Month: June 2020

The United Kingdom (UK) raised the accountability and reconciliation issue during talks with Sri Lanka. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the UK Minister of State (Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth) and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict said that he discussed justice, accountability and reconciliation during a call with Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. “I look forward… Continue reading "UK raises accountability and reconciliation issue with Sri Lanka"

In a win for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court has ruled immigrants seeking asylum cannot appeal decisions made earlier in the process in federal court, the One America News Network reported. A 7-2 vote by the court Thursday decided those who fail their initial asylum screenings will not be able to call for a review of the decision before… Continue reading "US Supreme Court rules against Sri Lankan asylum seeker"

The United Nations (UN) has called for an investigation into child soldier recruitment by former LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna Amman. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet tweeted saying it took note that former LTTE commander and Government Minister Amman is being questioned for alleged past crimes. The UN Human Rights office said that Karuna… Continue reading "UN Bachelet calls for probe on child soldier recruitment by Karuna"

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka It was hardly a textbook example of the “correct handling of contradictions” (Mao). Future historians may conclude that the achievable dream of the 21st century as an Asian Age in a multipolar world order, died in mid-June 2020 in the Himalayas, in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. The ferocious and lamentable clash between India and China with… Continue reading "If the Incumbent Lankan Regime with its ‘Asiatic Authoritarian-militarist mode’ is Perceived by India and the US as having Transitioned to a category of China’s “most favoured” States Like Pakistan,Cambodia and Myanmar the Consequences could be Unfavourable."

New York) – The Sri Lankan authorities should stop targeting, intimidating, and harassing journalist and woman human rights defender, Dharisha Bastians, and her family. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Front Line Defenders condemn this assault on human rights and press freedom in Sri Lanka and call on the Sri Lanka Police to immediately… Continue reading "Sri Lanka: End Persecution of Journalist"

An officer attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) is currently under interrogation of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Police Media Spokesman said. The officer in question is being investigated over allegations of maintaining links with drug traffickers. Reportedly, he had resold a stock of heroin, which was to be handed over to the PNB, back to drug dealers.… Continue reading "PNB officer interrogated over links with drug traffickers"

The gallantry of the soldiers is held in high esteem by the Sinhala majority community UNP national organiser Navin Dissanayake even called for the appointment of presidential commission to probe his remarks His popularity waned further after he made critical remarks of His Eminence Cardinal Malcom Ranjith at an SJB election rally in Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa this week In an era… Continue reading "Karuna, Harin miscalculate their remarks"

ECONOMYNEXT – The Constitutional Council is calling for the National Police Commission’s (NPC) observations on a letter sent to the Commission by the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge challenging the appointment of the new Director of the Criminal Investigation Department. A Press Release issued by the Parliamentary office said that former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as Chairman of the Constitutional… Continue reading "Ahimsa’s objections on CID Director’s appointment; Constitutional Council wants NPC’s observations"

Ven Athuraliye Ratana Thera, Gampaha district candidate of Ape Jana Bala Pakshya yesterday said that the US embassy in Sri Lanka called for the procurement process of the Millenium Challenge Corporation agreement through its website. Ratana Thera questioned whether this was done with the approval of the government of Sri Lanka or ignoring the fact that Sri Lanka was a… Continue reading "Rathana thera raises many a sinister doubt about the govt vis-à-vis US MCC"

Controversy surrounds the failure on the part of the banking system to detect highly irregular large scale transactions carried out by drug kingpins over a period of time.  Recent arrest of two persons, separately, allegedly involved in narcotics trade revealed the existence two such accounts in different banks.  According to police headquarters, one account had recorded transactions to the tune… Continue reading "Underworld continues to use banking system to carry out illegal fund transfers"

Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, who headed a high level government inquiry into the proposed finalisation of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement yesterday (25) told President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the previous yahapalana administration and the US had signed two agreements in 2017 and 2018 as regards two phases of the project. Prof. Gunaruwan said that though Sri Lanka received USD 7.4 and USD 2.6… Continue reading "Yahapalana government signed two agreements, received USD 10 mn … supporting documents not available"

Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka said in open court that officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had attempted to show photographs of Hejaaz Hizbullah at his chambers prior to the recording of statements from two children. When the matter was taken up before Dissanayake on 24 June, he told Hizbullah’s lawyers that prior to the recording of the statements from… Continue reading "CID attempted to show photograph of Hejaaz to children before ID parade: Fort Magistrate"

Two weeks ago we had The Island cartoonist Jeffrey having ex-Prez Sirisena moving stealthily forwards with a sack thrown over his shoulder. He was on a Santa gifting mode proceeding to his father’s adopted home and therefore his, and come August 2020 his electorate. So he was going to address voters if not en masse at least in small groups… Continue reading "Ex Prez Maithiri was stopped in his tracks by the Election Commission"

By Kamal Mahendra Weeraratne The Court of Appeal, yesterday (24), enlarged on bail, former Negombo Deputy Mayor Royce Fernando who had been in remand from March 2019 on charges that he had abducted a well-known businessman who had been dining at a hotel in Negombo with his Chinese girlfriend and also robbing Rs 5 million and a vehicle. The Court… Continue reading "Abduction and robbery: Ex-Dy Mayor allowed bail"

During the war we dealt very effectively with the various instruments in Geneva relating to Human Rights. There are in effect four separate types of these, and it is important to distinguish between them, to work out what motivates them, and to deal accordingly. We need to distinguish between friends and foes, we need to deploy our friends to deal… Continue reading "Foreign Funds, Friends & Foes: The Forces In Geneva"

Former minister Mangala Samaraweera says he is impressed by former parliamentarian Harin Fernando and praised the ‘courage of his convictions’. “I am very impressed by Harin F who has the courage of his convictions to challenge the hypocrisy of sections of the Catholic Church who seems to have forged an unholy alliance with the extremist Buddhist clergy supporting this majoritarian/facist… Continue reading "Mangala ‘impressed’ by Harin’s courage"

There have been many challenges that the world has experienced in the last hundred years. Starting from the great pandemic in the 1920’s, The Vietnam War in the 1970’s and the attack on the WTC in 2001.  Sri Lanka in particular had to achieve the crushing of the LTTE In 2009 and the Easter attack in 2019 – yet Sri… Continue reading "11 ways a Lankan Consumer has changed: Post COVID-19"

By Paneetha Ameresekere Repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was a commitment made by Sri Lanka to the European Union (EU) in the lead-up to Sri Lanka’s readmission to the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) as well as to the UN Human Rights Council in April 2019, the EU in its ‘Human Rights Report 2019’ released recently said. Despite… Continue reading "Repealing PTA, regaining GSP+, connected – EU"

Former United National Party Member of Parliament Harin Fernando said that it was the Archbishop of Colombo who deprived UNP candidate Sajith Premadasa of votes during the last Presidential Election. He made this statement at a Samagi Jana Balavegaya meeting held in Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa.  He added that if 5% of the number of votes received by Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to… Continue reading "Archbishop of Colombo helped Gotha Win."

ECONOMYNEXT- The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is distancing itself from its former ally Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan the LTTE leader better known by his nom-de-guerre Karuna Amman. This is after the former Eastern Commander of the LTTE controversially boasted he had been part of the attack on the Army at Muhamalai that killed between 2,000 and 3,000 soldiers. In fact the… Continue reading "Karuna was the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party."

Former Deputy Minister Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman had challenged the rule of law in Sri Lanka by stating that he had killed 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers in Elephant Pass and another 2,000 in Kilinochchi, former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said. “We vehemently condemn this statement made by Karuna Amman,” Mr. Wijewardene said. “People such as these talk… Continue reading "We vehemently condemn Karuna’s statement says State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene"

Former Deputy Minister Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman had challenged the rule of law in Sri Lanka by stating that he had killed 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers in Elephant Pass and another 2,000 in Kilinochchi, former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said. “We vehemently condemn this statement made by Karuna Amman,” Mr. Wijewardene said. “People such as these talk… Continue reading "Karuna support Gotha in the South but talk of killing Sri Lankan soldiers in North."

