Sri Lanka: Namal Rajapaksa’s Mullaiththeevu operative detained on human trafficking allegation

Sri Lankan Boat people ( file photo)

A key operative of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling UPFA and two of his close associates have been arrested in Mullaiththeevu by the SL police on 05 April following reports from Australia that they were operating a human trafficking agency. The UPFA operative, who is a close confidante of Namal Rajapaksa, was identified as 45-year-old Arul Jenyberd, who lost in the NPC elections on UPFA ticket. In the meantime, the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) has arrested a group of fishermen on the following day at Polika’ndi in Point Pedro on allegations that they had bought a boat from money obtained from overseas, in an attempt to project them as having ‘LTTE’ connections.

Sri Lanka: 60 Tamils detained for subversive acts . Police

Tamils protest over detentions

Police said today that 60 people including 10 women had been arrested and detained by the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) during the past two months for allegedly supporting subversive activities in violation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).  Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said they were arrested amidts reports of a reemergence of the LTTE. Most of the arrests have been done after a policeman was shot in Kilinochchi by K.P. Selvanayagam also known as 'Gobi' a former LTTE operative who escaped after the shooting.

Sri Lanka: Opposition JVP slams BBS behaviour

Shut up - BBS to Muslim Cleric

The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today slammed the behaviour of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) after BBS members had stormed the venue of a press conference yesterday and verbally abused a monk and a Muslim cleric.

A JVP statement said that the BBS had no right to disrupt a press conference as in a democracy anyone has a right to hold press briefing to express their views.

Sri Lanka to request foreign governments to take action against the designated Tamil diaspora groups and individuals

Tamil Diaspora , Germany
(kniestphotography)

'Legal redress for 423 designated for terror link in Lanka' -  Press Trust of India   

Sri Lankan military today said legal redress would be available for 423 individuals, including 32 Sri Lankans currently residing in India, designated as financiers of terrorism in the country. Sri Lanka last week banned LTTE and 15 other key Tamil diaspora groups for their alleged terror links and prohibited its nationals from making any contacts with them. Some 423 individuals, including 32 Sri Lankans presently residing in India, were listed as members of the banned LTTE offshoots and as financiers of terrorism.

Women's group; Rebel suspects' families detained by Sri Lanka govt

Tamils protest arrests and disappearances ( photo: SLB source)

Associated Press / KRISHAN FRANCIS

A Sri Lankan women's rights group said Wednesday that the government is arresting innocent female relatives of males it suspects are trying to revive the Tamil Tiger rebel group and the women are suffering from ill treatment. Women's Action Network described the cases of six women it says were arrested from the north and east, the former civil war zone, because authorities suspect their male associates or family members have rebel links. The group's statement said the Criminal Investigation Department has detained the women in inhuman conditions as some are elderly or need medical and psychiatric care but are being denied those facilities.

Sri Lanka: UNP wants govt. to cooperate with UN probe

OHCHR is empowered to investigate SL

The UNP yesterday warned the government not to shun UN human rights probe. The government would have to face dire consequences unless it faced the proposed investigation, UNP Kandy District MP Lakshman Kirielle told Parliament yesterday.

Kiriella said that the government should cooperate with the proposed international investigation and should prove that the charges against it were baseless.

Sri Lanka: UPFA candidates who lost in recent elections To receive government appointments

UPFA campaign logo

It is reported that plans are afoot to appoint a group of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates who lost in the recent Southern and Western Provincial Council elections to posts of chairpersons, directors and advisors in ministries, government corporations and other establishments.

Sri Lanka: Massive supplementary allocation sought for bullet proof vehicles

The Presidential Secretariat has sought the approval of parliament for a Rs. 206,464,210 supplementary allocation to purchase bullet proof vehicles for security purposes of VVIPs.

The supplementary estimate was presented to Parliament yesterday by Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Lakbima editor Saman Wagaarachchi questioned by CID over a photo caption re Defence sec Rajapaksha's wife

Wagaarachchi

SLB

Editor of the Lakbima newspaper Saman Wagaarachchi is being questioned at the Criminal Investigation Devision of the Sri Lanka Police over a  photo caption in his news paper. The photo in quesion shows the wife of powerful Defence Secrataty's wife Ayoma Rajapaksha byuing at military  stall of a new year market. The photo appered on page 8 of the 7 April issue of the news paper .

