Currently, hardly a day passes without any story about a crime or a fraud involving a politician, particularly a local government member, being carried in the media. Obviously almost all these rogue (or allegedly rogue) politicians are attached to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the ruling party in the Parliament, all Provincial Councils already […]
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Sri Lankan chief justice expresses contempt for democratic rights
Mohan Peiris defended GoSL at UN By Sanjaya Jayasekera and Sujeewa Amaranath Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice, Mohan Peiris, recently made remarks that openly attack democratic rights, in line with the government’s police-state methods. He declared that human rights existed to “protect the majority and not the minority of criminals” and the prime concern of the […]
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Four Hindu temples ransacked in one night by unruly persons in Batticaloa.
Four Hindu temples in one night was ransacked and damaged by unidentified persons in the Batticaloa district. The source sculpture and other idols were damaged and the jewelry and money had been looted was said.Tension prevailed in the Batticaloa town two days back due to this incident. Speculations emerged in the midst of people that […]
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Govt. attacked students struggling to protect education for future generations – NMPFE
The National Movement for Protecting Free Education (NMPFE) has issued an announcement asking as to who takes the responsibility of the brutal attack carried out on students of Sabaragamuwa University. The announcement issued with the signatures of the co-conveners of NMPFE Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero and Senior Lecturer Devaka Punchihewa states’ “The students of Sabragamuwa […]
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Accountability: A grand failure of the Sri Lankan state
8 years gone: No investigation, only promises Kishali Pinto-JayawardenaVerily, one is not sure whether to be outraged or amused by assurances made by Sri Lankan Government’s Permanent Representative this week that non-summary proceedings into the brutal killings of 5 students of Tamil ethnicity in Trincomalee during 2006 will commence in the first week of June […]
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Interference by the Military Governor: Eastern Provincial Council in crisis
The Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) has run into a crisis with 20 members of the ruling party (UPFA), including the four Ministers, boycotting sessions demanding the postponement of the Northern PC polls until the Governor and the Chief Minister are replaced and the administrative infrastructure restored.“We are talking of inefficiency and indifference which are an […]
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Failed attempt to kidnap ‘Janarala’ news editor
The attempt made to kidnap the news editor of ‘Janarala’ newspaper G.D.L Priyadarshana on May 30th night has failed. Speaking to ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ regarding the incident he stated, “I was standing on the road at around 10 pm at Ekala waiting for a bus. Then a man on motor bike arrived and offered to […]
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China’s blank cheques: No checks and balances – Editorial, Sunday Times
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has just concluded his seventh state visit to China in as many years as the country’s Head of State and Head of Government. The importance — and significance — of the regularity of these visits can hardly be missed.In the early years of his presidency, the priority was seeking Chinese military hardware […]
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The implications of States’ surveillance of communications for the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression
Frank La Rue Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression ”The present report analyses the implications of States’ surveillance of communications for the exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and expression. While considering the impact of […]
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Sri Lanka monk self-immolation highlights anti-Muslim sentiment
J. S. TissainayagamThe suicide by a Buddhist monk who set himself on fire in Sri Lanka to protest the slaughter of cattle has been hailed as an act of great self-sacrifice and compared to acts of self-immolation by Tibetan Buddhist monks protesting China’s repression in Tibet. Nothing could be more ill-informed. In fact, it is […]
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Sri Lanka emphasizes need for regulation, transparency and accountability in funding to NGOs and NPOs
Sri Lanka has emphasized that regulation, transparency and accountability of funding to NGOs and NPOs is a pre-requisite in the interest of national security and counter-terrorism as recognized by states, and that obligation placed on states to adhere to the regulatory framework in compliance with 40 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, makes it […]
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China, Sri Lanka agree loans, defence; seek to allay Indian worries
(Reuters) – China has offered Sri Lanka about $2.2 billion in loans for infrastructure projects and a free trade pact, the island nation said on Wednesday, moves that could stoke fresh unease in India about Beijing’s expanding influence in its neighborhood.Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris, however, said the agreements with China including a separate […]
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SRI LANKA: Refugees in India reluctant to return
Amelia Shepherd-Smith/IRINThere are more than 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees in India TAMIL NADU, 4 September 2012 (IRIN) – More than three years after the end of Sri Lanka’s 1983-2009 civil war, most Sri Lankan refugees in India say they would rather not return, citing economic hardship and concern over human rights abuses.According to Indian government […]
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Sri Lanka, Thailand agree to cooperate on Defense and Maritime Security
SL promised to support Thailand at UNHRCLeaders of Sri Lanka and Thailand today agreed to enhance cooperation on defense and maritime security when the visiting Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat. The two leaders held bilateral discussions this morning on a number of issues including […]
