Day: 4 June 2014

SRI LANKA: The Island of mass graves

Karu

The following article was published as the editorial of the latest issue of Torture: Asian and Global Perspectives by Nilantha Ilangamuwa Sri Lanka is once again on the edge of a political crucible in terms of its international relations as well as in its domestic politics. The country is ignoring calls for an independent and credible investigation into alleged wartime atrocities while at the same time carrying out atrocities against its own people. None of the elected or appointed officials have been able to fulfil even the basic requirements of their offices,…

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Official visit to North Western and North Central provinces

Karu

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, visited the North Western, North Central and Northern Provinces on an official visit from 27-29 May, 2014. All those to whom I spoke made clear their concern about and opposition to religious extremism. The High Commissioner visited Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Mannar and Puttalam. “A major highlight of my visit was paying my respects at different places of worship,” said the High Commissioner. “I visited the sacred Sri Maha Bodhiya and the Ruwanveliseya stupa in Anuradhapura, the historic Madhu church, the Thirukeetheswaram temple in…

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Sri Lankan government had intentionally targetted ‘no fire zones’ with cluster bombs.

Karu

The British High Commission in Colombo declined to verify whether British lawmakers had consulted it as regards accountability issues in Sri Lanka during Eelam war IV before making statements in the British Parliament. The HC was responding to a query whether Siabhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden-Labour party) had consulted the diplomatic mission in Colombo before alleging in Parliament in September 2011 that the Sri Lankan military killed 60,000 LTTE cadres and 40,000 civilians during January-May 2009. The claim was made during a debate on human rights situation in the Indian…

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