Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Tuesday passed a ground-breaking resolution, declaring that the successive Sri Lankan governments have carried out a systematic campaign of genocide against the Tamil nation in the island. The resolution has also urged the UN investigators to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC). “This resolution provides […]

10 February 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the general direction of the government’s 100-day reforms programme that is currently underway. After decades of intolerable battering, Sri Lanka’s democratic procedures and institutions are badly in need of reform and rejuvenation. In terms of broad principles, we unhesitatingly support the abolition […]

Last week I had a view of another lagoon—in Jaffna. On Thursday, early in the morning, I took the Chinese built train to Kankasanturai that ran on Indian tracks after Vavunia. The train took more than seven hours to reach Jaffna, my destination. This time I travelled by train after 35 years; my last train […]

Two important Constitutional Amendments, as promised by the Government as the Common Opposition during its election campaign, are now in the initial stages of formulation. The 19th and 20th Amendments will carry important reforms to prune executive presidency and bring in electoral reforms, both of which are expected to be fulfilled before the next general […]

[Justice K. Sripavan taking oath as Chief Justice] As all of you are aware that, in a democratic government, the power of the judiciary depends largely on its reputation for independence, integrity and wisdom. The strength of the Judiciary entirely consists in the moral allegiance which it can evoke by the hold it has over […]

A political goal that warrants sustained attention of the new Sri Lankan government as well as the democratic reform constituencies is the rebuilding of public institutions of democratic governance, accountability, autonomy, and checks and balances. Democratic governance requires the presence of institutions of governance that are strong enough to withstand the pressures of authoritarian regimes […]

By Waruni Karunarathne – The mandate of the Presidential Commission to Investigate Missing Persons has been extended till August 15, 2015. Secretary of the Presidential Commission to Investigate Missing Persons, H. W. Gunadasa told The Sunday Leader that the commission will continue its work as usual and will commence public sittings to complete the instigations […]

[ M.A.Sumanthiran speaking to Press at UNHRC in March 2013 ] By P.K.Balachandran – COLOMBO: M.A.Sumanthiran, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, is currently in Geneva lobbying at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for release of the UN’s investigative report on allegations of war crimes committed in the last phase of the 2006-2009 Eelam […]

[South Africa Vice President Ramaphosa] South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to visit Colombo next month, the country’s High Commissioner Geoff Diodge. Key on the discussions with the new Maithripala Sirisena administration would be on the role South Africa could play in the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. South Africa’s International Relations and […]

A committee is to be appointed on a directive of the President in order to commence a programme to release lands in the North back to civilians, a presidential media statement said quoting State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene in Vavuniya. Wijewardene was quoted as saying the lands in the North and East Provinces would […]

The following are the main proposals for constitutional reform under discussion in the National Executive Committee. President The President will be the Head of State, the Head of the Executive and the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The President shall always, except in the case of the appointment of the Prime Minister or […]

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged President Maithripala Sirisena to withdraw the renewal order calling the members of the armed forces under the provisions of Public Security Ordinance for active service to maintain public order. The President, following a practice of the previous government, in an Extraordinary Gazette notification on February 02 […]

Govt. to extend controversial detention law by 2 more years The new Government is to extend for two years a controversial law which allows the Police to detain for upto 48 hours persons arrested without a warrant on charges of murder and other serious crimes. The Minister of Justice has issued a Gazette notification to […]

by Rajan Philips- “We have failed in the essential task of nation building,” said President Chandrika Kumaratunga in her speech to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence. That was in 1998. Seventeen years later, on Independence Day last week, President Maithripala Sirisena soul searchingly spoke of our “great responsibility and duty … today […]

by Thalif Deen – UNITED NATIONS, Feb 6 2015 (IPS) – Sri Lanka’s newly-installed government, which has pledged to set up its own domestic tribunal to investigate war crimes charges, is seeking political and moral support both from the United States and the United Nations to stall a possible international investigation. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera […]

