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A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011
What few care to know: Challenges and opportunities in post-war Sri Lanka
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu speech from Centre for Policy Alternatives on Vimeo.
What few care to know: Challenges and opportunities in post-war Sri Lanka
Transcript of speech delivered by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu accepting the first Citizens Peace Award, 28 February 2011. Video of speech below.
Members of the Head Table, Venerable Sirs, Your Excellency President Kumaratunga and Friends,
Let me begin by thanking the National Peace Council for this inaugural Citizens’ Peace Award, which I accept in all humility. I am acutely conscious that the objective of peace, securing human rights protection and good governance cannot be achieved by the singular efforts of a single individual or similar acts by many – it is a continuous process, it is a struggle and it goes on and on, irrespective of the few high moments we celebrate. We have to recommit ourselves and steel ourselves to the challenge that lies ahead.
What few care to know: Challenges and opportunitFull Story>>>
Monday, March 7, 2011
TNA MPs vehicle comes under attack at Nochchiyagama
TNA MPs vehicle comes under attack at Nochchiyagama
The MP was returning from Jaffna to Colombo.
The MP escaped, but the vehicle had been damaged.
Police said they were investigating, but no arrests have been made.
TNA MPs vehicle comes under attack at Nochchiyagama
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TNA MP Sritharan narrowly escapes assassination in Anuradhapura
[TamilNet, Monday, 07 March 2011, 14:54 GMT]Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Vanni, S. Sritharan, narrowly escaped from a group of attackers who lobbed two hand grenade targeting his vehicle and fired at the vehicle using pistols from behind Monday evening around 6:00 p.m. at Nochchiyaagama in Anuradhapura, TNA parliamentarians told media. The parliamentarian was on his way to Colombo from Vavuniyaa when the attackers targeted his vehicle at Anuradhapura.
The armed men fled the site when the security guard of the parliamentarian opened fire in self-defense, the sources further said.
The MP has complained to the Sri Lankan Police hierarchy and has sought refuge at a secure place.
The assassination attempt on Mr. Sritharan comes 3 years after TNA MP for Vanni Mr. Sivanesan was assassinated in a targeted Claymore attack allegedly by Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) inside the then LTTE controlled Vanni. Full story >>
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Problem with Karma: Notes from the Conflict in Sri Lanka
Amarnath Amarasingam
Posted: March 4, 2011 09:02 PM
The Problem with Karma: Notes from the Conflict in Sri Lanka
Over the past month, there has been some speculation among members of the global Tamil community on whether Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Texas to obtain cancer treatment in secret. The story in itself is not particularly interesting, but it does have relevance for the post-conflict situation in Sri Lanka. Many reacted to the news not with sadness, but with a sense that cosmic justice was being meted out. Some argued that Rajapaksa, responsible for mass human rights violations during the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war, was now getting his just desserts. Although many nationalist Tamils profess to be atheist or secular, the reaction to the news was always framed in Hindu and Buddhist notions of karma, popularly defined in the West as "what goes around comes around."The Problem with Karma: Notes from the Conflict in Sri Lanka
Full Story>>>
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Ground Report India
Ground Report India
UN BAN’S CHALLENGE- DELHI ‘S CONSPIRACY TO KILL OFF SRI LANKA WAR CRIMES INITIATIVES
The Inner City Press reports (24th February and 3rd March) on the proceedings in the meetings that UN Ban had with Sri Lankan officials with war crimes record that the Ban’s ‘expert panel’ was to address distresses Eelam Tamils, the victims of the SL genocide crimes. More distressing is the involvement of Ban’s deputy, Nambiar who according to reports contributed to the massacres of the white flag waving Eelam Tamil resistance leaders obeying the orders to surrender. Nambiar who has a vested interest in neutralizing the work of Ban’s ‘expert panel’ being involved in its work endangers UN’s war crimes initiatives. Addressing this conflict of interest issue is a challenge at the very least to the moral authority of the UN, specifically the offices of UN Secretary General and UNHRC, the duly authorized bodies entrusted to deliver justice to the victims of the heinous genocide crimes that shocked humanity. The Secretary General’s office meeting with officials of the crime tainted SL regime that challenges Ban’s authority to appoint the panel and with SL officials like Palitha Kohona an accused in a case filed with ICC, and General Shavendre Silva involved in the Mullivaykkal (M’kal) massacres is morally most unacceptable. These are bound to compromise the standards of justice eventually delivered by the UN mandated courts. Analysts have discussed at length Nambiar’s role as Delhi’s South Block agent colluding with the ‘in the loop’ M’kal Narayanan and Shiva Shankar Menon who names also surface in SL’s crimes once Gothabhaya Rajapakse holds on to his ‘in the loop’ defense in any international court proceedings on SL massacres
UN BAN’S CHALLENGE- DELHI ‘S CONSPIRACY TO KILL OFF SRI LANKA WAR CRIMES INITIATIVES
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Thursday, March 3, 2011
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting peace.
