‘No questions asked’ on Swiss cash transfers promises Sri Lankan finance minister

Sri Lanka’s finance minister pledged that “there will be no questions asked” on undeclared funds kept in Swiss bank accounts, as he appealed to Sri Lankan citizens to transfer cash back into the country. With Sri Lanka having faced a fall in official reserves, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, appealed to those who have kept cash abroad to bring funds back to the island in order to shore up reserves. “We can offer a considerable interest rate,” said Mr Karunanayake. “We will ask no questions. In fact we will provide measures to make them feel safer.” The minister said that former president...

‘I saved Rajapaksa from the electric chair’ claims Ranil

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed to have saved former president Mahinda Rajapaksa from going to the electric chair and averted an international probe into violations of international humanitarian law. Speaking at a ceremony organized by the National Movement for Peace in Colombo on Friday, Mr Wickremesinghe said : "I saved Mahinda Rajapaksa from the electric chair as well as avoiding an international inquiry.” "The present leadership was able to rescue the country by removing Sri Lanka from the agenda,” he added. “It was the former President who promised UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon and USA to allow an international probe into alleged war crimes". Mr Wickremesinghe also said his government had managed to change the view that Sri Lankan security forces had committed human rights violations. "We have changed this and have been able to tell that the LTTE was responsible for human rights violation,” he told the audience. “We did not betray our Armed Forces.”

Triumphant return for president who 'achieved a great victory' at UNHRC, as he pledges 'domestic inquiry'

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena returned from his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York to a triumphant welcome, as Singhalese across the south celebrated the UNHRC resolution as a victory over the imposition of international involvement in a hybrid mechanism. Huge crowds had gathered at the airport to receive the president, as Buddhist monks chanted and bestowed blessing on him. Speaking soon after his arrival, President Sirisena said Sri Lanka "achieved a great victory" , as the international community appreciated steps taken by the government to address human rights concerns, while the government succeeded in averting the " electric chair ", an international investigation, and a hybrid special court in the resolution passed on Thursday.

Continued threats of landgrab in Kilinochchi

The Sri Lankan army's landgrab efforts in a Kilinochchi village have been frustrated by fierce protest by landowners and locals. Over 20 acres of privately owned land in Paramankirai have reportedly been spared from appropriation, although neighbouring villages in the district have now come under threat from landgrabs. Concerned property owners and locals, as well as some local politicians, gathered after surveyors were seen measuring and inspecting lands. Government officials reportedly left the sites in anticipation of disputes breaking out. Attempts by the military to also seize the site...

It is 'incumbent on Sri Lankan government to implement resolution’ says TNA

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the Sri Lankan government to implement a UN resolution “in a spirit of honesty and cooperation,” in a statement to welcome its passage at the Human Rights Council last week. Stating that the resolution “reflects a difficult consensus”, the TNA said it was “deeply mindful that any perceived compromise causes hurt to those most traumatized by the horrific crimes that have been committed in Sri Lanka”. “Nevertheless, the resolution – if implemented – provides a genuine opportunity for real progress on accountability and reconciliation,” it added. The statement went on to say: “We welcome the Resolution’s encouragement of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner’s Report. In this regard, we urge the government to implement the resolution in a spirit of honesty and cooperation, in particular, the Council’s affirmation of the need for the participation of Commonwealth and other foreign judges, prosecutors, investigators and lawyers in a court enabled to try international crimes, through a Special Counsel for prosecutions.” In particular the TNA highlighted the “critical importance of the government’s commitment to a political settlement through necessary constitutional measures” as well as the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the return of lands to owners, the ending military involvement in civilian activities, restoring normality in civilian life and cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and special procedures. “It is now incumbent on the government to implement the resolution,” the TNA concluded. “The resolution, by itself, will not win back the confidence of victims. That would require meaningful implementation in a spirit of cooperation. We call on the government to exhibit the courage to create a conducive atmosphere for implementation.”

'Mechanism must be domestic' says Sri Lankan president

Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday reiterated that a justice mechanism aimed at delivering accountability for the war crimes and crimes against humanity documented in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) must be domestic. In an interview to the New York Times, Mr Sirisena, who was in New York addressing the UN General Assembly, said, "the mechanism must be domestic". The paper further quoted a presidential aide as saying that "Sri Lanka does not allow foreign lawyers to practice in its courts", and that "it was not possible for the country to set up a new international court without amending the Constitution, which would be extremely difficult politically."

Sri Lanka says it is ready to begin consultations

Sri Lanka's ambassador to Geneva said the country was ready to begin consultations towards establishing a justice mechanism. "We are eager to commence wide ranging consultations for this purpose as soon as possible in a manner to expand the ownership of its content by all stakeholders," he told the UN Human Rights Council as the resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka was adopted by the Council. "My delegation looks forward to join the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report the progress made on the ground, as requested in the resolution, in time to come," he added.

India reiterates need for meaningful devolution of political authority in Sri Lanka

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council at the adoption of a consensus resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka, India reiterated the need for meaningful devolution of political authority. "As Sri Lanka's closest neighbour, India cannot remain untouched by developments in that country," India's ambassador to Geneva said on Thursday. "India has always supported efforts to preserve Sri Lanka's character as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious society in which all citizens, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, can live in equality, safety and harmony, and prosper and fulfil their aspirations within a united Sri Lanka." "Towards this direction, we reiterate our firm belief that the meaningful devolution of political authority through the implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and building upon it would greatly help the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka."

Tamil diaspora critical for meaningful dialogue on Sri Lanka says South Africa

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council at the adoption of a consensus resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka, South Africa reiterated the importance of meaningful dialogue in order to achieve reconciliation, adding that "the Tamil Diaspora remains an important constituency and its support is critical in fostering a real and meaningful dialogue." "While there is recognition of the positive step taken, the High Commissioner’s report also highlights the endemic violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law including the lack of credibility in Sri Lanka’s domestic mechanism," South Africa said. "South Africa believes that the establishment of a credible domestic mechanism on accountability, truth telling and reconciliation must be underpinned by sincere political dialogue process between all concerned parties, which includes the Singhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities to bring about a lasting political solution and the achievement of sustainable peace for the people of Sri Lanka. The Tamil Diaspora remains an important constituency and its support is critical in fostering a real and meaningful dialogue."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister urges Modi to wage ‘strong diplomatic offensive’ on Sri Lanka

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa urged the Indian Prime Minister to “wage a strong diplomatic offensive to uphold the rights and interests of our Indian fishermen”. In a letter to Narendra Modi, the chief minister called on him to act on the recent arrests of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan navy. 28 fishermen and their 30 fishing boats are in Sri Lankan custody after being apprehended by the Sri Lankan security forces earlier this week. Ms Jayalalithaa requested that Mr. Modi “intervene personally in this issue and use all diplomatic channels to ensure that our...

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