Sri Lanka owes $15 bln on foreign borrowings since 1997

* Needs to pay $4.9 bln to China for total loan of $2.96 bln
* China, ADB leading lenders, Western loans low
* Sri Lanka has borrowed $5 bln through five Eurobonds
  (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will have to repay more than $15 billion to foreign lenders such as China and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from which it has borrowed over the past 15 years, a document submitted to parliament showed on Thursday.

Threats and intimidation have already started: Sumanthiran

Tamil National Alliance National list Member of Parliament M.A Sumanthiran spoke to the Daily Mirror on the TNA preparations for the Eastern Provincial Council Elections, the commitment of the party to the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Militarisation of the North.

SRI LANKA: Attack on two courts - It is time for judges and lawyers to fight back

According to reports we have received a group of criminals sponsored allegedly by a minister has stone and attack the High Court and the Magistrate Court of Mannar yesterday 18 July. According to the report a Fishing Vadiya has been attacked by a group and on the basis of reports received by the Magistrate he has directed the police to apprehend the culprits.

Judges and Lawyers want action against political hooligans

Mannar,Vavuniya & Jaffna court work suspended .
Lawyers to  strike on 20th
Mannar Attack: Judges Association wants IGP to take action

Eyebrows raised over Canada rejecting ex-SLN Commodore’s refugee claim

Nadarajah Kuruparan

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Many an eyebrow has been raised over Canada refusing to accept retired Sri Lankan Navy Commodore Nadarajah Kuruparan’s refugee claim, on the grounds that the navy had committed atrocities during the conflict.

Sexual Violence and Child Abuse - A co-ordinated programme of action- the need of the hour

Sexual violence and child abuse are abhorrent crimes that evoke the righteous indignation of the people. The media should be commended for giving due publicity to the more serious instances which would galvanise public opinion against the alarming rise of these crimes.

Seriously out of touch

K. Venkataramanan

Share

1

File photo of Karunanidi

The revival of TESO makes a mockery of the political predicament of Tamils in Sri LankaVeteran Tamil Nadu politician M. Karunanidhi has announced the revival of the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation, a forum he had floated in the mid-1980s to drum up support for the creation of a separate Tamil nation in Sri Lanka.

Minister threatens Magistrate and sends thugs to stone Courts- MaRa’s model in the making

Minister Rishard

We are indeed very sad to report a most disdainful and despicable incident from Mannar demonstrating that the judiciary has been pushed into the worst predicament and humiliation as never before in the history of SL.

Nelliyadi protesters overcome sabotage by SL Military Intelligence

Masked men with LTTE flag

Around 300 protesters gathered at Nelliyadi in Vadamaraadchi, Jaffna, on Wednesday, braving threats from the occupying Sri Lanka Army that warned participants about ‘firing orders’ issued to SL soldiers and Policemen. However, the demonstrators, that included solidarity groups from Upcountry and South, protesting the killing of Tamil prisoner Nimalarooban, successfully beat the sabotage attempt by the SL Military Intelligence.

Jaffna peaceful protest disrupted by masked men

A peaceful protest held with the participation of Tamil political and social activists in Jaffna was disrupted on Wednesday (18) by men believed to be working for Sri Lanka’s Military Intelligence (MI).

Executive Presidential System in Sri Lanka - Six major pitfalls

''In this regard, I wish to share some observations that I have made about the executive presidential system that operates in Sri Lanka and its future. This I hope may be of use to those who wish to have it abolished as well as those who want it retained. ''
By Victor Ivan

Economy hanging on peace dividend

Red Alert: Weak external liquidity; moderately high and increasing external debt; fundamental fiscal weaknesses; high public debt and interest burden; political institutions lacking transparency and independence.

Future Elections in Sri Lanka will be Based on Role of Military and Commitment to keep current Regime in Power

''President Rajapaksa should be given the credit for innovatively replacing the term “elections” with “election seasons”- where particular elections such as Provincial Councils and Local Authorities are held from time to time – and sometimes, throughout the year. In strict legal interpretation, such electioneering is not prohibited in law but undoubtedly undesirable for many reasons.''
By JC Weliamuna

Only criminals are abducted by white vans – Gota

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

When a daily newspaper, after publishing that several ‘white van’ abductions had been carried out during the recent past, had asked the Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa regarding this, he had responded by stating only criminals are abducted by white vans.

Six Sri Lankan journalists sue over their arrests, say gov't trying to stifle free expression

Arressted journalists

Six Sri Lankan web journalists filed a court case Tuesday seeking for their arrests last month to be declared illegal and demanding compensation, an attorney said. 

SLMC refused to contest as Alliance of Muslim parities - Azath Salley

Azath Salley

UPFA Colombo Municipal Councilor Azath Salley stated that Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Minister Rauf Hakeem had betrayed the Muslim community with the decision not to join a coalition of Muslim parties for the upcoming elections.

SLFP-men issue death threat to journalists in Mannaar

Two newspaper reporters in Mannaar have complained to Tamil Journalists Association in Vanni that ruling SLFP-men have issued death threats to them for their reporting on inciting violence at Koanthaip-piddi jetty on Friday.

‘Crude oil attacks’ target TNPF organisers of civil protests: Gajendrakumar

Anandarajah & Ponnambalam

The house of Rajappu Edward Anandarajah, the president of All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the vice president of the Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF), situated in Nelliyadi in Vadamaraadchi has also been attacked almost simultaneously as a squad targeted the house of Kandeepan Thangarajah, the central committee member of the TNPF in the early hours of Tuesday.

Provincial Council system could be used effectively – Gammanpila

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Legal Advisor and Minister of Agriculture, Environment, Minor Irrigation and Industries of the Western Provincial Council Udaya Prabath Gammanpila, in an interview with the Sunday Observer, touched upon many important issues, ....the TNA’s refusal to attend the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for dialogue.

"Ensure justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka’’ ,Karunanidhi releases theme paper for TESO conference

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO), a forum started by DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, on Monday urged the Indian government to join hands with like-minded nations to bring political and economic pressure directly and indirectly on the Sri Lankan government to ensure justice and rehabilitation of Tamils in the country.

RTI: A people’s govt. must enact it, Editorial, ST

It took an Indian Minister to come to Colombo and extol the virtues of a Right to Information (RTI) Law and explain how it has empowered the ordinary citizens of his country.

Govt. gobbles money from EPF: AG Serious accounting deficiencies, management inefficiencies revealed

The Auditor General has pointed out several accounting deficiencies and management inefficiencies in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), including failure to credit millions of rupees into members’ personal accounts.

TNA’s Sumanthiran drops opposition to Govt.’s land notice - Govt undetake not to implement

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has withdrawn an application in the Court of Appeal, challenging the Government’s controversial land circular for the North and East.
This was on the basis of an undertaking by the Government not to implement provisions of the circular.
Mr. Sumanthiran said he reserved the right to file a fresh application, if it was necessary later.

Errant websites: Avoid collective punishment - Editorial The Island

The government has, true to form, donned the armour of a knight errant to further its own interests deftly, if not cunningly, on the pretext of protecting the citizens' rights against mud-slinging websites. Having ordered police raids on two such Internet publications, it has sought to impose a huge registration fee on news websites across the board. Ironically, even some of the worst critics of the government see eye to eye with it on the draconian measures being adopted purportedly to regulate news websites.

Drop Tamil Eelam agenda: Chidambaram to Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Sunday reportedly conveyed to DMK chief M Karunanidhi the central government's displeasure over a move by the ally to pass a resolution to demand Tamil Eelam at a meeting of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) in Chennai on August 12.