Day: 2 April 2019

Sarah Hulton appointed British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

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Mrs Sarah Hulton OBE has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Mrs Hulton will take up her appointment during August 2019, the UK government’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office said. “Mrs Sarah Hulton OBE has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in succession to Mr James Dauris who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.” Hulton most recently served as the FCO’s Deputy Director (Human Resources Directorate) and has also served as Head…

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Sri Lankan Writer Arrested By Police Over Short Story Focusing On Alleged Sexual Abuse At Buddhist Temples

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Shakthika Sathkumara, a Sri Lankan poet and writer, has been arrested by the police yesterday for insulting Buddhism in one of his short stories. The Polgaawela Magistrate has remanded the writer until April 09 when he was presented before the court last afternoon. Sathkumara was arrested by the police following a complaint lodged by a group of Buddhist monks in the Polgahawela area. The same group has also lodged a complaint with the Polgahawela Divisional Secretariat where Sathkumara is employed as a Development Officer. Sources close to him said the…

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Mahinda Rajapaksa cronies have been given Ambassador posts by President Sirisena

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Three of the most ardent cronies of the previous Rajapaksa regime have been given Ambassador posts by President Sirisena. Kshenuka Seneviratne who was Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instigator of the infamous incident where Chris Nonis, then High Commissioner to the UK was assaulted by Sajin Vass Gunawardena, is to be Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in New York. This position is currently been held by Dr. Rohan Perera an eminent legal scholar who had served as the Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years. Kshenuka and…

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Reconciliation: Sinhalese attitude, Buddhist perspective and Indian solution

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The tragedy of Sri Lanka is the extension of the mindset created during the struggle against the suppression in the colonial period into the era of independent Sri Lanka  – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara Through the entire period of independence Sri Lanka experienced ethnic conflicts. The majority Sinhalese had conflicts with Tamils of Indian origin, Sri Lankan Tamils and Muslims. After the independence, especially after 1956, the Burgher community of Sri Lanka started migrating to various countries mainly to Australia. Sri Lankan Tamils also started migrating later and created an influential…

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UN torture prevention body arrive today

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The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is set to carry out its first visit to Sri Lanka from today to the 12th to examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty and the safeguards in place for their protection against torture and ill-treatment. Issuing a press release the UNHRC states that the four-member delegation will meet government officials and hold discussions with relevant ministries, as well as meeting with the Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations. Their talks in Colombo will focus on advising and assisting…

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TGTE seeks information gathered by UN investigations on Sri Lanka

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Arguing the UN Human Rights Council process has failed to provide justice to Tamil victims of mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) announced yesterday it would be seeking data and information from the UN investigations in order to push for private prosecutions of war criminals. “We will exercise our Right to the Truth and our Right to Know under international law to obtain access to information gathered by the UN Secretary-General and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,” the TGTE said in a statement…

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No peace in Sri Lanka without justice and accountability says British Foreign Secretary

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The British Foreign Secretary has said that there will never be lasting peace in Sri Lanka without justice and accountability. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt made the remarks in response to a question about Sri Lanka in parliament on Tuesday. Gareth Thomas MP had asked: “The rules-based international order would be strengthened if countries were seen to be held accountable for adhering to the conclusions of the United Nations Human Rights Council. What steps are Ministers taking to hold Sri Lanka to account for its failure to bring to justice those who are guilty…

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Lyca owner Subaskaran Allirajah’s Gnanam foundation gets Cabinet approved to build Rs. 740Mn 6-storey building to Jaffna University

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Recent Cabinet decisions released to public in Sri Lanka outlines that Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers lead by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had approved a proposal by Rauff Hakeem, the Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education to implement a project and enter into agreements with the Lyca Group of the United Kingdom that has agreed to build a six storeyed building with a 6,500 Sq.M floor area including modern facilities with an investment of Rs.740 million and make the award to the Jaffna…

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Sri Lankan Packiam Ramanathan beat ‘bullying’ husband to death in Newham

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A 73-year-old woman who beat her disabled husband to death with a wooden pole after suffering years of abuse has been cleared of his murder. Packiam Ramanathan attacked 76-year-old Kanagusabi Ramanathan as he lay in bed at their home in Newham, east London, on 21 September last year. The defendant told the Old Bailey she was “in a trance” when she hit him. She was found not guilty of murder, but had admitted manslaughter, citing his bullying during their 35-year marriage. The jury was told the couple had an arranged…

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