Day: 7 September 2018

The enforced disappearance of 158 Tamils from the Eastern University in Batticaloa in 1990 was remembered by the community – Tamil Guardian. Rights group at the time said the military was responsible for killing the refugees in the then-largest refugee camp on the island – TamilNet. PEARL’s News Update 31 August 2018 EVENT An Update on Security Sector Reform in Sri Lanka Thursday, September 6, 2018 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. 2360 Rayburn House Office Building GUEST SPEAKERS: Kara Bue, Founding Partner, Armitage International Anjali Manivannan, Legal Researcher, People for Equality and Relief…

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In its first interim report, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) recommended the government to suspend state officials including members of the armed forces and police who were named as suspects or accused in criminal actions relating to abductions and enforced disappearances, pending the final determination of such cases. The OMP report said the government should ensure that suspected officials are not transferred, promoted or offered any other office in the armed forces, police or the public service while cases against them are pending. “Some individuals suspected of having committed…

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The ‘Jana Balaya Kolambata’ protest campaign organised by the Joint Opposition (JO) had failed to get the desired outcome and turned out to be a flop while one person had died and 16 people were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. “One person who had died on admission to the Colombo National Hospital is said to have suffered a heart attack. Another person died in an accident in Nittambuwa.He has got down from the bus to buy pineapples on his return from the Joint Opposition protest. He was knocked down…

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United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said today he would undertake the task of strengthening the party and bring 100,000 people (twice the size of Mahinda’s JO protest) to Galle Face Green for a rally if Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe approved of such a move. Police had said that 50,000 people took part in the Mahinda’s JO protest. He said this at a ceremony held at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha to mark the 72nd anniversary of the party. He called for unity among party members if the party…

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By YLS Hameed – YLS Hameed The 1978 Constitution introduced by the late President JR Jayewardene had limited the terms of Presidents to two in terms of Article 31(2). This term limit was lifted through the 18th Amendment which enabled former President Mahinda Rajapaksha to contest for the third time after two successful terms. However the 19th Amendment reintroduced the restriction on the terms of Presidents to two by Article 31(2). Arguments are now being brought out to the effect that this restriction does not apply to former Presidents and only to current and…

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While claiming that political parties had a right to organise street protests, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today that the Janabalaya protest march organized by the joint opposition had undermined the peoples’ genuine protest against the government. JVP MP Vijitha Herath told a news conference that the JO protest was more of a drama than a protest where drunken people had fun on the streets. “Wednesday’s protest was a comedy with the people partying on the street after consuming liquor. What happens in such cases is the diluting of…

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The book ‘Kadol Eththu’ was presented to Maha Sangha, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chamal Rajapaksa, Gothapaya Rajapaksha, Professor G. L. Peiris, Hiran Amarasekara and supporters of Mahinda regime. The service rendered by retired military officers as Sri Lanka’s envoys abroad was more immense and better than that of the others, former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. He expressed these views at the launch of the novel titled ‘Kadol Eththu’ authored by Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne in Colombo. Mr. Rajapaksa said “Some asked why retired military officers were appointed as diplomats. One…

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