnitude. Even before the results were in, many were calling this a historic election. The ruling party, Congress, was beset with corruption scandals, while the BJP appeared to be riding high on the popularity of its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi. Since the news analysis in the days and weeks to come is almost certain to emphasize the historic proportions of this election, here are a few reasons why this election might not be as historic as it is likely going to be made out to be.

Continue reading ‘Single Party Majority BJP Govt May Produce Policy Changes Unlike Anything Ever Seen Before in India.’ »

By

Dr Kumar David

It is natural that many reasons are ascribed for the defeat of the LTTE; none is exclusively true, they are interconnected, some more significant than others. After five years it is timely to sift the wheat from the chaff and reflect upon their relative importance and gain some perspective.

Most oft proclaimed in Sinhalese society is that a determination of leadership (funding, unflagging political support, military strategy, and resisting foreign pressure to compromise) decided the issue; yes this is partly true. A second argument, popular with Tamil liberals, is that the LTTE lost the moral high ground by espousing terrorism against Sinhalese civilians and Tamil leaders, and that internally it sank to the pits of internecine cannibalism; again partly true.

Continue reading ‘Inter-connected Reasons for the Military Defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.’ »

By

Siddharth Varadarajan

If the struggle of Narendra Modi for power is the struggle of forgetting over memory, his victory represents a collective leap towards an uncertain future.

Mr Modi’s remarkable election campaign may have been fuelled by unprecedented sums of money and magnified by the logic of the first-past-the-post system — which converted a 12 percentage point difference in vote share with the Congress into a 600 per cent difference in seats – but it has helped him banish, for all intents and purposes, the lingering shadows of a darker past.

Troubling questions about his record that were met earlier with menacing silence or anger, but never answers, can no longer be asked. With the absolute majority Mr Modi has now delivered for the BJP, a new ledger of accounts has been opened. Any audit of his record will henceforth be on his own terms.

Continue reading ‘Troubling Questions About Modi’s “Dark Past”Which were Earlier Met with Menacing Silence or Anger Can no Longer be Asked.’ »

By

Shashank Bengali

AHMEDABAD, India —

He was 12, too young to process the horror: Mobs of youths barely older than him swarmed his neighborhood with daggers and axes. Homes and the local mosque were ransacked and burned, bodies hacked to pieces, Hindu religious chants used as cries of war.

Mansoor Shah Suleiman escaped the sectarian riots that shook Ahmedabad and settled with his family in the Citizen Nagar relief camp on the outskirts of the city. Twelve years later, they still reside there, in a spartan concrete room in the shadow of a 10-story garbage dump so fetid that relatives refuse to visit them.

As much of Ahmedabad has flourished, the camp has become a permanent Muslim slum, forgotten by the authorities and suffocating the aspirations of young people like Suleiman, 24, who stitches shirts for $2 a day. In recent weeks, while Indians went to the polls in massive numbers to decide a pivotal national election, he cast his ballot with little enthusiasm, saying, “There is no hope for us.”

Continue reading ‘Muslims in Gujerat Relief Camp Have Little Trust or Hope in Modi the Man Who Would be Prime Minister of India.’ »

By

Keith Jones

The Hindu communalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have swept to power in India’s general election, buoyed by popular anger over soaring food prices and mass unemployment and the support of Indian big business and the corporate media.

The BJP will have 282 seats in the incoming Lok Sabha—the first time in three decades any single party has secured a majority in the 545-member lower house of India’s parliament. The 54 seats won by the BJP’s NDA allies are more than the total secured by any of the opposition parties and mean that the government will have the support of at least 336 Lok Sabha MPs.

What hopes India’s workers and toilers have that the BJP will deliver on its election campaign promises of jobs and development will soon be dashed.

Continue reading ‘Hindu Chauvinist BJP Spearheaded by Narendra Modi Sweeps to Power in India’ »

by

Col R Hariharan

[This article includes points made by Col Hariharan at a panel discussion on
the Door Darshan TV on May 16, 2014.]

Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, has been given massive mandate by the people in the just concluded general elections to the parliament. The BJP is poised to get a majority on its own steam, even without the support of coalition partners. So Modi enjoys a lot of freedom to shape and execute his policies without depending upon the support of coalition partners. But he has clearly indicated that he would like to carry all parties along with him in furthering his national development agenda.

Despite Modi’s huge public presence, New Delhi’s so called liberal left-leaning “intellectual” class which had rallied against him had never been able to carry out a dispassionate analysis of Modi and his style of governance. His success has made a mockery of the traditional yardsticks of class, caste and communal equations used by analysts to study Indian political operations. He had planned and fleshed out the entire BJP election campaign using the best available human resources and technology to achieve his campaign goals.

Continue reading ‘Simplistic to Say that Narendra Modi or the BJP will be Closer to the Tamil Hindu than the Sinhala Buddhist in Sri Lanka.’ »

Indian Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi says he looks forward to strong ties with Sri Lanka after his party, the BJP, won the Indian elections by a landslide.

Modi tweeted saying it was “wonderful” speaking to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday after the President telephoned him to wish him on his victory.

Continue reading ‘“It was Wonderful Speaking to you Earlier Today”-Narendra Modi To Mahinda Rajapaksa About Their Telephone Conversation!’ »

By

Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) is gearing up to commemorate the civilians who died during the last phase of the war on 18 May.

However, they will not reveal the venue of the ceremony due to ‘security threats’.

Continue reading ‘Fearing Security Threats the Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi of TNA will Commemorate War Dead at Undisclosed Location on May 18th.’ »

By

Bishop Duleep de Chickera

The recent government decision to appoint a special police unit to deal with inter-religious conflict adds to the prevailing confusion on the freedom of religion and the rule of law. While the decision implies seriousness in arresting the current religious tensions, the government’s reluctance to achieve this very aim through the existing and adequately mandated and deployed police force, is puzzling.

Continue reading ‘Special Police Unit for Inter-Religious Conflict Adds to Prevailing Confusion on Freedom of Religion and Rule of Law.’ »

By

Madura Ranwala

The Chavakachcheri police yesterday thwarted an attempt by two Northern Provincial Council members to commemorate slain LTTE cadres by burning camphor on a by lane.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, in charge of the Jaffna District, Roshan Dias told The Island that those present at the event were NPC member M. K. Shivajilingam and Ananthi Shashidaran, whose husband was former LTTE Trincomalee leader Elilan and some journalists whom they had invited to cover their act of defiance.

Continue reading ‘Chavakachcheri Police Thwarts Attempt by TNA Councillors MK Sivajilingam and Anandhi Sasitharan to Commemorate Slain LTTE Cadres.’ »

BY

MEERA SRINIVASAN

The Tamil political leadership of Sri Lanka has welcomed the new regime in India, expressing hope that the Narendra Modi-led government will pressure President Mahinda Rajapaksa to deliver on his promises to the country’s Tamils.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Wants New Indian PM Narendra Modi to Exert Pressure on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

BY

MEERA SRINIVASAN

Hours before the official verdict on the Indian polls was out on Friday, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa called BJP leader Narendra Modi, congratulating him for the BJP’s victory in Indian elections.

He also invited Mr. Modi on a state visit, according to a tweet from President Rajapaksa’s official twitter account.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Congratulates Narendra Modi and Invites Indian PM to Undertake State Visit to Sri Lanka.’ »

Blazing a trail, the ruling AIADMK scored an emphatic victory in the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu, winning 37 of the 39 seats on its own. The sterling performance has put the party, led by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, on course to becoming the third largest in the Lok Sabha.

While the AIADMK’s handsome wins were spread across all regions in a predominantly five-cornered contest in the State, the major opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies have drawn a blank. The resounding numbers showed that the ruling party did not suffer any anti-incumbency reverses, unlike the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the Centre.

Continue reading ‘Jayalalithaa Led AIADMK Wins 37 of 39 Seats in Tamil Nadu to Become Party with Third Largest MP Tally in Lok Sabha.’ »

BY

DEVESH K. PANDEY

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday issued a fresh notification extending ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in India for five years.