Extremist Bodu Bala Sena invade a muti religious press con and forced to abandon it

BBS leader Gnanasara in threatening mood

Bala Senas clash, reconcile & depart   by Neth FM

A media briefing held by an organisation named 'Jathika Balasena' fell through amid the intervention of the Bodu Bala Sena organisation this morning (April 09). In a statement signed by Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thero, the 'Jathika Balasena' had said that the media briefing was convened against racist organisations rising in the country. Journalists had arrived to cover the media briefing, when it was stormed by the BBS, resulting in a heated situation. The 'Jathika Balasena' had brought in a group of Muslim nationals for the media briefing. However, they had left the venue under the above backdrop.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa plan to relocate between 280,000 to over 500,000 people form Colombo in next few years

Slave Island residents after the demolition of their homes,
February 2014 ( Cover photograph by Megara Tegal)

''Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, now presiding over urban development in Sri Lanka, has repeatedly stressed that his goal is to transform Colombo into a slum-free, “world-class”, “garden city”; a "preferred destination for international business and tourism."  This is what the UDA’s Urban Regeneration Project (URP) seeks to realise. While full details of the URP have never been officially made public, it is fast becoming clear that it entails the forced relocation of thousands of poor and lower-middle income families across the city. Official estimates of the number of families to be relocated over next few years vary from “nearly 70,000” to 135,000. Assuming an average urban household size of 4.2 , this implies the relocation of anywhere between 280,000 to over 500,000 people, the scale and complexity of which presents wide ranging social and economic risks''

Forced evictions in Colombo: The ugly price of beautification by Centre for Policy Alternatives

The Muslim community writes to President: Ensure that the rule of law prevails and extremist groups are prevented from taking the law into their hands

Muslim girls take the learning at a war-torn
classroom in Mutur ( Photo: www.qsakamaki.com)

'' The Muslim Civil Society feels that these charges are levelled with racial intentions. We feel that this rhetoric will lead to the derailing of what little assistance is being delivered to Northern Muslims. We would therefore be most grateful if Your Excellency would set up a mechanism to inquire into the resettlement process of the Northern Muslim community and ensure that all Muslim IDPs expelled by the LTTE who have been languishing in camps for over 23 years are resettled immediately.
The Muslim community also requests your Excellency to ensure that the rule of law prevails and extremist groups are prevented from taking the law into their hands and intimidating innocent citizens of this country.''

Sri Lanka:Petition against ITAK, the electoral vehicle of the Tamil National Alliance filed in Supreme Court

TNA talking to press at HRC 25 (© s.deshapriya)

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court yesterday, challenging the constitutionality of the Ilankai Tamil Arusu Kachchi (ITAK), the electoral vehicle of the Tamil National Alliance, under the controversial 6th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The petitioner prayed Court to declare that ITAK is a political party, which has the establishment of a separate state, within the territory of Sri Lanka, as one of its aims and objects.

The 6th Amendment to the Constitution passed by the J.R. Jayewardene administration, resulted in the vacation of Parliament seats by the Tamil United Liberation Front, which was until then the de facto Opposition in the then Parliament.

Sri Lanka: Northern newspapers asked to take cricket win as lead news by the military

The military has requested newspapers in the Northern region to publish the victory of the T20 World Cup as their lead story, the 'Global Sinhala News' reports. With Sunday's victory, shots have been fired into the air from North military camps in celebration, the website adds. A military officer has phoned newspaper officers in the area, requesting to take up the story as the publications' lead. It further say that the military has taken in charge of today's celebrations in the Northern region.

GTN/SLM

Sri Lanka: Muslims raise concerns over Bodu Bala Sena

Defence Sec Rajapaksha with BBS

Muslim organizations in Sri Lanka have once against raised concerns over the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS)  and comments they continue to make on Muslim related issues.

In a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a copy which was made available to the media, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Jamath-e-Islamia, the All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama and 12 other Muslim organizations noted that the BBS  has been inciting hatred against Muslims for some time now.

Sri Lanka: A modern version of McCarthyism.; Asset Freeze Threatens Peaceful Dissent

Overbroad Anti-Terror Law Targets 16 Tamil Diaspora Groups

The Sri Lankan government is using vague counterterrorism regulations to tie the major diaspora Tamil groups to the ruthless but defunct LTTE. This broad-brush sanction could then be used to punish local Tamil activists and politicians with international ties. - Brad Adams, Asia director

The Sri Lankan government’s decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country’s Tamil minority, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should provide evidence of the unlawful activity of specific groups and individuals or remove them from the list.

Sri Lanka Govt. warns against testifying before UNHRC inquiry

Will Ananthi Sasitharan, the wife of  one of the
surrendered and disapperard LTTE leaders be allowed
to testify? (© Photo sunanda deshapriya)

The government yesterday warned that legal action would be taken against those who testify before UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneetham Pillay's Commission, if it is established that their testimony is infringing the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Cabinet Spokesperson and the Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella said that legal action 'would only be taken' against such individuals if they are found to have infringed the country's Constitution. "We will take legal action against anyone who testifies before this commission, if the evidence submitted by them is in violation of the country's Constitution" he said.

