UK NEWS

Authorities in Sri Lanka have taken serious note of videos being circulated on social and web-based media of an alleged incident involving the Minister Counsellor (Defence) Brigadier Fernando attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London behaving in an offensive manner. In this connection, instructions have been sent to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London today, 6 February 2018, to suspend the Minister Counsellor (Defence) Brigadier Fernando  from work, with immediate effect. Authorities in Sri Lanka including the Sri Lanka Army will initiate inquiries on the incident immediately. (Press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs) In the past Sri Lankan soldier, who had attacked visiting Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with a rifle butt in 1987 and said ”I intended to kill Rajiv Ganthy”.   He was sentenced to six years in prison, however President Premadasa gave him a […]

The officer ran a finger across his neck motioning the slitting of one’s neck, whilst he stood in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London next to embassy officials.  http://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lankan-military-official-motions-death-threat-tamils-protesting-london A Sri Lankan military officer who motioned a death threat to Tamil protesters in London yesterday has been identified as a commander who led troops in a military offensive in 2009, that massacred tens of thousands of Tamil civilians. The officer, named as Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, was posted to London as the Sri Lankan High Commission’s defence attaché last year said a briefing released by Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) & the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP). As part of the military offensive in 2009, Brigadier Fernando fought in Weli Oya […]

Astonishing footage of machete gang rampaging through house in Ilford Anyone with information can contact Dc Lam on 07785 439725, East Area CID on 0208 345 4329, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. This is the moment a terrified mother pleads for her child’s life as masked machete-wielding thugs ransack their home. The woman, 39, begged the five-strong gang to spare her eldest son as he was dragged from room to room at knifepoint. Moments earlier one of the gang had pressed a blade to her neck and demanded passwords to disable trackers on smartphones and tablets, threatening: “We will kill her.” CCTV at their home in Ilford captured a man in a balaclava and goggles breaking through the front door before signalling the others to follow. The […]

It seems some things are foreign to some officials in the Foreign Ministry in Colombo. This week, its website – the official portal of the Ministry – made Sri Lankans believe there was an All Party Group from Britain visiting the country. This is what it said: “A four member delegation of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sri Lanka (APPG-SL) in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament, is currently visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The visit commenced on 3rd January 2018 and will conclude on Monday 8th January. “The delegation is led by the Rt. Hon. Ranil Jayawardena, MP a Sri Lankan Sinhalese, Chairman of the APPG-SL and includes the Rt. Hon. Michelle Donelan, MP, the […]

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a recent visit to India called on the British Government to apologize for the massacre in Amritsar by the British troops. Reportedly some 379 Sikhs were killed by the troops in a site known as Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar in 1919. “It is wrong that successive British governments have fallen short of delivering a formal apology to the families of those who were killed” the Mayor who represents opposition Labour party urged the Conservative government. “I am clear that the government should now apologize, especially as we reach the centenary of the massacre” he added. While an apology is certainly be welcoming it would be better if Britain could also extend an apology for other crimes in India, […]

The British High Commission has declared that Lord Naseby’s recent statement in the House of Lords pertaining to accountability issues in Sri Lanka doesn’t reflect UK’s stand. ‘Sri Lanka apologist Naseby must withdraw allegations’ – Telegraph … www.tamilguardian.com/…/sri-lanka-apologist-naseby-must-withdraw-allegations-–-te…  3 Jun 2014 – “Lord Naseby has given misleading testimony to the House of Lords, and his remarks have been picked up in Sri Lanka and are being used in defence of the regime.” “The rules are clear. Those who make misleading statements to Parliament must correct the record at the first opportunity.Lord Naseby has … The British HC said so in response to The Island query whether the BHC had discussions with the Foreign Ministry here or the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as regards Lord Naseby’s call for reviewing Geneva Resolution 30/1. The following is the text […]

by Zacki Jabbar Britain has called for clarity on differing figures mentioned with regard to persons who had gone missing in Sri Lanka during the war between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) and in the aftermath of the end of the conflict on May 19 , 2009. A British High Commission delegation comprising Senior Research Analyst and Justice Consultant Paul Bentall , Regional Head of Stabilization Unit Eric Vincent and Political Officer Jovita Arulanantham during a recent meeting with Secretary to the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation V.Sivagnanasothy had while appreciating the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government on post war reconciliation efforts, pointed out that much more needed to done to achieve permanent peace and uplift […]

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London The British government wants Sri Lanka to fully implement UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, according Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister, Mark Field. Answering three written questions submitted by Wes Streeting MP (Labour, Ilford North – member of the All Party Parliament Group for Tamils), he says that he stressed to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Tilak Marapana, the importance of implementing the Resolution. “The UK is committed to the full implementation of Resolution 34/1 and will continue to support the government of Sri Lanka in its efforts to promote reconciliation and human rights”, he noted. Minisrter Field recalled that during his visit in early October 2017 to Colombo and Jaffna, he raised with Foreign Minister Marapana the importance of the […]