The US Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Tom Malinowski said Sri Lanka has a chance to achieve peace and reconciliation, but that this will require accounting for the "wrongdoing of the guilty", on all sides. Mr Malinowski is currently in Sri Lanka and met with government officials on Thursday before arriving in the North-East on Friday, where he paid respects to those who died in Mullaitivu.
China has welcomed Sri Lanka’s announcement that exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama was unlikely to be allowed to visit Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, speaking on Friday, said, “The Sri Lankan side fully understands and respects China’s concerns on relevant issues, and we appreciate that.” “The Chinese government is firmly opposed to Dalai’s engagement in separatist activities in any country under any name and excuse. This remains clear and consistent,” she added. Speaking to Reuters, a senior Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official said that Sri Lanka-China relations were more important than the Dalai Lama and that Sri Lanka had not changed stance on its once China policy.
Sri Lanka ordered a review of 35 Chinese investment projects, which were approved by the previous government, on Friday. A cabinet note, given to Reuters , said that the Sri Lankan government was to review a list of 35 investment projects which had been approved without competitive bidding on the grounds that they were critical for post-war development. Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne said on Friday that all future investment projects would be awarded using a process of open tenders. China to establish consulate in Chennai (01 April 2015)
Sri Lanka's navy arrested 37 Indian fishermen on Friday and seized five trawlers, reports Daily Mirror . The men were arrested off the coast of Point Pedro, accused of alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters and have been transferred to the Kankesanthurai fisheries harbour, said the navy spokesperson, Indika Silva. The arrest comes days after the second round of talks in Chennai last month, between the two countries regarding the ongoing mass arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities.
The new Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena reiterated this week that he had ordered the Sri Lankan navy to arrest any Indian fishermen who cross the maritime border. Rejecting comments made by the Sri Lankan opposition that the new government had given permission to Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters, Mr Sirisena told members of the fisheries industry on Thursday that he had given "clear instructions" to arrest such fishermen. "We have not allowed fishing in our waters for the Indians. I have given clear instructions to navy to arrest boats or trawlers that violate our water limits," Mr Sirisena was quoted by PTI as saying.
The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena, will be visiting Pakistan next week on April 5-7, reports Daily Mirror and ColomboPage . According the cabinet spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the two countries on shipping and academic cooperation.
China is happy to see the growing relationship between Sri Lanka and India a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. Commenting on reports that the Chinese president had proposed a trilateral meeting with China, India and Sri Lanka, Hua Chunying, said, “Both Sri Lanka and India are significant and friendly neighbours of China in South Asia. We hope for the sound development of China-Sri Lanka and China-India relations, and are happy to see the growing relationship between Sri Lanka and India” The leader of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, who accompanied President Maithripala...
An 11-year old girl has been reported missing from a children's home in Anaippanthi in Jaffna, the Uthayan reported. An official from the home reported to Jaffna police that Thilakki Nishanthan has been missing since March 31. Police are reported to be investigating the case.
A Sri Lankan government official said the Dalai Lama is unlikely to be allowed to visit Sri Lanka, after an invitation was extended by a some Buddhist monks. "They can invite, but the government may not grant a visa," a top foreign minister official told Reuters , asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject. "The Dalai Lama is very important. But the close relationship with China is more important and we have not changed our stance on 'One China' policy." The invitation was extended by a group of high-ranking Theravada monks from Sri Lanka's Mahabodhi Society when they attended a theological discussion in late March in New Delhi, according to senior monk Banagala Upatissa.
An Indian couple were found dead under suspicious circumstances in a hotel in the Wellawatta region of Sri Lanka's capital this week, reports the Daily Mirror . The couple, a 28 year old woman and 30 year old man, arrived to Sri Lanka on March 27. The hotel owner raised the alarm after the couple were noted not to have left the room since Wednesday night.