Britain demands ‘concrete progress’ on Sri Lanka rights

Cameron: will meet civil actors too

    Britain will use next month’s Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka to pressure Colombo to make “concrete progress” on human rights and to probe war crimes, the British high commissioner said Wednesday.

Prime Minister David Cameron will send a strong message to Colombo to improve its rights record and show a commitment to good governance, said British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin.

He who tries to divide the country will get his head divided - Army chief

Ready to kill!

Strict action will be taken against anyone who attempts to bring in separatism after being overjoyed from the results of the Northern Provincial Council election, says the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake.

The Army Commander made this comment while addressing the Army soldiers during a tour in Vavuniya.

SRI LANKA: In Ganeshan Nimalaruban's case the de facto CJ holds that inquiry into a prison death will encourage prisoners to riot

Peries with Gotabhaya

A Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission
The case of Ganeshan Nimalaruban, a Tamil prisoner whose death in prison evoked local and international expressions of concern last year was taken up on October 14 before the Supreme Court and the de facto Chief Justice, Mohan Peiris, refused to grant leave to proceed in the fundamental rights case. The de facto CJ refused to observe the normal standards and procedures regarding leave to appeal cases on fundamental rights and the matters that the court should look into before making an order. Those standards and procedures are as follows:

Lawyers have a responsibility to the country ( not to file FR cases on death by torture) - CJ Peiris

A murder which goes unfinished

Justice denied: The denouement of Sri Lanka’s Nimalaruban case By the Social Architects

The Sri Lanka Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the case of Ganeshan Nimalaruban, a Tamil prisoner who died in suspicious circumstances days after he was involved in a prison riot last year.
Mr Saliya Peiris, Attorney-at-Law representing the parents of the deceased Mr Nimalaruban yesterday told the Court that the document which was given by the State Counsel (a document from the Commissioner General of Prisons) on the last occasion does not disclose the circumstances under which the death took place. It merely narrates facts, but does not say how Mr Nimalaruban sustained injuries, nor does it disclose who the material witnesses were.

If there is anything more seriously alleged against Sri Lanka, it is the failure to tolerate dissent

Accepting the Award

J.C. Weliamuna

Ven Sirs, Excellencies, friends, ladies and gentlemen
It’s with mixed feelings that I have got up to speak.  I am pleased, honored and humbled to accept this award and to join the long admired and respected past recipients.  Let me at the very outset thank the board & the Governing Council of the National Peace Council and its staff, in particular its Chairman Mr. Tony Senewiratne and the Executive Director Dr.  Jehan Perera, for selecting me for this award. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with the award. I am so pleased that some very special persons were able to come and share this evening with me.  I greatly appreciate presence of all of you.

The Commonwealth in troubling times and the controversy surrounding Sri Lanka

Sir Ronald Sanders KCMG AM
is a Senior Research Fellow at the
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
and a former Caribbean diplomat

''If the Summit in Sri Lanka is to be meaningful, Heads of Government must set up machinery to address this issue urgently and credibly. It will call for careful diplomatic stage-managing by the Secretary-General, and transparent and open chairmanship by the Sri Lankan President. Whether this can be achieved is left to be seen. But, if this matter is not tackled with urgency and credibility, the Commonwealth may well go over the cliff to disintegration on which it is now dangerously perched.''

By Sir Ronald Sanders KCMG AM

Killing of Ganesan Nimalaruban : CJ Mohan Peiris dismiss another FR case

Ganesan Nimalaruban: Mr Nimalaruban's parents
have "great doubts" over the way he died

Ganesan Nimalaruban death: Sri Lanka rights case dismissed

The Supreme Court in Sri Lanka has dismissed a case in which the parents of a dead Tamil prisoner were suing the state for violation of his rights.
Sri Lanka's de facto chief justice has denied leave to proceed in the case of Ganesan Nimalaruban.
He was one of two inmates who died in mysterious circumstances after prison authorities broke up a siege in northern Sri Lanka last year.

SRI LANKA: An Appeal for the Early Publication of the Inquiry Reports on the Welikada and Vavuniya Prison Riots

A prisoner  killed in November 2012
in Welikada Prison, Colombo

''The Friday Forum urges you to make public the findings of the Committee appointed by the Hon. Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms, to investigate the events that took place in the Welikada prison, Colombo, in November 2012 resulting, in the death of some 27 inmates, with 43 injured and 11 reported to have escaped ''

Commonwealth summit mired in row over Briton shot in Sri Lanka

Khuram Shaikh, from Rochdale, was murdered on Christmas Day 2011, after complaining about harassment of his girlfriend. Photograph: Observer

Prince Charles offered to help in the effort to win justice for a British man who was murdered in Sri Lanka – allegedly by a close political ally of the country's prime minister.
The high-profile case of Khuram Shaikh, a 32-year-old Red Cross worker from Rochdale who was killed in 2011, has cast a shadow over the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Colombo next month, which is due to be chaired by Prince Charles and attended by David Cameron.

Police: White Van abduction, vehicle number is unknown, no clue of abductors

One more abduction in Colombo

Abductors’ identity still a mystery 
The police are in the dark over the identity of the kidnappers, who allegedly abducted a wealthy businessman who is also a close confidant of controversial Minister Mervyn Silva, and the businessman’s bodyguard in Maradana last Tuesday (8)

Police officer blocks vehicle parade over Rathupaswala

ASP Chandana Kodithuwakku: I will stop you

Gampaha ASP Chandana Kodithuwakku has allegedly forced a group of activists to abandon a vehicle parade to spread awareness regarding the drinking water issue in Rathupawala. 
An organization for the protection of water had organized a vehicle parade today (13), to educate the public regarding the Rathupaswala water crisis, after the glove factory at the center of the recent controversy in Welieriya had decided to recommence operations.

