• Merge North-East and acknowledgment of right to self-determination - TNA

    Sep 20
    A re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces as a single political administrative unit alongside acknowledgment of the Tamil people’s right to self-determination, is the only way to achieve a true political solution for Tamils in the North-East, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson told the Sunday Leader.

    Deeming the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces as an attempt to deliberately change the demography of the North-East, Suresh Premachandran said,

    “The military has formed Sinhala colonies in the North, thereby depriving our population the right to their own lands. This issue started after the controversial Court ruling to de-merge the two provinces. This situation deteriorated after the end of the war. Sinhalese from the South had been settled in our lands and the government has deliberately changed the demography in the North and the East. Tamil ancestral lands in Murugandi that the military had taken over had been used to construct housing projects consisting of more than 10,000 housing units with Chinese aid, for the military personnel.”

  • Buddhist monks lead protest against Catholic statue

    Buddhists have protested against an attempt by Catholics to place a religious statue at a junction in the town of Kalutara.

    Monks from the Sihala Ravaya led a large mob and said they will not allow the statue to be erected in the town, according to Colombo Gazette.

  • PMK condemns reports that Sri Lanka is auctioning off detained boats
    India's Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) condemned reports that the Sri Lankan government is auctioning off fishing boats that have been seized from arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen.     

    PMK leader Ramdoss said "the act of the Island government has shocked Indian fishermen," in a statement this week, adding that 72 boats are currently being detained by the Sri Lankan navy.
  • Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa – BJP Gen Sec

    The general secretary of the BJP, P Muralidhar Rao, said that the Indian government believes it needs to engage with the Sri Lankan government in order to solve the Tamil issue, during his visit to Colombo.

  • Ananthy, Ravikaran raise issues faced by North-East Tamils at UNHRC
    The Northern Provincial Councillors, Ananthy Sasitharan and T. Ravikaran, expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing disappearances, missing persons, intimidation, colonisation and militarisation at a side event that took place at the UN Human Rights Council's 27th session.
  • External forces destabilising Asian countries under guise of democracy - Rajapaksa
    The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned of "external forces" encouraged disharmony in Asian countries "under the guise of democracy", at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), jointly hosted by the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and opposition United National Party (UNP) in Colombo this week.

    "Today the emerging trends in the world, including in parts of Asia gave signals that alarmed the Asian Community because external forces under the guise of democracy and other enticing slogans sought to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," the Daily Mirror reported him as saying to delegates.

    “They show little concern about destabilising nations,” he said, adding, "Asian countries have seen how the media including social media is being used by the forces that are continuing the cause of division, separation and terror."

    Lauding Sri Lanka's military efforts Mahinda Rajapaksa added,
    "Sri Lanka can stand out in this great gathering for our experience in battling and defeating terrorism against the efforts of many external forces outside Asia that sought to bring about an accommodation of terrorism in our land. We are always ready to share that experience with the world. Your presence here and what you will see in this country today are the fruits of that great success in protecting our State and our Nation, from the forces of terror."

  • Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents

    A scheduled survey of private lands in Senthankulam, Matakal, by government officials on Friday was cancelled after residents and local politicians raised fierce opposition to it.

  • BJP ally condemns party's participation in Sri Lankan conference
    The BJP's Tamil Nadu ally, MDMK, condemned the party's participation in a conference taking place in Sri Lanka stating it was "an unforgivable act of betrayal", reports PTI.
  • Mass grave discovered in Velanai

    A mass grave was discovered on Thursday in Velanai, off the Jaffna Peninsula.

  • Significant military presence remains in North despite government claims of demilitarisation - CPA
    A significant military presence remains in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka despite government rhetoric of reducing militarisation, highlighted the latest Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) info-graphic.

    “The contradictions in the actual situation are highlighted by statements made by President Rajapaksa, who in January 2014 claimed that there was a presence of 12,000 military personnel in the North with Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President claiming only two days later, the presence of 80,000 military personnel in the North," said the CPA.

  • Woman's body found washed up in Jaffna
    The body of a 35 year old woman was found washed up in Saatti, Jaffna district during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

    The police are yet to identify the body, reports Uthayan. Further investigations are reportedly being carried out by Jaffna police.

  • Norochcholai should not end up in foreign hands – Minister

    Sri Lanka’s energy minister has warned against transferring ownership of public ventures to foreigners, saying that this could pave the way for a change in regime on the island.

    Science, Technology and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said there were talks that the power plant in Norochcholai, which has been beset by breakdowns, may be handed over to China.

    "The Norochcholai plant can fulfil 60 percent of the total energy requirements of Sri Lanka. Therefore, it should not end up in the hands of foreigners," he said.

  • Sri Lankan navy chief meets US counterpart

    (Picture: defence.lk)

    The head of Sri Lanka’s navy, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera met with the Chief of Naval Operations of the US navy, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, during a visit to the US.

    Perera is in the country to attend the 21st International Sea Power Symposium (ISS) at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, which this year is being held under the theme of "Global Solutions to Common Maritime Challenges".

  • Sri Lanka to establish trade commission with Russia
    The Sri Lankan government received approval today to establish a joint commission with Russia.

    The establishment of an “Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation” with was proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and approved by the Sri Lankan cabinet on Thursday, reports Colombo Page.
  • Atrocities could have been prevented by international community says US
    The United States (US) said that recent atrocities could have been prevented and tens of thousands of lives saved, if the international community had responded earlier - including in the case of Sri Lanka.

    In a statement that was due to be delivered at the United Nations Human Rights Council panel discussion on the role of prevention in the promotion on human rights, the US said,
    “A most troubling aspect of recent atrocities is the concern that they could have been prevented had the international community responded earlier and more appropriately.”

    “Tens of thousands of lives could have been saved. The future of whole ethnic groups, states, societies, indeed the world, could have been transformed for the better.”

    “Through reflection on those failures to act – Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Sri Lanka, Syria – we appreciate the vital role that prevention plays in the promotion and protection of human rights.”
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