The Foreign Secretary, a former Navy Commander, spoke to The Hindu on Sri Lanka’s prospects at the ongoing session in Geneva, Indo-Lanka relations, Colombo’s broader foreign policy choices, and strategy for reconciliation from “within”, and regional cooperation. Sri Lanka, Mr. Colombage said, would be “very uncomfortable” if countries in the region did not extend support in Geneva. He expressed hope… Continue reading "Support us or? Sri Lanka attempting “to play Pakistan Vs India”"

More Sri Lanka Army personnel are involved in transporting drugs from the South of the country to Colombo, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) said.  A Senior PNB Officer noted preparations are underway to arrest a Corporal of the Army connected to this drug smuggling ring. This information was revealed when questioning a Lance Corporal, who was arrested by the Panadura Anti-Vice… Continue reading "More Army men involved in narcotics racket"

Foreign Minister Gunawardena said, 21 countries have spoken in favour of Sri Lanka at the UNHRC so far, and that is an achievement.  However, the Sri Lankan Government wants the UK-led Core Group’s resolution completely revoked.  He also said the US has also posed questions to the UNHRC. He added the resolution on Sri Lanka is not fair.  The UNHRC… Continue reading "21 countries (Russia, China, Pakistan ..)have spoken in favour of Sri Lanka at the UNHRC so far, and that is an achievement."

He then noted that India’s position rested on two pillars. The first was support for Sri Lanka’s unity and territorial integrity. Commitment to Sri Lankan Tamils’ aspirations for “equality, justice, peace and dignity” was the second pillar, said the Indian diplomat.  India declared that these were “not either-or choices”. “We believe that respecting the rights of the Tamil community, including… Continue reading "In Geneva, India Signals to Sri Lanka that Support in UNHRC Is Not a Given"

By Ranjith C. Perera – Ranjith C. Perera Most countries when confronted with human right violations in their countries they hide behind the ‘sovereignty’ principle of the UNHRC. Most recent case is the report on human rights violations by the Sri Lankan government. Besides the human rights questions related to 30 year civil war, 2021 preliminary report sent to Sri Lanka, it is… Continue reading "UNHCR Should Focus On The Sovereignty Of The Oppressed Not Of The Oppressors"

However Sri Lanka’s ambassador took the floor in support of Eritrea. Candauda Chandraprema said the Council should limit its interventions to the Universal Periodic Review, a once in four years review of each UN country. Sri Lanka criticized country specific actions on Eritrea and called on the UN not to interfere into internal affairs of countries. Eritrea’s government remains one… Continue reading "Lanka’s (Executioner) Ambassador In Geneva Set To Align With World’s Worst Human Rights Violators"

The United Nations Human Rights Council is in session and Sri Lanka is among the countries that have come before its scanner. It is a slur on Sri Lanka’s reputation when it is being lumped together with big time human rights violators such as Israel, Syria and North Korea, with member-state after member-state taking the floor to act like prosecutor, the… Continue reading "UNHRC sessions: What Lanka should have done"

In 2009, Amnesty International published a book titled “Twenty Years of Make-Believe – Sri Lanka’s Commissions of Inquiry” which was highly critical of the incumbent and past governments of the country for their handling of human rights. And as the very title of the book suggests the Amnesty International decried the intention of past governments of Sri Lanka in appointing… Continue reading "UNHRC sessions: What Lanka should have done"

China has commended the government of Sri Lanka for its efforts to actively promote and protect human rights, advance sustainable economic and social development, improve people’s living standard, protect the rights of the vulnerable groups, advance national reconciliation and combat terrorism. Chinese Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador CHEN Xu extended China’s strong support to Sri Lanka in his official statement… Continue reading "SL has Human Rights standard of China"

United States has urged Sri Lanka to make public a strategy and timetable for the implementation of recommendations in the report compiled by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. Daniel Kronenfeld of the US mission in Geneva informed the UN Human Rights Council that the United States shares the concerns of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner… Continue reading "US calls for strategy & timetable to implement OHCHR report’s recommendations on SL"

