India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday chaired a meeting with Tamil Nadu and Kerala regional authorities and fishing groups, aimed at finding a permanent solution to the ongoing arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy. “External Affairs Minister chaired a meeting of internal stakeholders earlier today afternoon to discuss the way forward towards a permanent solution to the fishermen issue between India and Sri Lanka,” the minister of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup was reported by the The Indian Express as saying. "The discussions between stakeholders on the Indian side focused on different aspects requiring attention, including the livelihood concerns of Indian fishermen and introduction of sustainable fishing practices,” he added.
Remembering the pogrom of over 3000 Tamils by Sri Lankan state sponsored mobs in 1983 British Tamils, academics, journalists and activists at a Black July remembrance event in London on Monday reiterated the need for international judges in any accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka. Speaking at the event organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF), entitled 'Black July 1983 - Not the beginning but a continuation of Tamil Genocide', the director of 'No Fire Zone' documentary, Callum Macrae, the human rights activist, Ruki Fernando and a barrister at Mansfield Chambers, Shivani Jegarajah, highlighted Sri Lanka's long history of impunity for crimes against the Tamil people.
Seventy-seven Tamil Nadu fishermen who were held in detention by the Sri Lankan navy and released on Thursday, allege they were treated inhumanely by the Sri Lankan navy, the New Indian Express reported. “We were fishing near the IMBL when the Lankan Navy personnel arrested us. We were lodged at Jaffna Prison and treated in an inhumane manner. They provided us stale food and threatened to take us to Pakistan," one fishermen told the paper. See here for more.
Canada's foreign minister, Stephane Dion who is currently visiting Sri Lanka met with the chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran on Friday. On Thursday, Mr Dion met with the Tamil National Alliance leader, R Sampanthan, and spokesperson, M A Sumanthiran on Thursday to discuss progress on political solution. Meeting with leadership of the #Tamil National Alliance to hear views on progress towards political solution pic.twitter.com/ijQ3qtwfvE — Stéphane Dion (@MinCanadaFA) July 28, 2016
Canada's foreign minister, Stephane Dion discussed international involvement in any accountability mechanism with the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. "Spoke w/ @RW_UNP on int’l involvement in accountability processes, women in politics & regional issues," Mr Dion tweeted on Thursday evening. The discussion comes after the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena reiterated his rejection of any foreign judges in any accountability mechanism. Mr Dion is currently visiting Sri Lanka and has met with a number of people, including his counterpart, Mangala Samaraweera, the...
The Canadian foreign minister on Thursday told the Sri Lankan government that "much remains to be accomplished" on the implementation of the UNHRC resolution. Mr Stephane Dion, who is currently visiting Sri Lanka, was quoted by Colombo Page as saying at a press conference after a meeting with his counterpart, Mangala Samaraweera, "We welcome the initial steps taken by your government to implement this Resolution, and we note the progress made toward constitutional reforms. In particular, we note the public commitment for the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons, and the release of...
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said his government was looking to expand relations beyond Colombo and reach out to Jaffna, after signing a series of free trade agreements with Sri Lanka earlier this month. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on an official three day visit to Singapore last week, where he signed “four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and a Joint Statement between the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore and the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade of Sri Lanka to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement”, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Loong though said his country wanted to go beyond Colombo, stating Sri Lanka can be a gateway “to the Indian Ocean region for Singapore companies”. During a lunch held to mark Mr WIckremesinghe’s visit Mr Loong highlighted how “since the 19th century, Singapore’s small but vibrant Sri Lankan community has contributed significantly to our development”. He went on to point out that “Jaffna Tamils in the Straits Settlements’ civil service helped to lay the foundation for Singapore’s administrative and government services”.
The report of the presidential commission investigating cases of missing persons in Sri Lanka, headed by Maxwell Paranagama is ready to be given to the president, Ceylon Today reported. Mr Paranagama told the paper that he had written to the president, Maithripala Sirisena for a date and time to present the report. Stating that the commission had received 20,000 complaints from the North-East, he reportedly told the paper, "about 4,500 complaints of those 20,000 are duplicate complaints." "From among the remaining 15,500 complaints, we held oral inquiries into 6,400 complaints by visiting the...
Plainclothes police and Sri Lankan intelligence officers have been deployed at Jaffna University said a senior police official, following clashes between Sinhala and Tamil students at the campus last week. Inspector General Pujitha Jayasundera told the Divaina that security in Jaffna would be maintained. “ In addition to officers in civvies, we have deployed a large number of officers within the Jaffna university ,” he said. He added that intelligence officers had also been deployed in order to provide “security to Sinhala students”. This is the first instance of Sri Lankan police officials admitting to the use of plainclothes and intelligence officers at the campus reports JDS.
Tamil and Sinhala students have been ordered to appear before the Jaffna judicial Magistrate court over charges related to a clash at Jaffna University last week. A total of 4 Sinhala and 4 Tamil students appeared on charge sheets issued by Magistrate C Satheeskaran on Tuesday, based on a complaint filed by Koppai Police. The Tamil students have been ordered to appear based on a complaint lodged by Sinhala students who were injured in the clash and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in the southern capital Colombo. Meanwhile after a complaint raised by the Jaffna student's union chairman at the Koppai police station, 4 Sinhala students names have also appeared on the charge sheet.