Building on his statement that he had “asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to review Canada’s financial contributions to Commonwealth programs and the Commonwealth Secretariat”, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told an Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Bali that Canada would “examine our engagement and our financing of the Commonwealth . . .

The British Tamil Forum, in collaboration with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, held a forum on genocide at Porticullis House today.

Following opening remarks from conservative MP, Lee Scott, the event proceeded with presentations from 4 panel members ending with a short question and answer session, which was chaired by Redbridge Councillor Alan Weinberg.

The first panelist, Rajganna from Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) drew upon events that pointed towards genocide and highlighted the intent behind the government’s shelling of the no fire zone,  prevalent altering of demographics in the North-East and examples of hate speech by several members of the government.

Dr Andrew Higgingbottom , a lecturer at the University of Kingston, next took the floor  and argued that Navi Pilllay’s findings of land grab and militarisation illustrated that structural genocide was occurring in the North-East.

The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has confirmed that he will not be attending the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in a statement released by his office.

Harper said that Canada hoped that the opportunity to improve human rights conditions and to take steps towards accountability and reconciliation, presented to Sri Lanka by awarding the summit to the country, was not taken and that Canada remained concerned over ongoing human rights violations.

One of the final places where the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran lived, was destroyed by the Sri Lankan military after evacuating local residents in the surrounding area, last week.

What was a post-war tourist attraction for the people in the South and a site of remembrance for many people in the North, was destroyed with explosives last Thursday.

Writing in The Diplomat, the widely acclaimed Tamil journalist, J.S Tissainayagam, asks if the Tamil National Alliance can provide the leadership needed to deliver to the Tamil electorate who voted for real change.

See here. Extract reproduced below:

Some 400 public service jobs appointed to workers in the North a few months ago, have been terminated following the holding of the Northern Provincial Council elections, reported the Colombo Gazette.

Over 600 jobs were given to workers in Jaffna and Killinochchi ahead of last month's elections "with the intention of imparting a more efficient and streamlined public service to the Northern polity”, with Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri overseeing the appointments.

However, around 400 of those jobs have now been suspended.

The leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, a Buddhist organisation, has said that a crusade would be launched in Sri Lanka, blaming the government for letting the TNA engage in politics.

Galagodaaththe Gnanasare, a Buddhist monk, said that the TNA was the political front of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government must be held responsible for the TNA winning the Northern Provincial Council elections.

India and Sri Lanka confirmed today that the two governments will sign up to a joint venture that will see a 500 MW thermal power project established in Trincomalee.