“The Government of India, under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, has proscribed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an ‘Unlawful Association’. The declaration of LTTE as an ‘Unlawful Association’ has been extended for a further period of five years with effect from May 14, 2014,” said an MHA notification made public on Thursday.

Continue reading ‘Fresh Notification by Home Ministry Extends Indian Ban on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for Five Years.’ »

B. KOLAPPAN & B. ARAVIND KUMAR

Early trends of Lok Sabha results clearly indicate the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) emerging in a big way.

AIADMK leader Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa

According to the Election Commission of India, the AIADMK was leading in 37 constituencies out of 39 at the end of first round around 11.00 am.

Continue reading ‘Leading So Far in 37 of 39 Seats the AIADMK Led by Jayalalithaa heads for a Landslide Victory in Tamil Nadu.’ »

“India has won! Good days are ahead,” BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said on Friday in his first reaction to the poll trends that indicate an impending BJP victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

“India has won! Bharat ki Vijay. Ache din ane wale hai (good days are ahead),” Mr. Modi, who is all set to become prime minister, tweeted.

Continue reading ‘Triumphant Narendra Modi Exults “India has Won!Good Days are Ahead”’ »

Congress spokesman Shakil Ahmed has conceded defeat in the national election, saying the nation voted “against us”.

Mr. Ahmed told The Associated Press on Friday that trends on Friday were “certainly not” in his party’s favour.

Admitting its defeat, the Congress on Friday said it was “very disappointed” with the poll outcome but hit out at Narendra Modi for pursuing “politics of polarisation”.

Continue reading ‘Trounced Congress Party Concedes Defeat in National Elections Saying”Nation Voted Against Us”’ »

BY

VARGHESE K GEORGE

As trends from across the country emerge, it is clear that Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister of India. With leads in 530 of the 543 seats available, the BJP and its allies were leading in nearly 313 seats, much more than the halfway mark.

Continue reading ‘With the BJP and Allies Leading in 313 Seats it is Clear that Narendra Modi Will be The Next Prime Minister of India!’ »

Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting yesterday said that her country wouldn’t be represented at the Victory Day parade in Matara on Sunday (May 18). The Canadian envoy said that the annual military parade wouldn’t help post-war national reconciliation, therefore she wouldn’t accept the government invitation.

High Commissioner, Her Excellency Shelley Whiting

The following is the text of a statement issued by High Commissioner Whiting to The Island yesterday:

Continue reading ‘Canadian Envoy Shelley Whiting Declines Invitation By Sri Lankan Govt to Attend “Victory Day”Event in Matara on May 18th.’ »

By

Sathya Liyanasuriya

Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran caused ripples in political circles this week twice over – first, he was hospitalised for a heart ailment, then his name was proposed as a potential candidate at the next presidential election.

At the opening of Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital, January 19, 2014-pic via: facebook.com/PresidentRajapaksa-pic by Chandana Perera

Wigneswaran has recovered from his heart ailment and is now back at work, much to the relief of not only those in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but also the powers that be in Colombo, and that is a measure of value of this Supreme Court Justice-turned-politician.

As for speculation about being a presidential candidate, Wigneswaran himself has rubbished the idea. “Making any suggestions to make me a presidential candidate is meaningless and I am not for it,” Wigneswaran said categorically, adding, “I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry”.

In any event such a candidacy would have been doomed to failure in an electorate sharply divided on communal lines, as the recent provincial polls have shown. Its only beneficiary would have been incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who would defeat the political novice with ease.

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran Remains a Valuable Asset for Both the Rajapaksa Regime and the Tamil National Alliance’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

The chance arrest of Kathiravel Thayapararajah (33) by Indian authorities could help Sri Lankan security services to identify a network of human smugglers with possible connections to the overseas LTTE rump, official sources said.

Authorities would explore the possibility of having access to Thayapararajah, whose arrest during the first week of May this year could be one of the most important breakthroughs made in investigations into bogus disappearances since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka May Seek Access to Former Director of LTTE Run Vanni Tech Thayapararajah Who Is Detained in India.’ »

33 Year old Engineer Kathiravelu Thayapararajah who served as Director of the Vanni Tech Institute run by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) was allegedly tortured and murdered by the Sri Lankan Army in September 2009.

The affair has attracted much attention as a bizarre incident in which a person who was allegedly tortured and murdered by the Sri Lankan armed forces in 2009 is now very much alive and is seeking refuge in India.Moreover he and his wife are accused of a string of frauds in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Pro-LTTE “Vanni Tech” Director Reported Murdered by SL Army Emerges as “Refugee” in Tamil Nadu with Family’ »

By

Nick Butler

A potentially harmful diplomatic challenge for Glasgow 2014 is likely to be avoided due to the fact Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not planning to attend the Commonwealth Games this summer, insidethegames has learned.

This comes after two letters were sent to British Foreign Secretary William Hague voicing concerns the presence of the controversial leader would mean the Games are overshadowed by questions relating to genocide and human rights abuse.

Continue reading ‘Commonwealth head Mahinda Rajapaksa May Skip Glascow 2014 Games to Avoid Possible Embarrassment.’ »

By

Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

In a matter of days after Minister Wimal Weerawansa openly criticizing certain decisions and actions taken by the government, the Presidential Investigation Unit (PIU) has conducted a lightning investigation into core institutions coming under his direct purview.

Accordingly, the PIU has conducted a sudden inspection, along with a thorough investigation into the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), an institution that comes under Minister Weerawansa, in order to probe alleged malpractices and misappropriations that are said to be taking place there.

Continue reading ‘Presidential Investigations Unit Probes Departments Under Wimal Weerawansa’s Ministry After his Open Criticism of Govt Decisions and Action.’ »

By

Marianne David

The north of Sri Lanka is no longer a lagging province and is taking the leadership role in creating growth in the SME sector and in many areas, asserted Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in conversation with the owner of Kishani Metal & Aluminium Industries M. Sudakaran

“It is very satisfying to see the marked transformation of the north over the last five years. Massive development has taken place. A lot has been achieved but there is a lot more to be done to realise the potential of the north,” he said, delivering the keynote address as Chief Guest at the ‘Promoting SMEs for the Development of the Northern Province’ program.
Continue reading ‘Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal Praises Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises Sector in the North During Visit.’ »

By

Dr.Primrose Jayasinghe

I am sure that some of us can recall instances at sometime in our lives when we have had to change our perception of certain things because we saw those very things later on, in a completely different light. It may seem such a surprise to one, when one is jolted into accepting a different picture of things one always thought one knew so well.

This change of perception may be due to our own maturity of comprehension, given that we are constantly and automatically upgrading our memory stores with new information or just that we made the wrong assumption in the first place, based on flimsy and shallow impressions we had then believed to be correct. And I am also sure that we experience huge satisfaction when we have been able to ‘see the light’, and so were able to amend our old incongruous impressions.

It must have been a similar revelation for Prince Siddhartha when it dawned on him that there seemed to be more than what met his eye, on the occasion of seeing the sick man, the old man and the dead body on its way for its last rights. The prince was then stirred into thinking on these three ‘omens’ but his profound disappointment to explain these phenomena, prompted him to go looking for the reason why such unacceptable things happened to people.

Continue reading ‘May All Beings be Well and Happy!Blissful Wesak to All!!’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

“A man will rise from God’s land and he will lead the Iranians in the right path.”

This was the gospel of the clergy of Iran when the people queried about a leader to unite the people against their Shah.

When Ayatolla Khomeini rose to unite the people to defeat Shah, people said the prediction of the priests had come true.

