“And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.”-46th US President Joe R. Biden jnr

By Karuna / By

This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested a new and America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, a cause of democracy. The …

“And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.”-46th US President Joe R. Biden jnr Read More »

“I am the counsel who appeared for Hon. Ranjan Ramanayake in the supreme court.I was privileged to appear for a clean, honest politician in a court and I am proud of that”- M. A. Sumanthiran MP

By Karuna / By

(Text of Intervention made in Parliament by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran regarding Ranjan Ramanayake MP) ……..I want to flag one or two issues concerning the responsibility of the parliament in this regard. But before I do that I am bound by law and tradition to disclose my interest in the matter. I am …

“I am the counsel who appeared for Hon. Ranjan Ramanayake in the supreme court.I was privileged to appear for a clean, honest politician in a court and I am proud of that”- M. A. Sumanthiran MP Read More »

Sri Lankan minister leads Buddhist land grab of Tamil Hindu Temple

By Karuna / By

While Tamils have been resisting several attempts at landgrabs and Sinhalisation across the North-East, and particularly in Mullaitivu, fronted by state agencies such as the archaeology department and forest department, the minister’s presence in Monday’s landgrab represents the first time the Sri Lankan government has openly demonstrated its involvement in the colonisation. The event was held …

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Colombo unfazed by possible Western hostility at UNHRC session

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The Gotabaya administration has already declared that it will not co-sponsor any resolution against itself. And therefore, any resolution will have to be re-worded, incorporating new content. The contents of the new resolution will have to take into account, the Tamils’ new and radical demands, new issues like the burial of Muslims who had died …

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Sri Lanka Tamil parties want UN action against the government for HR violations

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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Tamil political parties, Civil Society organisations and Victims’ Organisations have written to the 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) demanding action against what they call is a deteriorating Human Rights situation in this country. The letter signed by all the political parties representing voters in the Tamil …

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Devolution of power to the Sri Lankan provinces remains a ticklish bilateral issue

By Karuna / By

Devolution of Power  However, devolution of power to the Sri Lankan provinces remains a ticklish bilateral issue. There is a demand from Sinhala nationalists to abrogate the 13th  Amendment (13A) which set up elected Provincial Councils. But even here, a tacit Indo-Lankan understanding can be discerned. Jaishankar raised the issue with President Gotabaya because the …

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New Constitution to protect the Buddhist heritage.

By Karuna / By

Education Minister Professor G. L. Peiris revealed on Saturday at Getambe Rajopawanaramaya that a draft of the new Constitution would be presented to Parliament before the end of 2021.  During a conversation with Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of Rajaopwanaramaya on Saturday afternoon, Prof. Peiris said that adequate time would be given the stakeholders to discuss, …

New Constitution to protect the Buddhist heritage. Read More »

Wartime FM calls for tangible measures to counter Geneva threat

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‘How come those who voted for Fonseka still push for an int’l war crime probe?’ By Shamindra Ferdinando Wartime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama (2007-2010) yesterday (17) said that those who had been tainted by their association with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were seeking the cooperation of external and internal elements to undermine …

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TNA, allies call for outfit like IIIM in Syria to probe SL

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Three Tamil political parties represented in Parliament backed by several other civil society groups, have urged the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to set up an evidence gathering mechanism, similar to the International Independent Investigatory Mechanism (IIIM), in relation to Syria, established as a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, with a …

TNA, allies call for outfit like IIIM in Syria to probe SL Read More »

Setting up of an International Independent Investigatory Mechanism

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(Text of Letter sent to all heads of missions of 47 Member states represented in the United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC) by leaders of Tamil national political parties, members of the Tamil victim communities and Tamil civil society organizations) 15 January 2021 Heads of MissionsMissions of the 47 Member States represented in the UN Human …

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US State Dept. reviews foreign terrorist organizations; LTTE continues to be banned organisation

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The US State Department has amended its Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO) list and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remains to be a banned organisation in it, the State Department said. Under the Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations list, the LTTE can be seen listed as an organisation designated since 10/8/1997. In a release issued …

US State Dept. reviews foreign terrorist organizations; LTTE continues to be banned organisation Read More »

England ‘unconcerned’ by hotel staff’s positive Covid tests

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England’s management have insisted they are “not concerned” despite two members of staff at their hotel in Galle testing positive for Covid-19. The England camp were notified on Friday morning that two staff members, both of whom work in the kitchen of the hotel, had tested positive for the virus in tests conducted on Thursday. …

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Sri Lanka: A Return to Threats, Fear: Crackdown on Critics, Disregard for Accountability

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A Statement by Human Rights Watch (Lanka-e-News -13.Jan.2021, 11.30PM)  Sri Lanka’s human rights situation has seriously deteriorated under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2021. Government security forces have increased intimidation and surveillance of human rights activists, victims of past abuses, lawyers, and journalists. Minority Muslim …

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