‘Any news related to national security and security forces, the police should get prior approval’ The government of Sri Lanka has imposed a censorship on short text messages (SMS) related to security forces.The defence ministry has instructed media outlets that send SMS news alerts that all news related to national security, security forces and the […]

A group of catholic clergy, laymen, and laywomen has endorsed the concerns and calls made in a letter to the president and members of the UN Human Rights Council by 31 Catholic clergy from Northern Sri Lanka, including the Bishop of Mannar.The group says in a statement that it also expresses grave concerns about intimidation […]

Sri Lanka’s Defense Ministry on Monday ordered news outlets to get prior approval before sending mobile phone alerts about the military or police, a move press freedom groups decried as another step towards greater censorship.In a letter hand-delivered to news outlets including Reuters, Media Center for National Security (MCNS) Director-General Lakshman Hulugalle said the new […]

On 15th May 2010, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was established by the President of Sri Lanka. On 13th September 2010, the LLRC issued interim recommendations. On 15th November 2011, the LLRC submitted its’ final report to the President. So now, it is more than 100 days after the final report of the […]

A 34-year-old man identified as ‘Maalu Priyantha’ has been kidnapped in Borella by armed men in a white van.According to his relatives, he was abducted at 34-watte last night (Mar. 11).They have lodged a complaint with Borella Police. However, the police media unit said it has no information about such an incident SLM

The US- resolution on Sri Lanka filed at the UN Human Rights Council is a violation of the UN charter and an infringement of internal affairs of a country, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday. Sharing his views on the Geneva resolution with the Daily Mirror, Mr. Premadasa said it violated article 2.4 of the […]

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday that India should stand together with China and Russia with regard to the Us-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights CounCIL(UNHRC) as otherwise they could be the next target over the Kashmir issue. Minister Ranawaka who is also […]

Tamil National Alliance’s leader R. Sampanthan said that the government has continuously tried to create a rift within the TNA.“This has been happening for a long time. The Government has continuously tried to create a rift among us. They stole the only Sinhalese member who was a member of our party. I insisted on giving […]

By Claudia JosephA documentary showing graphic new footage of executed civilians in Sri Lanka, including the son of the leader of the Tamil Tigers, hopes to provide conclusive evidence of war crimes by its government. A year after screening Jon Snow’s award-winning documentary Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields about the dying days of the civil war […]

The National Police Commission, now stripped of its powers, has become a big hoax, charges Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, a member of the commission.  The NPC previously was empowered to make appointments, promotions and transfers as well as conduct disciplinary inquiries in the Police Department, he notes.However, it is today without any of these powers, […]

Former high court judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa accuses certain judges of having failed to maintain the dignity of their profession and having no self-strength.  He was speaking in Colombo at a felicitation organized in his honour by the young lawyers association.The former judge alleged certain judges did not know their independence, unaware of justice and would […]

Chairman of Kolonnawa Urban Council Ravindra Udaya Shantha has requested authorities to provide him with protection, claiming that there is a plot to kill him.  His allegation came as the OIC of the Wellampitiya Police has been transferred with immediate effect.Mr. Udaya Shantha has complained to police that certain men who had come in a […]

-Murderous Rajapakses try to kill their own Mayor Idi Amin style using the Army para group(Lanka-e-News-11.March.2012, ) It has now come to light that the Rajapakse regime criminals with the white van who were for the first time caught by the people and handed over to the Wellampitiya police comprised two Captains, a Lieutenant and […]

 Solicitor General Palitha Fernando has said the Attorney General (AG) has not received any official communication to reopen investigations into the killing of five students in Trincomalee in 2006.Fernando has told the media that until such communication is received to reopen an inquiry, the modalities and the nature of an investigation could not be revealed. […]

Footage of atrocity committed at the end of the government’s war with the Tamil Tigers is revealedIt is a chilling piece of footage that represents yet another blow for the beleaguered Sri Lankan government in its attempts to head off a critical resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this week.The short […]