​India refuses to rock Sri Lanka’s boat on human rights issues, but for how long? - Russian state TV

HRC 25th session in progress ( US mission GVA prhto)

India has managed to negotiate a dangerous curve in its relations with Sri Lanka, a crucial Indian backyard where China and Pakistan have steadily enlarged their strategic footprints in recent years.

As the closest neighbor, with thousands of years of relations with Sri Lanka, India cannot remain untouched by developments in that country.  India abstained from voting at the United Nation’s Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) on March 27 on a resolution to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. The resolution essentially sought to put Sri Lanka under a highly intrusive external investigative mechanism, with an open-ended mandate to monitor national processes for protection of human rights in the country.

Sri Lanka refuses cooperation with UN-backed probe

Voting for the resolution

BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI  (AP) 

Sri Lanka's foreign minister said Monday that his country will not cooperate with the United Nations human rights chief when she begins an investigation into alleged crimes from the island nation's civil war.

Gamini Lakshman Peiris said that Sri Lanka does not accept the authority of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to conduct an investigation. He said such an investigation will not be fair and objective because Pillay has a prejudged mind.

"Sri Lanka will not be participating in the inquiry. We don't accept this inquiry and we will not be part of it," Peiris told a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Association.

32 Lankans living in India on the list of banned LTTE remnants

Thirty two Sri Lankans currently residing in India are among 422 individuals named by the Sri Lankan government as members of the banned LTTE offshoots. Sri Lanka last week banned LTTE and 15 other Tamil diaspora groups for their alleged terror links and prohibited its nationals from making any contacts with them. Some 422 individuals, including 32 people presently residing in India, were named in the Sri Lankan government gazette dated March 21.

Tough questions to Government of Sri Lanka from UN Human Rights Committee

Click here to see the interactive map

United Nations Human Rights Committee has requested the Government of Sri Lanka to provide answers to wide ranging set of questions with regard to the human rights situation in the country. The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State parties.

The review of Sri Lanka situation will takes place in October 2014.Some of the issues raised in the questionnaire are follows:  

concerns raised by several UN human rights mechanisms about the 18th Constitutional Amendment of 2010, which eliminated the Constitutional Council and empowered the President to make direct appointments; measures taken to ensure the rights of victims of human rights violations to timely, prompt and effective remedies? Does the State party envisage accepting international assistance to resolve outstanding cases of serious human rights violations?; implementation of  recommendations by the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka;  

Crimes cannot be committed behind the façade of sovereignty: International investigation will go ahead - Dr.Nimalka Fernando

It is apparent, a former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka is of the view like some politicos of the government that the resolution passed by the Geneva Human rights council (HRC) should not be allowed to be implemented within Sri Lanka. This is a most strange stance. Five years have elapsed since the war ended. Still no independent investigation had been conducted into the human rights (HR) violations during the war. There are no signs too of such an investigation. In such circumstances , how can it be said an international investigation is not the right thing? If an investigation is not being conducted locally within the country, is it wrong to conduct an investigation from outside ?

Early progress on devolution crucial to Sri Lanka: Indian envoy

Y.K. Sinha. File photo: V. Sudershan

“India considers early progress on devolution and a political settlement as being crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure,” High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha, said, a week after India abstained from voting on the U.S.-backed resolution in Geneva.

Early resumption of dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) – which runs the Northern Provincial Council – is the key, and the Sri Lankan government should create conditions conducive to resumption of dialogue, he said, addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association here on Friday.

Sri Lanka Gazette notice proscribes over 400 Tamil diaspora individuals and Diaspora organisations.

The Gazette notification printed on Friday by the Government Printer, containing the order issued by the Government to proscribe groups operating overseas with alleged LTTE links, has listed 424 individuals and Diaspora organisations.

The Government had last week announced that 16 groups had been listed under a UN Security Council resolution but the Gazette notification seen by the Colombo Gazette shows a list of over 400 people including individuals living in countries like Denmark, Germany, Finland, etc.

The Gazette also mentions individuals and organizations with alleged links to the Taliban and Al Qaida, two internationally known terrorist outfits.

The logic of the ban :How the proscription of 16 Tamil diaspora groups will be felt locally and internationally

Diaspora supported TNA

Ranga Jayasuria
The government this week banned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and 15 other Tamil Diaspora organizations under the UN Security Council Resolution 1373, which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and terrorist financing.

Sixteen groups were designated as terrorist groups and front organizations in an order signed by the External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris and a gazette notification is expected to be issued to that effect in the near future. Customarily, it is the President who is also the Minister of Defence who has authority to designate terrorist groups.