Continue reading ‘Will Sobitha Thera of Sri Lanka Emulate Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran?’ »

(Text of an Editorial Appearing in the “Daily Mirror”of May 14th 2014 Under the heading “Let us Think Trees this Vesak”)

At Diyawannawa Lake-May 14, 2014pic via: facebook.com/PresidentRajapaksa

More than two thousand six hundred years ago on a Full Moon Day in the month of Vesak, Mahamaya, Queen of the Sakya King Suddodana, gave birth to a child, Siddhartha Gauthama. He was born under a Sal tree. Thirty six years later, this same Siddhartha attained enlightenment in the place now known as Buddha Gaya. It happened under a Bo tree. At the age of 80, the Buddha Siddhartha Gauthama passed on to parinirvana in a Sal grove in the city of Kusinara belonging to the Malla King. The three moments make the themagula that Buddhists all over the world celebrate as ‘Vesak’.

Continue reading ‘Vesak Message: The Buddha’s Word is Liberating but only to the Extent and the Manner in which we Engage with it.’ »

By

Taylor Dibbert

Five years ago in May 2009 – Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war finally ended. Regrettably, there is ample evidence to suggest that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law were committed by both the Sri Lankan military and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In spite of significant international criticism, the Sri Lankan government has refused to conduct a proper inquiry into what transpired at the end of the war and human rights violations in the country have continued unabated since that time.

Indeed it is the nexus between past atrocities that remain unaccounted for and the ongoing human rights violations – which are rarely dealt with – that has further institutionalized impunity on the island. Consequently, some members of the international community have been trying to turn things around.

Continue reading ‘Prospects of Having Accountability or Justice in the Short to Medium Term are Looking Increasingly Bleak in Sri Lanka.’ »

by

Charles Santiapillai

William Faulkner

The well known writer and supreme story teller, Gabriel Garcia Marquez passed away on 17 April 2014 in Mexico City at the age of 87. He was undoubtedly the most important modern author who through his writings and satire introduced us to the complex lives of the South Americans. He was the master of the literary genre known as magical realism in which fantastic things can happen. His 1967 classic novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is unlikely to be surpassed by anyone.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

It sold more than 30 million copies in more than 25 languages. In Colombia alone, more than a million copies were printed for distribution in Latin America. It is as good as the 17th century writer Miguel de Cervantes’, “Don Quixote”.

Continue reading ‘Gabriel Garcia Marquez was to Colombia What William Faulkner was to the USA’s Deep South’ »

May 13, 2014 (LBO) – India’s TATA Housing has started a 400 million US dollar mixed development in Colombo with state-run Urban Development Authority, as part of a regeneration effort, officials said.

In the first stage which started Monday the firm will build a four-tower apartment block with 650 units which will house 582 families and 100 shop owners who were displaced by the project in Colombo’s Slave Island area.

Continue reading ‘India’s TATA Housing Starts Mixed Development Project in Colombo with Sri Lanka’s Urban Development Authority for US $ 400 Million’ »

By

Zahrah Imtiaz

The Sri Lankan relic ant (Aneuretus simoni),which is the only living species of its kind in the world, having survived since the time of dinosaurs, is fighting to survive as its habitat at the Pompakele Reserve which is being cleared for a new water purification plant for the town of Ratnapura.

At a time where many species are becoming extinct due to changing climates or land use, one small ant has managed to stick it through, and it has done so for so long, that many of its cousins are to be only found as fossils. This ant is a species of evolutionary ancient ants only found in a few places in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is also one of the few ant species considered endangered in the world. The relic ant is so unique that it is classified in its own tribe known as Aneuretini. The other members of this tribe are extinct, and hence this Sri Lankan ant is the only living species of its kind.

Continue reading ‘Endemic Sri Lankan Relic Ant “Aneuretus simoni” Found Only in Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces In Danger of Extinction.’ »

By

Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Bernard Soysa (March 20, 1914-December 30, 1997)

(This is full text of address delivered by Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi at the Bernard Soysa Centenary Commemoration Oration in Colombo on May 09, 2014. Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a former High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. He has also served as India’s High Commissioner to South Africa & Lesotho and as Ambassador to Norway and Iceland. He was the Governor of West Bengal from 2004-2009Shri Gopalakrishna Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji)

I am deeply grateful to the Bernard Soysa Centenary Commemoration Committee and to Professor Tissa Vitarana , in particular, for inviting me to give this prestigious Oration. And I am thankful to H.E.Shri Y. K. Sinha, the High Commissioner for India and to the India-Sri Lanka Foundation for facilitating my coming, the first since I left its shores twelve years ago.

Tributes and their scope

I pay tribute to Bernard Soysa as one who held offices, one whom offices did not hold ; as one who held fast to socialism, but whom socialist politics did not hold in chains ; as one who held esteem but whom esteem did not hold hostage. Bernard Soysa had status, but he had something else of greater moment, namely, stature, the stature of an intellect twinned to public purpose and un-twinned from sectarian bias, parochial pinch-heartedness and, generally, from that common malady in politics everywhere – sheer, shameless, self-advancement. Socialist politics are not entirely free of this malady but there lingers in the socialist mind a strong influence of the socialist ethic which strengthens its auto-immunity. Like prayer, remorse and atonement, socialist ethics are invoked penitentially. They do not always change things but are deeply cleansing. We should not , however, romanticise the Left. If the Left has had , very elevatingly, its high moments, it continues, very energetically, to have its low moments ; ‘low’ not in the sense of moments when it has been beaten – others have those too – but in the sense of slipping below its own ideals, its ethic and knowing it has done so.

Continue reading ‘“India, Sri Lanka and the Touching Distances” -Bernard Soysa Centenary Commemoration Oration by Gopalkrishna Gandhi.’ »

By ROLLO ROMIG

Saravana Bhavan doesn’t look like a house of secrets. Its dining room at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 26th Street is clean and bright and often attracts a line out front. It doesn’t advertise because it doesn’t need to; the fact that it’s one of the world’s largest chains of vegetarian restaurants — 33 in India, another 47 in a dozen other countries — is considered too obvious to its core clientele of Indian expatriates and tourists to be worth trumpeting.

P. Rajagopal, center, at home surrounded by his staff. Credit Mahesh Shantaram for The New York Times

In a city overwhelmed with underwhelming north Indian food, Saravana Bhavan is the standard-bearer of the delicacies of the south, but it makes no effort to educate the uninitiated. If you don’t know what a dosa is or how to eat it, you’re on your own.

The man behind the chain is an elusive 66-year-old named P. Rajagopal. Among his peers in the restaurant business in Chennai, the south Indian city where Saravana Bhavan is headquartered, Rajagopal is a legend. “He brought prestige to the vegetarian business,” said a restaurateur named Manoharan, who runs a competing chain called Murugan Idli. “He made a revolution.”

Fast food at Saravana Bhavan on Lexington Avenue in New York. Credit Andrew Hetherington for The New York Times

Born into a low caste in a remote province, he came to rule a field that was once the sole domain of Brahmins, cleverly updating their traditional fare in a setting that was both respectable and unpretentious, thereby catering to India’s middle class at just the moment it emerged.
Continue reading ‘The “Masala Dosa” Man: “Annachchi” Rajagopal and the “Saravana Bhavan” Restaurant Story’ »

By

Niranjala Ariyawansha

The Ravana Balaya threatened to take up residence at the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs by force, unless the Special Police Unit set up to resolve problems related to religious conflicts is not shut down before Vesak Poya Day.

Continue reading ‘“Ravana Balaya”Threatens to Invade and Forcibly Occupy Buddha Sasana Ministry if Religious Conflict Special Police Unit is not Shut Down Before Vesak.’ »

by

C.A. Chandraprema

Gnanasara Thero-pic courtesy of: adaderana.lk

If there was anything that the May Day rallies showed, it was that the SLFP led UPFA even after nearly nine years in power is still an unassailable political force. Even if one factors away the natural advantage that any ruling party will have in drawing crowds for rallies, the UPFA’s showing was impressive to say the least.

