militarization

Image: File photo of a Sri Lanka solider.  Already, another arm of the Police Department, the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the premier intelligence arm of the country, has seen its first change. Moved out is Director Nilantha Jayawardena who stands accused of not informing those concerned about the April 21 attacks. He has been transferred […]

— Image grab: YOUTUBE  by Meera Srinivasan. Expressing deep concern, civil society organisation says such incidents could affect reconciliation A Buddhist monk’s death threat to a Tamil village officer in Batticaloa — in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province — has gone viral on social media, worrying many who are hoping for speedy reconciliation in the war-torn […]

Study sees Afghanistan rank the worst in the world while UAE is second best in Arab world for visa-free travel By Bindu Suresh Rai Even as some of the world’s most troubled hotspots have countries maintain a year-round travel advisory for its citizens, several Dubai-based Asian expats claimed surprise that Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan […]

A six-member Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegation representing the UK Parliament visited Sri Lanka last week, on the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government. However, they were disappointed that neither President Mahinda Rajapaksa nor Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, could meet them.According the British High Commission, a meeting with the Defence Secretary was scheduled, but due […]

Pooja Patel: appalled at the Sri Lankan delegation’s claim that the military offers “no intrusive presence impacting on civilian life” in the north Friday, 15 March 2013 Thank you, Mr. President. FORUM-ASIA makes this statement in association with its member organisations in Sri Lanka, Law and Society Trust (LST) and INFORM-Human Rights Documentation Centre.  We […]

Cheaper prices; cheaper prices; cheaper prices! This wish will certainly echo across the nation in 2013, more particularly among urban and middle-class communities. Soaring prices of essential commodities including rising fuel costs have been the hallmark of Sri Lanka’s economy this year and would most likely continue next year. For middle-class people, particularly those living […]

Jaffna students walking past a destroyed building ( photo : Diplomat) Jaffna, the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province and once the bastion of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is once again experiencing unrest.Violent clashes broke out on November 27, Martyrs’ Day for Tamil, between students of Jaffna University and Sri Lankan security […]

FUTA press statement on Jaffna university problem While  expressing  concern  about  the  recent  beating,  harassment  and  arrests  of  students  in  Jaffna, FUTA reminds the authorities of its demands made in the recent protest to keep the universities free of  political  interference.  Not  only  does  this  hinder  academic  enterprise  but  leads  to  unrest  in  our universities.  […]

By ignoring the restorations of ruined Hindu, Christian and Islamic worship centers, by constructing new Buddhist Temples in the north and east will not originate ethnic harmony.If actual harmony should be prevailed between ethnic communities, in all issues equal distribution is needed was urged by Vanni district Tamil National Alliance Member Selvam Adaikalanathan yesterday in […]

TNA MPs at the demonstration In an impressive show of solidarity on Tuesday, the TNPF-called demonstration in Jaffna condemning the attack on Jaffna university students and the arrest of student leaders by the occupying forces of Sri Lanka, was actively participated by the mainstream TNA, University Teachers Association, University Students Union, Jaffna Chamber of Commerce, […]

27th Nov Jaffna: P. Darshananth explains their right to association Stepping up their terror campaign against the Jaffna students’ society, Sri Lankan police on Saturday (01) has arrested four Jaffna University Students, including its union leader P. Darshananth and his colleague, in a midnight raid. According to media sources in Jaffna, a four-member team in […]

Military & police  assault (Photo: Uthayan) E.Saravanpavan, MP, Jaffna November 27th is the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers’ Heros Day on which day people offer their commemoration to the demised  warriors.    It is customary for people to pay their respect to the deceased on such days. This salutation offered to their blood brothers, relations and parents […]

relatives of the killed prisoners calls for justice ( BBC photo)  Ranga Jayasuriyascores of inmates who died in the Welikada prison clash were in fact summarily executed by the Special Task Force after the army commandos quelled the prison riot, prisoners and prison officials allege. “The last inmate was killed at around 6 am on […]

The paramilitary and the intelligence services will play the role of accusers, judges and executioners. Basil FernandoThe impeachment is not about the individual that is Shriyani Bandaranayake, the Chief Justice. The real issue is about ending the position of the judiciary as a separate branch of the state. What is now being faced is a […]

(LBO) – Sri Lanka’s army has opened its third resort hotel and also created a brand as part of efforts to add more rooms to cater to an influx of tourists and promote soldier welfare.Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya said the army, which opened its first resort to provide rest and recuperation to soldiers fighting an […]

War returnee Genzia MaryTwo countries in oneMilitarization of north deepens distrustLimited efforts to bridge divideProblem of impunity  PUTHUKKUDIYIRUPPU- Genzia Mary, 10, is fascinated by the buses arriving in northern Sri Lanka, their jovial travellers singing in a language that, until two years ago, was completely foreign to her. Mary lives in Kilinochchi District, part of […]

(AFP) COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday increased import taxes in an annual budget which allocated a record $2.2 billion for defence, three years after ending a war with Tamil rebels. Rajapakse, who also holds the defence and finance portfolios, told parliament the country had suffered the effects of a global economic […]

The Eastern Provincial Council (EPC), which is now under the control of ruling United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) passed a resolution unanimously Tuesday against the appropriation by the Sri Lanka Army of the entire traditional Muslim village, Karimayilaiyoottu with a century old mosque. C.Thandayuthapani, the opposition leader in the EPC who represents the Tamil National […]

Number of countries have submitted dozens of questions in advance for the Government of Sri Lanka to respond at the up coming UPR – Sri Lanka session. The Sri Lanka human rights situation will be taken up at the UPR on  Thursday 1 November 2012  from 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm.  93 countries have registered […]

School Principals become military officers Under the guidance of Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 23 Class 1 Principals of Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and officers of the Ministry of Education were Commissioned as Brevet Colonels at a ceremony held at the Defence Ministry premises today (08th October). They were thus commissioned […]