Marking International day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Tamil National Alliance urged to government to bring those responsible for the many thousands who have been forcibly disappeeared for justice. Highlighting the ongoing protests in the North-East by mothers and relatives of the disappeared, the TNA said in a statement, “all that they demand is to ascertain the truth as to what happened to their loved ones. The armed conflict came to an end 8 years ago, yet the issues of the missing persons has not been addressed satisfactorily so far.” “We urge the Government to give its...
The Sri Lankan election monitor, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) criticised the Tamil National Alliance leadership's support for the government as it seeks to pass the 20th Amendment to the constitution, calling the leader, R Sampanthan a traitor. CaFFE's executive director, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying "Sampanthan will become a traitor not only to the people of the North but also to those from the south who died fighting for the devolution of power". "In 1982 when President J. R. Jayewardene wanted to hold a referendum giving the people the...
The National Polls Observation Centre (NPOC) warned on Tuesday that the Eastern Province would be the "biggest loser" if the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution was adopted. "It took a long time for the people of the Eastern Province to have a provincial council of their own. The current Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) was established after the 8 September 2012 election. If the election is not held this year, which will happen if the 20th Amendment is passed, the people will have to wait another two years to elect representatives," National Coordinator of National Polls Observation...
Sri Lanka's former justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who was removed from his post over his failure to investigation alleged corruption by the former government, is to remain in the Constitutional Council, the Sunday Times reported. According to the paper, the Council has no provisions for members to be removed, instead they must either complete their three year term or resign. Mr Rajapakshe was nominated to be in the Council by the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The JVP on Saturday called on the government to hold local government elections immediately, arguing that there was no reason why it should not be held after the passing of the Local Government Elections Amendment last week. “The Speaker should endorse the Bill immediately while Local Government Minister should do the rest so that elections could be held within 70 days as assured by the Chairman of the Elections Commission,” JVP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. “The Amended Bill has ensured that the true will of the people is reflected by selecting 60...
Hundreds of Sri Lankan soldiers stationed in Kilinochchi carried out activities under a dengue prevention scheme earlier this month, reports the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence. More than 700 Army personnel from the 57, 65 and 66 Divisions of the Sri Lankan army took part in operations in Kilinochchi, Poonakari, Mulankavil, Visuvamadu and Kandavalei. They also oversaw clean-up operations with local Tamil residents to destroy mosquito breeding grounds.
Germany’s ambassador to Sri Lanka said many important issues remain unsolved in Sri Lanka and warned that urgent action was needed to implement a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability for mass atrocities. Speaking to The Island, German Ambassador Jorn Rohde said that "the first successful steps have been taken with regard to Right to Information, Constitutional Assembly and Office of Missing Persons”. However he went on to add, “But, important issues on constitutional reform such as devolution of power and transitional justice - the Prevention of Terrorism Act being...
Photographs: Shalin for Tamil Guardian Sand smuggling and attacks on police vehicles in the Thunnalai area made crackdowns necessary, Sri Lankan police and army officials said at a public meeting with the town’s residents on Saturday, stating that arrests would continue until all suspects were caught.
Over 1300 foreign citizens were refused entry into Sri Lanka last year, including 217 Indian citizens, the Sunday Times reported. Entry was also refused to 210 citizens from China, 239 from Pakistan, 166 from Afghan, 41 from Egypt and 6 from Syria. Citizens from Pakistan, Egypt, Syria and Afghanistan required special clearance from Sri Lanka's State Intelligence Service (SIS), the paper reported. See more here .
An European Union delegation will visit Sri Lanka next month as part of a formal monitoring process following the granting of GSP+ earlier this year. The delegation from Brussels will visit from the 5 to 13 September and "will begin the process of monitoring the implementation of the 27 international conventions which make up for the GSP plus" the EU Chargé d'affaires, Paul Godfrey told Ceylon Today in an interview. Stating that the assessment "would be made purely in terms of the implementation of those 27 conventions", Mr Goddfrey added that "counter-terrorism legislation and areas such as...