Sri Lanka's Cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella accused Western countries of “double standards” after several countries condemned the disruption of a meeting for families of the disappeared by a mob of Buddhist monks. Rambukwella accused Western countries, which he called “5 star” democracies, of being hypocritical in condemning the mob disruption, Colombo Gazette reports. The monks had violently disrupted the meeting, which was being attended by Tamil families from the North, and Western diplomats, accusing them of “selling our motherland for dollars.”

Sri Lanka's Ministry of External Affairs blamed a row between two NGOs for the disruption of a meeting for families of the disappeared from the North on Monday, claiming that police had brought the alleged altercation under control. "According to reports, a meeting had been organized by the NGO 'Right to Life Human Rights Centre' involving families of disappeared persons from the North. However, another NGO, the 'Dead and Missing Person's Parents Front', had sought access to the meeting, demanding that their grievances be heard too. An ensuing argument had led to a tense situation which had subsequently been brought under control by law enforcement authorities," the Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Accusing the diplomats from western missions, who had been present at the meeting, of "being involved in a manner lacking objectivity", the Ministry said their behaviour had "led to the emergence of a pattern of such potentially volatile situations giving rise to the perpetuation of mistrust amongst communities at a sensitive juncture in the country’s history." The Ministry's account runs contrary to reports by journalists present at the meeting, who described an angry mob led by Buddhist monks entering the building and shouting at Tamils gathered to discuss the disappearances of their loved ones. See here .

The Sri Lankan navy is to appropriate 617 acres of land in Mullaitivu in order to build a navy base, the Northern Provincial Council's deputy speaker said this week. Despite locals holding land deeds for the area, an announcement stating the land is to be appropriated as the original owners have not been identified, Jeganathan said, appealing to the Chief Minister to act. "These are rich lands east of the main road in Paranthan, Mullaitivu. In this, 90% of the owners have the appropriate documentation [to prove ownership for the lands]. But ‘Notification [poster]’ has been posted by the...

The governor of Sri Lanka’s Central Bank, Nivard Cabraal said that Sri Lanka’s GDP will reach $150bn by 2020, almost double of the country’s current GDP of $77bn. Speaking at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce economic summit in Colombo, Mr Cabraal said that the target can “easily” be reached, and that several other economic indicators and international rankings for Sri Lanka will also improve. The governor said that worker remittances, one of the highest contributors to the economy will reduce by 2020, claiming that most of the “would be Lankan expatriates” would find “better and more paying employment opportunities” on the island. Mr Cabraal also claimed that regional economic differences will further reduce and “all provinces would be enjoying similar incomes” in the next few years. The Sri Lankan government has previously been accused of manipulating statistics to boost GDP figures, a charge it denied.