By Nita Bhalla and Shihar Aneez JAFFNA Sri Lanka (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – In the fishing village of Oori, two mothers await news of their young daughters who were taken to a care home three months ago after their alleged rape by members of the Sri Lankan navy. In a lawyer’s office in the town of Mannar, a middle-aged woman sobs uncontrollably as she recounts her five-year struggle to find her son, one of thousands of cases of young men and women who disappeared after being picked up by soldiers.…
Read MoreDay: 21 October 2014
Govt. passes new laws restricting sale of land to foreigners
Two separate regulations for freehold and leasehold transactions By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent New laws were passed yesterday in Parliament making necessary provisions to stipulate restrictions on the sale of land to foreigners. The new regulations cover foreign companies and certain institutions with majority foreign shareholdings subjected to certain exemptions. According to the Government, new laws were needed to continue development policies being promoted in the backdrop of a globally-integrated environment where prudent use of land is a must. Moving the Bill, Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy…
Read MoreGovt. foisting Tiger labels on UNP to serve election agenda
Senior politician accuses regime of nursing and nurturing brutal LTTE members Calls allegations against UNP Leader ‘outright lies’ LTTE enforced a boycott to ensure the defeat of an UNP candidate at the 2005 presidential election and make Mahinda WIN. The United National Party has hit out against allegations by the Government that the main opposition party had been involved in a recent court ruling lifting sanctions against the LTTE in the European Union, calling it petty politicking for the forthcoming election season. UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said in…
Read MoreA parting of ways
JHU parliamentarian Athureliye Rathana Thera announced last week that his party would do everything in its power to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election unless the Constitution was amended, curbing the powers of the presidency and reintroducing the 17th Amendment. Yet back in 2001, the JHU was the only party in Parliament that voted against the 17th Amendment. In this interview, C.A. Chandraprema speaks to Rathana Thera about his party’s change of heart with regard to the 17th Amendment and the political options available to it once…
Read MoreJHU strategy for presidential election
There is a common belief that the Jathika Hela Urumaya’s (JHU) days with the UPFA have now been numbered. People think that the JHU would quit the UPFA soon after announcement of the presidential election. However, they are confused about options available for the JHU after quitting the UPFA. Hence, let us explore the options available for the JHU. The presidential election held in 2005 was extremely crucial for Sri Lanka since it marked a paradigm shift in its national policies adopted hitherto as Mahinda Rajapaksa who being elected President,…
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