Day: 10 March 2015

Jeyakumari Released

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Human rights defender Balendran Jeyakumari has been released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate Court a short while ago. When she was granted bail, the Magistrate had imposed strict conditions, which included a ban on foreign travels and has been ordered to report to the Police each month. It was just a few weeks ago that Jeyakumari’s daughter Vibhooshika wrote to President Sirisena pleading for her mother’s release. Colombo Telegraph reported earlier this week that the government is considering her release to coincide with the Indian premier’s visit by the…

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New war crimes campaign backed by some British MPs gets underway

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Sinhala version of No Fire Zone to be launched today at UK Parliament From Shamindra Ferdinando in London A new campaign meant to pressure Sri Lanka over accountability issues will get underway today (March 10) with the launch of a new Sinhala version of feature documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka, at the House of Commons. The launch will take place at 10.00 am. Among those scheduled to attend the launch are Director Callum Macrae, Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, Conservative MP Lee Scott. The meeting will…

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ITAK condemns attacks on TNA leaders

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By Ananth Palakidnar The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) leader and the General Secretary of the Tamil National Alliance Mavai S. Senathiraja while criticizing the burning of the effigies of TNA Parliamentarians Sumanthiran and Sampanthan has said that it was a highly irresponsible act at this political juncture by certain misguided elements. He also said that the TNA was not at all manipulated by the Tamil Diaspora abroad and the majority of the Tamils living abroad agree on the stance taken by the TNA towards handling the North and East…

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British School in Colombo accused of discrimination

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The British School in Colombo has been accused of engaging in unethical educational practices by trying to force some students to sit for their International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination as private candidates rather than from the school. The students concerned had reportedly underperformed at the recently held ‘mock examinations’ and it is alleged that the school is trying to force these students to sit as private candidates due to fears that it will hurt the goal of obtaining a 100% pass rate at the IGCSE examination. A…

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Exclusive: Cameron on his meeting with Maithripala

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Following is the Op-ed piece by British Prime Minister David Cameron exclusively for the Daily Mirror on his scheduled meeting with visiting President Maithripala Sirisena today. Prime Minister David Cameron article for Daily Mirror: Ever since my visit to Sri Lanka in 2013 I have been determined to help address the issues of Sri Lanka’s past and put the country on the path to a brighter, peaceful and prosperous future. Since my visit, a UN led investigation into alleged war crimes by all sides in the conflict has got underway.…

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Mangala, UK FM discuss reforms

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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond met in London and discussed the proposed reforms of the new Sri Lankan Government and human rights related issues. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that Samaraweera and Hammond also spoke on reinvigorating the UK-Sri Lanka relationship, and how the UK could support the new Sri Lankan Government’s reforms and to deliver on its commitments to the UN Human Rights Council. “I am pleased to be able to welcome President Sirisena and Foreign Minister Samaraweera to the UK, in what is a clear…

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“Don’t look at Sri Lanka through Tamil prism”

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India should see Sri Lanka as a whole and stop focussing just on the island’s Tamil-majority Northern Province, Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said in an interview to The Hindu on Monday. The Power and Energy Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pragmatic approach to Sri Lanka could enhance trade, technological and political partnerships, paving the way for a “win-win situation” for the neighbouring countries. “That India is a guarantor of the northern Tamil people’s rights should now be a thing of the past,” he said in an…

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A saint and an island beloved by two countries

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St. Anthony’s Shrine at the Kachchathivu Island celebrated its annual feast of the patron-saint of seafarers last Sunday (march 01) attended by thousands of devotees. The whole event as usual was assisted by the Sri Lanka Navy. The devotees from Rameshwaram were not only the fisher folk, but from several other professions. Sri Lankans who attended the event also represented all the professions and almost all religions. Festive High Mass was offered by Bishop of Jaffna Diocese Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam with the participation of clergy from both countries.…

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‘Death threats kept me away’

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by Dhaneshi Yatawara “The Former Secretary of Defence threatened and criticised me over my training lecture even as I was returning from that lecture in Katana”, recalled former Police spokesman Prashantha Jayakody who recently returned from Australia, where he fled during the previous regime. On his return, Jayakody said that his concern was to see justice in the society. “Being a police officer if I had to face this much of agony what could have been the fate of a normal citizen? I’m looking forward to see a just society…

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India flays Sri Lanka PM for justifying firing on fishermen

