Photograph : US Embassy Colombo The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka reiterated the importance of government reform on the island, as he opened an American sponsored trade show in Colombo today, showcasing opportunities for American companies to work in Sri Lanka. “It is clear to me that there is a new and tremendous opportunity for the United States and Sri Lanka to work together to enhance our economic relationship and expand bilateral trade,” said US Ambassador Keshap. “That’s because the people of Sri Lanka have made clear their intent to leave aside the divisive politics of the past in order to build a promising future, and the government has responded with plans to adopt policies that will make it easier for businesses to operate in and trade with Sri Lanka, for not only the United States, but businesses from across the globe,” he added. The ambassador went on to state however that “achieving this vision will not be easy work”. “Representatives of US companies have regularly told me they would like to see more economic policy consistency, a more fiscally stable government and sustained enforcement of anti-corruption policies in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa will be given a more prominent role in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) announced the party’s general secretary on Tuesday. SLFP General Secretary Duminda DIssanayake said that there was no need for the SLFP to work as two groups, adding that Mahinda Rajapaksa had a responsibility to ensure that he SLFP wins future elections. Noting that President Maithripala Sirisena had given SLFP members freedom to sit with the government or opposition, Mr Dissanayake stressed that in the future the SLFP would work as one group to contest in elections and...
Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran on Tuesday dismissed TNA spokesperson MA Sumanthiran's threat to sack him from the Tamil National Alliance and accused party leader R Sampanthan and Mr Sumanthiran of wanting to be in the good books of the new government whilst ignoring Tamil demands. Mr Wigneswaran said he was able to remain "neutral" with regards to party politics as he was not a member of any of the political parties that make up the TNA. The chief minister pointed that he had only agreed to be a candidate on the condition that he would be supported by all parties and that he was, in reality, a candidate of the people of the Northern Province which was why he got 130,000 preferential votes. Therefore, his only commitment would be to the voters, the New Indian Express quoted him as saying.
Sri Lanka's former foreign minister GL Peiris has warned of the "dangers" of amending the controversial /Prevention of Terrorism Act. Speaking to media in Colombo on Monday, the former minister accused the government of buckling under pressure from the Global Tamil Forum and the Tamil National Alliance. The former minister said the government would amend the act first, as an initial step to repeal the PTA in full, in order to implement pledges made to the TNA. Mr Peiris claimed that the remaining 235 political detainees were all responsible for acts of terrorism, adding that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's government had rehabilitated and released around 12,000 former LTTE members.
The US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power will travel to the North-East next week, after visits to southern Sri Lanka and India. Ambassador Power will visit Jaffna and meet with local government officials, NGOs and communities affected by the armed conflict. She will also meet with members of the local press corps, including by visiting the headquarters of Uthayan newspaper, which has been repeatedly targeted throughout the conflict. She is expected to meet with NPC Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran when in the Tamil-dominated North-East. The senior US official will also participate in the inauguration of a new wing of Osmania College, which suffered significant damage during the conflict, as well as tour the Jaffna Library, where she will announce US support for the local restoration of ancient Tamil manuscripts, according to a press release .
Over 100,000 people are expected to be affected by severe flooding in the North-East of Sri Lanka following heavy rainfall over the last four days. In Jaffna alone, over 76,673 people have been affected by the floods, with at least 254 houses suffering damage, said the Jaffna District Disaster Management Centre on Monday. Photograph: Tamil Guardian The Kilinochchi District Disaster Management Centre reported a minimum pf 12,980 people to ha been affected by the floods. In Mullaitivu, at least 1230 are thought ot have been affected. War affected displaced families living in temporary shelters...
A Sri Lankan government minister has hit out at France for teaching Sri Lanka about “good governance and democracy”, in the aftermath of the Paris attacks that killed 129 people. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the French government, alongside other Western countries had put pressure on Sri Lanka to adhere to "good governance" during the armed conflict. “They came to teach us about good governance and democracy,” he said. “They claimed that since there is no reconciliation in Sri Lanka and since we are not addressing the issues of minorities there is terrorism in Sri Lanka.” “Now I ask...
Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated Buddhist links with Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, in a congratulatory message following the party’s electoral victory last week. “It is indeed a personal achievement for you and your party in the peaceful struggle for democracy over the years in your country,” said Mr Sirisena. “Sri Lanka and Myanmar share long standing relations which is underpinned by Theravada Buddhism and had been nurtured by frequent exchange of pilgrims and people to people contacts,” he added.
The Tamil Lawyers Forum released a statement today calling on Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena to release all Tamil political prisoners that are currently being held in Sri Lankan prisons. “Following the failure of President Maithripala Sirisena to resolve the issue of the Tamil political prisoners before the 7th of November 2015 as promised, the inmates have resumed their fast unto death,” said the Tamil Lawyers Forum. “Even the promise that 32 inmates will be released on Monday the 9th November was not honoured. This does not come as a surprise to many. The familiar pattern of...
India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar acknowledged that Sri Lankan troops continued to receive training in Indian defence colleges, despite domestic opposition. Visiting the Coonoor Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), where there are currently 35 defence officers from 24 countries undergoing training, Mr Parrikar stated that no Sri Lankans were present at that particular institute, due to local protests. He did however admit that Sri Lankan officers were being trained at other DSSCs in India. Last month, joint exercises by Sri Lanka's and India's navies commenced off the coast of...