China's 'One Belt One Road' will help Sri Lanka says PM

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe this week asserted China's 'One Belt One Road' programme would help Sri Lanka "to become a hub of the Indian Ocean", the Daily Mirror reported. Mr Wickremesinghe made this remark as he took part in talks on the programme in Beijing along side over 30 heads of states. “It is important to establish peaceful non military ties among the countries in the region. Therefore it is essential to establish multilateral trade ties based on a commercial basis,” he was quoted by the paper as saying.

PHU accuses Modi of seeing Sri Lanka as India's 30th state

Sri Lanka's Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) party on Monday slammed the Indian prime minister's plans for development, accusing him of viewing the island as India's 30th state. “Mr. Modi pledged to expand the Indian-funded ambulance service to cover the entire country and build 10,000 housing units for residents in the estate sector. What right has he to make decisions on behalf of Sri Lanka? He spoke as if Sri Lanka was the 30th state of India with President Sirisena as the Governor and Premier Wickremesinghe as the Chief Minister of that state,” PHU General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila was...

Ruwan: won't let anyone discredit the security forces

Sri Lanka's state minister of defense, Ruwan Wijewardene reiterated on Monday that he would not let anyone discredit the country's security forces. In an apparent reference to remembrance events in the North-East this week marking the massacre of Tamils at the end of the ethnic conflict, Mr Wijewardene was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying, "there were some elements trying to tarnish the reputation of the security forces by lighting lamps while enjoying the freedom reinstated in this country because of the efforts of security forces who sacrificed their life and limb to do so." “Some...

Tamil groups criticise sudden announcement of National Dengue Eradication Week to clash with Mullivaikkaal remembrance

Tamil civil society groups and local politicians have criticised the Sri Lankan health ministry’s declaration of May 18 and 19 as National Dengue Eradication Week, claiming the move is an attempt to disrupt Mullivaikkaal remembrance activities. The sudden announcement which was passed via the directors of the Northern and Eastern Provincial Health Services included instructions for health officials to search homes in the North-East for dengue mosquito breeding habitats. Residents reported that during previous similar searches, military forces were involved, sparking fears that future searches...

Passing of Vaddukoddai resolution commemorated

Organisers of Tamil genocide remembrance week commemorated the passing of the Vaddukoddai resolution 41 years ago on Sunday.

Sri Lanka's armed forces hand out rations and cattle in Kilinochchi

The Commander of the Security Forces in Kilinochchi, Major General Ajith Kariyakarawanan distributed 20 dairy cattle amongst families in Visuwamadu and Poonakaryan. The distribution event was attended by the Government Agent, Mr Suntharam Arumainayaham, General Jariyakarawanana and a prominent Buddhist monk. Dr ration packs were also circulated amongst families that attended the event, reports the Sri Lankan army website.

Day 3 of Tamil genocide remembrance week marked at site of Navaly church bombing

The third day of Tamil genocide remembrance week was marked in Navaly on Sunday.

Sri Lankan military lays foundation stone for Buddhist stupa in Jaffna

A Sri Lankan army commander laid the foundation stone for a controversial new Buddhist stupa in Jaffna this week.

Second day of Tamil genocide remembrance week marked in Oorani

A vigil was held in Oorani on Saturday to mark the second day in the week leading up to the anniversary of Mullivaikkaal, which is being observed in the North-East as Tamil genocide remembrance week.

We expect meaningful power-sharing in merged North-East TNA tells Modi

Meeting with the Indian premier on Friday during his two day visit of Sri Lanka the Tamil National Alliance made clear "our expectation is of meaningful power sharing in a merged North-East".

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