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New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) India on Monday criticised Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for justifying the firing on fishermen from India and sought a “permanent solution” to the dragging row. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament that she was in Colombo when Wickremesinghe made the controversial remarks, days ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka. “He said two things… one, that the Tamil fishermen released by the (Sri Lankan) president, he compared them with Italian marines (who shot dead two Indian fishermen). And…

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Maithri: I belong to all

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From Sandun A Jayasekera in London Forming a national government in Sri Lanka was not an easy task as we aspired because our political culture was such that political parties always attempted to undermine and weaken the other, President Maithripala Sirisena said in London today. He made these remarks when he met a delegation from a ‘Maithri Support Group in UK’ affiliated to the UK branch of the UNP at his hotel, Park Lane Hilton. “I am the common candidate and I am common and belong to all. I can’t…

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Tamil Diaspora Is Becoming Part Of Larger Sri Lankan Community

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By Jehan Perera – President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to be seeking to build relations with the Tamil Diaspora while in London to participate in the Commonwealth Day celebrations as chair of the Commonwealth. Along with Foreign MinisterMangala Samaraweera, the president is expected to meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron to explore ways and means of securing the support of the Diaspora groups. This signals a paradigm shift in the approach of the government towards a group that is important to Sri Lanka’s future wellbeing. The Tamil Diaspora is…

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London: Hundreds Of Tamils Protest Against Srisena

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After Saturday’s unsuccessful protest at Heathrow airport against President Maithripala Sirisena, today a few hundred protesters gathered in front of Westminster Abbey, London. Tamil protesters shouted “War Criminal Sirisena”. The Tamil Coordinating Committee and the British Tamil Forum jointly organised the protest. Angry Tamil diaspora activists also condemned TNA MPM.A. Sumanthiran for his video call to halt the protest. Sumanthiran said; “Tamil community’s vote up and down the country, particularly in the North, East had primary contribution in bringing Maithripala Sirisena to power as the new President. The same Tamil…

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India working with Sri Lanka to repatriate thousands of Tamils

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NEW DELHI: India said Monday it was working with Sri Lanka’s new government to repatriate thousands of ethnic minority Tamils who fled the island during nearly four decades of separatist war. Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said discussions were ongoing for the return of 100,000 refugees from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, which is separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow stretch of sea. “We had agreed when Sri Lanka’s foreign minister was here (India) in January to find ways by which these refugees could go back with honor,…

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T I D has no evidence against Jeyakumari – CHR

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BY Kavindya Chris Thomas Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR) stated that the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) has no proper evidence against Balendran Jeyakumari who has been detained for almost one year. Speaking to Ceylon Today Executive Director of CHR Rajithe Keerthi Tennakoon stated that during the court hearing last Friday (6) the TID had reported that the Attorney General’s Department had not informed them on how to proceed with the case. An appeal for the release of Jeyakumari and her 13-year-old daughter was made by her family members,…

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UK govt. urged to take up ban on Diaspora groups with SL

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GTF writes to Secy of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond From Shamindra Ferdinando in London The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has requested the British government to persuade the new Sri Lankan administration to lift the ban on Tamil groups imposed by the previous governmnet. The GTF is among those groups included in the list of proscribed organisations. GTF President Rev. Dr S. J. Emmanuel has requested the ruling coalition’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond, MP, to take up the issue with the…

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TNA wants equal treatment, not division of country – Sajith

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Housing and Samurdhi Minister Sajith Premadasa says that the LTTE groups in the West are now protesting against TNA leaders and burning their effigies as TNA has agreed that unitary status of Sri Lanka should be preserved. Addressing a ceremony at Mathuwakanda in Mulkirigala to lay the foundation stone for a new chaitya at Handugala Sri Vijayarama Vihara last week (04), Minister Premadasa said the Opposition alleged that TNA had supported Maithripala Sirisena during the presidential election as part of a strategy to divide the country. “Now it has been…

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Wimal Weerawansa’s ”White Van” freedom & ”abduction and killing” unit operated by Navy

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Wimal Weerawansa has warned that we are now ‘losing our hard-earned freedom’. In a public rally held in Kandy on Friday to campaign for the prime-ministerial candidacy of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Rajapaksa confidante asked people to get behind the ex-president to win their freedom back. I have been wondering as to what ‘freedom’ Mr. Weerawansa has been talking about. Finally, I managed to jot down some of those potential ‘freedoms’ he could have meant. Of course, there may be omissions and Mr Weerawansa is welcomed to let me know anything…

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