Day: 25 September 2015

It was former President late J.R. Jayewardene who devolved power and gave citizenship to people who did not have a country of their own, New Left Front (NLF) leader Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne said. He said the late President eradicated cast based discrimination that existed in the Sri Lankan political arena especially at elections. Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday he said that in the past there was a belief that only persons belonging to the ‘Govigama’ caste should be appointed as the country’s Prime Minister and the President. But former…

The Government says it is committed to implement the resolution submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the resolution signifies a path-breaking success for Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva at the current 30th Session. He said that for the last several years, Sri Lanka was repeatedly humiliated by the international community with Resolutions that censured the conduct of our country. Successive resolutions since 2012, adopted by divisive and acrimonious voting, resulted in repeated defeats and isolation for…

By Tamara Kunanayakam – A US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka is back on the Human Rights Council agenda, this time with a vengeance and despite the Ranil –Sirisena government’s conciliatory and obsequious pro-Washington, pro-Western stance! There is no more Mahinda Rajapaksa to blame, no more pro-Beijing foreign policy, no more Non-Alignment, no more ‘megaphone diplomacy’ or ‘megaphone diplomats’, no more corruption. History dawned in Sri Lanka only on 8 January, before that, there was only darkness, violence and obscurantism. Today, enlightened leaders have flooded the land with newness, goodness,…

Sri Lanka central bank says will float rupee from Friday – market sourcesSri Lanka central bank seen keeping rates steady on FridayIndia, Sri Lanka fishermen problem needs bottoms-up solution: Envoy (With Sri Lanka recalls its envoy, a friend of India)Sri Lanka to focus on reconciliation 6 years after war-endSri Lanka opposition MPs protest summoning of ex-president  Sri Lanka’s main opposition on Friday welcomed the draft text of a resolution on Sri Lanka tabled by the co-sponsors at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), also…

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the resolution on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday, marks an important step toward a credible transitional justice process, owned by Sri Lankans and with the support and involvement of the international community. He said the resolution lays out a path to provide truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence that the Sri Lankan people deserve while safeguarding the reputation of those, including within the military, who conducted themselves with honor and professionalism. Kerry said the United States will remain…

Sep 25 (ENS) The second US draft resolution on war crimes in Sri Lanka, which was presented to the UNHRC in Geneva on Thursday, has stuck to the original demand that the domestic judicial mechanism which the Lankan govt is going to set up to try war crimes cases, should include foreign judges, defence lawyers, and authorized prosecutors and investigators. While welcoming SL’s proposal to establish a Judicial Mechanism with a Special Counsel to investigate allegations, more.. The draft resolution on Sri Lanka was submitted to the UN Human Rights Council…

By TU Senan – The West’s conscious promotion of ‘moderates’ The brutal end of the war in 2009 had demoralised en masse not just the Tamils living in Sri Lanka but also those in the diaspora. But that onslaught was not a complete defeat for the idea of struggle. The mood was such that the leaflet with the headline, “struggle must go on,” was grabbed by the crowd. The Tamil Solidarity campaign was the first to produce such material to lift the mood of the people, and constantly ran out…

The Sri Lankan government’s decision to join as a co-sponsor paves the way for all of us to work together to deliver the commitments reflected in the resolution, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement today. We publish below the statement in full; Resolution on Sri Lanka at the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council Today the United States, Sri Lanka, and our partners tabled a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that represents a landmark shared recognition of the critical importance of…

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole – Building upon 17 Aug. 2015 Jan. 8 this year was exciting but fascist forces loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa were still in control of parliament. No major matter could be passed except for the laudable constitutional changes. Today, after the elections of 17 Aug., parliament has only some 30 MPs owing their loyalty to Rajapakse. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena have at long last the chance to deliver on their promises and build an inclusive Sri Lanka where all can live as…