It’s not just the numbers, but the enthusiasm that counts. The May Day show indicated that nearly nine years after being first elected to power, the Rajapaksa government is still as vibrant as ever.
Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena’s Thug Leader Gnanasara Thero Should be Flogged Publicly and Chased on the Road with Full Exposure on TV’ »

by GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ

GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ (March 6, 1927-April 17, 2014)

A Colombian university was asked what aptitude and vocational tests are administered to persons wishing to study journalism. The response was categorical: “Journalists are not artists.” These views are, however, fuelled precisely by the conviction that print journalism is a literary genre.

Fifty years ago, journalism schools were not fashionable.

Cartoon by: Diego Herrera-(Canada)-One of the 13 Finalists in the 2014 World Press Freedom Day (May 3, 2014) cartoon contest-Courtesy: OttawaCitizen-Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom

This craft was learned in newsrooms, print shops, run-down corner cafes, and at Friday night parties. Newspapers were produced in a factory-like setting, where the right training and information were provided, and views were generated in a collaborative atmosphere in which integrity was preserved. Journalists formed a tight-knit group. We shared a common life and were so fanatical about the profession that we talked of nothing else.
Continue reading ‘World’s Best Profession: Journalism must go back to the trenches, rediscover the basics’ »

CHAPTER 6 | Foreign Terrorist Organizations

BUREAU OF COUNTERTERRORISM
Country Reports on Terrorism 2013

LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM

aka Ellalan Force; Tamil Tigers

Description: Founded in 1976 and designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on October 8, 1997, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) became a powerful Tamil secessionist group in Sri Lanka. Despite its military defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan government in 2009, the LTTE’s international network of sympathizers and financial support persists.
Continue reading ‘US State Department 2013 Terrorism Report cites LTTE as Foreign Terrorist Organization with Area of Operations in Sri Lanka and India Locations’ »

CHAPTER 2:

by BUREAU OF COUNTERTERRORISM | US Department of State

SRI LANKA

Overview: The Sri Lankan government defeated the terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009. Concerns remain that widely reported allegations of atrocities and violations of international law committed by both the government and the LTTE during the civil war have not been addressed. Partly as a result, counterterrorism cooperation and training with the United States was limited in 2013. No arrests related to terrorism were made, but the Government of Sri Lanka remained concerned that the LTTE’s international network of financial support was still functioning. The Sri Lankan government continued to maintain a strong military presence in post-conflict areas and continued to voice concern about the possible re-emergence of pro-LTTE sympathizers. Sri Lankan police did not participate in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program in 2013.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka: US Department of State-Country Reports on Terrorism 2013’ »

A woman was killed and at least 18 others were injured in a low intensity blast in one of the coaches of the Bangalore-Guwahati superfast express (Train No. 12509) at Chennai Central railway station on Thursday morning.

The victim has been identified as Swati (22) from Guntur who was travelling from Bangalore to Vijayawada. Four passengers are said to be critical and have been admitted to the GH. Of the 14 others injured, most have injuries on the legs, while one person has a neck injury.

Continue reading ‘One Killed and 18 Injured in Bomb Blast on Bangalore -Guwahati Superfast Express Train at Chennai Central Railway Station in Tamil Nadu.’ »

By

S. Vijay Kumar

Mohammed Zakir Hussain, a Sri Lankan arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police here on Tuesday, had allegedly conducted a reconnaissance mission as part of a conspiracy to attack foreign missions in southern India.

Hussain had taken photographs of the U.S. Consulate in Chennai, the Israeli Consulate in Bangalore and other vital installations, and studied their topography at the behest of Pakistani diplomat Amir Zubair Siddiqui, police sources said on Wednesday.

Siddiqui, Counsellor (Visa) at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, and his associate Boss, alias Shah, are being named as accused along with Hussain.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan National Mohammed Zakir Hussain Arrested in Chennai Allegedly Involved with Pakistani Diplomats in Colombo- Suddiqui and Shah- in ISI Plot to Attack South Indian Targets.’ »

By

SALMAN RUSHDIE

Gabriel García Márquez-pic courtesy of: praag.org

Gabo lives!

The extraordinary worldwide attention paid to the death of Gabriel García Márquez, and the genuine sorrow felt by readers everywhere at his passing, tells us that the books are still very much alive. Somewhere a dictatorial “patriarch” is still having his rival cooked and served up to his dinner guests on a great dish; an old colonel is waiting for a letter that never comes; a beautiful young girl is being prostituted by her heartless grandmother; and a kindlier patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, one of the founders of the new settlement of Macondo, a man interested in science and alchemy, is declaring to his horrified wife that “the earth is round, like an orange.”

We live in an age of invented, alternate worlds. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Rowling’s Hogwarts, the dystopic universe of “The Hunger Games,” the places where vampires and zombies prowl: These places are having their day. Yet in spite of the vogue for fantasy fiction, in the finest of literature’s fictional microcosms there is more truth than fantasy. In William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha, R. K. Narayan’s Malgudi and, yes, the Macondo of Gabriel García Márquez, imagination is used to enrich reality, not to escape from it.
Continue reading ‘Gabriel García Márquez Whose Magic in Magic Realism Was Rooted in the Real.’ »

ATTEMPTED RESURGENCE OF THE LTTE AND THE INCIDENT IN THE JUNGLE OFF PADAVIYA ON 11 APRIL 2014

An attempt for resurgence of terrorism in Sri Lanka surfaced in general area Pallai in the Jaffna Peninsula calling for launching another phase of the LTTE struggle for a separate state. The information on several key suspects who were leading the campaign for resurgence of the LTTE also surfaced. Investigators made several arrests that led to recovery of arms, ammunitions, explosives and other material that were in their possession.

Continue reading ‘Two of the Three Killed in Northern Jungles Identified as Gobi and Theiveegan;Yet to be Identified Third Person Believed to be Appan.’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Can there be a more loathsome sight on earth than that of rampaging Buddhist monks in saffron robes?

The sight is made doubly loathsome, because a ‘rampaging monk’ is a contradiction in terms – something that cannot be. The Buddhist expectation is that a monk in particular will have at least an outward demeanour of restraint.  Those familiar with the Vinaya rules will know how much emphasis is placed on the maintenance of this outward appearance of poise and self control by monks even though the monk may not be feeling any calm at all within.

In Buddhism, inward calm is acquired through understanding, but the emphasis in the Vinaya is to control the outward appearance of the monk regardless of his actual state of mind. It is said that Emperor Asoka of India first evinced an interested in Buddhism because of the outward demeanour of a novice monk he saw on the street. Had Emperor Asoka seen a marauding monk as in latter day Sri Lanka, instead of that novice monk of yore, he would have personally seen to it that every Buddhist monk in his empire was beheaded and the religion itself destroyed.   
 

Last week TV viewers once again saw the sight of Buddhist monks threatening, intimidating and almost assaulting another Buddhist monk at a press conference at Hotel Nippon when the Bodu Bala Sena invaded and disrupted a press conference called by a new organisation calling itself the Jathika Bala Sena.  This has serious implications. The last thing that we want is for rival political organisations invading and disrupting each other’s press conferences simply because one does not agree with what will be said at that meeting.

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena,Sihala Ravaya, and Ravana Balakaya are Saffron Robed Destroyers of Sinhala Buddhism.’ »

Jonathan Miller
Foreign Affairs Correspondent

An all-expenses-paid trip by five UK MPs and their partners, including business-class travel to and from Sri Lanka, is cancelled amid cross-party recriminations – hours before departure.

Sri Lanka

The timing of the trip was controversial – coming just two weeks after the United Nations launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and continued human rights abuse in Sri Lanka.

This week, Sri Lanka said it would refuse to cooperate with the UN inquiry.

The trip, and all its costs, would have been borne by the Sri Lanka-based charity “Foundation of Goodness,” founded by legendary spin-bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. He is an ethnic Tamil, who has been criticised for his support for the government.

