A convoy of buses carrying 178 fleeing Sri Lankans was pelted by sticks and stones near Kattur in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. The Sri Lankans, who were on their way to Tiruchirapalli airport to fly back home to Colombo, experienced similar protest action whilst visiting a Christian shrine in Velankanni earlier that morning, and whilst visiting a Poondi Madha Christian shrine in Thanjavur the day before. Shouting , "Sinhalese go back", protesters in Tamil Nadu used two-wheelers to block the road ahead of the convoy. According to Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner R K M A Rajakaruna, the fleeing Sri...
In a written submission to the up-coming, 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International detailed the 'shortcomings in Sri Lanka's National Plan of Action to implement the recommendations of the LLRC'. The report, entitled 'No Real Will to Account', argued that the lack of accountability had ensured a " climate of impunity where arbitrary detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, and custodial killings continue unchecked." "More than three years after the armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended, these violations continue to be reported." See here for full statement.
Responding to Sri Lanka's travel advisory warning against travelling to Tamil Nadu, the spokesperson of India's External Affairs Ministry assured Sri Lanka of the safety of any visiting Sri Lankans. The spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin, said , "I wish to convey here that the government of India, in close consultation with the state governments concerned, has taken and will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of Sri Lankan dignitaries and tourists coming to India, including to Tamil Nadu," Meanwhile reports of Sri Lankans being targetted by protesters in...
Sri Lankan Minister Wimal Weerawansa warned of a 'possible catastrophic situation that would seriously harm the interests of both countries' if the protest acts on Sri Lankans in India continued, reported the Daily Mirror. Asking 'what the consequences would if Sri Lankans chose to treat thousands of Tamil Nadu citizens who regularly visited Sri Lanka in a similar manner', Weerawansa wanted India to stop the 'politically and racially motivated foolish actions of Tamil Nadu politicians'.
DMK leader M Karunanidhi has spoken out against Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proposed visit. "It is not acceptable to us that he, who is responsible for the killing of lakhs of Tamils, is accorded a special welcome," Karunanidhi said. The DMK’s fellow constituents of India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition, the VCK, also criticised the plans. “I will be meeting the Prime Minister or Minister of External Affairs in this connection, in a couple of days,” VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalan told reporters. “The island nation is having cordial relations with China and Pakistan...
The Sri Lankan government has warned its citizens against all travel to Tamil Nadu after several protests against Sri Lankan citizens were held in the state. “The Government of Sri Lanka regrets the increasing number of instances of intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals visiting Tamil Nadu for the purposes of tourism, religious pilgrimages, sporting and cultural activities and professional training,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a travel advisory . “The Government of Sri Lanka is constrained to request Sri Lankan nationals in the interest of their security to desist from undertaking...
A top government official announced that Sri Lanka will not contest for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at the upcoming elections this year. Sri Lanka lost the vote when it last contested for a seat at the UNHRC in May 2008, a year before the barbaric onslaught of 2009, amidst allegations of human rights taking place in the country. The government official failed to provide a reason for not contesting. Earlier this year Sri Lanka lost in a vote at the UNHRC when a resolution, tabled by the United States, regarding Sri Lanka’s human rights and reconciliation issues was passed...
A week after over 100 asylum seekers, including Tamils from the North-East, drowned off the coast of Indonesia en route to seeking refuge in Australia, the Australian opposition leader, Julie Bishop, called for all aslyum seekers to be sent back to Sri Lanka without coming to Australia. Bishop said , "If the Government grants people from Sri Lanka refugee status, the Australian Government is accusing Sri Lanka of persecuting their own citizens," "Sri Lanka is already making a significant effort by preventing many boats from leaving their shores, however those who make it through should be the subject to an immediate arrangement to be transferred back to Sri Lanka without coming to Australia," "There is an extremely high rejection rate for Sri Lankan asylum seekers with the vast majority proving to be economic migrants." "But once they are in Australia they can pursue their claims for asylum through our courts regardless of the merit."
External Affairs Minister G L Peiris has rushed to London in the hope of lobbying the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to revise its latest travel advisory , reports Colombo Page . Despite protestations from Peiris against the advisory which warns of an upsurge in nationalism, sexual offences and anti-Western rhetoric, the FCO extended the advisory following the conviction of French tourists for offending Buddhist sentiment . An official meeting has not been confirmed but Peiris hopes to ‘discuss’ the advisory and the issues it raises with his British counterparts. This is not the first time...
As the controversy over the training of Sri Lankan security forces personnel in India rages on , it has been revealed that the Sri Lankan president and Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Army Mahinda Rajapakse is due to visit the country later this month. Rajapakse will lay the foundation stone for the Sanchi University for Buddhist Studies in Madhya Pradesh on September 21 and take part in celebrations to mark the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment. The university is jointly funded by the India, Sri Lanka, the government of Madhya Pradhesh and the Maha Bodhi society. The...