Dear Wise Leaders,Good Day to you all.It is coming close to 3 years since the bloody civil war in SriLanka ended. I am sure you are aware – that war was a colossal humanitarian disaster. Several tens of thousand innocent human lives were lost. Attempts are being made by the International community to encourage the […]

 Uditha Kumarasinghe Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs Prof. Tissa Vitarana said many of Sri Lanka’s friends in the international community have spoken against the US-sponsored resolution. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said more and more World Leaders as well as the public realise that the West has an ulterior motive and […]

There was a significant development in this regard in Sri Lanka this week. It was a breakfast meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with the United States Ambassador Patricia Butenis. It was at the President’s House in Kandy. The Sunday Times learnt that the meeting has been lined up on the “strict understanding” that the US-backed […]

US presents milder amended draft; but UNHRC supervision if vote is passed . HR affairs on three-track mess: Hardline by GL, softline by Samarasinghe and demos by government .The SOS message arrived after Sri Lanka’s 52-member delegation — which was a heavy burden on the country’s purse  returned to Colombo early this week from the […]

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene  The continued shrill beating of the nationalist drum in regard to the resolution tabled this week before the United Nations Human Rights Council by the United States of America, calling on Sri Lanka to set a time frame for the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), […]

A proposed National Policy on Reconciliation calls for an amendment to the Constitution to create a Senate. Legislation in particular areas should require the consent of two thirds of the Senate in addition to two thirds of Parliament or the First Chamber.This is one of the highlights of a set of proposals formulated by the […]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has reiterated that its original stance not to participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) remains unchanged.  TNA spokesman and parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said there was no change of mind with regard to the party’s decision not to take part in the proposed PSC.In response to the comments made […]

Supporters of Kolonnawa Urban Council chairman Ravindra Udaya Shantha alias Suda clashed with an armed group that had tried to abduct him, reports said.  The men who had come in a white van were foiled in the attempt by the UC chairman’s supporters.The group had fled in their van, but were ambushed and confronted at […]

Ambika Satkunanathan,   The term ‘local reconciliation’ may seem benign, but recent research amongst Tamils in the north of the country highlights the damaging silence hanging over the survivors of the conflict, and a determination to reach justice through transparency over past and present wrongs. The Sri Lankan government has appropriated the term ‘reconciliation’ to construct […]

Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sri-Lankan government’s special envoy to the UNHRC while addressing the High Level Segment of 19th Session of the UNHRC at Geneva on 27th February 2012 made a Machiavellian request from the audience.He asked the world body to accept the means adopted during the war although it was laden with war crimes, as the […]

Speaking at a consultative side event organized by the US mission on draft submitted by them, Sri Lanka’s former attorney general and legal advisor to the cabinet Mohan Peiris said , “I ask US – we are with you for promotion and  protection  of human rights  but we are only saying, by all means, help […]

Prof Rajiva Wijesinha is a Sri Lankan member of parliament, and former secretary-general of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) in that country. He has served as secretary to the Lankan ministry of disaster management and human rights and has been appointed as adviser on reconciliation to the President of Sri Lanka. In […]

Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain DonahoeYesterday, after consultation with partners including those who will join us as co-sponsors, we tabled a draft resolution on Sri Lanka for consideration by the Human Rights Council (HRC) at its 19th Session. We have taken this step upon careful reflection and after extensive dialogue and bilateral engagement at the highest levels […]

“The proposed resolution does not go far enough. It will not immediately call for direly needed international investigations — a bitter disappointment. In this context, the proposed resolution must not preclude future UNHRC efforts that demand justice, accountability and international investigations in Sri Lanka. The resolution should be voted on only as a first step […]

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, hosted her counterpart from Sri Lanka, Professor Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, for bilateral discussions on 05 March 2012.Minister Peres briefed the South African Government on plans to implement the recommendations of the Sri Lankan Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission relating to human […]