A new Sri Lankan constitution would be put to a referendum after being presented in parliament, the leader of the House, and the minister of higher education and highways, Lakshman Kiriella said last week. “We know where our government is headed. Our main priority is to create a new constitution. All parties present in Parliament have put behind their radical ideas and come to a common ground," Mr Kiriella was quoted by FT.lk as saying during an opening ceremony for a hostel at Eastern university, in Batticaloa. "I believe that we could create a constitution that everyone can accept. We will...
Attempts by officials to survey land in Pallimunai, Mannar were halted on Tuesday after villagers protested against further land grabs and refused entry to the officials. The land which originally belonged to 19 Tamil families is currently under the the military's control and houses a navy base.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan called for the release of Tamil political prisoners, stating that their continued detention was impeding hopes of reconciliation and criticised Sri Lanka's draconian Prevntion of Terrorism Act. “It is compulsory that the government states it’s position on this matter and takes action to release the said prisoners," said Mr Sampanthan in an adjournment motion in Sri Lanka's parliament. "Their continuance in custody causes immense harm and harassment to their families and impedes the process of reconciliation. The government is seen as being...
A Hindu festival in Vaharai saw Sri Lankan soldiers overseeing proceedings last week. Troops from the 233 brigade provided food to the thousands of devotees who came to the Kandallady Badrakali Amman Kovil, before they watched over proceedings in full military uniform. The soldiers were “were blessed according to the Hindu rituals” reported a military website .
The United States Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited Trincomalee on Monday, where he met with the commander of the Sri Lankan navy. Mr Mabus observed joint training which is currently taking place between members of the US navy and the Sri Lankan navy.
Sri Lanka’s president said his government was under “no compulsion” to implement a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for an internationalised accountability mechanism, as he addressed a gathering of Sri Lankan soldiers on Monday. The official Ministry of Defence website quoted Maithripala Sirisena as telling the soldiers “it is his duty and responsibility to protect war heroes who fought to bring freedom to the country”. Calling the UN resolution a set of “proposals”, Mr Sirisena added that his government would follow them only to clear “allegations” that loomed over Sri...
China's bank is to establish its South Asian branch in Sri Lanka the country's prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, told parliament on Tuesday. “China agreed to set up the branch here in Colombo at the proposed financial city,” Mr Wickremesinghe was quoted by the LBO as saying. “We expect to have discussions about the proposal with China," he said, adding that the proposals could be released before the end of this year.
Sri Lanka's Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, signed the Office on Missing Persons Bill on Tuesday, making it into a legal act, Colombo Page reported. The bill has received criticism from Tamil families who expressed concern about the lack of adequate consultation prior and lack of emphasis over justice for disappearances. Sri Lanka's joint opposition movement has meanwhile vehemently opposed the bill, accusing the government of betraying the country's soldiers.
Muslim and Tamil students at the University of Peradeniya were attacked by Sinhala students on Monday night. The group, made up of 15 Tamil students and one Muslim student were set upon by a gang of Sinhala youths as they made their way back from a Hindu temple and a mosque. Female students in the group were told to leave the scene by the gang before they assaulted the Tamil-speakers with clubs. One Muslim student reportedly suffered a serious head wound, alongside five others who were seriously injured in the attack. Meanwhile Adaderana reported the president of the students’ union at the...
A protest march was held in Kilinochchi on Monday, demanding justice for the thousands of disappeared Tamils and an end to the creation of Sinhala-Buddhist settlements in the Tamil homeland. Demonstrators began their rally at the Umayalpuram Amman temple, where they smashed coconuts on the ground, before proceeding towards Kilinochchi town. Protesters held placards calling for the release of political prisoners and slamming the building of Buddhist statues on traditionally Tamil land. “'Good governance or diabolic governance?," read one placard. “We want our lands back,” was emblazoned on...