A former Sri Lankan diplomat has denied reports that he helped to channel weapons to pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. Udayanga Weeratunga, Sri Lanka's former Ambassador to Russia, told BBC Sandeshaya that the allegations were “a complete lie”. “I am in possession of a certificate issued by the Internal Affairs Ministry to the effect that I am not being investigated for any crime within Ukraine," said Mr Weeratunga, who had reportedly gone missing and had his diplomatic passport withdrawn. "Had I supplied arms to Ukrainian rebels, I would not have been able to live here," he added, stating that he remained in Ukraine.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa called for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s “personal intervention” to secure the release of 31 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy this weekend. "I urge your personal intervention... And request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level to secure the immediate release [of the arrested fishermen]" said the chief minister. Ms Jayalalithaa went on to add "the recurring instances of apprehension of our fishermen while they are engaged in fishing in...
Sri Lankan State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said the present government was capable of stopping “terrorists” and would not do anything to endanger national security, as he addressed youth in Colombo. Speaking at Temple Trees, Mr Wijewardene reminded the gathering of the UNP’s history in the ethnic conflict, stating , “UNP led governments too fought the LTTE in the past, even the late President D. B. Wijetunga was able to wipe out the terrorists from the East”. “We too are capable of stopping them in the event they try to regroup,” Mr Wijewardene added, stating the present...
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said he aims to form an SLFP government which will include former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Kumaratunga. Speaking to SLFP members in Nuwara Eliya, the president said some elements, who threatened to split from the SLFP-led the UPFA and form different political fronts, were doing a great injustice to the party, but that he and his team would never allow the party to split. Mr Sirisena said votes from Sinhala Buddhists alone would not be enough to win the elections and an action plan to win over the Tamil and Muslim voters will be devised.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said Sri Lanka will regain the EU’s GSP+ trade concessions after the UN Human Rights Council session in September. The concessions were withdrawn by the EU over human rights concerns in 2010. “We earlier thought that the concession applies only to apparel industry but eventually the fish products were also included in the tax concessions,” Mr Wickramasinghe said . “Now we are working on getting back the GSP plus after the Human Rights Council sessions which are to be held in Geneva in September by solving the existing issues.” The EU also banned imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka, its second biggest importer in the sector, in order to "tackle the commercial benefits stemming from illegal fishing”.
Sri Lanka and China commenced a three week long joint military training exercise on Monday, reports Colombo Page. The exercise was inaugurated by the chief guest Major General Jagath Dias, who was recently promoted to Head of Armed forces by the new Sirisena government. A few areas that the training is set to focus on include: weapons handling, sniper firing, ambush drills, jungle warfare and vehicle ambush drills. The promotion of the accused war criminal Major General Jagath Dias to Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka’s army has been labelled as a major setback for peacebuilding by several NGO’s...
Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena offered former president Mahinda Rajapaksa a "distinguished office" if he quits politics, the Sunday Times reports. The president made the offer to a six-member committee of the SLFP, which he recently appointed to bring together his faction with the faction of Mr Rajapaksa. The committee had asked Mr Sirisena to allow the former president to take part in the forthcoming parliamentary campaign of the SLFP, but Mr Sirisena said Mr Rajapaksa will not be made a candidate. Instead he offered him a "Sambhavaneeya Thanathurak", a distinguished office.
The Jathika Hela Urumaya, a key coalition partner of the government in power, has condemned the decision by the government to hold a "diaspora festival", saying that they would consider obtaining a court order against it. JHU spokesperson Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had no mandate to hold such an event, which would "gravely damage" national reconciliation and would strengthen those who still have an "Eelam mindset". The spokesperson said the diaspora festival was not mentioned in President Maithripala Sirisena’s manifesto or in the government’s 100 day programme, and as such Mr Samaraweera had acted beyond his mandate.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka will partner with Hayleys Aquagri Pvt LTD to set up seaweed farming projects in the Jaffna district of the Northern province. The UNDP will be working on three islands in the Northern Province, including the islands of Analaithivu, Eluvaithivu, Nainaithivu and Kayts, reports Ceylon Today. Sri Lanka's Country Director for the UNDP Joern Soerensen, announcing the new initiative, said, “We at the UNDP are proud to partner with Hayleys Aquagri to develop the seaweed production industry to support communities to diversify and improve...
A Buddhist temple is being built in Kokkilai, Mullaitivu despite the construction being prohibited, said the Northen Provincial council member Thurairajah Ravikaran. Mr Ravikaran visited the site, after receiving a complaint from locals, who said a Buddhist monk was continuing with the construction, disobeying the order. The building of the Buddhist temple (vihara) was prohibited after concerns were raised by locals, at a meeting between members of the public and senior officials of Land Ministry last week.