Sri Lanka's police spoke publicly this week about what they described as "cogent evidence" against the former navy spokesperson over the disappearance of 11 Tamil youths in 2008. Speaking at a press conference, the police spokesperson was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying, "on 28 May, 2009 Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda submitted a written complaint against his Chief Security Officer, Lieutenant Commander Sampath Munasighe." "Munasinghe's cabin revealed four different NICs, a mobile phone, one passport belonging to one of the owners of the NICs, 450 live ammunition and...
The Sri Lankan government on Monday signed a US$ 100 million credit agreement with the World Bank to support the island's higher education sector. The Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) operation is aimed at increasing enrollment in priority disciplines, improving the quality of degree programs, and promoting research and innovation in the higher education sector. “Sri Lanka’s aspiration to rise to an Upper Middle Income Country status depends on the skills and versatility of its people. The higher education system must result in skills that allow individuals to...
The Sri Lankan government rejected reports that new visa screening processes would result in visas not being issued, stating that visas would be issued "without any special test or delay irrespective of their country of origin". “Any foreigner who hopes to visit Sri Lanka for business, leisure, educational or any other purpose can apply for a visa online and obtain visas for 30 days. After arrival the foreigners can extend their visa by applying to the Department of Immigration and Immigration” Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration head, Nihal Ranasinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as...
Sri Lanka's prime minister and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday called for the SLFP and UNP to continue to work together as a unity government, arguing it was necessary for the country's development. His comments came as Sri Lankan papers were increasingly dubious over the longevity of the unity government. “Development projects such as this are not being implemented to get political advantage for the UNP or SLFP. It is a difficult task for two political parties to work together," Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. "It is the same when it comes to...
The United States and Sri Lanka are to renew a defence agreement which was signed in 2007, according to reports in the Sri Lankan press. The Sunday Leader and Colombo Gazette report that Sri Lanka’s cabinet was informed of the decision to renewal a defence deal by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who was acting in his capacity as Minister of Defence. The agreement, signed in March 2007, allowed for an exchange of supply and services and the training of staff and humanitarian aids in disaster situations for a period of 10 years. A date has not yet been set for the renewal.
Microfinance loans with soaring interest rates have left the community in Batticaloa trapped in a cycle of debt, reports The Hindu. In a piece entitled “Getting sucked into a quicksand of debt” , villagers in the Eastern town described how microfinance loans have left many trapped. “First, it was the tsunami that destroyed our community,” said one villager. “Then came the war. Now, it’s microfinance.” Another spoke of how he was planning on selling his kidney to repay microfinance loans. “They say I will get LKR 8-9 lakhs (about ₹3.7 lakhs), but even that won’t be enough to fully repay our...
The Sri Lankan government had advised its ambassadors to lobby the UK, Canada and Australia over travel advisories that it feels "placed the country in poor light and threatnes to scare off foreign visitors", the Sunday Times reported. "These advisories fall short of diplomatic protocol that is enjoyed among friendly nations, and this should never be the case. We will be seeking to rectify this at the very earliest," the paper quoted a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying. UK The UK's advisory highlighted the ongoing presence of the military in the North-East, with "...
The Sri Lankan government has introduced screening for tourists from Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon prior to the issuing of visas. The minister of internal affairs, S B Navinna was quoted by the Sunday Leader as saying, "the screening will be carried out in light of national security concerns." According to the paper the screening will include ISIS links for those coming from Syria and Egypt, illegal immigrants from Nigeria and Ghana; and refugees from Pakistan.
The leader of the National Freedom Front and MP Wimal Weerawansa condemned the arrest of the former Sri Lankan navy spokesperson saying that he was a talented officer who had been arrested over the disappearance of "terrorists". Commodore D K P Dassanayake was arrested this month of the disappearance of 11 Tamil youths in 2008. "Commodore Dassanayake was one of the two officers who got the opportunity to get ‘Field Promotions’ twice in the Sri Lankan Navy’s history. He has been arrested over an incident where several terrorists had gone missing,” Mr Weerawansa told a press conference,...
Rejecting the conclusions of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson following an official visit to Sri Lanka, the country's justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe described Mr Emmerson as someone who "lacked cailbre and diplomacy" and accused him of using "false facts" about the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Also critical of the previous visit the UN Rapporteur, Monica Pinto, Mr Rajapakshe said, “she also said Tamil are mistreated. These are the type of special rapporteurs who visit Sri Lanka today." "They lack caliber and have hidden agendas. They think...