The government of Iran has expressed its willingness to further boost links with Sri Lanka, by looking to expand ties in the judicial fields. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem went to meet Iranian Justice Minister Seyed Morteza Bakhtiari in Iran earlier this week, with Bakhtiari stating that he hoped to transfer Iran’s legal experience over to Sri Lanka. He was quoted by Fars news agency as saying, "Given the existence of grounds for the promotion of interactions between the two countries of Iran and Sri Lanka, we can have effective interactions...
The Sri Lankan Army has completed the construction of another hotel, this time on the shores of the Nanthikadal Lagoon. The Lagoon’s Edge is a luxury hotel, built entirely of teak and was built in a "place where thousands of war heroes, terrorists and others died" , according to Sinhalese newspaper Mawbima .
Tamil women, who were recruited into the army last month, received their first salary on Sunday at the army's Trincomalee base. The parents of all the women were present, as the women were presented with their first salary and bank pass books. Related articles: No mental trauma or sexual abuse, just madness (23 Dec 2012) Sri Lankan Army coerces Tamil women into joining (13 Dec 2012)
Christmas came to Kilinochchi this year courtesy of the Sri Lankan Army. Photographs of the festive joy are reproduced from off the Ministry of Defence (and Urban Development) website : In addition to an 80 ft Christmas tree, the Tamil women recruited into the Sri Lankan army sang Christmas carols.
The Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka says that countries criticise Sri Lanka’s human rights violations, while ignoring their own record. “Sometimes people point at a speck in the others eye without knowing a whole lot about the board in theirs,” Alexander Karchava said in an interview to the Daily News . Karchava said that while western countries can suggest ideas to improve the human rights situation, they shouldn’t pressure Sri Lanka to implement measures that those countries may seem fit. “Forcing other countries to implement what they presume to be right is an interference in the internal...
Mahinda Rajapaksa on Christmas day... "The teaching of love and understanding that brings the spirit of sharing, which marks the celebration of Christmas, can help in strengthening the bridges of peace, tolerance and reconciliation that are being built in our country." "The birth of Jesus Christ in a stable at Bethlehem shows the world the importance of love extending to all, moving beyond all barriers, extending from the highest to the humblest in society, to all beings who share this earth with us, and to nature that sustains us all." Here's a round-up of articles on Christianity and Sri Lanka from 2012: Monks attack pastor and vandalise church (13 Dec 2012) Church and mosque vandalised and burnt (27 Oct 2012)
An economist from Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy says Sri Lanka has been withholding trade from India, most notably the neighbouring Southern states, "for a combination of chauvinistic reasons and defensive economic reasons of some [local] business." Dr. Razeen Sally, f ormerly of the London School of Economics (LSE), stated , "It strikes me that Sri Lankan foreign policy, which of course includes foreign economic policy - is completely lopsided," "Because the picture we have is of China as first friend. But old friends had been alienated and some potential friends like...
Flooding has continued to affect parts of the North-East, including Batticaloa and Vavuniya, following heavy rains over the past few days. In Batticaloa, 22 people have been killed in the floods, and 50 injured. Meanwhile in Vavuniya, 3428 families have been displaced , according to the Vavuniya district disaster management agency.
Photograph Daily Mirror Twenty-six fishermen from Tamil Nadu, were arrested on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy. According to the navy's spokesperson, Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya, the fishermen had been fishing off of the eastern coast of the island. The fishermen are reported to have been handed over to Trincomalee police on Monday.
Chinese companies are investing into mega projects in Sri Lanka, avoiding tender procedures and hence emerging as the only bidders for contracts, reported The Sunday Times on Sunday. The paper quoted a local agent of an Indian construction company as saying that the Chinese companies pay commissions to its local agents, depending on the value of the project negotiated. The agent is reported as saying commissions, from $120 to $180 million, are paid to middle men each year for all Chinese projects on the island. This assists the Chinese companies to overcome other competition said the agent...