Continue reading ‘Business Class Travel&all Expenses Paid Trip to Sri Lanka and Back by Five British MP’s and Their Partners Funded by Murali’s Charity Cancelled Hours Before Departure.’ »

Former LTTE member Gobi and two others were killed following a confrontation with the army in Vavuniya late last night, the army said today.

Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that an exchange of gun-fire had taken place at Nedunkerni when soldiers had confronted Gobi and two other former rebels who were armed.

The three former rebels were killed during the confrontation and one of them was identified as Gobi.

Continue reading ‘Kajeepan Alias “Gobi” Attempting to Revive LTTE and Two Other Tigers Killed by Army in Shoot -Out at Nedunkerni in Vavuniya District Claims Military Spokesman.’ »

REJECTED ASYLUM-SEEKER SELF-IMMOLATES IN SYDNEY

A Tamil asylum-seeker set himself on fire in Sydney last night after his appeal for refugee status was rejected.

Janarthanan

The man, believed to be in his late 20s, was taken to Concord Hospital after dousing himself in petrol outside his workplace in Balmain and setting himself alight. He has burns to about 98 per cent of his body. He is in an induced coma, having undergone at least two skin-graft operations. Doctors have told friends to organise for his 65-year-old mother and his brother to come to Australia urgently.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Asylum Seeker Janarthanan Sets Himself of Fire in Sydney After Australia Rejects his Appeal for Refugee Status’ »

by Glen Pearson | Director, London Food Bank, former Member of Parliament

Jim Flaherty stared at me with tears streaming down his face. It was five years ago and I had been asked to speak at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa to support a group that helped with African adoptions. An effort supported by all parties, it was one of those few occasions where the true value of humanity trumped partisanship.

“It has been an honour to serve Canada. Thank you for the opportunity”-@JimFlaherty-Narch 18, 2014-via-twitter.com/JimFlaherty

The venue was packed. I had my Sudanese daughter Abuk (eight at the time) spend that evening with me. She spent a bit of time playing with the Prime Minister’s daughter and taking in the marvelous displays of totem poles and the Great Hall.
Continue reading ‘Jim Flaherty Was a Man Whose Humanity Trumped His Politics’ »

(This is the full text of the Prestigious Grotius lecture  by Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy at the invitation of the  American Society of International Law and the International Law Association on April 9th 2014. The lecture titled “Women and Children-The Cutting Edge of International Law” was delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the American Society of International Law held  at the Ronald Reagan Building. Washington, D.C. on 9 April.It was dedicated to the memory of her mentor Dr.Neelan Tiruchelvam and his wife Ms. Sithie Tiruchelvam. Dr. Coomaraswamy a former director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Colombo has served as special adviser to the UN Secretary -General on Children and the armed conflict and also as UN special rapporteur on violence against women)

Dedicated to Dr.Neelan and Sithie Tiruchelvam

WOMEN AND CHILDREN:-THE CUTTING EDGE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

By Radhika Coomaraswamy

The Grotius Lecture 2014[1]

Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy delivering Prestigious Grotius lecture, April 9. 2014

PREFACE

Sometime at the end of 2011, while I was still the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, I met an ambassador from an Asian country just before a United Nations Security Council meeting on children and armed conflict. He told me that I was leaving the United Nations at the right time. “The era of human rights is over, it has been shown up for what it is, a product of western liberalism and now a modern day foreign policy weapon of western imperialism”[2]

A few months earlier I was in the Central African Republic  (CAR) with three generations of women from a family who had been brutally raped by the forces of Jean Pierre Bemba when he entered CAR from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002. [3] They were getting ready to go to The Hague to testify against him. They described the events in detail and I could feel their sense of vindication and hope. Even if Bemba was not convicted, they found consolation in the fact that someone recognized the crimes committed against them.

This is then the complexity of human rights in the modern world. Increasingly member states, along with individuals and groups in the global south, challenge both the epistemology and practice of human rights. But despite their efforts, at the grass root level there is a groundswell of support for the idea of human rights, including women’s and children’s rights, as more and more groups begin mobilizing using the discourse and strategy of the human rights movement to fight for equality and social justice.

INTRODUCTION

In the traditional world of international law, issues of war peace and security have always taken precedence over other developments. [4]The Westphalian origins led to a focus on dispute resolution and the establishment of an international order that will enable peace. Even today the media attention of the world remains on the Security Council whose proceedings dominate the discussion of international law and international relations.
Continue reading ‘“Women and Children-The Cutting Edge of International Law” – Text of Grotius Lecture by Radhika Coomaraswamy’ »

by Vishnugupta

“In a society governed passively by free markets and free elections, organized greed always defeats disorganized democracy.” ― Matt Taibbi

When an analysis of a set of statistical data is done, unless one pays very close and scrupulous attention to the details in which the devil usually resides, one often misses the obvious and makes erroneous assumptions that eventually lead to mistaken conclusions and judgments. Drawing conclusions that suit one’s own prejudices and preconceived opinions is natural for the unprofessional, amateur analyst.

Amateur historians may even embark further into bizarre analysis-territories by offering utterly erroneous interpretations and spelling out false predictions of events with a view to influencing future occurrences. Setting out his or her own personal agenda is utmost in such undisciplined minds.
Continue reading ‘PC Elections, an endorsement of corruption, nepotism, extremism and pseudo-patriotism’ »

By

Latheef Farook

A small minority of Muslim families were living peacefully for centuries in the Marichchikatti village in the Musali division in Mannar district. They were involved in paddy cultivation and other such works .In keeping with their religious requirement they built their own mosque there. To help continue with their cultivation works the government has even built a dam before 1970. Life was simple but they remained contented lot.

The dilapidated Mosque used by Mirichihikatti Muslims before they were evicted by the LTTE in 1990. Though these Muslims returned to the village this mosque today remains under Navy control

In 1990 when the Tamil tiger terrorists ethnic cleansed the Muslims in the north, these Muslim families in the Marichchikati village too were driven out. They too lost all their belongings and ended up with empty hands in refugee camps in Puttalam where, like other refugees, languished in poverty besides facing numerous other problems.

They were all happy when the government forces defeated the LTTE in May 2009 in the hope that they too could return to their own soil and rebuild their lives.

Continue reading ‘Bodhu Bala Sena Targets Ven Watareka Thera in Colombo and Muslims of Marichchikkatti in Mannar’ »

On the 16th of February 2013, at approximately 6.30 p.m., a mob stormed into the premises of the Holy Family Church in Asgiriya (Kandy district) and demanded that worship services be stopped immediately. The mob had around 250 villagers and was led by a group of 11 Buddhist monks who belong to the Bodu Bala Sena.

The pastor explained that, in keeping with his right to religious freedom, he could continue with the worship activities. While the pastor was talking to the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara thero, who incidentally led the attack, his wife and he were dragged out of the premises and physically assaulted by the mob. The pastor’s 18-year-old daughter was verbally abused during this incident.

Continue reading ‘Mob of Over 250 Persons Including 11 Bhikkus Led by Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Gnanasara Thero Storms Holy Family Church in Asgiriya During Worship and Assaults Pastor and Wife.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The interest shown by a British diplomat in Colombo, in what seems to be a high-profile case of drug trafficking involving suspects from at least three countries, has raised eyebrows here.

On April 3, the Deputy High Commissioner at the British mission in Colombo sought an appointment with the Inspector-General of Police N.K. Illangakoon to discuss a recent heroin seizure. The diplomat had said a suspect arrested in connection with the case was an informant to one of Britain’s officers in India.

Continue reading ‘British Deputy High Commissioner in Colombo Tries to Intervene in Major Drug Trafficking Case Saying an Arrested Suspect is British Informant’ »

A Sri Lankan women’s rights group has claimed the government is arresting innocent female relatives of men it suspects are trying to revive the Tamil Tiger rebel group and subjecting them to ill-treatment.

Women’s Action Network described the cases of six women it says were arrested from the north and east, the former civil war zone, because authorities suspected their male associates or family members had rebel links.

