Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena said on Monday "the main aim of the National Government is to promote reconciliation and economic growth". A national government was formed with the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) following the general election earlier this month, when the UNP, which won the greatest number of seats, failed to win a simple majority. Addressing the 8th parliament of Sri Lanka, Mr Sirisena said, "my government will continue to crackdown on corruption and punish those who exploit national resources no matter who they are and there will be no political interference in the appointment of officials."
The Bodu Bala Sena has called on Sri Lankan authorities to stop the witch hunt against members of military intelligence for the benefit of “international conspirators”, the Daily Mirror reports. General Secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara said foreign elements wanted to portray the army as “atrocious killers”. “It has come to our notice that international conspirators and those working for many Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) want to portray the law abiding Sri Lankan army as being atrocious killers. Several army intelligence personnel had been arrested without any investigation. All those...
Sri Lanka’s Monetary Board held key interest rates unchanged on Monday citing low inflation, steady foreign remittances and earnings from tourism, Lanka Business Online reported. The money authority said dollar inflows, which were expected to bolster foreign reserves, contributed to the decision. The Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank were held unchanged at 6% and 7.5% respectively. “Going forward, the inflation outlook and expectations remain favourable for the remainder of the year, supported by improved domestic supply conditions and subdued global commodity prices,” the monetary board said, according to LBO.
Constituent TNA parties reject domestic investigation and reiterate call for international mechanism
Leaders from parties which make up the Tamil National Alliance have rejected proposals for a domestic investigation into the mass killings of Tamils carried out during the final stages of the armed conflict and reiterated their support for an international accountability mechanism. The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) met in Colombo and agreed that only an international mechanism would bring about true accountability and justice. M. K. Shivajilingam, a Northern Provincial Council member, recalled the failure of past domestic Sri Lankan commissions that had a degree of international involvement, such as the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons that was constituted in February 2007. "As a partner of the TNA, the TELO dismiss an internal investigation and will continue to demand an international investigation," he said.
The Sri Lankan army will start a Joint Field Training Exercise in the Eastern Province this week with the navy and air force, announced the Army Chief of Staff Major General Jagath Dias. The exercise, entitled ‘Cormorant Strike’, will be the sixth tri-forces Joint Field Training Exercise, announced the recently promoted general.
; The Sri Lankan military engaged in riot control exercises in Kilinochchi earlier this month, according to the official Sri Lankan army website . The military exercise on 20 August, complete with mock protestors, was undertaken to emphasise the military role “in order to maintain law and order in the country”, said the army. Troops from the 66 division were armed with rifles, as they demonstrated how they would tackle riots. The demonstration comes amid increased protests from Tamils across the North-East this year.
The Sri Lankan military has called for increased participation in peacekeeping missions with the United Nations, with the commander stating the forces were a “professional army”. Lt. Gen. Crisanthe De Silva called for further participation, despite the controversy over Sri Lankan troops sexually abusing Haitian minors whilst on a previous peacekeeping mission. 111 soldiers and 3 officers were repatriated back to Sri Lanka after being part of UN mission in Haiti and were accused of a string of sexual assaults, including rape of children as young as 7 years old. No one has yet been charged with any offences. Speaking to the Sunday Island , Lt. De Silva claimed, "Within a short span of time, we were able to make a significant positive impact on UN’s peacekeeping efforts… The Sri Lankan armed forces have been recognized for their commitment, competence and abilities in all UN assignments".
The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) reiterated its call for an international criminal justice process to seek accountability and justice for mass atrocities committed against the Tamil people in 2009, describing an internal/domestic accountability process as tantamount to 'victor's justice'. "The TNPF has been quite unequivocal in its demand for accountability and justice for crimes committed during the 30 year long war and before," the party said, in a policy statement released this week. "Given that the Sri Lankan Army is seen as protectors of the Sinhala Buddhist order and the Army and the Police are the primary accused parties regarding the grave crimes, including the crime of Genocide, committed against the Tamil people, we are of the firm view that no internal / domestic mechanism or inquiry can result in genuine prosecutions against the Sri Lankan Army, Police and members of its political class."
A prominent TNA MP says the party will continue to demand an international mechanism, despite the recent announcement by the US that it would support a credible domestic inquiry. Sivagnanam Shritharan, who won the highest number of votes of all TNA MPs, said the party will act according to its manifesto, which demands an international inquiry. “We will not accept it, if the US calls for an internal inquiry into the alleged war crimes and human rights abuses during the final phase of the war, we will demand an international inquiry as stated in the election manifesto," he said. “We will act as...
Tamil families affected by enforced disappearances rejected proposals for a domestic inquiry at a vigil for the disappeared in Mannar. Emphasising the need for an international investigations into disappearances and abductions during the war and its aftermath, hundreds of relatives of missing persons marked the International Day of the Disappeared with an emotional vigil in Mannar on Sunday. photograph IBCTamil.com The vigil was organised by the Organisation for the Families of Forcibly Disappeared Persons - North and East Provinces, with the Mannar Citizens Committee. The event’s chief guest, Reverend Father Elil Rajan, representing the Tamil Civil Society Forum, emphasised the Tamil people’s disappointment in the international push for domestic investigations.