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is to implement recommendations in a report tabled at the UN Human Rights Council, despite objections raised by Sri Lanka. The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-nashif said that the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, which was formally tabled at… Continue reading "UN to act on report despite objections"

PRINCE CHARLES, 72, has been all over the world on behalf of the Royal Family. Not all royal visits have gone smoothly, however, with a state visit to Sri Lanka proving very chaotic indeed, as one author detailed. “‘Have you got your bullet-proof vests?’ he joked to the accompanying press pack (some of whom actually had). “No sooner had the… Continue reading "Prince Charles ‘nearly drew blood’ laughing in Sri Lanka & was taken to underpant factory"

by Dr Nirmala Chandrahasan For some time now the Tamil political parties and the Tamil polity have been looking to the international community to settle their problems. Thus much reliance has been placed on the Human Rights Council’s resolutions and the Geneva processes. Although this is one avenue it is not the only one. The international processes are also dependant… Continue reading "Tamil politics is taking a new direction- The Pottuvil to Polikandi pada yatra"

President Rajapaksa’s Office Strongly Denies Allegation by Ex- US Ambassador for War Crimes and Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp that Gotabaya as Def Secy had admitted to Killing LTTE Surrendees saying ““I killed them, I killed them, I killed them,” “I Killed Them, I Killed Them”: Ex-US War Crimes Ambassador Says Gota Told Him About Surrendering LTTE Leaders Former US… Continue reading "Who is Lying? SL President or US Ambassador?"

By Kumar David – Prof. Kuma David Within five days of your reading this the UNHRC Sessions will commence in Geneva. It is still not certain how the battle-lines on the Sri Lanka confrontation will unfold. Thinking, at this moment seems to be that the Core Group (UK, Canada, Germany and two small nations) will table a tough resolution on the lines… Continue reading "What If There Is A Showdown In Geneva?"

Prof Rohan Gunaratna’s bottom-line can be credibly taken as the Gotabaya presidency’s bottom-line: “After the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, Sri Lankans are unwilling to devolve land, police and financial powers to the provinces.” Police powers are controversial and can be introduced in phases, linked to the behavior of the Provincial Council, but what meaning can devolution… Continue reading "Post-P2P, Pre-Geneva: The GR Regime’s Zero-Option Offer To The Tamils"

The Government yesterday said it will not backtrack on a decision to give three renewable power projects to Chinese companies, despite disapproval expressed by India.  Cabinet Co-Spokesman Udaya Gammanpila told the weekly briefing that Power Minister Dullas Allahaperuma had not presented an alternative proposal requesting a change.  “Therefore, the previous decision of the Cabinet stands. There has been no change,”… Continue reading "SL will not backtrack on a decision to give three renewable power projects to China"

GoSL and Core Group to go separate ways Gaps in GoSL needs and Core Group hopes: Sumanthiran The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the “Core Group of Countries for Sri Lanka” are likely to go on divergent paths at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Session in Geneva, with all signs pointing to a home-grown resolution by Sri… Continue reading "SL to tender home-grown resolution that will never grow."

By Bipin Dani Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara’s centuries at Lords, will be part of the Lord’s Father Time Wall that will celebrate the 100 greatest milestones at the grounds.  “In terms of Sri Lankan achievements, Kumar Sangakkara scoring Test and One-Day International centuries at Lord’s within a fortnight (2014) is included”, Adam Matthews, the Media and Communications Officer… Continue reading "Sangakkara’s Lord’s centuries to be celebrated on Father Time Wall"

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has all but become a colony of China and trade unionists and others who vehemently opposed a recent deal with India haven’t said a word in protest, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said. Speaking to the privately owned NewsFirst network yesterday at a ceremony marking the death anniversary of her late husband Vijaya Kumaratunga, the former… Continue reading "Sri Lanka all but Chinese colony"

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has lifted a restriction for travellers originating from the United Kingdom subject to 14 day quarantine, the Foreign Ministry said. “The temporary travel restriction introduced by the Government on travels originating from the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka on account of the new Covid -19 Variant in the UK has been lifted with immediate effect,” “At… Continue reading "Sri Lanka lifts travel restriction from UK, tourists also allowed"

