Month: January 2021

Govt. sends 20-page response to UNHR HC’s observations  UK and US to closely review UNHRC report on Sri Lanka  Ready to visit some provisions of PTA, Sri Lanka tells EU  Moragoda’s nomination as SL Envoy to India still stands Sri Lanka’s political arena these days is dominated by two topics – the impending United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions… Continue reading "Govt. yet undecided on consensual resolution at UNHRC"

In an unprecedented development, the UN Commissioner, in her report, has called on member nations to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) while going on to recommend targeted sanctions on individuals, including punitive action such as travel bans and freezing of assets. It is to be noted that the UN Commissioner’s call to refer Sri Lanka to… Continue reading "UNHRC’s Sword of Damocles"

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage The government’s promise to increase the daily wage of the plantation workers to Rs. 1,000 would not be fulfilled, Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Duminda Nagamuwa told The Island yesterday. Nagamuwa said that in 2020 the government had issued four gazettes announcing price controls, which were ignored by large scale rice mill owners. “This is also… Continue reading "FSP blasts govt’s failure to deliver on its promise"

President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa (NGR) and his Government’s nonchalance regarding the United Nations Human Rights Council report on Sri Lanka, which was a confidential document but released prematurely by the Foreign Minister to score political points, is typical of a regime trying to put up a brave face before succumbing to the inevitable.  NGR’s appointment of yet another commission to… Continue reading "Presidential Commission of Inquiry, human rights and Geneva sessions: What’s at stake?"

In Sri Lanka, this rhetoric of misleading the collective consciousness in order to gain power was going on over decades.  Bandaranaike created a false patriotism by nationalising privately held assets and businesses. This patriotism was reduced to providing employment in these businesses to the political supporters of the successive political parties. Eventually the government budget had to finance these loss-making… Continue reading "How sound is SriLanka’s collective consciousness?"

By Lalit K Jha    Washington, Jan 29 (PTI) The US has said that it is carefully reviewing a report from the UN on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation which highlights worrying trends such as deepening impunity, increasing militarisation of governmental functions, ethno-nationalist rhetoric and intimidation of the civil society over the past year.     The report urges enhanced monitoring and strong preventive… Continue reading "Carefully reviewing UN report on human rights situation in Sri Lanka US"

Disgraced former Chief Justice and Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s envoy to the United Nations in New York Mohan Pieris embarrassed himself and the Government of Sri Lanka in his very first address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday (28), accusing the Human Rights Council in Geneva of being a tool of terrorists. Mohan Pieris With the whole world in the chamber, Pieris also… Continue reading "Mohan Pieris Accuses UNHRC In Geneva Of Being Tool For ‘Vanquished Terrorists’; Suffers Rebuke From UN Secretary General"

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) will discuss the serious human rights-related concerns raised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), led by Michelle Bachelet, once the government delegation to Geneva is finalised. HRCSL Chairperson Jagath Balasuriya told The Morning yesterday (28) that the HRCSL does not yet know as to who would comprise… Continue reading "Bachelet concerns: HRCSL to discuss with Govt. delegation"

Below is an excerpt from a presentation given by Shreen Saroor at the event Night of Ideas 2021 organized by the French Embassy on the topic “reconciliation in practice.” Our country is ethnically, religiously and linguistically diverse and our survival depends on equal treatment. Discrimination and violence against Tamils led to civil war and displacement. After the 2019 terrorist attacks, the government… Continue reading "Reconciliation in Practice"

Some eminent Buddhist monks such as Ven. Elle Gunawamsa Thera and Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera are among those who made the most incisive and hard hitting comments against the regime The U.S. has long advocated for what it called ‘free and open navigation’ in the Indo-pacific region.  India is a strategic alliance with the U.S. in this respect The U.S.… Continue reading "It’s natural for U.S. ambassador to stand for Indian involvement in ECT"

Breaching his own pledges to end nepotism in government President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Government recently delivered a bonanza of diplomatic posts to the sons, daughters and nephews of ministers and regime loyalists and in a shocking twist, the list includes the Dulmini Attanayake, the daughter of newly minted National Organizer of the main opposition SJB. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunge’s daughter Pavitra… Continue reading ""

