The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday said the government’s plan to review United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 30/1, ‘for promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights’ in Sri Lanka would have serious repercussions for the country at the international level. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that in 2015, the Sri Lankan government co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution 30/1, promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka at a time when there was a negative image about the country internationally, Following the co-sponsoring the situation changed in favour of Sri…
Read MoreDay: 27 November 2019
UK Labour takes up cudgels for minority rights in Lanka in the wake of Gotabaya triumph
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa shaking hands with Deputy High Commissioner Tom Burns on Monday. HC Hulton (Centre) and First Secretary Amy O’Brien look on. By Shamindra Ferdinando Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Dinesh Gunawardena, MP, on Monday, Nov 25, assumed duties as the Foreign Minister. Gunawardena succeeded Tilak Marapana, PC (Aug 2017-Nov 2019). Addressing the media, with Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinghe by his side, Gunawardena assured that foreign agreements, including the Geneva resolution, would be revisited. The reference was to the resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka on Oct 01, 2015. Ven.…
Read MoreNew Governor of North!
The appointment of a new Governor for the North is in the works. All nine governors had resigned on the request of the new President. Six have been appointed. In Jaffna it is said to be a tight fight for influence with the new president to decide who will be appointed. Names mentioned are those of Suren Raghavan nominated by Maithripala Sirisena (who they say has made only this one nomination and is pushing hard), EPRLF’s Varatharaja Perumal, and EPDP’s Thavarajah, all from Jaffna who campaigned for the President, besides…
Read MoreTense situation as Jaffna students commemorate ‘Maaveerar’ day
A tense situation arose at the Jaffna University as students commemorated ‘Maaveerar’ day today. The students placed wreaths and flowers at a monument to remember those killed during the war. The commemoration event was held despite university authorities telling students not to hold such an event. The students closed the main gate of the university as they staged the event and prevented any outsiders from entering the premises. This resulted in a tense situation arising around the university. Meanwhile, all academic staff at the university were asked to vacate the…
Read MoreRajapaksas’ Lanka
In a major diplomatic move, which was both swift and intelligent, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar dashed to Sri Lankan capital Colombo as soon as it was known that the new President of Sri Lanka is now Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gotabaya, 70, belonging to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party triumphed securing well over 52 per cent votes in the recently held Presidential elections. Indian EAM, who had exposure to the Sri Lankan politics being assigned as a junior diplomat, held talks of substance with the new incumbent…
Read MoreSri Lanka: Minority Tamil political parties urged to stand united on issues faced by Tamils
In Sri Lanka, the main political grouping of minority Tamils has called upon Tamil political parties to stand united on the issues faced by the Tamils. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A Sumanthiran called upon Tamil parties to not attempt to divide the Tamil community and join the alliance. He said that TNA is the main Tamil political alliance in the country so other parties must come under its wing to fight for the rights of Tamils. The MP also said that the TNA is prepared to have talks with…
Read MoreIndia-Sri Lanka joint military exercise to begin in Pune from December 1
The seventh edition of the India – Sri Lanka joint training exercise, Mitra Shakti 2019, will be conducted at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Pune from December 1 to 14. The aim of this joint training exercise is to build and promote positive relations between Indian and Sri Lankan armies. The exercise will focus on sub-unit level training for counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in urban and rural environment under the United Nations mandate. The joint exercise is designed for incorporating the current dynamics of the United Nations…
Read MoreHold non-binding referendum with general elections: Moragoda
The founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, Milinda Moragoda proposed that the government should hold a non-binding referendum together with the general election. In a statement, he said the provision for such a move was available under Article 86 of the Constitution and proposed four issues to be taken up as questions for the referendum. The questions are: “Prefer a full-fledged presidential system or a Westminster-style parliamentary system” “Wish to repeal the provincial council system and replace it with empowered local councils”. ”Should the present proportional representation system for parliamentary elections…
Read MoreSampanthan ready to support good work of new govt.
Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan says that they will not hesitate to support the government if it is needed. Speaking to the media in Trincomalee, they will continue to be in the Opposition and will oppose the government whenever it has to be opposed. However, this would not necessarily mean that we will oppose the government at all times, said Sampanthan. “If the government needs to be supported or has to be supported regard the matters which are beneficial for the country, beneficial to the people…
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