• India 'incorrect' on Sri Lanka's intentions - JHU legal advisor

    The JHU's (Jathika Hela Urumaya) legal advisor, MP Udaya Gammanpila, criticised India's statement, made 25th December on the LLRC report, as "incorrect", reasserting the Sri Lankan government's refusal to devolve land and police powers to the North-East. 

  • LLRC report through the eyes of the JHU

    Slamming the LLRC report as "one-sided", the secretary of the JHU, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka condemned the report for only recommending investigations in the Sri Lankan army and navy, whilst criticising the report for going "beyond its mandate".

    Ranawaka reportedly said, 

  • As foreigners sell, rupee defended

    As foreign investors sold their shares in the Colombo Stock Exchange Tuesday, the Central Bank stepped in to preserve the value of the rupee.

  • Rajapakse associate arrested for murder and rape of tourists

    A close associate of the Rajapakse clan has been arrested in connection with the murder of a British tourist and the suspected rape of his Russian girlfriend.

    Kuram Shaikah Zaman, who was 27 years old was killed on Christmas eve after intervening in a dispute between locals in Tangalle.

  • Lucky cattle

    The Sri Lankan army, having been whale-watching, sold vegetables and run hotels, are now trying their luck with herding cattle.

    Stray cattle in the Vanni have been herded and are being returned to civilians according to military officials.

  • British tourist murdered on Christmas Eve after row with local politician
    Several journalists have faced death threats and intimidation after reporting on the murder of a British tourist in southern Town of Tangella on the 24th of December.
  • From combatants to criminals'

    Crimes by former and current members of the Sri Lankan security forces are on the increase, the Sunday times reports.

    The paper details in its article several crimes committed, including the killing of MP Bharatha Lakshman and grease devil attacks in the Tamil homeland.

    Extracts from the report:

  • Fonseka ignored in Sri Lankan 'epic'

    Incarcerated, former commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Sarath Fonseka, is to be ignored in the write-up of the new chapters of the Sri Lankan epic, the Mahavamsa, The Sunday Leader reports.

  • Act decisively' on devolution of power - India

    India expects Sri Lanka to "act decisively" to achieve a "political settlement based on the devolution of power' announced the External Affairs Ministry in a statement made Sunday on the release of the LLRC report.

    Urging resettlement and normal civilian life, India continues to avoid the issue of accountability and justice.

  • Public services corruption in Sri Lanka - survey

    Political parties and police are amongst the most corrupt in Sri Lanka, according to a survey of South Asian countries by Transparency International.

    The anti-corruption organization surveyed six countries and found that more than one in three people said they pay bribes when dealing with public services.

    In previous surveys of this nature, only Sub-Saharan Africa had a higher rate of bribe-paying,” Transparency International said in its press release.

  • Presents for the privileged

    Sri Lanka's president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, presented members of the military with new houses on Saturday.

    The ceremony, held in Kalutara, is the seventh phase of the 'Api Venuven Api' housing project aimed at giving Sri Lanka's military families houses. Construction work has been undertaken by the army itself.

  • LLRC recommendations ignored already

    A huge project to develop the Sri Lankan capital Colombo is going to be implemented by the Sri Lankan military, in an attempt to minimise costs to the government.

    "The construction work will be entrusted to the engineering services divisions of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force so that construction costs would be kept to the minimum," Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said on Thursday.

  • International investigation is the 'right policy for US' – House of Representatives member
    An independent international investigation is the “right policy for the US”, said New York’s member in the US House of Representatives Michael Grimm, writing in Capitol Hill’s Roll Call newspaper.

    A former FBI agent and US Marine, Grimm commented that President Mahinda Rajapakse had “callously squandered” chances for peace and instead had worsened tensions on the island.
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