The group’s statement said the criminal investigation department had detained the women in inhuman conditions, adding that some were elderly or needed medical and psychiatric care but were being denied those facilities.

Continue reading ‘Six Innocent Women From North and East Suspected of Being Relatives of Alleged LTTE Operatives Detained Under Inhuman Conditions-WAN’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

“Our cricket embodied everything in our lives, our laughter and tears, our hospitality our generosity, our music, our food and drink. It was normality and hope and inspiration in a war-ravaged island. In it was our culture and heritage, enriched by our myriad ethnicities and religions. In it we were untouched, at least for a while, by petty politics and division. It is indeed a pity that life is not cricket” – Kumar Sangakkara, MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture, 2011

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a true Sri Lankan hero in many respects.

As the Head of Sri Lanka’s first post-war Government, the Mahinda Rajapaksa story evokes much political romanticism. The quintessential ‘ape miniha,’ he is the Sinhalese hero who started life in a remote southern village and rose to the highest echelons of power in Colombo.

Cricketers welcomed at the TempleTrees-pic: courtesy of: twitter.com/azzamameen

Over the course of his eight-year presidential stint, President Rajapaksa has often donned the cape of the crusading hero. He is the conqueror of terrorists, defender of the nation against neo-imperialist forces, emperor of the Commonwealth, cuddler of babies and magic builder of superhighways. To reinforce these perceptions, the President’s name or derivations of it are stamped on every new piece of infrastructure conferred upon the public.

Unquestioning acceptance of Government development schemes and the ostrich-like tendency of the citizenry to marvel at new roads and city beautification without worrying about process, transparency and debt burden, has allowed the regime to declare them all benevolent bequests by the political leadership.

Ownership of national success stories has been a Rajapaksa mantra, one that has made the incumbent Executive wildly popular.

There is, however, one notable exception that was reinforced strongly this past weekend when Sri Lanka’s other national heroes took centre-stage. Sri Lankan cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara unofficially led the team to victory in the ICC World T20 final on Sunday night, the former taking a lead as de facto captain in Dinesh Chandimal’s absence while the latter scored an unbeaten 52 to guide the side to the 130 runs it needed to beat India.

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa keeps Away From Final Match as Sri Lanka Cricket Team Breaks Jinx’ »

The Centre for Policy Alternatives’ latest report “Forced Evictions in Colombo – The Ugly Price of Beautification” raises serious concerns with regard to the displacement of citizens in the city of Colombo due to the Urban Regeneration Project of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.

It questions both the ostensible goals and purpose underlying the Urban Regeneration Project as well as the means and processes employed by the UDA and the Government of Sri Lanka to realise them, in particular those pertaining to land acquisition and involuntary resettlement.
Continue reading ‘Forced evictions in Colombo: The ugly price of beautification’ »

BY Patrick Barkham

The quino checkerspot butterfly has defied predictions of extinction by moving to higher altitudes and choosing a new plant on which to lay its eggs. Photograph: Butterfly Conservation

Quino checkerspot butterfly

A butterfly species whose population collapsed because of climate change and habitat loss has defied predictions of extinction to rapidly move to cooler climes and change its food plant.
Continue reading ‘Quino butterfly defies extinction by changing habitat and diet’ »

by

Latheef Farook

Abandoned by the government, Muslim politicians and threatened by Sinhala extremists who are law unto themselves Buddhist monks leading the campaign to solve Muslim squatters’ housing problem at Wilpattu, Janatha Vimukthi Permanuna, JVP, fighting for the rights of the Muslims and the Muslims carrying the coffin of a Buddhist monk at a funeral procession provide glimmer of hope for the country torn apart by a few hundreds of Sinhala extremists.

I suspect these extremists as mercenaries of local and foreign forces with their own agenda against the island’s Muslims as part of the Zionist sponsored ongoing US led European global campaign against Islam and Muslims.

It was under such circumstance that a group of Buddhist monks and JVP have come forward to fight for the rights of Muslims and save the country from a potentially dangerous threat.
Continue reading ‘Sections of Buddhist Clergy and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to Fight for Rights of Muslims Besieged by Buddhist Extremists’ »

by

Dinesh Weerawansa

Sri Lanka won a record second cricket World Cup cricket title beating India by six wickets in the World T20 final played in Dhaka, in Bangladesh, at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

Having lost four finals in the last seven years, Sri Lanka finally broke the jinx in style in the final of the ICC-pic:facebook.com/srilankacricket

It’s the second World Cup cricket title for Sri Lanka and the first in the Twenty20 version of the game.

Sri Lanka’s first World Cup success was 18 years ago when Arjuna Ranatunga’s team beat Australia by seven wickets in the ICC World Cup (50 overs) final played in Lahore, Pakistan on March 17, 1996.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Wins a World Cup Cricket Championship For Second Time After Winning ICC World Cup 18 Years Ago’ »

Kumar Sangakkara guided Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India to win the World Twenty20 in Mirpur and end a run of four defeats in global finals.

pic via:facebook.com/srilankacricket

Sangakkara, playing his final Twenty20 international, scored 52 not out as Sri Lanka chased down 131 in 17.5 overs.

Tight Sri Lanka bowling had limited India to 130-4 despite Virat Kohli’s sublime 77 off 58 balls.

Sri Lanka were beaten in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup finals and the 2009 and 2012 World T20 finals.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Beats India by Six Wickets in Thrilling Final at Mirpur to Become WorldTwenty20 Champions in Cricket’ »

By

Michele.J.Sison

(Text of Opening Statement delivered by US ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele.J.Sison to the Sri Lanka Foreign Correspondents Association at the American Center in Colombo on April 3rd 2014)
April 3, 2014

Thank you for inviting me to speak tonight. Last year, you also invited me to speak in early April, and I described the long relationship between the United States and the people of Sri Lanka, as well as the broad spectrum of activities and engagements that characterize our relationship. None of that has changed.

Amb Sison visits Most Venerable Mahanayake Thero Malwatte Chapter to offer best wishes for the #SriLanka New Year-pic via-twitter.com/USEMBSL

I also spoke to you last April about U.S. concerns regarding the lack of reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, ongoing human rights issues in the north and east, and attacks against journalists and religious minorities.

Unfortunately, those concerns also remain unchanged.

The United States remains firmly committed to working with the people of Sri Lanka to build a future in which all of Sri Lanka’s citizens can achieve their aspirations.

Continue reading ‘An Independent,Credible Investigation Into All Actions By All Parties For The Entire Period Of The Conflict Would Be Good For Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

The Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is having a spectacularly bad week.

Voting on Sri Lanka resolution on March 27, 2014 at the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council-pic by: U.S. Mission Geneva/ Eric Bridiers

Technically, with the two assemblies lapsing in late April, March 29 elections for the Western and Southern Provincial Councils took place on schedule. But the polls were also extraordinarily timed – with a little help from the Elections Department – to take place 24 hours after the UN Human Rights Council vote on a US resolution that would launch a war crimes investigation into the last seven years of Sri Lanka’s war against the LTTE.

Calls had been mounting for an international investigation to be set up by the Council in March 2014 and President Rajapaksa, who has mastered the art of using international pressure to galvanise support domestically, saw the perfect opportunity.

In Geneva, since early March momentum was building to use the third US resolution on Sri Lanka to set up an inquiry mechanism that would be conducted by international independent experts about allegations that have deeply shadowed the last weeks of the Government’s ‘humanitarian operation’ in the north in 2009.
Continue reading ‘Residual LTTE Elements and Diaspora Groups Operating Overseas Would Have Been Stripped of Legitimacy Had Rajapaksa Regime Been Magnanimous.’ »

By

Vishnugupta

“Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.”–Benjamin Disraeli

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga reigned with unbridled power and might for eleven years, first as Prime Minister and then as Executive President. For all those years in office, the only remarkable achievement she could probably write home about or even relate to her grandchildren one day would be that she never ever kept an appointment in time.

