Day: 8 September 2014

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) had passed a resolution for a new Constitution with enhanced power devolution for merged North and East Provinces within a united Sri Lanka.The resolution was passed at the Fifteenth National Convention of the ITAK held in Vavuniya.  Altogether 15 resolutions had been passed at the convention.Mavai S. Senathirajah MP who had been the Genaral Secretary of ITAK been unanimously elected as President of the ITAK.He succeeds R .Sampanthan. However, Mr. Sampanthan would continue to be the leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) an alliance…

Prince hails Pillay, advises Sri Lanka The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, in his opening statement at the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva today, hailed the role played by his predecessor Navi Pillay and urged Sri Lanka to cooperate with the investigation being conducted by his office. He said that he will look at following Pillay in his actions but will also, at the same time, be humble. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also slammed Australia’s policy when…

International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) are to add pressure on Sri Lanka during the 27th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which begins in Geneva today. Some INGOs have already submitted documents on Sri Lanka to be read on a day allocated for INGOs and human rights groups. Among the documents submitted is one by the Asian Legal Resource Centre, which notes that as long as the government of Sri Lanka refuses to become a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances,…

A special meeting over signing an MoU over building low cost housing was held between Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa in Colombo today. A letter relating to the signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was handed over to the Cuban Foreign Minister at the meeting. The importance of interchanging knowledge of building strong, creative and low cost houses was discussed at length at the meeting.Minister Weerawansa conveyed his gratitude to Cuba for appearing on behalf of Sri Lanka without any conditions at the UN.  Unlike other…

When he addressed the awards ceremony and dinner yesterday on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted by the outgoing chairperson of the Chamber, the highly perceptive and articulate Suresh Shah, Mahinda Rajapaksa was a man with a message. Cast your mind back or go back to your records of encounters with Sri Lankan leaders and top officials in the ten years before 2005, he said. Your highest priorities were the cessation of terrorism and the provision of infrastructure, and while you were optimistic…

By Camelia Nathaniel The EPDP has reiterated calls for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and also urged the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to join the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) on the national issue instead of seeking foreign assistance. The leader of the opposition in the Northern Province S. Thavarajah toldThe Sunday Leader that now that the war is over it is time to unite and concentrate on rebuilding the nation. The EPDP said that an international investigation will only create further animosity among the Sinhalese and Tamil people of this…

Govt. To Hit Back By Easwaran Rutnam The Sri Lankan Government is preparing to counter allegations to be raised at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during its 27th regular session which begins tomorrow. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha will lead the Sri Lankan delegation to the session and will make a statement on the opening day of the session tomorrow, sources said. During the three-week session the Council will hear the first address from the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Zeid…