Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in Akkarai, Jaffna (Photos: EDA)

Switzerland’s foreign minister, Didier Burkhalter visited a Swiss-funded reconstruction project in the village of Akkarai on the Jaffna peninsula on Wednesday.

Touring the village after holding talks with NPC Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran and Governor Mr Palihakkara, the foreign minister, who was Swiss president until last year, said he was delighted at the role Switzerland played in helping the people.

"The houses of Akkarai show that a shared commitment can give people renewed hope and prospects. I am delighted that Switzerland can play its part in helping the people of Akkarai build their own future after all they have been through", said Mr Burkhalter.

Scotland’s police service is due to renew a controversial deal under which Sri Lanka’s security forces receive training, The National reported on Thursday.

The Scottish Police College (SPC) has provided the training since 2007 but the current contract is due to expire at the end of this month.

However, in a move that has been condemned by politicians and human rights campaigners, the SPC have confirmed that they are close to sealing a new contract for 2015-2016 to further work to develop Sri Lanka’s National Police Academy.

Independent MSP John Finnie, who has previously raised concerns about SPC training in the Maldives due to human rights concerns, said that an extension of the contract would cause “reputational damage” to the Scottish Police Service.

Mr Finnie, a former police officer, said: “Once again the Scottish Police Service finds itself linked with an oppressive regime whose police officers it trained.

Sri Lanka said on Wednesday that it would review the proscription of 16 Tamil diaspora groups and over 400 individuals by the previous government last year, shortly after the UN Human Rights Council mandated a resolution calling for an international investigation.

“The previous government used the UN Regulation No. 1 of 2012 under UN Security Council resolution 1373 to list 424 individuals and 16 entities under Extraordinary Gazette 1854/41 of 21 March 2014 in the run up to the Presidential election. This was done to build up the hysteria about the LTTE regrouping,” the foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera told Sri Lanka’s parliament.

“They banned several Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora groups under these provisions for their alleged links to the LTTE. However, most of the organisations listed may have merely been vocal proponents of Tamil rights. There was hardly any tangible evidence to link them to the LTTE. Some of the individuals listed had even been dead for some time.”

“Reviewing this list of individuals and entities is an important exercise at this juncture when the Government of President Maithripala Sirisena is seriously committed to expedite the reconciliation process. In doing so, the Sri Lankan diaspora whether it be Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim, has am extremely important role to play not only in taking the reconciliation process forward but they have an important role to play in taking Sri Lanka forward as a nation.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al Hussain, will visit Sri Lanka in June, according to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, the minister said Mr Hussain's visit was in line with the UN's focus on Sri Lanka, the Daily Mirror reported.

“Failure to carry out a domestic investigation will lead to an international investigation which might in turn lead to foreign intervention,” the minister said.

A high-level delegation fro the European Union is due to arrive in Sri Lanka next week to discuss the suspension of GSP+ trade concessions, withdrawn due to Sri Lanka's human rights record.

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen quoted EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka David Daly as confirming the EU Trade Working Group's visit on March 23, according to Xinhua.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy External Affairs Minister Ajith Perera has dismissed the award winning documentary ‘No Fire Zone’, which details massacres committed during the final days of the armed conflict on the island, stating that it will not seriously affect the country.

The Sunday Leader spoke to Mr Perera who said the documentary director had “a hidden agenda”, dismissing the launch of the Sinhala version of the film earlier this month.

“They will not get any positive or any additional publicity by showing this,” said Mr Perera adding that the video had no credence.

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka had underlined calls for “equality, justice, peace and dignity” for Tamils on the island.

“The visit expressed India’s strong support for democracy and reform in Sri Lanka,” said Ms Swaraj. “Prime Minister noted in his address to the Parliament that recent elections reflected the collective voice of the nation – the hope for change, reconciliation and unity.”

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj further added “India stands with Sri Lanka in its efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.”
“Prime Minister also declared that we believe that the early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process,” she continued.