Wigneswaran says he will reject Sri Lanka's Independence Day until Tamils free

The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran said he would continue to boycott events for Sri Lanka's independence day until the Tamil people were free. "I will only take part in such events when the Tamil people get freedom," Mr Wigneswaran told the Thinakkural newspaper on Tuesday, the day before the state's 67th anniversary of gaining independence from British colonial rule. "I have not taken part in any Sri Lankan independence day events ever since the Sinhala Only Act was introduced," he added.

Lot of work remains to be done in Sri Lanka - Biswal

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal said a lot of work remains to be done in Sri Lanka, in a statement released at the conclusion of her visit to the island. Ms Biswal said she heard the TNA leadership's perspective for "meaningful progress on reconciliation and political inclusion", during her meeting with the party in Jaffna. The assistant secretary also had "productive conversations" with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, expressing US willingness to work with the new government. "Clearly, there is a lot of work to be done. The United States looks forward to partnering with the Sri Lankan people to address the challenges and help Sri Lanka realize its true potential," she said.

Election a 'letdown' for Sri Lanka investors - Bloomberg

The surprise result of the presidential election, which saw Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated by his challenger Maithripala Sirisena, is proving to be a step back for investors, reports Bloomberg. Sri Lanka's stock index is the world's fifth worst performer since the election last month, while the new government last week cancelled casino licenses, reduced public investment and introduced a one-off 25% tax on companies or individuals who reported more than $15mn in profits. Australian mogul James Packer has already withdrawn from a $350mn hotel resort, with several Chinese projects also now in danger of being cancelled. “The new government has gone beyond condemning what it sees as overpriced or immoral projects and targeted big domestic business as a whole,” Sasha Riser-Kositsky, Asia Associate at Eurasia Group, said in a Jan 30 note. The moves increase uncertainty for foreign and local companies and “will depress private investment,” he said.

TNA leader faces internal revolt over Sri Lanka Independence Day attendance

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesman and parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran called for disciplinary action to be taken against party leader R Sampanthan and MP M A Sumanthiran for attending Sri Lanka's Independence Day ceremony in Colombo, on Wednesday. Mr Premachandran, who was speaking to Colombo Mirror , said, "We already raised our objection against his decision to attend the Independence Day celebrations. It is unbecoming for the TNA leader to go against the traditional party position that reflects the common will of the affected Tamil people." "It is their individual decision and the TNA has nothing to do with it." The TNA is now considering taking disciplinary action against both Mr Sampanthan and Mr Sumanthiran, added Mr Premachandran, stating that they had violated the position of the party and that of the Tamil people. “This is a very serious matter. It raises a moral question whether they can actually give leadership to the Tamil people any longer,” said Mr Premachandran. “The people are going to question about this and we will have nothing to hide.”

Sampanthan defends decision to attend Sri Lanka's Independence Day event

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan defended his decision to attend the Sri Lankan government's Independence Day event on Wednesday, together with TNA MP M A Sumanthiran, amid outcry from within the party. "The decision to attend the celebration was made after careful consideration," Mr Sampanthan told BBC Tamil . "Regime change, the Tamil people’s future, and the faith in the new ruler were the key reasons for coming to that decision," he said, adding that it was "discussed with senior leaders" within the party, but there were disagreements. The TNA spokesperson and MP Suresh Premachandran called on Wednesday for disciplinary action to be taken against Mr Sampanthan and Mr Sumanthiran for attending the event.

EU ban on Sri Lankan fishing exports suspended for six months claims Sri Lankan minister

Sri Lanka's Fisheries State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi said the European Union ban on imports of fishery products from the island has been suspended for six months. The suspension of the ban comes after Sri Lankan foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera visited the European Commission in Brussels last week, where Sri Lanka pledged to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). “The European Union gave Sri Lanka six months to get its act together to prevent Sri Lankan fishermen from engaging in Illegal fishing,” said Mr Wedaarachchi.

Modi to visit Jaffna

India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, is scheduled to visit Jaffna during a visit to Sri Lanka next month, reported The Hindu on Tuesday. The visit, which coincides with the UN Human Rights Council's 28th session, will follow a visit by the new Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena to India later this month. Following the election victory of Mr Sirisena, Sri Lanka’s external affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera visited Delhi and met with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Modi.

'UN investigation is first real hope for justice in Sri Lanka' says HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the ongoing United Nations investigation into mass atrocities and take steps to ensure accountability and justice in its World Report 2015 , released last week. “The UN investigation is the first real hope for justice for victims of atrocities on both sides during Sri Lanka’s long civil war,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW. “Sri Lanka’s new government should cooperate with the UN investigation and act to end the previous hostility to justice.” Noting that Sri Lanka had “immediately denounced the March UN rights council resolution” which had mandated the investigation, Human Rights Watch urged the newly elected president Maithripala Sirisena to ensure the government “take steps to ensure accountability and justice”. The non-governmental organisation also stated that it had “documented extensive surveillance in ethnic Tamil majority areas in the north, detention of activists, and shutting down of workshops organized in the south to train journalists from the north.” “The Rajapaksa government’s resettlement and reconstruction of affected communities in the post-conflict years has been seriously marred by oppression of the Tamil population,” said Adams.

Army denies lifting of Omanthai checkpoint restrictions

The Sri Lankan military says Omanthai checkpoint would continue to operate as usual, denying Monday's reports the checkpoint was opened to all vehicles and people. Vehicles carrying fresh food products were given priority as of yesterday, but everyone else will be inspected as usual, according to army spokesperson Brigardier Jayanth Jayaweera. “There is no basis for these reports. We have been instructed to operate the checkpoint as usual. Only the priority will be given for some of the vehicles, that too after the inspections as the checkpoint is a foremost checkpoint,” Brigadier Jayaweera...

Wimal Weerawansa warns against Maithri's 100 day programme

The leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a former key ally of the Rajapaksa-regime, warned against the new president Maithripala Sirisena's 100-day programme for reform. Wimal Weerawansa, whose NFF expressed support for the programme earlier this month, said it is an "undeniable risk" to Sri Lanka's "hard-earned freedom". The MP said the programme will pave the way for a federal Sri Lanka and called for national unity to oppose it.

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