The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson is to make an official visit to Sri Lanka on July 10 - 14, where he is expected to meet with detainees suspected or convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Mr Emmerson plans to obtain first-hand information on steps taken regarding counter-terrorism and assess how they affect the promotion and protection of human rights. “I will seek to provide assistance in the discussion of the country’s counter-terrorism policy and legal framework, as well as...
The Tamil National Alliance on Thursday urged the senior members of the Buddhist clergy to reconsider their decision to unanimously reject any constitutional change in Sri Lanka. "when all political parties represented in the legislature had contributed towards the drafting of a new Constitution, the main Buddhist Sects affirming that there was no need for such a framework was both shocking and ridiculous," Ceylon Today quoted the TNA spokesperson and MP, M A Sumanthiran as saying. The Buddhist clergy announced their decision following a special meeting earlier this week held in Kandy where...
The newly appointed Sri Lankan Army Commander has refuted war crimes allegations but said that the tri-forces would face up to any investigation in order to clear their name. “I don’t know whether those accusing the army officers and soldiers have first-hand information about their allegations; whether they were there at that time or not, but if there are any investigations we will certainly support it to clear the name and reputation of the army,” the Daily Mirror quotes Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake as saying. When questioned about the Army’s failure to investigate allegations of attacks on...
Sri Lankan airlines will be running a direct flight service between Hong Kong and Colombo starting July 15th 2017. The national carrier of Sri Lanka will have five direct flights to Hong Kong a week. The airline’s management officials were summoned by the Sri Lankan cabinet last month to discuss a Rs 22 billion loss.
Sri Lanka’s parliament did not take up the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Bill this week, despite it having been scheduled for debate on Wednesday. Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella and Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala said the bill would not be debated as scheduled. No reason was given for the decision and a future date to debate the bill was not announced. The bill has been fiercely opposed by members of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy. The move comes despite Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena promising Tamil...
More than 75 senior Buddhist monks from all three sects of the Sangha called on the Sri Lankan government not to abolish the much criticised Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after a meeting in Kandy this week. Following a four hour meeting at the Sri Chandananda Buddhist College of Asgiriya, all the leading Sangha agreed to deliver a present a memorandum signed by the prelates to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, urging him not to abolish the PTA. The move comes just days after monks from the Buddha Sasana concluded that major amendments to Sri Lanka’s constitution were not needed...
The mother of a young Tamil construction worker has reported him missing from Jaffna since Friday 30th June. 18-year-old Grecian Premilan from Mulankavil, Kilinochchi left work in Navanthurai, Jaffna for home on Friday evening and has not been seen since. Photograph: Tamilwin Jaffna police have stated that they have been searching for Mr Premilan accordingly with the details of the missing person report.
The Sri Lankan government will be taking steps to rehouse the families of 3650 dead Sri Lankan soldiers before President Sirisena’s term ends, the Minister of Housing and Development has said. The minister, Sajith Premadasa, made the remarks while laying the foundation for a housing scheme for 34 dead soldiers’ families in Anamaduwa, Puttalam. According to adaderana.lk , 34 underprivileged and homeless families will receive 15 perches of land each.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament that he had instructed an investigation into claims of a threat to the US Embassy in Colombo. Sri Lankan newspapers reported on the weekend that there was a threat to the US Embassy in Colombo stating that the threat was from ISIS militants. Mr Wickrememsinghe said the newspaper claimed it has information on the threat to the US Embassy, adding that the US Embassy itself had no information of a threat. See more here.
A new constitution for Sri Lanka will be formulated and put to public referendum after being passed through parliament, said Sri Lanka’s co-cabinet spokesperson Dr Rajitha Senaratne. Dr Senaratne said that the unity government was given a mandate by 6.2 million people and would respect this. Responding to comments made by journalists regarding rejection of any new constitution by senior monks of the Buddhist clergy, Dr Senaratne said that the mandate of 6.2 million for a new constitution also includes support from Buddhist monks and leaders of other religions. "The monks can have their views...