Human Rights

On the international front, with just three weeks to go for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva, pressure is building up on the government. Last week, Steven Ratner, a member of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s panel that probed alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, addressed an audience in Geneva. It […]

Skeletons of two persons, allegedly slain by the Sri Lankan military in recent times, have been recovered from an abandoned well near a bund constructed by the occupying Sri Lanka Army in I’lavaalai, Pa’ndaththeruppu situated in Valikaamam in the Jaffna district on Wednesday. Brain parts found inside one of the two skulls indicate that the […]

 Surendra Ajit Rupasinghe: I shall consider  two of Dayan’s arguments to present my views:1.0.    That the LTTE was – is-  a fascist organization, which he describes as ‘the most ruthless     terrorist organization in the world’, and which, therefore, had to be militarily liquidated     by the State. 2.0.    That sovereignty of the State stands […]

Further Repression of Media, Civil Society, MinoritiesIn 2011, accountability remained a dead issue, the media faced increasing censorship, and the long-standing grievances which led to the conflict were not seriously addressed. Sri Lankans face a lack of justice, weak rule of law, land grabbing, and a censored media from a government that is increasingly authoritarian. Brad […]

A GUARANTEE OF FREEDOMSA much awaited outcome of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’s commitment to human rights in 2012 will be the finalisation of an Asean instrument on human rights, particularly in the form of a Human Rights Declaration. It will underline the perception and position towards human rights in this region. The drafting […]

”As you enjoy an environment in which you may discuss matters of literature and the arts in relative comfort and freedom, we appeal to you to recall the reality of our situation, and to engage with it in your discussion forums. Support the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka in every way that is open […]

Kusal Perera      * At least 25 years of social debate on PCs and power devolution     * 25 years of PC rule, the people are familiar with     * 128 meetings held by the APRC to discuss a “home grown” solution     * Two comprehensive reports by the Expert Panel appointed by President Rajapaksa to            support APRC […]

In the second week of January Sri Lanka Government launched a new round of attacks on Press freedom activists and human rights defenders ( HRDs) through on of its main TV channel. In a news feature segment ( Vimasuma) broadcasted as a part of its news bulletin GOSL  indirectly threatened  those HRDs with death.  Showing […]

The main suspect in the murder of Sri Lankan Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar informed courts that he was tortured while in police custody to extract a confession.Muththiah Sagayadevan told the high court in Colombo on Thursday that police officers assaulted him demanding to ‘tell the truth’. The suspect named two police officers. One policeman […]

 The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) lodged a complaint with IGP N.K Illangakoon against armed groups issuing death threats to student leaders, today.  A three member delegation of the IUSF met the officials at the IGP’s office and handed over the complaint.The delegation was headed by IUSF, Convener, Sanjeewa Bandara while the others were a lawyer […]

NfR Sri Lanka, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders, strongly condemns the obstruction of the protest campaign against the disappearances in Sri Lanka by security forces without any legal ground. This blatant violation of people’s democratic rights shows that in the so-called liberated North of Sri Lanka not the rule of […]

Mass Media and Information Secretary W. B. Ganegala yesterday said that no one would be allowed to operate more than one news website under any circumstances.  In a brief interview with The Island, Ganegala said that 27 operators had received their licenses from Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, at the ministry, following a […]

”The news reports that we have quoted sadly reflect the pathetic state of law enforcement in our country. There are three tiers in law enforcement in any democracy – the Police who perform the investigative role, the Attorney-General’s Department who act as the prosecutors and the Judiciary who have to ensure that justice is meted […]

Shamindra Ferdinando– . Is the ongoing simmering internal dispute in the JVP real or a clever ruse to attract those opposed to the Rajapaksa regime, but are disappointed with both the main Opposition party the UNP and the JVP?Is it possible for the JVP to utilize the perceived split to re-build the party, which has […]

Canadian foreign affairs minister John Baird says the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report does not fully address the grave accusations of serious human rights violations that occurred toward the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka.He said in a statement today (Jan. 12), “Canada notes the public release of the report of Sri Lanka’s […]

