• Sri Lanka introduces tax changes aimed at achieving Rs 800 billion target

    Sri Lanka is to introduce key changes to the income tax system aimed at reducing evasion and achieving the Rs 800 billion a year target, the Sunday Times reported. 

    The changes which are set to come into force on April 1, will see increased jail terms, fines and penalties to those who evade income tax, make false statements or make late payments. 

  • Sri Lankan FM to leave for UNHRC session in Geneva

    Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Tilak Marapana is to leave tomorrow for Geneva to participate in the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council. 

  • Sri Lankan president revokes state of emergency

    The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday issued an order revoking the state of emergency, which was imposed following attacks against Muslims in Kandy. 

    "Returned from a very successful tour of Japan, that brings many short and long terms benefits to us. Upon assessing the public safety situation, I instructed to revoke the State of Emergency from midnight yesterday," Mr Sirisena tweeted.

  • Sri Lankan diaspora group says OMP was set up to appease LTTE supporters

    The Sri Lankan diaspora group, GSLF Australia, condemned the government's decision to set up the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), saying it was set up to appease LTTE supporters. 

    In a letter to the Sri Lankan president, the GSLF spokesperson, urged politicians to lodge their protest against the commencement of the OMP. 

  • Joint Opposition to launch no confidence motion against Ranil

    MPs of the Joint Opposition began collecting signatures this week towards a no confidence motion against the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

    The motion criticises Mr Wickremesinghe over his management of the treasury bond scam and the recent violence in Kandy. 

  • End impunity for sectarian violence in Sri Lanka - The Elders

    The Elders this week called on the Sri Lankan government to end impunity for those committing and inciting sectarian violence in the country, following attacks on Muslims in Kandy by Sinhala Buddhist mobs earlier this month. 

  • Sirisena to inaugurate Buddhism classes at controversial Jaffna vihara

    The Sri Lankan President is due to travel to Jaffna next week to inaugurate a 'teaching Buddhism in Tamil language' scheme.

    The scheme will be run by the highly-criticised Jaffna Naga Vihara.

    Due to its imposing structure and its prime location in Jaffna Town, a Tamil cultural centre with a negligible Buddhist population, locals have viewed the monastery as a symbol of Sinhala-Buddhist colonisation since its post-war expansion.

  • Sri Lankan president confirms meeting with BBS chief in Japan

    Sri Lanka’s president confirmed that he held a meeting with the leader of Bodu Bala Sena – a Sinhala nationalist extremist group – whilst on a visit to Japan, in a press release this morning.

    In a press release by the President’s Media Division, Mr Sirisena denied that BBS chief Galagodaaththe Gnanasara was part of an official delegation that accompanied him on his visit from Sri Lanka.

  • Military ceremony in Vanni as Sri Lanka recruits more troops

    The Sri Lankan military held a ceremony at its Commando Regiment Special Warfare Training School in the Vanni to celebrate the passing out of new recruits earlier this year.

  • Another NPC member arrested for part in Mullaitivu land-grab protest

    Mullaitivu police arrested the Northern Province Council member, M. K. Sivajilingam, for his involvement in a land-grab protest in the district last month.

    The police department filed cases against Mr Sivajilingam and others including the NPC member T. Ravikaran after a road-block protest by Mullaitivu residents resulted in the surveyors having to turn back from the area, unable to survey the more than 600 acres of Tamil-owned land earmarked for land-grab by the Sri Lankan Navy.

  • Families of the disappeared mark 1 year of protest in Maruthankerny

    Families of the disappeared protest in Maruthankerny marked one year since their ongoing campaign began.

  • Northern Province residents forced to wait hours for Tamil-language police services

    Northern Province residents are forced to wait hours for Tamil-language services at police stations, the Chief Minister has said.

    In a meeting with police officials, Chief Minister Wigneswaran said police departments across the North did not have enough Tamil language capacity to serve the population.

    Police officials responded that they struggle to recruit Tamil officers and that Tamils did not come forward to join the force.

  • Sri Lanka police still occupying 50 KKS homes

    Sri Lankan police are occupying fifty homes in Kankesanthurai which were supposed to be returned to their owners following the land's release by the Sri Lankan Army, the Northern Province Chief Minister has said.

    In a meeting with police officials, Chief Minister Wigneswaran pointed out that around 111 police officers are using fifty privately owned houses as work and residential premises.

  • Sri Lanka police agree to release Jaffna school's facilities following NPC pressure

    Police have agreed to release a Jaffna school's building and well following pressure from the Northern Provincial Council.

  • Japan agrees to develop Trinco, Colombo ports

    The Japanese government has agreed to support Sri Lanka in the development of ports at Trincomalee and colombo. 

    Meeting with the Sri Lankan president who is currently visitng Tokyo, the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe was quoted by the Colombo Page as saying that "Japan would provide assistance for the Sri Lanka's infrastructure development prioritizing the development of ports."

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