People should decide on August 5 whether they are going to safeguard the independent commissions or whether they are going to allow the establishment of a dictatorial state, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. Speaking during a meeting he had with the members of National Lawyers’ Association at Sirikotha yesterday Mr. Wickremesinghe said people should use their vote at… Continue reading "People should vote to stop SLPP forming a dictatorial state: Ranil"

April 2019 Easter Bombings Investigation now focusing on financial networks connected to suicide bombers with role of foreign groups being Suspected; 200 suspects so far arrested By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s probe into the April 2019 Easter terror bombings is in its “final stages”, authorities have said, while raising suspicion that the suicide bombers were funded by “two foreign outfits”.… Continue reading "suicide bombers were funded by “two foreign outfits”."

An open letter to Prime Minister from former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera President’s accusations to CBSL officials have no basis and suggest he is unable to cope with the demands and strain of his great office My dear Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, The hysterical manner in which your brother, the President, acted last week in blaming the Central Bank for… Continue reading "Gota’s Accusations To CBSL Officials Have No Basis & Suggest He Is Unable To Cope With The Demands & Strain Of His Great Office: Mangala"

https://www.lankanewsweb.net/67-general-news/63872-Open-letter-to-Narendra-Modi-and-other-Indian-politicians Open letter to Narendra Modi and other Indian politicians By S. V. KIRUPAharan, France Dear Mr. Prime Minister Narendra Modi I am writing this letter concerning Tamil people in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka, which has been the hereditary land of the Tamils for thousands of years, known as Tamil Eelam. Of course, I am writing this… Continue reading "Open letter to Narendra Modi and other Indian politician"

A new Constitution would be necessary for Tamil aspirations only if these envisage a fundamental change beyond the 13th Amendment and/or in the unitary character of the state. The assumption that such drastic transformation is possible through the Prime Minister, who when he was President could/would not entertain any such possibility, and a President surrounded by fanatically anti-devolution Buddhist clergy… Continue reading "The TNA and the Tamil political imagination today"

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday (17) warned of dire consequences unless the local fishing community adhered to strict guidelines now in place to prevent a second corona outbreak. Minister Devananda cautioned the fishing community against having any contacts with Indian fishermen as well as their relatives in India. Leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Devananda… Continue reading "Devananda urges fishermen to beware of Indian poachers, relatives there"

The daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has today urged the National Police Commission to remove the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department. Writing to the Chairman and Members of the National Police Commission, Ahimsa Wickrematunga said: “I request that the NPC urgently take steps to remove SSP Alwis from any role at the CID and to ensure that the CID arrests Alwis and produces… Continue reading "Arrests CID Chief: Ahimsa Urges Police Commission"

At a meeting held with estate owners, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and plantation sector stakeholders today, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed that estate owners should arrive at a final decision on the demands of the workers without further delay. According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the estate workers have failed to arrive at an agreement on the demands… Continue reading "PM wants estate owners to reach final decision soon"

Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne has visited Jaffna to review the security situation and the military’s support to mitigate the spread of coronavirus outbreak in the North, today. The high-level defence delegation, including acting Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander Lt. Gen.  Shavendra Silva, who is the Head of the National Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak,… Continue reading "Defence Secretary visits Jaffna to review security situation"

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is denying reports that it will sign a controversial grant agreement with the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation after the August Parliamentary General Election. Media Minister Bandula Gunewardena said reports that have appeared in the local media are untrue. Opposition to the agreement known as the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) was a vital plank in the… Continue reading "Sri Lanka denies it will sign MCC deal after the elections; contradicts recent reports"