Leela Isaac –  A regime change takes place only if the majority of people in a country want a change. In Sri Lanka today not many people would want it. After 30 years of war and terror, people are able to get about without fear, safe in the knowledge that the LTTE has been annihilated. […]

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has issued its determination regarding the complaint made by a Sri Lankan citizen, A.S.S. Pathmini Peiris, in connection with the murder of S.K.A. Sugath Nishanta Fernando who was assassinated on 20 September 2008. Previously Mr. Fernando had complained of the torture of himself, his two children and his wife […]

 The Sri Lankan government Tuesday said that its Intelligence Unit has uncovered information on a campaign carried out by the members of the media rights group, Free Media Movement (FMM) requesting the termination of the GSP+ tariff concession to Sri Lanka.The government said FMM personnel who have fled the country have sent 700 petitions calling […]

 ”It has been found that these anti-national elements sustaining on foreign funds have sent about 700 petitions calling for the suspension of GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka. These petition programmes has been carried out by persons such as Sunanda Desapriya, Podala Jayantha and Uvidu Kurukulasuriya who have used financial resources of the free-media movement for […]

Manjula FERNANDO  – Plantation Industries Minister and President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe expressed his views to the Sunday Observer on the possibility of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report being debated at the 19th UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva and the implementation of the National Action Plan […]

Javid Yusuf – To gain an accurate understanding of the Muslim community’s approach to the rebuilding of Society it is necessary to first comprehend a Muslim’s outlook to life itself.  For Muslims, religion is the most important aspect in life and hence the approach to public affairs would be premised upon a system of values […]

Two students have been admitted to hospital when a group of thugs in a double cab attacked a group of students of Sri Jayawardenepura University.  When three students had gone to a hotel opposite the University at about 11.00 p.m. yesterday (6th) a group of 6 thugs who had arrived in a green coloured double […]

Zacki Jabbar – The governments contention that there were no civilian casualties during the last stages of the war against the LTTE, has been disproved by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.He told a news conference in Colombo that the LLRC has referred to human rights violations on […]

The government said yesterday that it could implement the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) only according to a road map as spelled out earlier.   Asked for a comment about the remarks made by the religious leaders with regard to the implementation of the key recommendations by the LLRC, Cabinet Spokesman […]

The LLRC report has somewhat endorsed the Report on Sri Lanka compiled by the Expert Panel appointed by the UN chief Ban ki Moon, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said today. Addressing a press briefing he added that contrary to the government’s claim of ‘zero civilian casualty’ at the end of the war, the LLRC has […]

Since the end of the war in May 2009, it has become important for all ethnic communities of Sri Lanka to re-examine and re-evaluate their past. It is through this process of self-reflection that some of the major issues that confront state and civil society today can be meaningfully reconceived and reconfigured for the future.While […]

”Young men reading this, ask yourselves if you have not seen your father make your mother cry, your father hit your mother, even. Young women, ask yourselves if you do not throw yourselves into a social life that keeps you away from home for as long as possible because you just don’t want to go […]

The much-awaited LLRC report is finally out. Anik Pituwa would have welcomed a more forthright report with less “wahen oro” (indirect) language, especially about the last stages of the war and allegations of human rights. The report appears to be a compromise- between those who understand the international and internal ramifications of the issues involved […]

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights CommissionAll Sri Lankans will wish that the coming year will not be like the last one and, in fact, that it be different from previous years also, years in which deep insecurity has been prevailing due to the failure of the political system, resulting in serious problems in […]

 Authorities have arrested the wife and children of Premakumar Gunaratnam alias Kumara Mahattaya, the JVP dissident group’s exiled leader.Defence authorities apprehended them at the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake around 1.00 am today (Jan. 02). They are presently under interrogation. Kumara Mahattaya’s wife Champa Somaratne is a medical doctor and a citizen of citizen of Australia, […]