Sri Lankan navy commander assaults journalists covering Hambantota protest

Photograph Sunday Times Sri Lanka's navy commander, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne assaulted a journalist on Saturday, who had been reporting on protests at Hambantota Port. Wearing civilian attire, Mr Wijegunaratne marches up to the journalist before launching a strike aimed at the cameraman.

NPC resolution on colonisation in North-East has ‘no legal standing’ declares justice minister

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister told parliament that a resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) condemning the building of Buddhist places of worship in the North-East has “no legal standing”. The Island reported Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as telling parliamentarians that the Sri Lankan constitution did not provide any legal basis for the NPC to enforce the resolution, which called for an immediate cessation to the building of Buddhist viharas. Mr Rajapakshe, who is also minister of the Buddhasasana, went on to reassure the parliament that no such power would be granted in any new...

Russia offers Sri Lanka more military hardware

Russia’s ambassador to Sri Lanka urged Colombo to look to his country for the purchase of military equipment, at a press conference last week. The Island quoted Ambassador Alexander Karchava as telling journalists that “Sri Lanka is searching for a number of products in the air, sea and land”. “We can accommodate everything,” the ambassador said. “Russia has the originals and they are durable, unlike the duplicates." Mr Karchava insisted that military co-operation between the two governments was continuing, pointing to the purchase of military helicopters by Sri Lanka in recent years. Russia...

Sri Lanka's parliament to discuss draft constitution on January 9

The Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee has decided to obtain the views of parliamentarians on drafting the new constitution on January 9th 2017 reports Colombo Page. The decision was made during a report submission to the Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, Prime Minister Ranil Wickrememsinghe, by the Sub-Working Committee that looked into relations between the parliament and Provincial Councils. Addressing the Constitutional Assembly on Saturday, Mr Wickremesinghe said that the seven sub-committees of the Steering Committee have presented their reports, and the new constitution...

Sri Lanka must end impunity for torture says Amnesty

The Sri Lankan government must end impunity for torture by holding those responsible accountable said Amnesty this week. The statement follows the report by the UN Committee Against Torture this month which called on the government to investigate ongoing reports of torture by its security services. “If the Sri Lankan authorities are serious about breaking with the harrowing legacy of the country’s decades-long conflict, it must end impunity for torture and other acts of ill-treatment,” Amnesty International’s South Asia director, Champa Patel said. “Sri Lanka has taken important and positive...

Families of missing demonstrate in Jaffna on Human Rights Day

Families of the missing demonstrated in Jaffna town on Saturday marking international Human Rights Day.

Sri Lanka’s defence minister says 'nation security' needed for reconciliation

Sri Lankan commanders watch on as the Defence Minister reiterates his commitment to 'national security'

Sri Lankan ruling parties endorse ‘unitary state’ within new constitution

The UNP announced Thursday that a new constitution would offer greater devolution of power however, would maintain a unitary state and the current executive presidential system, thereby rejecting Tamil demands for a federal structure. The UNP statement, made at its party headquarters did not however detail which powers would be further devolved. The statement to maintain a unitary state was endorsed by the SLFP as well. Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara was quoted by Ceylonews as saying, “Now we have to discuss with the Tamil leaders how and where to end. They are no longer adhering to the...

Pages