Sri Lanka

 By Namini WijedasaPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa last week categorically told newspaper editors that a law to protect the people’s right to information was unnecessary. He said instead that he could ensure access to information excluding what was covered by the Official Secrecy Act and national security. If a journalist lodged a request, the president said, he […]

04 July 2011 The Ministry of Defence has lifted the travel restrictions on foreign passport holders to visit north from today. This restriction had also affected many former Sri Lankans who have obtained citizenship in other countries when they visit north.According to Military Liaison Officer Officials, foreign pass port holders are no longer required to […]

Villagers in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Amapara have been protesting against the moves by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to acquire their ancestral land in order to establish a new camp.Panama, Kumana, Helawa and Ragamwela residents who have tried to resettle after the war say they were prohibited by the SLN, which the villagers […]

Gurusinghage Priyantha alias Neluwe Priyantha a criminal allegedly involved in a number of crimes died when the police task force opened fire on him this morning.During the interrogation of him , it has come to light that a cache of arms are hidden in the Sooriyakande district. It is reported that when he police went […]

There is a very critical structural shift in policies towards militarization of this country.Unlike in the past we see that the Navy has started a water bottling company.It is taking tourists on whale watching tours in the East. The Air Force is running helicopter services. The Army is selling vegetables. In the same brush that […]

The May 2011 Joint Humanitarian and Early Recovery Update released on June 24th by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states, that a total of approximately 220,000 persons are still displaced in the ‘former conflict regions’.The highlights of the report as follows:I. Situation overview and highlights – Between 1‐31 May 2011, […]

If the videos in Killing Fields have indeed been doctored, the truth must come out. However, the government of Sri Lanka’s previous behaviour in keeping stories of the war quiet affects its credibility in relation to these allegations. Sri Lankan situation: the truth must come outby Sunili GovinnageTonight, ABC’s Four Corners will show Killing Fields, […]

 Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Batticaloa district, P. Selvarajah has blamed the Mahinda Rajapaksa government for false records of resettlement in the province. While many thousands people still find themselves displaced, their names are marked as resettled in the SL government records. “For example, people who displaced from Kagnchi-kudichchaa’ru and Thangka-vealaayutha-puram during the war are […]

by Basil FernandoIn my earlier short essay titled Replacing investigations with gossip, I tried to point to the absence of outrage against forced disappearances in Sri Lanka, which I ended by saying that there must be some cultural for such an attitude. In this second short essay I venture to look into what that cultural […]

The country today desperately needs a vigorous civil society that will stand up and speak up for the preservation of our democratic freedoms. These freedoms include not only the freedom of speech and association and equality before the law but also economic and social freedoms as the right to work, to an adequate livelihood and […]

What President Rajapakse and his brothers – the real government – need at this time are friends – both local and foreign. Credible policies and a track record to show good intent will do well too.by I.S. Senguttuvan(July 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankan watchers and students of how Rajapakse is running the government […]

July 3, 2011/by C.A.ChandrapremaIn the course of their deliberations, the Parliamentary Select Committee on NGOs made certain observations on selected organisations which we publish below. It should be borne in mind that the interim report of the PSC on NGOs was signed by the UPFA, the UNP and the JVPNational Peace CouncilIt is reported that […]

July 3, 2011/ By Franklin R.SatyapalanCommissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya told Political Party Secretaries on Friday that he could take action on hear say or their press releases or news reports in the media exposing any instances of interference by the Army in the election campaign for the forthcoming local elections in the North.The Commissioner […]

04 July 2011/By Rifthi AliAs a member of the Asian – African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), Sri Lanka would not join the International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday Minister Hakeem AALCO new  president told that AALCO’s 50th  conference did not take any decision on member […]

Northern and Eastern divisions relatively better, though B’caloa remains major trouble spot July 3, 2011/ By Shamindra FerdinandoIn the post-war era, Batticaloa police division has logged the highest number of incidents among the Northern and Eastern divisions for two consecutive years.Police sources told The Island that in spite of dawn of peace Batticaloa division remained […]

