Sri Lanka considers building naval base at Hambantota

Sri Lanka’s new government has approved a proposal to conduct a feasibility study that looks to construct a naval base at the Hambantota port. The Hambantota port, which was built using a Chinese loan of $316 million, faced criticism from the United National Party (UNP) for being underutilized, reports the New Indian Express . Future Chinese investments in Sri Lanka have been put under review by the new government, with moves suggesting that they may be given the go ahead after an internal review. Sri Lanka will reconsider 'Port City' (18 Jun 2015) Sri Lanka denies Chinese claim Sirisena...

Sri Lanka's army chief reiterates commitment to maintaining and strengthening military camps

Sri Lanka’s military chief Chrishanthe de Silva reiterated that no army camps will be removed from their current locations. Speaking at a press event following the visit of Buddhist monks to an army base in Kandy on Friday, De Silva, said , “None of the military camps will be removed from where they are situated. We have fortified those camps.” Adding that soldiers had been stationed in the North and South to "reinforce national security," he said, "we will not reduce any of those troops." At least 160,00 Sinhalese military soldiers are assumed to be stationed in the predominantly Tamil Northern and Eastern provinces. After the end of the ethnic conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009, Sri Lanka stands accused of continuing a silent war against Tamils in the North-East through military occupation. Sri Lankan army strengthens High Security Zone in Valikaamam North (22 Jul 2015) Sri Lankan Army demolishing civilian homes in Vali North (16 Jun 2015) Sri Lanka's army 'categorically denies' closing down 59 military camps in North-East (16 Jun 2015) We have not removed a single army camp from North – Minister (15 Jun 2015) Military camps in Jaffna needed for ‘national security’ says army commander (11 Jun 2015) Sri Lankan military continues to build Buddhist temples in North-East (10 Jun 2015) Silent war against Tamils through Sri Lanka's military occupation finds US think-tank (28 may 2015)

18 year old missing in Jaffna

An 18 year old boy has been reported in missing in Jaffna on Thursday. The youth, named Nirushan, is the son of M Thambirasa, a well-known business man, and also a prominent Tamil National Alliance (TNA) campaigner and former TNA candidate at the Northern Provincial Council election in 2013.

British Tamils commemorate Black July pogrom

(Photos: Tamil Guardian) The massacre of thousands of Tamils at the hand of Sinhala mobs, known as Black July, was marked on its 32nd anniversary with a vigil outside Downing Street in London. British Tamils gathered outside the prime minister's residence and lit candles in remembrance of those who died in 1983.

Buddhism given foremost place in UNP election manifesto

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe handed a copy of the United National Party (UNP) manifesto to the head monk of the Buddhist Maha Sangha at the UNP official manifesto launch on Thursday. Whilst outlining UNP plans to create a society that would have a "competitive economy and safeguard the equal rights of the people," the prime minister assured the audience that Buddhism "would be given its foremost place."

UNP rules out federalism

The deputy foreign minister of Sri Lanka has ruled out a federal setup for Sri Lanka. Ajith Perera, who is also the chief organiser for the Kalutara district for the UNP, said at a press conference that the UNP-led United National Front for Good Governance would only devolve power within a unitary state. Earlier this year, Foreign Mangala Samaraweera said he is “hopeful”, a new government will introduce a new constitution, which will “meet the aspirations of all the peoples of Sri Lanka”. Wigneswaran calls for united effort to achieve Tamil nation's aspirations (21 July 2015)

Sri Lanka lost $75m due to EU fishing sanction

The European Union’s ban on imports of fish caught in Sri Lanka has caused losses in revenue totalling $75m since January, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne. The EU, which is the largest export market for the island’s fisheries industry, brought in the ban for the government’s failure to crack down on illegal fishing. Ms Colonne said on Wednesday, the government has been taking steps to address the issues, including are fitting vessel monitoring systems on high sea fishing vessels, maintaining and updating a register of high sea fishing licenses, banning vessels using harmful fishing methods and prosecuting those found to be fishing illegally.

ISIS-linked Sri Lankans were involved in Aluthgama riots – BBS

Bodu Bala Sena CEO Dilanthe Withanage claimed Sri Lankan Muslims linked to the Islamic State were behind the riots in Aluthgam, in which Muslims were attacked by Sinhala mobs. Speaking to media on the reported death of a Sri Lankan member of the Islamic State group, Mr Withanage said the BBS had warned about the dangers of Sri Lankans being recruited to join the group in Iraq and Syria six months ago, but it was ridiculed as racist at the time. “Several Sri Lankan Muslim communities have requested the BBS to help free them from this extremism and they said that they would support silently,” he said. “We can clearly say the Sri Lankans, who worked for ISIS, have involvement in the Aluthgama incident. Sri Lankan authorities are afraid of investigating in to the ISIS related incident in the country,” Mr. Withanage said. BBS General Secretary Galagodaathe Gnanasara said the government should investigate and publish how “Muslim extremists” are being funded in Sri Lanka.

European electoral observers hold first meeting in Sri Lanka

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) held its first press conference in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, the Chief Observer, Cristian Preda, said that the mission would be using the world’s best election observation and assessment methodology to monitor the parliamentary elections on August 17. Mr Preda said that the 70 member team consisted of experts in various fields, adding that they were not there “to teach democracy or to teach electoral process but to see if Sri Lankan laws and the declared norms are adhered to.” The EUEOM will produce...

257 families remain displaced in Muhamalai

Six years since the end of the armed conflict, 257 families in the Muhamalai region of Kilinochchi district remain displaced said the Divisional Secretariat. According to the Secretariat the delay is due to the failure to clear the area of land mines and unexploded bombs. The resettlement in Kilinochchi district had been taking place in stages since December 2009.

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