25th September 2015

It was former President late J.R. Jayewardene who devolved power and gave citizenship to people who did not have a country of their own, New Left Front (NLF) leader Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne said. He said the late President eradicated cast based discrimination that existed in the Sri Lankan political arena especially at elections. Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday he said that in the past there was a belief that only persons belonging to the ‘Govigama’ caste should be appointed as the country’s Prime Minister and the President. But former President J.R.Jayewardene appointed R.Premadasa as the Prime Minister and changed that belief. Although the former President was a dictator who introduced a dictatorial Constitution, he did these positive things. According to Dr. Karunaratne, today President […]

The Government says it is committed to implement the resolution submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the resolution signifies a path-breaking success for Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva at the current 30th Session. He said that for the last several years, Sri Lanka was repeatedly humiliated by the international community with Resolutions that censured the conduct of our country. Successive resolutions since 2012, adopted by divisive and acrimonious voting, resulted in repeated defeats and isolation for Sri Lanka. “Although the Government at the time claimed victory through a Resolution in the Human Rights Council in May 2009, that was hardly a victory for the people of Sri Lanka, as that effort […]

By Tamara Kunanayakam – A US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka is back on the Human Rights Council agenda, this time with a vengeance and despite the Ranil –Sirisena government’s conciliatory and obsequious pro-Washington, pro-Western stance! There is no more Mahinda Rajapaksa to blame, no more pro-Beijing foreign policy, no more Non-Alignment, no more ‘megaphone diplomacy’ or ‘megaphone diplomats’, no more corruption. History dawned in Sri Lanka only on 8 January, before that, there was only darkness, violence and obscurantism. Today, enlightened leaders have flooded the land with newness, goodness, transparency, and unity, along with privileged relations with a much-maligned West. So, what went wrong? A generous response would be our new, enlightened leaders read all the signs wrong. An accurate response would be they […]

Sri Lanka central bank says will float rupee from Friday – market sourcesSri Lanka central bank seen keeping rates steady on FridayIndia, Sri Lanka fishermen problem needs bottoms-up solution: Envoy (With Sri Lanka recalls its envoy, a friend of India)Sri Lanka to focus on reconciliation 6 years after war-endSri Lanka opposition MPs protest summoning of ex-president  Sri Lanka’s main opposition on Friday welcomed the draft text of a resolution on Sri Lanka tabled by the co-sponsors at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), also the main Tamil political party in the country, said that resolution constituted a significant victory for justice in Sri Lanka. The resolution, which was tabled in Geneva on Thursday, backs a domestic process with foreign […]

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the resolution on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday, marks an important step toward a credible transitional justice process, owned by Sri Lankans and with the support and involvement of the international community. He said the resolution lays out a path to provide truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence that the Sri Lankan people deserve while safeguarding the reputation of those, including within the military, who conducted themselves with honor and professionalism. Kerry said the United States will remain steadfast in its commitment to walk with Sri Lanka as it takes these important but challenging steps. “The United States, Sri Lanka, and our partners tabled a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva […]

Sep 25 (ENS) The second US draft resolution on war crimes in Sri Lanka, which was presented to the UNHRC in Geneva on Thursday, has stuck to the original demand that the domestic judicial mechanism which the Lankan govt is going to set up to try war crimes cases, should include foreign judges, defence lawyers, and authorized prosecutors and investigators. While welcoming SL’s proposal to establish a Judicial Mechanism with a Special Counsel to investigate allegations, more.. The draft resolution on Sri Lanka was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) today with several amendments to the original text proposed earlier in the week. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America have […]

By TU Senan – The West’s conscious promotion of ‘moderates’ The brutal end of the war in 2009 had demoralised en masse not just the Tamils living in Sri Lanka but also those in the diaspora. But that onslaught was not a complete defeat for the idea of struggle. The mood was such that the leaflet with the headline, “struggle must go on,” was grabbed by the crowd. The Tamil Solidarity campaign was the first to produce such material to lift the mood of the people, and constantly ran out of their leaflets. The idea of struggle was not defeated. The oppressed Tamils in Sri Lanka and in the diaspora maintained their hope for struggle. The idea that a decisive struggle is needed to win […]

The Sri Lankan government’s decision to join as a co-sponsor paves the way for all of us to work together to deliver the commitments reflected in the resolution, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement today. We publish below the statement in full; Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Today the United States, Sri Lanka, and our partners tabled a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that represents a landmark shared recognition of the critical importance of truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence in promoting reconciliation and ensuring an enduring peace and prosperity for all Sri Lankans. The Sri Lankan government’s decision to join as a co-sponsor paves the way for […]

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole – Building upon 17 Aug. 2015 Jan. 8 this year was exciting but fascist forces loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa were still in control of parliament. No major matter could be passed except for the laudable constitutional changes. Today, after the elections of 17 Aug., parliament has only some 30 MPs owing their loyalty to Rajapakse. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena have at long last the chance to deliver on their promises and build an inclusive Sri Lanka where all can live as equals. Obstacles at the Helm in Jaffna The same Rajapaksa-Devananda protégés, however, are still in control of our lives, backed by the judicial system, the Attorney General (AG), the police, etc. The army’s mobile liquor […]