18th September 2014

Minister of National Languages and Social Intergation, Vasudeva Nanayakkara has expressed concern over the dwindling democracy and increasing militarization Sri Lanka is presently undergoing. The Minister had made these remarks in his speech at the National Convention on Inter Religious Integration organised by the National Peace Council. “The only way to ensure unity and national reconciliation is to strengthen democracy. Only through democracy can we get equality for all citizens and build ethnic coexistence,” he had stated. Among those who participated in the convention had been religious leaders, representatives of community based organisations and diplomats. US Ambassador Michele J. Sison speaking at the event had pointed out that all members of the gathering at the convention including religious leaders, government leaders, community based organisations and the media have extremely important roles to […]

US notes the failure to act on Sri Lanka The United States (US) says had the international community responded earlier and more appropriately to situations in some countries, including Sri Lanka, lives could have been saved. In a statement today during the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the US delegation noted that the most troubling aspect of recent atrocities is the concern that they could have been prevented. In the prepared statement issued during the panel discussion on the role of prevention in the promotion and protection of human rights, the US delegation noted the failure by the international community to act in Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Sri Lanka and Syria. The US also commended the “Rights Up Front” initiative of UN Secretary General Ban […]

Norway says it has no interest in creating communal tensions in Sri Lanka and it shares the values of dignity, respect, diversity and dialogue in Sri Lanka. Norwegian Ambassador Grete Løchen, was quoted by the Embassy as saying that  Norway in Sri Lanka is often accused in the media of supporting extremist groups and views. She says her government is deeply concerned about an increasingly polarized world where the narrative is more about exclusion than inclusion. “Inter-religious dialogue offers an alternative way of implementing human rights. The civil society organisations can play a significant role to strengthen the bonds and trust between communities at the local level by providing them with societal and logistical assistance to bring the different communities together. Civil society actors are in […]

As the Sri Lankan Govt. hosts two rival heads of States just nine days apart, Namini Wijedasa looks at the implications of the visits Thousands of schoolchildren in traditional costumes welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Sri Lanka last week. They danced in sync to local folk songs as his convoy rolled from the airport to the Colombo-Katunayake Highway. It was the first time such a show—using 3,200 students from 22 schools across five districts—had been staged for a visiting head of State or Government, said Thilak Gunathilaka, Director of the Ministry of Education’s Aesthetic Division. They lined both sides of the road for one-and-a-half kilometres. The children had all learned the same routine from their respective dance teachers. They will be on the […]