by Dr Nirmala Chandrahasan For some time now the Tamil political parties and the Tamil polity have been looking to the international community to settle their problems. Thus much reliance has been placed on the Human Rights Council’s resolutions and the Geneva processes. Although this is one avenue it is not the only one. The international processes are also dependant on geo politics and the national interests of the states that are represented in these organizations and hence one cannot always expect a favourable outcome. On the other hand, when…
Read MoreDay: 17 February 2021
Who is Lying? SL President or US Ambassador?
President Rajapaksa’s Office Strongly Denies Allegation by Ex- US Ambassador for War Crimes and Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp that Gotabaya as Def Secy had admitted to Killing LTTE Surrendees saying ““I killed them, I killed them, I killed them,” “I Killed Them, I Killed Them”: Ex-US War Crimes Ambassador Says Gota Told Him About Surrendering LTTE Leaders Former US Ambassador at Large for War Crimes and Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp recalled during a webinar on Friday (12) that then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had admitted to killing LTTE leaders after they surrendered…
Read MoreWhat If There Is A Showdown In Geneva?
By Kumar David – Prof. Kuma David Within five days of your reading this the UNHRC Sessions will commence in Geneva. It is still not certain how the battle-lines on the Sri Lanka confrontation will unfold. Thinking, at this moment seems to be that the Core Group (UK, Canada, Germany and two small nations) will table a tough resolution on the lines of Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s damning report and that it will likely have the support of the new US Administration. Without US backing the stance of the Core Group will be a damp…
Read MorePost-P2P, Pre-Geneva: The GR Regime’s Zero-Option Offer To The Tamils
Prof Rohan Gunaratna’s bottom-line can be credibly taken as the Gotabaya presidency’s bottom-line: “After the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, Sri Lankans are unwilling to devolve land, police and financial powers to the provinces.” Police powers are controversial and can be introduced in phases, linked to the behavior of the Provincial Council, but what meaning can devolution possibly have without some substantive measure of the devolution of land and financial powers to the provinces? Since the 13th amendment already devolves such powers to the provinces, does Gunaratna’s disclosure…
Read MoreSL will not backtrack on a decision to give three renewable power projects to China
The Government yesterday said it will not backtrack on a decision to give three renewable power projects to Chinese companies, despite disapproval expressed by India. Cabinet Co-Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila told the weekly briefing that Power Minister Dullas Allahaperuma had not presented an alternative proposal requesting a change. “Therefore, the previous decision of the Cabinet stands. There has been no change,” he said. The Cabinet of Ministers on 18 January approved three renewable power plants on Delft Island, Analativu and Nainativu. India lodged a diplomatic protest with Sri Lanka over the…
Read MoreSL to tender home-grown resolution that will never grow.
GoSL and Core Group to go separate ways Gaps in GoSL needs and Core Group hopes: Sumanthiran The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the “Core Group of Countries for Sri Lanka” are likely to go on divergent paths at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Session in Geneva, with all signs pointing to a home-grown resolution by Sri Lanka. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told The Morning yesterday (16) that indications are that a home-grown resolution from the Government would be submitted at the session to be held next week…
Read MoreSangakkara’s Lord’s centuries to be celebrated on Father Time Wall
By Bipin Dani Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara’s centuries at Lords, will be part of the Lord’s Father Time Wall that will celebrate the 100 greatest milestones at the grounds. “In terms of Sri Lankan achievements, Kumar Sangakkara scoring Test and One-Day International centuries at Lord’s within a fortnight (2014) is included”, Adam Matthews, the Media and Communications Officer at the MCC informs in an email. “In the coming months we have plans to develop the content behind the milestones. The final 11 milestones will be announced from 20…
Read MoreSri Lanka all but Chinese colony
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has all but become a colony of China and trade unionists and others who vehemently opposed a recent deal with India haven’t said a word in protest, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said. Speaking to the privately owned NewsFirst network yesterday at a ceremony marking the death anniversary of her late husband Vijaya Kumaratunga, the former president said the parties that opposed the Indian deal are keeping mum about every national asset allegedly being handed over to China. Kumaratunga was likely referring to the now-scrapped plan…
Read MoreSri Lanka lifts travel restriction from UK, tourists also allowed
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has lifted a restriction for travellers originating from the United Kingdom subject to 14 day quarantine, the Foreign Ministry said. “The temporary travel restriction introduced by the Government on travels originating from the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka on account of the new Covid -19 Variant in the UK has been lifted with immediate effect,” “At a meeting presided by H.E the President, it was decided to relax the restrictions on travels from UK subject to 14 days of quarantine and PCR tests determined by the…
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