Day: 7 August 2014

‘Puppies selling’ poster campaign to insult HR Activists Nimalka Fernando

Karu

The  posters, for selling puppies are mounted near the Fort Railway Station area which include contact number of  Human rights activist  Nimalka Fenando, aim to insult her. Nimalka Fenando describes the incidents as follows At about 7.30 am today I received a call purportedly from the Fort Police inquiring from me whether there are some puppies to be sold. I thought it was a nuisance caller and informed him that I am not in dog business. He then informed me that there are some posters in Fort with the mobile…

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Gota gave details to attack Rajitha!

Karu

It is defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who had advised Bodu Bala Sena general secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera to hold a media conference and attack fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne. Military intelligence had provided Gnanasara Thera with the files to make the exposures there against the minister. A top SIS official has explained to the Thera about one Kadireshan, a businessman who had been very close to Senaratne. This Kadireshan had close connections with the LTTE leaders and was also a close associate of Senaratne. It was him who had sent messages…

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New option to get UK visas in Lanka

Karu

The British High Commission today announced the launch of a passport pass-back service for UK visa applicants applying at the visa application centre in Colombo from 11 August, 2014. Passport pass-back is a user-pay service that enables customers to retain their passport for the majority of the application processing period. Such an option will be useful for frequent travellers, particularly business visitors, holiday-makers planning tours around multiple countries, and settlement applicants. The cost to applicants will be additional LKR 9,400 (at current exchange rates); payable at the point they submit…

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UN says firm on freedom of assembly

Karu

The United Nations (UN) has called for the right to peaceful assembly to be protected in Sri Lanka, days after a meeting organised by an NGO with families of the disappeared was disrupted in Maradana. UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said that the UN office in New York did not have first-hand details about the particular incident in Maradana. “But what I can tell you is of course that we stand by and continue to uphold the right to peaceful assembly everywhere in the world, and that needs to be…

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Rajapakshe party won’t field Muslim candidates

Karu

In the wake of two UPFA constituents, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) contesting the Uva Provincial Council poll on their own, the SLFP has decided against fielding Muslim candidates in a bid to facilitate a post-election alliance with the two parties. SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem and ACMC leader Rishard Bathiudeen decided to contest on the two-leaf symbol of the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) after having formed an alliance, which also included Up Country Muslim Council (UCMC). Senior SLFP Vice President Nimal Siripala…

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War crimes probe goes ahead with int’l advice

Karu

By Shamindra Ferdinando With President Mahinda Rajapaksa broadening the mandate of the Presidential Commission to Investigate Complaints Regarding Missing Persons, the commission will shortly call for information from public as regards new matters under its investigation. Chairman of the Commission retired High Court Judge Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama yesterday said that fresh information would be sought from the public or any other party having data pertaining to accountability issues. Asked by The Island whether the commission would have to be renamed because of the vastly expanded mandate it had received in accordance with…

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Diplomatic service has become a refuge for the relatives of Rajaopakshe

Karu

JVP leader and Democratic National Alliance Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake accused that the Ministry of External Affairs had gone out of the control of the Minister and an ‘invisible hand’ is running the foreign affairs of the country.He made these grave accusations yesterday at the Parliament, moving an adjournment motion on the malpractices of the Ministry. Before the motion was moved, he Tweeted, “I will move an adjournment motion in @Parliament today (6th) regarding malpractices committed by the Ministry of External Affairs.”He said that nepotism was rife in the Foreign…

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RAPE AND KILL – Rajapakshe party Politicians and the Law of the country

Karu

Former UPFA North Western Provincial Councillor Ananda Sarath Kumara, who allegedly forced a school teacher to kneel down in front of her class,  has distanced himself from the threatening letter received by the teacher. The former UPFA North Western Provincial Council Member who was found guilty of forcing a teacher on her knees at a school in Nawagattegama had visited Nawagattegama Police Station with his 13 year old child last night and had given a statement over the matter. Susila Herath the teacher who was in charge of discipline in…

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UN Rights Body Seeks Entry to Lanka Despite Govt’s Refusal

Karu

The UNHRC panel to probe alleged human rights abuses during final stages of armed conflict in Sri Lanka will continue to seek access to the country despite its refusal to allow them into the nation. The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was empowered by the UNHRC resolution late March to carry out an independent investigation into alleged rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s final stages of the war with the LTTE which ended in 2009. In the terms of reference for the probe showed on the OHCHR website, it…

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