Month: June 2016

By Hiran H.Senewiratne “Sri Lanka now is much more exposed to international markets than in 2008 and,therefore, would face impacts through this channel because the sterling pound has depreciated against the US dollar by 8 percent, after Brexit, and this would have a direct impact on the Sri Lanka tourism sector. Visting Sri Lanka would be more expensive for British tourists, top economist Dr Indrajith Coomaraswamy, said. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Harsha de Silva said: “Sri Lanka will lose the duty free benefit with the UK exiting…

Constitution no bar to foreign judges in war crimes court – TNA Sumanthiran reveals tripartite GoSL, US, Tamils agreement on hybrid mechanism By Shamindra Ferdinando The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has claimed to have reached a tripartite consensus in respect of foreign judges, defence attorneys, investigators etc., in a Sri Lankan judicial mechanism to probe war crimes before the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) unanimously adopted a resolution to pave the way for inquiry. On behalf of the TNA, its spokesperson and Jaffna District parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has told a recent ‘Congressional…

The Tamil Civil Society Forum today warned the international community that the ‘unwarranted praise and promotion’ of the Sri Lankan Government from certain powerful sections of the International Community, can result in the Government withdrawing from its obligations under the UNHCR resolution. TCSF Convener – Bishop of Mannar, Dr. Rayappu Joseph In a statement issued today, the Tamil Civil Society also claimed that the Sri Lankan Government believes that if it successfully handles and appeases the interests of different sections of the International Community, it can escape from the obligations…

By Jehan Perera – Jehan Perera The Sri Lankan government goes into the current session of the UN Human Rights Council with several accomplishments to show. These are primarily at the level of change of spirit and less as concrete changes that can be quantified. It is difficult to quantify the impact of the lifting of fear of agents of the state and their associates acting with impunity, of white vans into which people disappear and the attitude of confrontation. But these have transformed life in the country. The passage…

COLOMBO, June 27 (Xinhua)– Sri Lankan Central Bank on Monday predicts uncertain economic situation caused by Brexit will last for at least two years in Sri Lanka. The latest report submitted to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said it would take at least two years for the UK to leave the EU as per section 50 of the Lisbon Agreement and, therefore, the global economic crisis that had already begun would last for two years. As 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s exports to Europe go to the UK, with…

By Shamindra Ferdinando In a desperate bid to thwart the formation of a new party led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa- in the run-up to forthcoming local government polls, the SLFP yesterday assured Rajapaksa loyalists nominations. Vast majority of members of dissolved local government bodies have called for the formation of a new alliance under former President Rajapaksa’s leadership. Urging Rajapaksa loyalists to reach an understanding with President Maithripala Sirisena, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Zoysa yesterday said that those who had challenged the new leadership wouldn’t…

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that the nature and structure of the Judicial Mechanism meant to try cases of war crimes will be decided only after consultations with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the organizations representing the victims. Speaking at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs in Oslo, Samaraweera said: “ There is a certain degree of controversy on how it should be set up and the level of international participation. That will be decided after the consultations are over but all I can say…

Northern province CM says would not be satisfied with any accountability mechanism that does not contain foreign judges The grievances of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka can only be addressed through a federal system of governance and the merger of north and eastern provinces, Northern province Chief Minister CV Wignewswaran has said. Wigneswaran said he had conveyed this to the Colombo-based ambassadors including those from the European Union during his recent engagements with them. The Tamil issue should not be seen by the government from the view point of the…

The Sri Lankan government cannot continue to blame members of the former regime for the lack of progress in furthering accountability said the Global Tamil Forum’s spokesperson Suren Surendiran, in a piece published in Colombo Telegraph on Saturday. “Barely four months since [the] Government of Sri Lanka internationally committing by co-sponsoring Resolution A/HRC/30/L.29 in Geneva, the U-turn came in spectacular fashion from the highest authority in the country, the President himself,” said Mr Surendiran. “As if there wasn’t enough trust deficit between communities in Sri Lanka, this major let down,…

Sri Lanka wants the world to forget about justice for war victims. Please don’t Nirmanusan Balasundaram In October 2015 the government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored, along with the US, a resolution on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, which was adopted at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council. However, this very same government has since been backsliding from implementing its own commitments, promises and obligations made at the UNHRC. In contradiction to the adopted resolution, which called for international involvement, including that of international…