SL’s Nat. media criticised at UNHRC

Special Rapporteur on human rights workers yesterday criticized the Sri Lankan national media.

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, Ms Margaret Sekaggya said: "Regarding other parts of the world, I have once again been alerted that should human rights defenders in Sri Lanka seek the protection of my mandate, they, their families and colleagues may be subject to reprisals.

Women From The North And East Call For Real Peace, Justice And Accountability

''We call upon the Sri Lankan State to view the proposed resolution at the UN Human Rights Council as a tool for the implementation of its vision for a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic community and for ensuring long lasting peace for the women who have lost so much and continue to suffer. The Sri Lankan government has been given an opportunity to make real its promises to the ethnic minorities, especially the women in this country who have suffered from three decades of war. ''

Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guilty of genocide

In a pan-Tamil Nadu fasting campaign organised by the Communist Party of India with the support of many major political parties of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, the Government of India was urged to declare Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa as guilty of genocide.

Sri Lanka and its ‘Geneva-problem’

Kalana SenaratneColombo,
The year 2009 was when the Western group of States at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) made a serious diplomatic blunder, by attempting to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka. The West missed the plot. This was just days after a bloody three decades long war had ended in Sri Lanka; just days after a group which was listed as a terrorist group in their own countries had been comprehensively defeated;

Katunayake savage police attack – fundamental rights petition to be heard

The fundamental rights petition filed before the Supreme Court by 13 employees of Katunayake Free Trade Zone claiming their fundamental rights were violated when police attacked the peaceful agitation carried out by the employees against a fraudulent pension scheme the government attempted to force on private sector employees will be heard.

2,000 Tamils stage protest at UN in Geneva

Thousands of Tamils from across Europe protested in front of UN headquarters in Geneva Monday demanding the creation of an international tribunal to try "war crimes" committed in Sri Lanka.

Five ex-LTTE members abducted since February 27

Five former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were released last year by the occupying SL forces for integration with their families after the genocidal SL military's ‘rehabilitation’ programme, have been reported missing last week.

Nimalarajan murder-suspect rapes and kills 13-year-old girl, villagers enraged

An EPDP paramilitary operative on Saturday raped and killed a 13-year-old student of Neduntheevu Maha Viththiyaalayam, Jesudasan Lakshini, triggering anger among the villagers of Neduntheevu (Delf), an islet off Jaffna. The villages encircled the camps of the Sri Lanka Navy and the SL Police on Sunday and demanded that the civilian representatives of the islet should be present to monitor that investigations were being carried out.

Irony of ironies! Minister Devananda is Govt, representative at Geneva HR sessions, but his leader is rapist and murderer here

A leader in Jaffna of EPDP party of Minister Douglas Devananda had raped and killed a 13 year old girl, according to reports reaching Lanka e news. Kandasamy Jegadeeswaran, this ruthless rapist and murderer holds a high post in the armed group of the EPDP.

'India not doing enough' for Tamils

LLRC recommendations should be implemented - CPM
The Communist Party of India (CPM) has accused the Indian government of not doing enough to find a politicial solution to resolve grievances of Sri Lanka's Tamils.

LLRC does not adequately address issues of accountability – US tells UNHRC

The United States took another jab at Sri Lanka at the ongoing 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council by stating that the Government appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report does not include any plan to implement those recommendations, nor does it adequately address the crucial issue of accountability.

Sri Lanka against itself - Hindu Editorial

Sri Lanka is engaged in an all-out effort to stave off a resolution against it at the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council at Geneva. The United States, the prime backer of the resolution, has circulated a draft among the Council's 47 members calling on Colombo to do nothing more than implement the recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, as well as to initiate credible investigations into violations of international human rights laws not addressed adequately by the LLRC.

Catholics divided on war crimes

Bishop Joseph  has contradicted earlier statement by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
Tamil Catholic priests from the north have called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, contradicting an earlier statement by the head of Sri Lanka's Catholic Church.

Chinese Govt. should see whether its equipment is used in wire tapping here: Mangala

UNP Matara MP Mangala Samaraweera who recently revealed in Parliament that equipment imported from China is being used to tap telephones and hack into peoples personal e-mails said he hopes the Chinese government would look into the concerns raised by th UNP.

UNHRC resolution blown out of proportion: Cover for impending Sinhala New Year price hikes - Ranil

The government was creating a big rumpus about the US resolution calling for the implementation of the LLRC recommendations, to distract the masses from the high cost of living and impending price hikes on essential goods and services during the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

No Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka, then and now !

As the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council is about to commence, the government of Sri Lanka has unleashed a public campaign of disinformation and attacks on human rights defenders, political actors and civil society groups working for a sustainable peace, and respect for human rights and democracy in Sri Lanka.

Twelve Questions for Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe:

Sri Lankan Human Rights Defenders Network have heard with great interest the speech made by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the UN Human Rights Council on February 27. We are concerned about the silences and misrepresentations that we have found there.

‘India will not support rights violations….’

Minister of state in the Indian Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy said today (Mar. 04) that the PMO has been apprised of the sentiments of people and political parties in Tamil Nadu about the US-sponsored motion against Sri Lanka over alleged human rights violations.

Geneva: NGO Blitzkrieg starts Tuesday

The American representative to the UN Human Rights Council Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Maria Otero spoke at the HRC on Friday last week, and there was no talk about a resolution being brought against Sri Lanka by the USA.

People's power - the need of the hour - Minister Wimal Weerawansa

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister, Wimal Weerawansa said the resolution to be moved against Sri Lanka by the US at the UNHRC sessions is the first 'experiment' by the US and other human rights fighters to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

GTF proposes two-pronged strategy for reconciliation

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) yesterday proposed a two-pronged strategy to facilitate national reconciliation process.  GTF spokesman Suren Surendiran said that implementation of positive recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) should be prioritized, while accountability issues addressed through an international investigative mechanism.

TMVP Maintains Demand For Police Powers

The Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) maintains that police powers must be allocated to the provinces and not remain in the hands of the central government.  TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana told The Sunday Leader that his party wants to see the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Rajapaksas are willing to commit any crime to strengthen and perpetuate their rule over Sri Lanka

Tisaranee Gunasekara
 “…countries that won a war but ‘lost the peace’: gratuitously wasting the opportunities afforded them by their victory” - Tony Judt (Reappraisals)
 Creating incredible illusions to conceal insupportable realities is the Rajapaksa way.
In this dystopian world, zero equals 8,000+; when prices go up, inflation comes down and people just love political deprivation and economic pain.

Ceylon Teachers Union thoroughly condemns threats made by the Northern Governor against Students of Jaffna Hindu Ladies College

Ceylon Teachers Union thoroughly condemns threats made by the Northern Governor against Students of Jaffna Hindu Ladies College recently.

Truth and accountability are essential in Sri Lanka rather than simply the peace of the victor

By Marzuki Darusman, Steven Ratner and Yasmin Sooka
Even as attention is riveted on the bloodshed in Syria, another conflict, far more deadly, is belatedly attracting the notice it deserves.Beginning this week, the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva has returned to an issue that has haunted it since 2009 — the bloody finish to Sri Lanka’s civil war.