After ordering the mandatory registration of all websites disseminating news on Sri Lanka with the Media Ministry last year, the ministry's secretary, W.B Ganegala stated that 50 of the 100 applications made by news websites for registration had been rejected.

[Updated with further comments]

Sri Lanka on Monday made it clear that it will not abide by the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution last week that censured it over its rights abuses and said it would only implement "feasible" recommendations of its own panel that probed the bloody civil war.

The Tamil National Alliance has welcomed the passing of the US-sponsored resolution at the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Full text follows:

"We believe that the Resolution will benefit all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity. We sincerely hope that the Resolution and the clear collective will of the Council will encourage the government to face the future with fortitude and move decisively to protect human rights and take tangible action to advance genuine reconciliation,

Representatives from England’s Barmy Army, the unofficial supporters group of the English Cricket team, were livid at the controversial two-tier policy and began drawing up

Welcoming the UN resolution passed at the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, the US Secretary of State, Hiliary Clinton said,

"The United States, together with the international community, sent a strong signal that Sri Lanka will only achieve lasting peace through real reconciliation and accountability,"

"And the international community stands ready to help,"

Extracts from the editorial Friday of The Hindu, which has hisotircally been a vocal supporter of President Rajapaksa’s regime and its predecessors:

“The wording of the resolution was tweaked by India to say the implementation assistance the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights will provide must be with Sri Lanka's 'concurrence'.

“Yet, Colombo must not misread this concession.