THOMAS 
In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, legislative information from the Library of Congress
Bill Text
112th Congress (2011-2012)
S.RES.84.ATS
SRES 84 ATS
Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting peace.
March 1, 2011
Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. BURR, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. BOXER, Mrs. HAGAN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, and Mr. LAUTENBERG) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to Expressing support for internal rebuilding, resettlement, and reconciliation within Sri Lanka that are necessary to ensure a lasting peace.
Whereas May 19, 2010, marked the one-year anniversary of the end of the 26-year conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka established a Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to report whether any person, group, or institution directly or indirectly bears responsibility for incidents that occurred between February 2002 and May 2009 and to recommend measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future and promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities;
Whereas United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a panel of experts, including Marzuki Darusman, the former attorney general of Indonesia; Yazmin Sooka, a member of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and Steven Ratner, a lawyer in the United States specializing in human rights and international law, to advise the Secretary-General on the implementation of the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to human rights accountability;
Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka expressed its commitment to addressing the needs of all ethnic groups and has recognized, in the past, the necessity of a political settlement and reconciliation for a peaceful and just society;
Whereas the United States Government has yet to develop a comprehensive United States policy toward Sri Lanka that reflects the broad range of human rights, national security, and economic interests; and
Whereas progress on domestic and international investigations into reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations during the conflict and promoting reconciliation would facilitate enhanced United States engagement and investment in Sri Lanka: Now, therefore, be it
- Resolved, That the Senate--
- (1) commends United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for creating the three-person panel to advise the Secretary-General on the implementation of the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to human rights accountability;
- (2) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka, the international community, and the United Nations to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to look into reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka and to make recommendations regarding accountability;
- (3) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian organizations, aid agencies, journalists, and international human rights groups greater freedom of movement, including in internally-displaced persons camps; and
- (4) calls upon the President to develop a comprehensive policy towards Sri Lanka that reflects United States interests, including respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, economic interests, and security interests.
- ----------------------------------------------------
US Senate Resolution calls for accountability for Sri Lanka war crimes
[Thu, 03 Mar 2011, 03:37 GMT]
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sri Lanka's rights violations compel investigations, says Australian MP
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 March 2011, 02:45 GMT]
Laurie Ferguson, Member of Australian Parliament for Werriwa and Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, in his statement following submitting a private members bill for debate on "Humanitarian Issues During the War in Sri Lanka," Monday detailed the egregious violations of human rights in Sri Lanka and said he supported eminent personalities, Governments, and premier Rights organizations around the world in demanding an independent, international investigations into Sri Lanka's rights violations.
Australian MPs Ferguson, Randall, Bandt, and Alexander spoke during the debate of the private bill for debate submitted by Ferguson.