By Kishali Pinto JayawardeneIn terms of democratic freedoms, are Sri Lankans worse off now than they were before the war ended?This is perhaps a most crucial question in the current post war phrase. When the danger of oneself or one’s loved ones being blown to bits on any given day is no longer a threat, […]

The next day (last) Sunday morning, his blood-drenched body was hanging from a goal post in a playground in Putur, just two kilometres from his home. It bore torture marks. The nails of fingers in both hands had been plucked out, Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr. S. Sivaruban, testified at the post-mortem inquiry. He […]

Jayalalithaa, who had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, last month handed over to the latter a 24-page memorandum. It begins with references to Sri Lanka. She is seeking the return of Kachchativu, an island in the Palk Straits, the seas that divide India and Sri Lanka. Here are the relevant highlights: Memorandum […]

More than two years after declaring victory in one of Asia’s most intractable wars, Sri Lanka is now increasingly focusing on rapid post-war economic revival amid growing international criticism over war crimes and rising labour unrest at home.Sri Lanka’s debut $500mn 5-year eurobond, maturing in 2012 with a coupon of 8.25%, is now trading at […]

July 1, 2011 by gordon weissIn response to Groundviews, the respected Sri Lankan citizen’s journal, I am posting this single image taken by Colonel Harun Khan, of the deaths of civilians as a result of shelling. For those who don’t know, Khan, who features in Chapter 5 of my book “The Cage”, is a Bangladeshi […]

”Just look at what is happening in Jaffna today. There is military rule. I was personally present when the army came and broke up an academic meeting on preserving ancient books. Our group is now scared of meeting again. by S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole1 July 2011,Naro Udeshi Commemoration Lecture,Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Colombo, June 30, 2011 […]

”The reserved list in the Sri Lankan Constitution begins with the rubric, “National policy on all subjects and functions”. A reasonable interpretation of this provision would be that Parliament can lay down national policy relating to a matter on the provincial list and the Provincial Council should adhere to this in making statutes.”1 July 2011 […]

Will Pullukkulam in Jaffna town area be given to the business activities of the majority community? Efforts for such grabbing have started.Many places in the North and East in Sri Lanka especially in Jaffna have been taken possession by the majority community. These places are used for building star hotels and posh restaurants. It is […]

Recent activities shows that, Sri Lanka is moving to dictatorship. There is a dangerous situation developing. The first is, wherever the people try to live, the military camps there. It is there on each street corner and it is very difficult to their development and people cant do anything with out military intervention. Further than […]

Soldiers stationed in the North have been intruding into the everyday affairs of the public and offer arbitrary mediation in affairs unwarranted of them. This has created an anxiety among the public.Soldiers stationed in the North have been intruding into the everyday affairs of the public and offer arbitrary mediation in affairs unwarranted of them. […]

 Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa when addressing the media briefing yesterday reveal the cabinet decisions to the media , said, the Govt. has decided that the telecasting rights regarding the Sri Lanka (SL) cricket tournaments where the SL team is participating , shall be given exclusively to the State media . However he added that private […]

 Commanding chief of the East Major General Boniface Perera at a special media briefing held yesterday at Deavar Hall, Batticaloa referring to yesterday’s Bank heist at Batticaloa said , this robbery is not only a threat to the security not only of Batticaloa , but of the entire Island.‘After one and half years , looting […]

July 1, 2011/ By Shamindra FerdinandoResponding to ‘Channel 4 News’ allegation that the government of Sri Lanka had deliberately denied food to those trapped on the Vanni east front during the final phase of the Vanni offensive, navy headquarters yesterday said that the a food ship reached the North less than a week before the […]

01 July 2011 The JVP says that a massive fraud has incurred behind the sub standard fuel pumped into several vehicles during the last few days.The JVP Central Committee Member Mr Anura Dissanayake disclosed this at a media briefing held today. “We examined why many motor bicycles, tri-shows and motor vehicles have been malfunctioned after […]

Sivaram was abducted in Colombo in April 2005 and his body was found dumped in a HSZ, a day laterA court in Sri Lanka has set the dates for the trial of the abduction and murder of a senior Tamil journalist.The Colombo High Court has decided to proceed with the trial on the murder of […]