By Chandra Jayaratne – Chandra Jayaratne Many in Civil Society are of opinion that the President, in keeping with the commitments of his successful election manifesto accepted by a majority of voting citizens and the pledges he reiterated upon the assumption of office and the inaugural address to the parliament, must ensure that the government led by him, including his cabinet and… Continue reading "A Lesson For Sri Lanka’s President From The Failed Trump Administration"

“Only God can save the Tamil people now” (Thamil Makkalai Inik Kadavul Thaan Kaappaatra Vaendum) was the anguished response of respected Sri Lankan Tamil political leader Samuel James Veluppilaai Chelvanayakam after the results of the 1970 Parliamentary Elections were known.  The United Front (UF) led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike had swept the polls with a two-thirds majority. The UF constituents –… Continue reading "Tamil parties unitedly escalate demands at UN in Geneva"

The jagged asymmetry in the treatment of Sunil Ratnayake and Hejaaz Hizbullah is the most telling symptom and best illustration of the state of human rights and justice in Sri Lanka today, as well as of the character of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime.  Ex-Army Sergeant Ratnayake, a Sinhala-Buddhist, was serving a sentence upheld by highest courts for the crime of… Continue reading "Storm is brewing at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the world’s Human Rights parliament?"

U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on states on Wednesday to impose “targeted sanctions” on former Sri Lankan military commanders implicated in alleged war crimes during the final years of a 26-year civil war that ended in 2009. “States can consider targeted sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans against credibly alleged perpetrators of grave human rights violations… Continue reading "U.N. rights boss calls for sanctions on some Sri Lankan ex-military"

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) must take urgent steps to address the worsening human rights situation in Sri Lanka Amnesty International said today, following the release of a damning UN report on the country’s efforts to ensure accountability for crimes committed during the civil conflict.  Almost 12 years on from the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the report, from the… Continue reading "Sri Lanka: UK must spearhead international push for justice following damning UN report"

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), at its upcoming session, should act on the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for human rights, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said today. HRW urged the council to adopt a new resolution to enhance scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation and pursue accountability for past and recent violations. In her report released on January 27, 2021,… Continue reading "UNHRC urged to adopt a new resolution on Sri Lanka"

By Sanja De Silva Jayatilleka –  Sanja De Silva Jayatilleka The UN Human Rights Council’s first session of the year 2021 to be held from 22nd February to 23rd March is the most important because it opens with the participation of member states at the Ministerial level, known as the High-Level Segment. Often, Foreign Ministers, Ministers of Human Rights, Justice Ministers and others of… Continue reading "What’s In Store In Geneva For The Sri Lankan Government"

A leaked copy of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) on political victimization reveals that it has been used to exonerate, white-wash and acquit without charge perpetrators of the most heinous crimes committed in Sri Lanka in the recent past and in many cases reward murderers, abductors, and money launderers with compensation by the state. The report, first leaked on… Continue reading "Full Text Of The Leaked Report: War Criminals, Murderers And Fraudsters Exonerated By Nandasena’s Political Victimisation Commission"

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole – Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole John Calvin wrote: “When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers”. The Bible also says in Jeremiah 23:19 “See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.” These are timely warnings as boasts are made of having killed… Continue reading "When God Wants To Judge A Nation, He Gives Them Wicked Rulers: Our Government & Tamils Should Take Note"

ByD.B.S.Jeyaraj An overwhelming feeling of relief has descended upon the world – not merely the US- after the Presidential elections of the United States of America ended. Joseph Robinette Biden jnr known as Joe Biden is the new US President-elect. Biden’s creditable, credible electoral triumph has ensured that decency, dignity and decorum will once again return to the Oval office… Continue reading "US Vice President – Elect Kamala Harris’s Key Sri Lankan Tamil Aide Rohini Lakshmi"