Laurie Ferguson, Member of Australian Parliament for Werriwa and Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, in his statement following submitting a private members bill for debate on "Humanitarian Issues During the War in Sri Lanka," Monday detailed the egregious violations of human rights in Sri Lanka and said he supported eminent personalities, Governments, and premier Rights organizations around the world in demanding an independent, international investigations into Sri Lanka's rights violations.
Australian MPs Ferguson, Randall, Bandt, and Alexander spoke during the debate of the private bill for debate submitted by Ferguson.
Two Air Force Kfir jets crash, one pilot killed
Two Air Force Kfir jets crash, one pilot killed
Two Air Force Kfir jets crashed during a rehearsal at Yakkala today morning killing one of the pilots, an Air Force official said.
Initial reports said that both pilots had ejected themselves and escaped, but later the air force confirmed one of them was killed. Flight Lt M. Perera had been killed while Sq Leader Vajira Jayakody had escaped.
Mr Jayampathi Gamage who visited the scene soon after the accident said at least 12 houses had been damaged by the crash and trees within an area of about 800 metre radius had been damaged.
"There was a school nearby, but no damage has been caused. Parents were rushing to get the children from the school", he said.
He said the crash had occurred at the Nelligahamula junction on the 231 bus route and a part of the wing was fallen on the main road."It is was lucky that no persons on the ground had been killed or severely injured in the crash. But there are many coconut trees whcih have been damaged", he said.
The rehearsal was for the 60th anniversary of the air force which is being marked on Wednesday with fly-past aerobatics and a skydiving display. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been invited as the chief guest for the event at the Ratmalana air base.
The President visited the scene of the crash a short while back, a spokesman for the President’s office said.
Two Air Force Kfir jets crash, one pilot killed
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
FACTBOX - Key political risks to watch in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO |
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has flagged rising oil prices as the only risk to economic growth the central bank forecasts at a record 8.5 percent this year, a threat now made real by crises in Libya and elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East.Following is a summary of key risks to watch in Sri Lanka Full Story>>>
Sri Lanka risks war crimes probe
Updated: 20:23, Tuesday March 1, 2011
Sri Lanka could be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over the killing of 'many thousands of civilians' in the final months of its separatist war with Tamil rebels, a top US official says.
In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said Sri Lanka risked a forced international investigation.
His remarks came as the UN Human Rights Council was meeting in Geneva, where Sri Lanka has previously managed to avoid condemnation thanks to the backing of several nations, including strong allies China and Russia.
Blake, a former ambassador to Sri Lanka, said it was 'preferable' for Sri Lanka to have its own investigation in line with internationally accepted human rights standards, rather than face an external inquiry.
'It's important to say that if Sri Lanka is not willing to meet international standards regarding these matters, there would be pressure to appoint an international commission to look into these things,' Blake told AFP.
Sri Lanka has refused to investigate alleged war crimes, but President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed a panel to probe why a 2002 ceasefire between the government and the Tamil rebels broke down.
International rights groups have rejected the government-appointed panel as a whitewash, saying it fails to address war crimes by both sides during the 37-year conflict.
Sri Lanka's relations with the US were strained in 2009 when Washington voiced concern about human rights as the army killed the top leadership of the Tamil Tiger rebels, ending decades of insurgency.
After urging from the Tamil diaspora, a number of US politicians have pushed President Barack Obama's administration to take a harder line on Sri Lanka.
In a video interview on Monday from Washington, Blake said reconciliation, accountability and human rights were among the key elements the US wanted to see to normalise ties with the South Asian nation.
'The UN has estimated that many thousands of civilians were killed in the final few months of the war,' Blake said.
The UN said that at least 7000 civilians perished in the final months of fighting, while international rights groups have put the toll at more than 30,000.
Blake cited the UN Security Council reporting Libya to the International Criminal Court last week as a signal of global concern over human rights.
He said he was not comparing Sri Lanka with Libya, but said the security council's unanimous decision against Libya over the weekend underscored the resolve of the international community regarding crimes against humanity.
Full Story>>>
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