The United States pledged on Friday to assist Sri Lanka’s new government in creating a more open and democratic society. In a speech laying out President Barack Obama’s updated national security strategy, U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice included Sri Lanka alongside Myanmar – which is also known as Burma – and Tunisia as a […]

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti- With nearly 2 million of its citizens working abroad and their remittances providing the island’s largest single source of foreign exchange, the protection of Sri Lankan migrants is an urgent issue, according to the U.N.. Abuse of workers abroad and reports about the mistreatment of migrants captured by Australian authorities at sea […]

Issuing a statement a Colombo based civil society group has called for the government to strengthen human rights protection in Sri Lanka as the basis for its unity, peace and prosperity. The statement follows: 4 February 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka: We, the undersigned conveners on behalf of civil society organizations and individuals who have focused […]

[US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Biswal meets TNA leaders in Colombo.] COLOMBO: Keeping in view the delicate political situation in Sri Lanka, the United States may ask the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to postpone the taking up of a resolution against that country at its March session, informed sources in […]

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday warned that unless tangible action was taken to restore what he called judicial credibility, ongoing external investigations could lead to Sri Lankan armed forces personnel as well as civilians appearing before an international war crimes tribunal. Minister Samaraweera was participating in a debate at the time of adjournment of House […]

[Rajapaksa speaking to supporters at his home after the defeat] by Kalana Senavirathana – In the early weeks of November 2014, it seemed somewhat clear that Mahinda Rajapaksa was set to rule the country for at least another six years. But on January 8, 2015 when he finally went to cast his vote with the […]

[New Govenor meets CM in Jaffna] Chief Minister Northern Province C. V. Wigneswaran said the replacement of the military Governors in the North and East with members of foreign and civil services (Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara), combined with measures such as the removal of the travel restrictions to the North, signifies a […]

[ Sinhala nationalist groups protest in front of UNHRC ] By Easwaran Rutnam- The swearing in of a new Government has not released the pressure on Sri Lanka for a UN led investigation over the war, with human rights groups insisting that it is the only way forward. The Government had last week dispatched Jayantha […]

[A photographer takes aim at the UNHRC] Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war ended in May 2009, but there are still many concerns regarding accountability for alleged wartime atrocities and persistent tension between the country’s various ethnic groups. Increased authoritarianism from recently ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa and institutionalized impunity have meant that the country’s wounds of […]

[Sri Lankan FM Samaraweera and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal shake hands ] WASHINGTON (AP) — The surprise defeat of Sri Lanka’s authoritarian leader and the new government’s early steps to end repression have stirred U.S. hopes that the South Asian island nation can revive ties with […]

[Photo by Amanntha Perera] By Amantha Perera- Colombo, 3 February 2015 (IRIN) – Sri Lanka’s new government says it will address outstanding concerns relating to the civil war that ended in May 2009, including allegations of human rights abuses, missing persons and political prisoners. The new administration, which came to power last month, appears to […]

President Sirisena has issued a Gazette Notification under  calling members of the Armed Forces to  maintain the  of public order in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. After repealing the state of emergency on 30th August  2011 them President Rajapaksa too issued the identical Gazette Notification. The Gazette  had been issued on 6th August. Here […]

[Chinese defence minister with President Rajapaksa] by Upul Joseph Fernando – The first official statement issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, after his defeat, appeared in the print media last week. The statement looked to be a sad note from the former President. He regretted that the present government was harassing him and his family […]

[ Kamalesh Sharma with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe ] The Government is considering the full implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to fully implement the recommendations of the LLRC and that resulted in some countries accusing Sri Lanka of […]

[Sit back to setback: Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka for a decade; he now faces allegations of corruption and attempted coup. AP Photo] By Frances Bulathsinghala/Colombo – Though defeated in the presidential poll, Mahinda Rajapaksa can still become the prime minister Sit back to setback: Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka for a decade; he now […]