Sri Lanka; National authority for the protection of victims of crime; special fund to provide compensation and witnesses protection

The Government will set up a National Authority for the protection of victims of crime. This is one of the major highlights of an Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime (NAPVC) Bill that will be introduced in Parliament.

Police in search for Channel 4 Jounalists in Sri Lanka

The Sunday Leader learns that defence authorities were placed on high alert last week after information was received that a Channel 4 journalist was in the country.
 Intelligence agencies had initially alerted the Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) to look for the journalist and his partner who were believed to have been staying at an apartment in Colombo.

Bribery Commission slammed for not following COPE directives

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has been slammed for not following directives of the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to investigate cases of corruption found in state institutions.

Media Repression and Tamils in Sri Lanka

by Daniel Kitts 

We recently interviewed Sri Lankan journalist Sanjana Hattotuwa from the organization Groundviews on the many questions surrounding press freedom in Sri Lanka. This week, one where Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced he would not be attending a major heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka, the group Tamils Against Genocide asked to contribute a piece to our website that laid out their conclusions on the situation for Sri Lankan journalists, and which journalists are the most vulnerable to violence and why.

Taking oath before the President is a message to Sinhala people - Chief Minister Vigneswaran

Internal self determination does not divide the country but facilitate a journey on the path of unity

''I expect my Sinhala brothers and sisters to impress upon their political representatives that internal self determination does not divide the country but facilitate a journey on the path of unity. I sincerely ask the Sinhala people to realize that to the same extent the Sinhala people cherish and respect their language and culture so do the Tamil speaking people cherish and respect their own language and their traditions. There is no place for violence in this realization. ''

Full Text of Statement issued by the Chief Minister, Northern Provincial Council, after taking Oaths of Office

Indian PM unlikely to attend CHOGM

Manmohan Singh: No time for Rajapaksha!

Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid's visit to Sri Lanka last week had been intended to pave the way for the non attendance of Indian Premier, Manmohan Singh, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, well-placed Indian sources said. "The Premier's visit would depend on the conditions prevailing at the time and a decision would be taken on an appropriate time," sources said.

Northern Provincial Council plagued by enmity within!

 

Press conference of EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE:  there needs to be a democratic deicision making process

By Manekshaw
The new  (NPC) members, including the four ministers, took their oaths before Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R. Sampanthan, and Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran at a modest ceremony at the Veerasingham Hall, Jaffna yesterday.

As a protest to ITAK, NPC members of EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE to take oath in Mullaiththeevu

Mullaiththeevu after the war

“We are not going to let a [Colombo-centric] group in the Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) to take a different political course than what has been promised to the people during the elections, especially with regards to our demand of international investigations and the delivery of a political solution in a unified North-East as a single unit ensuring Tamils sovereignty,” said former TNA parliamentarian from TELO, MK Sivajilingam on Saturday. EPRLF's Suresh Premachandran, a TNA MP and PLOTE leader Tharmalingam Sitharthan, a former MP were addressing the journalists in Jaffna.

Indian fishmen come in 1000s, rob liveihood of our fishemen and destroy sea bed - Bishop of Mannar

File photo form Sunday Times

Mannar Bishop to take up poaching crisis with TN  .

Mannar Bishop the Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph said he intended making representation to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram and DMK Leader Muthuvel Karunanidhi with regard to poaching by Indian fishermen and that he would demand immediate action be taken against them.

JHU wants CM of NPC Wigneswaran’s motives probed for not hoisting national flag

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has questioned the motive behind the non-hoisting the national flag during a meeting between Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran, and External Affairs Minister of India, Salman Khurshid, where only the regional flag and the Indian national flag were on display.

Sri Lanka: Reading tea leaves; Centre vs. NPC

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) elected to the Northern Provincial Council took oaths in Jaffna after visiting the memorial site of SJV Chelvanayakam and after observing honour to fallen Tamil Heroes (Maaveerar) and the people perished in the war, at Jaffna Veerasingham Hall Friday 9:00 a.m. ( Photo & caption-  Tamil net)

  Dr Kumar David

The time for euphoria is past, celebrations must wind down. A carousing Tamil gentleman of my vintage and neighbourhood has drunk his whisky cellar dry. The serious stuff is getting started, so time to buckle down. The mouths of Jonas at home and in the diaspora who pressed the TNA to boycott the elections are stuffed with sludge by the scale of victory and inspiring voter turnout.

Above the Law: Violations of Women’s Reproductive Rights in Northern Sri Lanka

Image courtesy The Social Architects

The Social Architects
This report, TSA’s fourth, outlines the findings of the organization’s September 2013 field mission on coercive contraception clinics in Kilinochchi District. In early September of this year, activists in Kilinochchi discovered that public health workers had administered the sub-dermal contraceptive implant, Jadelle, to women from Veravil, Keranchi, and Valaipaddu during a nutrition clinic. After publishing accounts from these women, TSA traveled to Kilinochchi for an in-depth follow up investigation.

Turning to sex work in Sri Lanka’s north; a consevative estimate: 7000 sex workers

Photo: Dilrukshi Handunnetti/IRIN -Soliciting clients for commercial sex in northern Sri Lanka

COLOMBO/KILINOCHCHI, 10 October 2013 (IRIN) - With more women taking up as family breadwinners in Sri Lanka’s former war zone - the island’s north - the region is recording an increase in women turning to survival sex.

Seven things Sri Lanka is doing for CHOGM

Pprotests banned in Sri Lanka

With the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) just around the corner, Sri Lanka in general, and Colombo in particular has gone a bit mad getting things ready for the visit of the world’s great and good (minus Canada).  In Colombo especially it feels a little bit like living in a city sized version of a young married couple frantically getting the house ready for when the in-laws are due to visit for the first time.