Day: 23 October 2014

Rudra seeks EU backing for Tamil issue

Karu

The head of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, has urged the European Union to support to Eelam Tamils in their continuing struggle for justice. In a statement to the media, Rudrakumaran said that the TGTE and Tamils around the world welcome the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union annulling the ban on the LTTE and salutes the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for ensuring rule of law and the role of judiciary in good governance. “The European ban against the LTTE was brought on the…

Read More

Emergency dental surgery for Chris Nonis!

Karu

Former Sri Lankan high commissioner in the UK Dr. Chris Nonis underwent emergency dental surgery at a private dental surgery in London last weekend, say reliable sources.  He suddenly fell ill which is due to his being unexpectedly assaulted by external affairs ministry supervising MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena in New York on September 24. By last Friday, he had returned his official residence to the high commission and went to live at his private home in London. There he fell ill. He is recuperating after the surgery, and is still…

Read More

Netherland and Britain express sureprice over ban on LTTE

Karu

Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian Sumandhiran says Netherland and Britain express sureprice over EU court judgment on lifting ban against the LTTE Speaking to Sinhala news website parliamentarian went on to say, ban on LTTE lifted according to law and order.Western nations never work against the judgment issued by the European court.Without any political interference European Court has issued this judgment, parliamentarian said. < Lifting up of Ban on the LTTE is Dangerous to Srilanka: BBS Government supported to lift ban on LTTE: Political analysts

Read More

Ranil’s tour in London did not impinge on EU Court ruling : UNP

Karu

Ranil’s tour in London did not impinge on EU Court ruling : UNP The United National Party (UNP) yesterday rejected the allegation that there was an invisible connection between the European Union General Court’s ruling to lift sanctions on the LTTE and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s trip to London.The EU General Court lifted the sanctions on the LTTE on October 16. The LTTE had been named a terrorist organisation by the EU in 2006.UNP MP Eran Wickremaratne said the party had nothing to hide regarding Mr. Wickremesinghe’s tour of London…

Read More

Tamil Nadu political leaders advise Modi not to have closer defense ties with Sri Lanka

Karu

Tamil political leaders of India’s southern Tamil Nadu state have advised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government not to keep close security ties with Sri Lanka as it would amount to a major “diplomatic blunder”. The National Committee Head of the Naam Tamilar Party (NTP), Ayyanathan, on Wednesday has said that the NDA Government must not commit a major diplomatic blunder by cementing security ties in the south with Sri Lanka and China. His comment comes ahead of the Sri Lankan Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera’s visit to India.…

Read More

Delisting Tigers: UK still studying EU court ruling

Karu

by Shamindra Ferdinando Following the General Court of the European Union decision to delist the LTTE, key EU member, UK is now closely studying the judgment. The court also directed the defendant, the Council of European Union to pay the costs. The Council of the European Union was the defendant, supported by the Netherlands, the UK and the European Commission. A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Colombo said: “We are carefully studying the judgment and next steps. As the EU has already made clear, the legal ruling was…

Read More

Zeid refers to Lanka probe in UN report

Karu

UN High Commissioners for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has made a reference to Sri Lanka in his report submitted to the UN General Assembly’s main body dealing with social, humanitarian, and cultural issues (Third Committee). The High Commissioner presented a report and made a statement yesterday on the work of his Office (OHCHR) between August 2013 and July 2014, under his predecessor, Navi Pillay. He said that during the reporting period OHCHR was assisting or conducting three Commissions of Inquiry or mandated investigations – on the Syrian Arab Republic, Central African Republic…

Read More

Sri Lanka president prepares budget with eye on election

Karu

* President, also finance minister, unveils budget on Friday * Rajapaksa seeks unprecedented third term as leader * Aims to trim borrowing despite likely populist steps * Opposition questions foreign loans, off-budget spending By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO, Oct 23 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to present on Friday a populist election budget for 2015 that manages to contain borrowing thanks to an expected pick-up in the pace of economic growth. The 68-year-old leader, who is also finance minister, will seek early re-election in January for an…

Read More

Canada’s parliament attacked near where prime minister was speaking, Harper safe

Karu

OTTAWA (Reuters) – At least one gunman entered Canada’s parliament buildings on Wednesday and many shots were fired just outside the room where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was addressing a meeting of legislators. Harper was safely removed from the building but parliament was locked down. Eyewitnesses said at least 30 shots were fired in dramatic scenes in the heart of the Canadian capital. “PM (Harper) was addressing caucus, then a huge boom, followed by rat-a-tat shots. We all scattered. It was clearly right outside our caucus door,” Treasury Board Minister…

Read More

Incumbent edge

Karu

The incumbent advantage usually lasts only 12 years. Not anymore. With the passing of the 18th Amendment, the incumbent President has a crucial head start in any electoral contest, potentially forever   Battle lines will be drawn this week when President Mahinda Rajapaksa moves to present his Government’s Budget for 2015, setting the stage for his re-election campaign, expected to kick off officially about six weeks from now. It is the country’s worst kept secret that the Budget presentation has been advanced by several weeks in order to facilitate President…

Read More

It could happen in India but not in Lanka

Karu

BY   Hemantha Waranakulasuriya Jayalalithaa’s corruption sentence landed her in jail for four years with a massive fine to boot. Two lines from Gypsies Sunil Perera’s popular song, ‘It could happen in India but not in Lanka’ went viral on electronic media since Jayalalithaa went to prison convicted of corruption charges. Anything even remotely like it could not happen in our own Sri Lanka. The Walter Talgodapitiya Commission appointed in 1958 found four Ministers in the Bandaranaike Government guilty of bribery. They were deprived of their civic and political rights…

Read More

Thirteen-Plus: Good For All Of Sri Lanka And All Sri Lankans

Karu

By Aahithyan Ratnam – Sinhalese React to Police Brutality and Inaction The recent pre- and post- Uva election violence saw the police being mere spectators to horrific violence. Neither the police watching nor the cameras whirring, both in front of police stations in the presence of policemen, was a deterrent. The Sinhalese are shocked. Colombo Telegraph reported that “Senior legal professionals have condemned the attack on journalist Chandana Kuruppuarachchi that occurred a few days ago while expressing their regret over the law being made redundant.” And that the Lawyers’ Collective “condemned the…

Read More