ByD.B.S.Jeyaraj “Only God can save the Tamil people now” (Thamil Makkalai Inik Kadavul Thaan Kaappaatra Vaendum) was the anguished response of respected Sri Lankan Tamil political leader Samuel James Veluppilaai Chelvanayakam after the results of the 1970 Parliamentary Elections were known. The United Front (UF) led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike had swept the polls with a two-thirds majority. The UF constituents… Continue reading "Feeling of Helplessness Under Gota’s Rule Makes Tamil Parties Close Ranks and Escalate Demands at UN in Geneva"

The first consignment of 500,000 doses of COVID–19 vaccines donated by the Government of India was officially received by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday, marking a breakthrough in the country’s fight against the pandemic that has gripped the world. The handover, following the arrival of the air freighted vaccine at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), was by the Indian High Commissioner… Continue reading "President Gotabaya Rajapaksa receives first batch of the 500,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVISHELD vaccine donated by India from Indian High Commissioner Dr.Gopal Baglay in “VaccineMaithri” Handover Ceremony at Katunayake airport"

Sri Lanka’s grim record is under scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, so the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has announced yet another internal inquiry. Foreign governments should not be swayed by this disingenuous attempt to avert urgently needed international action. There have been at least a dozen domestic commissions of inquiry during the decades of Sri Lanka’s civil war, often… Continue reading "Sri Lanka Seeks Diversion, Not Justice, Over Wartime Abuses"

Last week we wrote that it’s time for the Geneva Circus and that it would come with molehills and mountains. Well, now we have it all in a single document. The report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka is now in the public domain. A dismissing observation frequently used by high school debaters in another era… Continue reading "Government by, for and with the UNHRC or the people?"

No ex- president, prime minister, defence secretary or other Cabinet Minister of Sri Lanka has been prosecuted after his side lost an election – or maybe there were just one or two, forgive my ageing memory. Do you recall the blood curdling threats that the 2015 winners issued about crucifying oodles of thieves and gangsters of the previous regime Rajapaksa?… Continue reading "Why Are Political Blackguards So Often Not Prosecuted?"

The apolitical National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday that the failure on the part of the Government to explain the massive fraud of Rs. 10 billion that had allegedly taken place due to the cut in the sugar tax was a serious blow to the confidence that the people of this country had in the… Continue reading "Allegations About a Massive 10 Billion Rupee Sugar Tax Cut Fraud and the Govt’s Failure to Offer an Explanation"

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has expressed strong criticism of the prevailing human rights situation in Sri Lanka and urged member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider imposing punitive measures on the country including a referral to the International Criminal Court. The UN Human Rights Commissioner has also suggested that member… Continue reading "UNHRC;Proposes Referral to International Criminal Court, Invocation of Universal Jurisdiction for Crimes and Targeted Sanctions Such as Asset Freezes and Travel Bans Against Alleged Human Rights Violators"

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Douglas Devananda said that the people in the Trincomalee District should receive dividends of the development projects and thousands of jobs that are being provided under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Minister was speaking at the Local Industries Promotion Committee Progress Review Meeting at the Trincomalee Secretariat Auditorium recently. State Ministers Kanchana… Continue reading "All should get opportunities equally – Cries Tamil Minister Devananda"

Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (20) said that destruction of public property couldn’t be condoned under any circumstances. Taking part in the annual celebrations at the St. Sebastian’s church, Katuwapitiya, the scene of Easter Sunday carnage, two years ago, the Cardinal said he couldn’t be silenced by any power. Declaring that St. Sebastian hadn’t been scared… Continue reading "Government supporter Cardinal now says he cannot be silenced"

An LTTE suspect accused of a deadly bombing in Sri Lanka is to go on trial in Germany. The suspect is to appear in court in Düsseldorf, Germany after he claimed to have detonated a bomb when he was a teen, killing six people. The Düsseldorf Public Prosecutor’s Office in their indictment said that the LTTE suspect detonated a bomb remotely… Continue reading "LTTE suspect accused of deadly bombing in Sri Lanka to face trial in Germany"

India wants the 13th. Fine. If it is believed that repealing the 13th is out of order, then we could keep it but under a different provincial map The LLRC recommended devolution but interjected the important caveat, ‘agreeable to all communities,’ a caveat which those who gaily quote this element of the LLRC report happily leave out The number 13… Continue reading "Let’s go for 13 Plus"