Wigneswaran calls on Sri Lanka government to work with Northern Province to tackle drug issue

The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran called on the central government to assist on efforts by the Northern Province to combat escalating drug and alcohol abuse. Speaking at a press event in Kilinochchi , Mr Wigneswaran said , “The use of narcotics has become a menace to the North. The police department has a separate unit to deal with narcotics. So the Northern Provincial Council will seek the help of the Police Narcotics division through the Central Government to tackle the drug menace in the North.” Increased drug problem since Sri Lanka's military arrived in...

No discussions held on India's road-rail link submission at ADB says Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka said that the Indian government had not held any consultations with Sri Lanka regarding the construction of a road and rail link across the Palk Straights connecting Tamil Nadu to the North of the island, reports Xinhua. Noting that no official consultations had been held, Sri Lanka’s acting Foreign Minister Ajith Perera, said , “ Neither the Prime Minister of India or the Indian External Affairs Minister discussed the matter with us during their recent visits to the country. This proposal seems to be someone's creative idea and nothing more.” Adding that Sri Lanka’s government...

HRW reiterates need for international process for accountabiltiy in Sri Lanka

International involvement is an essential requirement to deliver justice in Sri Lanka said Human Rights Watch, responding to Sri Lanka’s announcement of setting up a domestic inquiry into atrocities. The HRW South Asia Director, Meenakshi Ganguly, speaking to Journalists for Democracy Sri Lanka (JDS), said , “This government has repeatedly said that it is committed to justice. For that, there will be need for impartial, international participation. Sri Lanka has unfortunately a history of failed commissions through decades of conflict. Even families of those that disappeared during the days of the JVP violence are yet to know what happened to their loved ones.”

Sri Lanka denies reviewing country specific foreign policy

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera had not at any point referred to a review of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy regarding specific countries. Responding to questions on Mr Samaraweera’s interviews for Japanese press, Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs spokesperson Mahishini Colonne, said that Mr Samaraweera had expressed Sri Lanka’s intention to win back allies that have been traditionally close since independence.

Sri Lanka considers re-establishing Tamil Nadu ferry link

Sri Lanka's state-owned Ceylon Shipping Corporation said it is considering a plan to re-establish a ferry service between India and the island's North-East. Authorities said the service, which would run between Mannar and Rameswaram, would need the permission of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island earlier this year breathed new life into the project. The Northern Provincial Council also passed a resolution earlier this year, demanding the recommencement of transport links between the North-East and Tamil Nadu. The United Nations refugee agency earlier this year also called on Sri Lanka to resume ferry services between India and Sri Lanka to help Tamil refugees in India return to the North-East of Sri Lanka. Earlier this week it emerged that India submitted a feasibility proposal to the Asian Deveopment Bank for a bridge across the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka however said it has not had any discussions with the Indian government regarding this matter.

SLFP official sacked over Mahinda rally

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has sacked a local SLFP official for his role in organising a party rally in support of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Devinuwara organiser Kanchana Wijesekera was replaced with Suneth Nilanga Hendavitarana, party sources told The Island . During the rally, a letter by Mahinda Rajapaksa was read out which warned against the new government's policies, saying that Sri Lanka's national security and economy was under risk. Support for Mahinda bigger than ever - UPFA (18 June 2015)

Sri Lankan military organises musical show for Tamil villagers

The Sri Lankan army organised a musical show for Tamil villagers at a school in the North-East, reports the Kilinochchi Security Forces official website . Soldiers from the Sri Lankan army were on stage, complete in uniform, whilst Tamil villagers from Mulankavil watched on and sang.

Military commemorates Sri Lankan soldiers in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan government held a military ceremony in Jaffna on Wednesday 17 June, to commemorate soldiers from the Sri Lankan army. The recently appointed Governor of the Northern Province HMGS Palihakkara attended the ceremony as the chief guest, held at the base of the Palali ‘War Heroes monument’. The monument, constructed in the Palali military camp, features uniformed Sri Lankan soldiers holding an assault rifle and a Sri Lankan flag.

Sri Lankan president says Buddhist clergy ‘sacrificed lives for motherland’

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena praised Buddhist monks on the island in a speech this week, declaring that the Buddhist clergy have “always stood to protect our Motherland by sacrificing their lives”. The official website of the Presidential Secretariat quoted Mr Sirisena as saying, “we can talk proudly about our great history because of the members of the Maha Sangha in our country always stood to protect our Motherland by sacrificing their lives”. The president made his speech at a felicitation ceremony at the Sri Gunananda Buddhist Centre, where he stated the Sri Lankan...

Chinese companies to build wells in North-East

Two Chinese firms have funded the construction of five wells in the North-East, worth over $14,000, after a request by a local NGO. The China Communications Construction Company Colombo Port City Project Company and the China Harbor Sri Lanka Area Company donated $14,400 towards constructing the wells in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area. Vice General Manager of China Harbor Sri Lanka Area Company, Deng Bo told Xinhua on Wednesday that while Sri Lanka has made obvious development and progress in the recent years, the dilemma of having clean water in the northern region still existed.

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