Mihin Lanka, a state-owned airline, is projected to make a loss of over Rs2bn (£9.2mn) for 2013-14.

The Minister of Civil Aviation Priyankara Jayaratna was responding to a question raised in parliament and said that the budget-airline is in debt to the tune of over Rs283mn (£1.3bn).

“Nearly five years on from the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka, I regret that the Government has failed to satisfy the Council’s call for a credible and independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations.”

"We, concerned individuals and organisations from around the world, urge the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to use their March 2014 session to pass a resolution that will include a commitment to an independent international investigation in the form of a commission of inquiry in Sri Lanka. Only this will help put the country on the path to justice and reconciliation."

"The current draft resolution on Sri Lanka effectively calls on the Sri Lankan government to investigate itself. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is merely entrusted with weak oversight responsibilities. What is desperately needed is an international Commission of Inquiry to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law including the alleged crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The Sri Lankan Army has launched a “well coordinated” drive to eradicate weeds in the Jaffna peninsula, reported the Civil and Military Coordination – Jaffna website.

The leader of the DMK, the largest opposition party in Tamil Nadu, described the draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka “disappointing” and called on India to propose a separate resolution, calling for an independent international investigation.

"The draft placed before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is overall disappointing," the party chief M Karunanidhi said in a statement.

“(1) Be unequivocal and unwavering in its support for an independent, international inquiry; (2) Make every effort to secure widespread support for a robust resolution; and (3) Ensure an international inquiry commences swiftly.”

 

The Sri Lankan state's continuing human rights violations post-conflict provided "credible allegations of crimes against humanity against the Tamil population in the Northern Province", concludes a damning 90-page report by Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice.