On March 14 Sri Lanka abruptly suspended acceptance of Indian-manufactured train power sets. Each reportedly costs $3.5m, the engines are manufactured by Indian state-owned firm RITES Ltd. The reason given by Sri Lanka for the suspension was that one of three already delivered had ‘stopped’ on a run on March 11 due to unspecified defects. An electrical short was later reported. Minister of Transport Kumar Welgama told reporters that defects had been identified and reported to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “We have already initiated an investigation into the suitability of these Indian...
Two months after what has been described as Sri Lanka’s worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami, the lives of those in the most affected districts of Batticoloa, Amparai and Trincomalee remain devastated. The state’s much hyped rhetoric of aid has not materialized into tangible relief. Quite the reverse. In a predictable repeat of the post-tsunami situation, the state’s efforts to hamper flood relief for Tamil areas are part of a wider determination to block re-development there.
Using as context the quarter final of the Cricket World Cup between co-hosts Sri Lanka and England, the TYO-UK (Tamil Youth Organisation) on Saturday conducted an awareness campaign on Sri Lanka in London, on a day marked by huge protest by the TUC (Trade Union Congress) against public spending cuts.
As ever in Sri Lanka, after the initial blaze of publicity … the state ensures that nothing that might benefit Tamils can proceed. Last June, the Indian government’s declared intention to build 50,000 houses in the war shattered Northeast sparked much media interest, hope (in the Northeast), and controversy (in South). Then nothing happened. A foundation stone was finally laid in November. But then Sri Lanka suddenly announced that most of the houses would not be new builds, but repairs. India rebutted this promptly. Now, three months later, it’s clear Sri Lanka has again managed to stall the...
With Tamil Nadu due to go to the polls within weeks, the issue of Indian fishermen being attacked in the waters between India and Sri Lanka has once again made the news. The oceanic border between India and Sri Lanka has no visible demarcations and fishermen often find themselves on the wrong side. While Sinhala fishermen (often seeking tuna) have been arrested in Indian waters and later released, there has also long been a history of the Sri Lankan navy attacking and killing Indian fishermen.
" A people’s knowledge of the history of its oppression is part of its heritage. Knowing the truth allows victims and relatives to gain a sense of closure, some restoration of dignity and receive acknowledgement of their suffering. " The truth is a tool to combat impunity. It is a tool for justice. And it is a vital step in preventing a recurrence of the events that led to the violations. " - Navi Pillay , UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. See her full statement here .
“In February, [Sri Lanka] Prime Minister DM Jayaratne argued in Parliament that it was important to extend the Emergency partly because remnants of the LTTE were active among the Tamil diaspora. This month, he brought LTTE cadres to Tamil Nadu, a lot closer. What could be the argument next month? ” - Sutirtho Patranobis , writer with Hindustan Times. See his comment here “ The emergency laws grant state authorities sweeping powers of detention and permit the use of secret prisons, a practice that encourages human rights abuses like enforced disappearances, torture and death in custody, which...
Sri Lanka’s government Wednesday denounced the US-led air operation against the Libyan regime with a familiar refrain. “These strikes are harming civilians and are also a violation of the territorial integrity of an independent country ,” External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris told Parliament. The air strikes were contrary to the United Nations resolution 1973, he claimed. Prof. Peiris was speaking in an adjournment motion moved by ruling SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) parliamentarian, A.H.M.Azwar. The motion condemned the attacks on Libya and called on other governments to do so as well...
The irony is incredible. Sri Lanka, whose governments over three decades murdered over a hundred thousand Tamil civilians throughout bombardment, blockade, extra-judicial killings and disappearances (and that was before the mass killings of forty thousand more in 2009), has something to say about Libya. The Foreign Ministry statement says the " issue of protection of the civilian population in Libya remains a concern for Sri Lanka , as indeed for the rest of the international community." "Their plight must not be allowed to deteriorate because of the use of violence," the statement adds...
(From Reuters' report Wednesday) Sri Lanka’s bourse is Asia's best performer so far in 2011 with an 8.6 percent gain, after a 96 percent rise last year. But foreign investors have sold a net $55 million (Rs 6.1 billion) in 2011, after selling a record net $240 million (Rs 26.4 billion) in 2010. Sri Lankan stocks are meanwhile amongst the world’s overpriced: The bourse is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E)ratio of 14.7, one of the highest among emerging markets, compared with 12.2 in Asian markets and 11.4 in global emerging markets. P/E is the price of a share divided by its...