An utterly careless leader of a nation, even though she possessed an extraordinary intellect and scholarly disposition, there isn’t one single accomplishment that she could boast about. It is indeed a crying shame for a person who hailed from such an illustrious family, which spanned the country’s political landscape for more than one and half centuries, beginning from the Legislative Council days to the current Presidential system era.

In a larger context, all the Bandaranaikes – all three, SWRD, Sirimavo and Chandrika- have been mediocre executives at best and disastrous at worst. Although they had nearly inborn capacity and talent to win elections, their respective reigns of power had been sadly absent in foresight, pragmatism and even a modicum of management of the economy. In the long run, especially in the case of the first two, husband and wife, the country’s exchequer suffered irreparable damage and much harsher and long-term oriented policies and their implementation only could bring about some financial sanity to the country. And all three were terribly oblivious to the misdoings and uncouth conduct of their respective parliamentarians and subordinates.
Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Must be Dreading Scenario Where Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Mounts the Political Platform again.’ »

(Text of Press Statement Issued by Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs )

Order under UNSC Resolution 1373 signed by Minister Peiris

An order, designating persons and entities in terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and to control terrorist financing has been signed by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and will be published in the Government Gazette shortly. This order is based on the recommendation by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, as the Competent Authority regarding the identification of persons, groups and entities, believed on reasonable grounds to be committing, attempting to commit, facilitating or participating, in the commission of acts of terrorism.

Continue reading ‘GL Peiris Signs Order Under UNSC Resolution 1373 Designating Terrorist Entities on Recommendation Made by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

A famous soliloquy in the history of Hollywood movies in Don Siegel’s iconic film Dirty Harry begins with Clint Eastwood, playing Inspector Harry Callahan says “I know what you’re thinking— did he fire six shots or only five…” In similar vein I can tell what the strategists of the Opposition are thinking after the Provincial Council election: “when we add the total vote of the ethnic and religious minorities to the 25% plus that the UNP has got, we can get the 50.1% we need to beat Mahinda Rajapaksa”.

In that movie scene, Dirty Harry went on to add a qualifier: “but seein’ as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and could blow your head clean off, there’s one question you’ve gotta ask yourself— do you feel lucky?” My response to the Opposition’s calculation is a similar one: “but seein’ as this will be a Presidential election, which is a popularity duel for leadership of the country, and you’re fielding Ranil Wickremesinghe against Mahinda Rajapaksa, there’s just one question you’ve gotta ask yourself— do you feel lucky?”

Continue reading ‘The Post-Election Scenario: Lessons and Options for Government and Opposition’ »

by

Sunil de Silva

For weeks if not months, the USA and the UK threatened that they would move a Resolution before the UNHRC to establish a ‘robust mechanism’ leading to a possible hauling of GOSL before an International War Crimes tribunal.

The vaunted threat only provided the GOSL the opportunity of proclaiming ‘I would even face the electric chair’ rather than face an International Court as a vote gathering posture for the local elections that were current.

Both the movers of the Resolution and the GOSL were well aware that UNHRC Resolutions were non-binding in International Law. Articles 10 and 14 of the UN Charter refer even to General Assembly resolutions [other than those dealing with ‘housekeeping’] as ‘… “recommendations”. This view has been endorsed by rulings of the International Court of Justice. In stark contrast with ‘decisions’ of the Security Council.

Knowing that that UNHRC could not have placed the GOSL under a legal obligation to comply with the Resolution, the movers could have used a Resolution in balanced and non-intrusive terms to place the GOSL under a moral obligation to comply with the ‘recommendations’

But what was the reality?

Continue reading ‘“Has the mighty USA laboured and delivered a toothless mouse,taking our Tamil brethren for a ride?”’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Five-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday rejected claims that secret talks had been held in Geneva between the TNA and the government prior to the vote on the US-led resolution on Sri Lanka last Thursday.

TNA National List MP M. A. Sumanthiran told The Island that there was absolutely no basis for these reports in certain local media though he had met Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UNP in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha at the diplomatic mission there.

Continue reading ‘Meeting in Geneva Between Lankan Envoy to UN Ravinatha Aryasinha and TNA Parliamentarians Sumanthiran and Shritharan was only a “Courtesy Call”.’ »

Gagani Weerakoon

The elections to appoint 155 councillors to the Western and Southern Provincial Councils concluded showing a clear reduction of votes polled by the ruling party, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) even though, it was still able to secure a resounding victory with a large margin from its main opponent, the United National Party.

A total of 3,794 candidates, representing 23 recognized political parties and 42 independent groups, contested the recently concluded election.

While the UPFA managed to win all districts, the UNP was not able to win a single out of the six other than securing victory in party’s traditional strong holds in the Colombo District. Meanwhile, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, which was still struggling to show progress in last year’s North-western and Northern Provincial Council elections, has shown remarkable progress by increasing its voter base by 300% in this election under its new leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Continue reading ‘Ruling UPFA Wins Resoundingly in Western and Southern PC Elections but Registers Comparative Decline in Popularity’ »

By Umesh Moramudali and Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

Reeling from the recent United Nations Human Rights Council defeat, the United People’s Freedom Alliance achieved a lackluster victory in the Western and Southern Provincial Council elections, and while the United National Party managed to stick with its usual voter base, the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna under the new leadership, forged ahead.

The main opposition, United National Party (UNP) yesterday said that the Western and Southern Provincial Council election results had indicated that the public are ready to make a regime change.

Addressing the media, UNP Parliamentarian, Kabir Hashim said, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had got 250,000 votes less than in the previous PC election in 2009 which is an indication to imply that people want change.
Continue reading ‘According to GL Peiris Theory on Voting at UN in Geneva Govt has Lost Elections here as 40%Voted Against and 35%Abstained from Voting-Kabir Hashim’ »

By

Sheila Varadan

For the victims and their families in Sri Lanka, the resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council this week in Geneva offers the first glimmer of hope for truth, justice and reparation for the serious human-rights abuses committed by both sides in the final stages of the civil war.

It comes almost five years after the end of Sri Lanka’s protracted and bloody civil war—a conflict that saw the death of tens of thousands of civilians and the ‘disappearance’ of thousands more. And it comes because no one has been held accountable for any of the gross human-rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by both sides to the conflict.

Continue reading ‘UNHRC Resolution in Geneva Offers Glimmer of Hope for the Victims of Human Rights Abuses and their Families in Sri Lanka.’ »

(Text of Statement issued by Tamil National Alliance Leader and Trincomalee district MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan)

The Tamil National Alliance welcomes today’s Human Rights Council resolution which requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake a comprehensive investigation in respect of past and post-war violations of human rights and the perpetration of serious crimes. The resolution is a victory for all Sri Lanka’s Peoples in their struggle for truth, justice and reconciliation. The resolution sends a strong message to the Sri Lankan government that the undemocratic, militarized and discriminatory trajectory on which it has set the country is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Welcomes Resolution Passed by UN human Rights Council on Sri Lanka as a “victory for all Sri Lanka’s People”.’ »

By
DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

“The passage of the resolution marks a historic moment…” -R. Sampanthan, TNA leader (‘Tamil National Alliance Welcomes UNHRC Resolution’)

One does not have to agree with a single sentence of the strident stonewalling engaged in by the representatives of Sri Lanka in Geneva, in order to oppose the grotesque call for an international inquiry mechanism. One does not have to disagree with any criticism of the conduct of the Government of Sri Lanka made by the members of the UNHRC in order to reject an international inquiry. As Sri Lankans, our rejection of an internationalu inquiry must be unconditional. Such an inquiry is so unfair, hypocritical and such an affront to our self-respect as a nation, that our opposition to it cannot be conditional.

It is not so much that the USA won this vote on the resolution against Sri Lanka, but that Sri Lanka lost, since it was unable to convince those who abstained — which included those who stood with us in 2009— to vote get off the fence and vote with us.

Continue reading ‘“As Sri Lankans Our Rejection of an Unfair, Hypocritical International Inquiry Must be Unconditional”-Dayan Jayatilleka’ »

The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution on Sri Lanka calling for an international war crimes probe, with 23 countries voting for the US-backed resolution 12 countries voting against and 12 abstaining.

While 12 countries including Pakistan, Maldives, Cuba,Venezuela, China, Russia voted against, 12 member-states abstained from voting, including India, Indonesia and Japan.

Continue reading ‘US Sponsored Resolution Calling for International Probe on Alleged War Crimes in Sri Lanka passed at UNHRC with 23 Countries Supporting,12 Opposing and 12 Abstaining.’ »

United Nations Human Rights Council

Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

Albania,* Austria, Belgium,* Bulgaria,* Canada,* Croatia,* Cyprus,* Denmark,* Estonia, Finland,* France, Georgia,* Germany, Greece,* Hungary,* Iceland,* Ireland, Italy, Latvia,* Liechtenstein,* Lithuania,* Luxembourg,* Mauritius,* Montenegro, Netherlands,* Norway,* Poland,* Portugal,* Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis,* Sierra Leone, Slovakia,* Spain,* Sweden,* Switzerland,* the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America: draft resolution

* Non-MemberState of the Human Rights Council.

25/… Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka

Continue reading ‘Text of Resolution on Sri Lanka Passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 27th 2014.’ »

(Text of Press Statement Issued by John Kerry, US Secretary of State on March 27, 2014)

Today’s vote in the UN Human Rights Council sends a clear message: The time to pursue lasting peace and prosperity is now; justice and accountability cannot wait.

Voting on resolutions began March 27, 2014 at the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council.
U.S. Mission Geneva/ Eric Bridiers

This resolution reaffirms the commitment of the international community to support the Government of Sri Lanka as it pursues reconciliation and respect for human rights and democratic governance. That’s why the resolution requests that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights continues monitoring the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
Continue reading ‘“The United States Stands With All The People Of Sri Lanka”-US Secretary of State John Kerry’ »

India has decided to abstain from voting for the US-backed resolution at the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva against Sri Lanka claiming that an external investigation mechanism hinders the efforts of the Sri Lanka to promote reconciliation rather than contributing constructively and complicates the prevalent situation in the country.

Following is the explanation of Vote by the Permanent Representative of India to the UN Offices in Geneva, Amb. Dilip Sinha at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Agenda Item 2 on the resolution on Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Why India Abstained From Voting on the US Sponsored Resolution Against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.’ »

Marianne David

It’s 6 a.m. in Passekudah and the skies are grey-blue with some low-lying clouds on the horizon. It’s already light out although the sun is yet to rise and it’s time for a jet-ski adventure before it gets too hot to venture out to sea.

The perfect place to relax and unwind

Despite the early hour, Manjula, the hotel’s jet-ski expert, is ready and waiting and life jackets on, we’re good to go within minutes. It’s my first time on a jet-ski and I am slightly nervous despite being eager to try it out. Thankfully, Manjula is reassuring and very much in control.

We head out slowly and as I get used to the controls, it’s time to speed up, with this machine able to reach 130 kmph. There’s a world of a difference though when Manjula takes over, switching keys, and he goes full speed ahead. Drenched in sea spray in no time, I am thrilled to bits by the exhilarating experience.

Continue reading ‘Eastern “Escapade” At Uga Bay: Sun, Surf and Fun Amidst a Personalised Paradise in Passekudah’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

The Sri Lankan government has amended the time period for its Presidential Commission looking into cases of alleged disappearances in its Northern and Eastern Provinces to cover the 26 years 1983-2009.

The Commission’s earlier mandate spanned the period from 1990 to 2009, but the new time frame is of relevance to India, for it includes the period when then Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was active in Sri Lanka [1987-1990].

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Presidential Commission on Disappearances Mandate Extended to cover Indian Army Period in Country from 1987 to 1990 Also’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

“The idea that you can merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal – that you can gather votes like box tops – is, I think, the ultimate indignity to the democratic process.”

~ Adlai E. Stevenson

Although they pretend otherwise for obviously local reasons, the last three years must have been very traumatic for the ruling politicians in Sri Lanka. The Geneva fiasco has been plaguing them and as Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke rightly asserted in his recent contribution to the media, the Government has chosen to be frozen on a fixed standpoint instead of showing any flexibility that is usually associated with statesmen in general and thereby dragging the county and her people towards a diplomatic impasse, any departure from which would only appear as one of retreat rather than a wise maneuver.

Small minds aren’t supple and flexible; when they bend, they always tend to break.

Pros and cons of the Geneva standoff have been argued and counter-argued by many pundits and scholars. Local politicians on both sides of the isle have been engaged in counterproductive innuendos and debates while the international community led by the United States of America, Britain, Canada and India have been busy drafting and redrafting resolution after resolution to condemn Sri Lanka to the garbage heap of the world where only rogue nations such as North Korea, Myanmar and Libya habitually inhabit. That is not good company.

Continue reading ‘Those Presenting our Case at the UNHRC Sessions are up Against their own Deficiencies and Shortcomings.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The Sri Lankan army has heightened security in the country’s Northern Province through a host of measures, including vehicle checks, it is learnt.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Udaya Perera said the move was aimed at preventing a possible regrouping of LTTE sympathisers. “We hear that sections of the diaspora are funding some of those elements here,” he said. The “precaution,” he said, was also necessary to nab a suspect still at large, after a recent incident in Kilinochchi where he reportedly opened fire on a policeman.

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran Says “LTTE Re-emergence Story”is Being Floated to Justify Heavy Military Presence.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay and the Government locked horns in Geneva yesterday, after the senior official pushed hard for an international investigation into alleged atrocities committed during the war in Sri Lanka.

Navi Pillay, United Nations, High Commissionner for Human Rights during the 25th Session of the Human Rights Council. 26 March 2014.-UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha told the UN Human Rights Council that High Commissioner Pillay’s report that was orally presented yesterday reflected a “preconceived, politicised and prejudicial agenda which has been relentlessly pursued with regard to Sri Lanka”.

Pointing to the fact that High Commissioner Pillay had exceeded her mandate, Aryasinha said the Government delegation was “surprised by the numerous errors and misperceptions contained in the draft report on Sri Lanka”.
Continue reading ‘UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay Says Witnesses are Willing to Testify Before International Mechanisms on Sri Lanka.’ »

By

Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Jaffna, Sri Lanka – For the past six years, Perinparani Thirunavukkarasu, 46, has been searching for her son who was snatched in front of her eyes in Jaffna, the former war-zone of northern Sri Lanka.

Jayakumari Palendran has been fighting for information on her missing son [Dushi Pillai/Al Jazeera]

Thirunavukkarasu is among thousands of people whose relatives disappeared or were killed during the final stages of the civil war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“My son was abducted by eight men in military uniform on field motorbikes in 2008,” Thirunavukkarasu told Al Jazeera.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Parents are Still Searching for their “Missing” Children’ »

by International Crisis Group

The heavy militarisation of Sri Lanka’s northern province after the civil war’s bloody end in 2009 has been the subject of growing domestic and international concern. The large numbers of military personnel in the north, and the deep involvement of the military in the province’s governance, endanger the re-establishment of democratic institutions that is necessary to lasting peace (see our Nov 2013 report Sri Lanka’s Potemkin Peace: Democracy Under Fire).

Sri Lanka’s army soldiers stand guard in the back of a truck during the opening of a Bartleet Finance Limited investment branch in Jaffna, April 30, 2010. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

Faced with international demands – including from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) – to “demilitarise” the north, the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) claims it has significantly reduced troops levels. It also says the civilian administration is fully functional and that “the involvement of security forces in resettlement and reconstruction activities … is being gradually phased out.”
Continue reading ‘Under Army Jackboot: Excessive Military Presence in Northern Sri Lanka Enables Monitoring and Controlling of Civilian Population’ »