Ruling UPFA wins Uva election

The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won the Uva Provincial Council election yesterday, securing 19 seats, 6 seats more than the opposition, United National Party (UNP) which won 13. The JVP won 2 seats. The UNP made gains, winning 274773 votes, compared to 129144 votes in 2009. The election saw a 70% voter turn out. In 2009, the UPFA won 25 of the 34 seats in the Council, which is divided into two districts. See here and here .

Merge North-East and acknowledgment of right to self-determination - TNA

A re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces as a single political administrative unit alongside acknowledgment of the Tamil people’s right to self-determination, is the only way to achieve a true political solution for Tamils in the North-East, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson told the Sunday Leader . Deeming the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces as an attempt to deliberately change the demography of the North-East, Suresh Premachandran said, “The military has formed Sinhala colonies in the North, thereby depriving our population the right to their own lands. This issue started after the controversial Court ruling to de-merge the two provinces. This situation deteriorated after the end of the war. Sinhalese from the South had been settled in our lands and the government has deliberately changed the demography in the North and the East. Tamil ancestral lands in Murugandi that the military had taken over had been used to construct housing projects consisting of more than 10,000 housing units with Chinese aid, for the military personnel.”

Buddhist monks lead protest against Catholic statue

Buddhists have protested against an attempt by Catholics to place a religious statue at a junction in the town of Kalutara. Monks from the Sihala Ravaya led a large mob and said they will not allow the statue to be erected in the town, according to Colombo Gazette . Tear gas was fired by police who attempted to bring the “tense situation” under control. Police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said the issue was later resolved. Local Catholics say they have every right to put up the statue.

PMK condemns reports that Sri Lanka is auctioning off detained boats

India's Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) condemned reports that the Sri Lankan government is auctioning off fishing boats that have been seized from arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen. PMK leader Ramdoss said "the act of the Island government has shocked Indian fishermen," in a statement this week, adding that 72 boats are currently being detained by the Sri Lankan navy. Ramdoss went on to say that Sri Lankan troops had damaged the fishing vessels by kicking and colliding with them. An incident earlier this month led to an Indian fishing boat sinking after a Sri Lankan navy vessel collided with it...

Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa – BJP Gen Sec

The general secretary of the BJP, P Muralidhar Rao, said that the Indian government believes it needs to engage with the Sri Lankan government in order to solve the Tamil issue, during his visit to Colombo. Rao said to the New Indian Express that the objective of an “honourable settlement” of the Tamil question was shared between those protesting in Tamil Nadu against engagement and the Indian government. “We in the BJP believe that constant engagement with all the stakeholders is needed to secure justice for the Tamils,” Rao said. Responding to BJP ally Vaiko’s condemnation of the visit, Rao...

Ananthy, Ravikaran raise issues faced by North-East Tamils at UNHRC

The Northern Provincial Councillors, Ananthy Sasitharan and T. Ravikaran, expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing disappearances, missing persons, intimidation, colonisation and militarisation at a side event that took place at the UN Human Rights Council's 27th session. Photograph Daily Mirror Attending the Council this week, Ananthy met and introduced herself to the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, she told Tamil Guardian via telephone. Photograph @Tharu1985 Ravikaran also met with the High Commissioner, following an event on child and...

External forces destabilising Asian countries under guise of democracy - Rajapaksa

The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned of "external forces" encouraged disharmony in Asian countries "under the guise of democracy", at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) , jointly hosted by the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and opposition United National Party (UNP) in Colombo this week. "Today the emerging trends in the world, including in parts of Asia gave signals that alarmed the Asian Community because external forces under the guise of democracy and other enticing slogans sought to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," the Daily Mirror reported him as saying to delegates. “They show little concern about destabilising nations,” he said, adding, "Asian countries have seen how the media including social media is being used by the forces that are continuing the cause of division, separation and terror." Lauding Sri Lanka's military efforts Mahinda Rajapaksa added, "Sri Lanka can stand out in this great gathering for our experience in battling and defeating terrorism against the efforts of many external forces outside Asia that sought to bring about an accommodation of terrorism in our land. We are always ready to share that experience with the world. Your presence here and what you will see in this country today are the fruits of that great success in protecting our State and our Nation, from the forces of terror."

Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents

A scheduled survey of private lands in Senthankulam, Matakal, by government officials on Friday was cancelled after residents and local politicians raised fierce opposition to it. Several acres of private land in Senthankulam were due to be surveyed for possible appropriation by the Sri Lankan navy, although residents claimed that they were neither informed, nor asked for permission. Surveyors arrived at the area escorted by dozens of police officers, but were confronted by residents who were joined by TNA MP Suresh Premachandran and several other MPs and Northern Provincial Council members...

BJP ally condemns party's participation in Sri Lankan conference

The BJP's Tamil Nadu ally, MDMK, condemned the party's participation in a conference taking place in Sri Lanka stating it was "an unforgivable act of betrayal", reports PTI . The MDMK leader, Vaiko, criticised the decision for two senior BJP officials, Muralidhar Rao and Vijay Jolly, to attend the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) as "belittling" the Tamils. "BJP's sending of Rao and Jolly is an unforgivable act of betrayal and they should be recalled immediately," he said, adding that the conference was being held by the Rajapaksa regime to "hoodwink" the...

Mass grave discovered in Velanai

A mass grave was discovered on Thursday in Velanai, off the Jaffna Peninsula. Photograph: Malarum.com Human remains were discovered at several spots in the grounds of the Velanai Pradeshiya Sabha compound while the Ceylon Electricity Board carried out work to replace an electrical transformer. According to Uthayan , electrical works were halted on discovering the remains and the police called. Police were then reportedly stationed to guard the site. Forensic investigators were called to the scene on the instructions of Kayts Magistrates Court.

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