Former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the Sri Lankan government has made clear it has no serious intention of pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s civil war that ended in 2009, and that as a result, the U.N. Human Rights Council must act. Successive high commissioners have made increasingly strong statements… Continue reading "Former UN High Commissioner Pillay Says It’s Time for the Human Rights Council to Act on Sri Lanka"

Jaffna District TNA lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, has argued that Sri Lanka is incapable and unwilling to deliver justice through domestic mechanisms, and there has to be international pressure. The MP said so at a webinar with former top UN and US officials and Sri Lankan participants called for a strong UNHRC resolution at the 46th sessions scheduled to commence on… Continue reading "Sumanthiran, former HRCSL Commissioner, press for int’l intervention"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today noted the commitment of his Government to address concerns of Sri Lankan Tamils. He said that India was always committed to ensuring Tamils in Sri Lanka live with equality, justice peace and dignity. The Indian Prime Minister made the remarks while speaking in Chennai today. “Our Government has always taken care of the welfare… Continue reading "Modi notes commitment to address concerns of Sri Lankan Tamils"

S. V. KIRUPAharan, France  11 October 2018  “It’s not a mistake to make a mistake, but it is a mistake to repeat the mistake.”   During the 39th session of the Human Rights Council – HRC, on 14 September 2018, I listened to the right to reply by UN member States. In the HRC, the right to reply means a… Continue reading "India may regret sooner or later!"

The Stupid 4 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress party MP’s who were taken for a ride by the Rajapakshes false promises are now regretting for voting in favour of 20th amendment. One of the promises was that they will grant permission to bury Muslim nationals who die of Covid which to date has not materialised. Pakistam PM Imran Khan will be… Continue reading "The 4 Muslim MP’s who was fooled by Rajapakshes."

Former US Ambassador at Large for War Crimes and Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp recalled during a webinar on Friday (12) that then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had admitted to killing LTTE leaders after they surrendered to the military in 2009 instead of putting them on trial. Speaking at an online panel discussion on Justice and rule of law Rapp said he remembered a… Continue reading "“I Killed Them, I Killed Them”: Ex-US War Crimes Ambassador Says Gota Told Him About Surrendering LTTE Leaders"

Sri Lanka has hit back at the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s latest report calling for targeted sanctions, saying it is based on “speculative, presumptive and unsubstantiated opinions.” It came in a 30-page response to her report which called for targeted sanctions — asset freezes, travel bans and the reference to International Criminal Court of those responsible… Continue reading "Lanka bluntly writes off UN Human Rights Chief’s report"

By C.V. Wigneswaran –  Justice C.V. Wigneswaran MP Someone asked me: Hon’ Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has used the word “Genocide” in Parliament yesterday. Both Government and Opposition MPs objected to such a strong word being used. As a Lawyer, Law Lecturer, Judge and Politician what have you to say?  My response was: Due to logistical reasons I could not attend Parliament yesterday. Otherwise I would… Continue reading "Today Is The Sixth Anniversary Of Genocide Resolution"

In fact, by this, it is only a shade less intrusive than co-sponsorship of 30/1 as was done in 2015. Is it prudent to go down the road of supporting a consensual resolution? Of course, the proponents of the resolution would fervently work towards a consensual text, as they would be able to sell it to other members of the… Continue reading ""

COLOMBO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) — China has helped Sri Lanka in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the island country now looks forward to furthering its ties with China in order to recover from the pandemic, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Colombage said 2021 will be a very challenging year… Continue reading "Sri Lanka looks forward to furthering ties with China in 2021: official"

(Lanka-e-News -13.Feb.2021, 11.30PM) The junta government of the Gotabaya-Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Rajapaksa family, which came to power swearing not to sell the country, has made all arrangements to sell 21 state-owned tea estates to China, reports Lanka e News. Who is this Fujian . .? As a first step, the government is announcing that the Sri Lanka Tea Board has signed… Continue reading "21 valuable tea estates owned by the government given to China..! Here are the conspiracy of the incredible deal..!"