Political Machinations: The Norwegian Need For Transparency

By Rajiva Wijesinha -May 31, 2013 |

Prof Rajiva Wijesinha MP

I have long had faith in the Norwegian government and its representatives in Sri Lanka, even though – as I have always made clear to them – I thought that Eric Solheim was a shifty character and should not have been trusted. However, though he was not I think an honest broker as far as the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement and the negotiations that followed were concerned, I believe the Norwegian Mission here more than made up for his lapses.

At least I believe that is true after the initial period, when Jon Westbord was Ambassador. He was unlike Solheim however in that his motives were misplaced idealism, rather than personal advancement. Westborg had after all been in Sri Lanka in the eighties, when elements in the Jayewardenegovernment, led by Cyril Mathew, had encouraged and indeed participated in attacks on Tamils, and his mindset was governed therefore by total sympathy for the Tamil cause.

Even in the eighties he had been what might be termed an activist, in that he had supported a lot of colonization in the Vanni by Tamils of Indian origin. I don’t think he saw this as a deliberate attempt to influence the demographics of the area, but rather as providing solace to those who had been attacked in their homes. After all it was the Indian Tamils who suffered most in both 1977 and 1981, despite the fact that Mr Thondaman was solidly behind the government by the latter date.

That indeed is why I have found false – as well as unacceptable, which it certainly is – the claim of Mathew apologists that the Tamils deserved what they got because they had espoused separatism and they did not speak out against this. The Indian Tamils supported government, but they still suffered, making it clear that the perpetrators of violence were simply vicious thugs.

I should note that this violence – and Mr Westborg’s sympathy – did contribute to demographic change in the Vanni. While I believe it would be totally wrong for government to engage in colonization schemes now to settle Sinhalese in the North, they should certainly develop a better recording system of the numbers of those of Indian origin who did settle in the North in the seventies and eighties. This would make it clear that sponsored colonization has been an ongoing process, and to blame only government for such activities is erroneous.

I say this because I was astonished to find so many who spoke Sinhalese in Manik Farm in 2009. The explanation was that they had come from the Hill Country. I still come across many such now in my meetings at Divisional Secretariats, and I find that they are particularly affected by land problems, given that they did not get title deeds when they moved to the Vanni during that period. They should certainly be provided with land security now, having spent so much time there, but it should also be made clear that using them in order to make claims about traditional homelands is just plain nonsense.

Westborg, as I have explained, had his own agenda, but his successors were I believe balanced in their approach, as was the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, which scrupulously recorded all violations of the Cease Fire Agreement, making it clear that it was the LTTE that was predominantly guilty. Though some younger members – as their seniors explained to me – came out with erroneously ideal notions, they soon learned the truth about the LTTE. And most of them did their job honestly, as was shown for instance when they found the weapons on the ship that the then government had wanted the navy to set free, when they were trying to have it searched.

Mr Brattskar, whom I met only briefly, most memorably when he came back from the Vanni to brief MinisterNimal Siripala de Silva and myself on his last visit to the Tigers, was one reason I think the Tigers withdrew from the talks, because he made it clear that the Sri Lankan government had every right to raise the issue of child recruitment. The Wickremesinghe government had not raised any issues itself, a habit that Prof G L Peiris brought into negotiations with the TNA too, a sure recipe for disaster. But the Rajapaksa government, at least in those days, was made of sterner stuff, and the Tigers realized that they would not have an easy ride in discussions, with the Norwegians also making it clear that they could not simply rule complaints out.

Mr Brattskar too it was who told us what we already knew, but which the aid agencies then working in the North had kept scrupulously quiet about, namely that the Tigers had been recruiting one member from each family, and were beginning to demand a second. It was clear from his despair that he realized they were intransigent, and that the Peace Process was dead, though it was only formally abrogated a few months later, after the SLMM had made one more attempt to persuade the LTTE Peace Secretariat to talk to us.

Brattskar’s successor inherited a difficult situation, but handled it well, as did his successor, who had the merit of having been his Deputy, so she understood the situation thoroughly. However it seems to have been during their time that the association with the Bodhu Bala Sena, which Wimal Weerawansa has highlighted, began.

The explanation we have now been given is that there was simply an effort to engage with monks who had been hostile to the Norwegians, and that is why contacts were initiated. But, given that this engagement involved sponsorship for a visit to Norway, one can’t help feeling that further enticements might have been made available if a suitable response was forthcoming. I hope therefore that the Norwegians will ensure that a full inquiry is made into what happened, and whether any funds were provided by any Norwegian source, to the BBS or individual members of it.

International police investigation regarding Matale mass grave

FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2013 

The case on the Matale mass grave was heard again in Matale Magistrates Court today (31st).  The Court informed that an international police investigation has been called for and DNA tests would be conducted after this investigation.

The Court also ordered the CID to publish notices in all three languages for the information of those parties affected if there are any to come forward.

Meanwhile, 22 more affidavits were presented to Court today. Also, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has decided to act as observers and the Member of the Executive Committee of BASL Attorney Anura Madagoda represented BASL in court today.

Meanwhile, 6 more have come forward directly as complainants when the CID took measures to take down evidence.

Anura Meddegoda

Download (Right-click & select "save link as" or "save target as"...)

Sunil Watagala

Download (Right-click & select "save link as" or "save target as"...)

Anura Dissanayake

Download (Right-click & select "save link as" or "save target as"...)

Wimal to sign a petition against

Published on Friday, 31 May 2013

A coalition party of the Sri Lankan government, National Freedom Front (NFF), led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa announced that a petition would be signed demanding not to hold the Provincial Council election in the Northern Province with the powers vested in the administration constitutionally.

NFF demands to amend the Constitution to take back the land and police powers from Provincial Councils to the central government.

NFF politburo member Piyasiri Wijenayake revealed this yesterday (30) at a media briefing held in the party headquarters at Battaramulla, stating that the petition would be taken to the main towns in a vehicle to collect the signatures from June 3 to 12.

After receiving the blessings of the Chairman of Patriotic Bhikkhu Association, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero, the vehicle carrying the petition will commence its journey at 9.30 am on June 3rd near Sri Pagnananda Budhist Center at Pattiya Junction, Kelaniya.

The leader of NFF and Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, Mr. Wimal Weerawansa along with several other leaders of the party will also join the event.

The petition after collecting signatures for 10 days will be submitted to the Secretary to the President.

Sobitha Proposals, Ranil, Mahinda And The BBS

By Lakshan Wanigasooriya -May 31, 2013

Lakshan Wanigasooriya

Abusus non tollit usum  - Wrong use does not preclude proper use.

As a Christian Sinhalese Sri Lankan , University educated by the Sri Lankan tax payer and also as a person who has used this knowledge in the fight against the anti democratic forces that plague Sri Lanka, I take great joy in the actions of Ven Sobitha thera and the NMSJ especially at a time when some of his fellow colleagues have taken to the streets to take offence with the Muslim and Christians. Sobitha thera has used his influence and the influence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to bring forth what is important to our society today hence the above Latin phrase. The Buddhist clergy and doctrine have a role to play in the governance of Sri Lanka but what is sad is groups such as BBS and other similar groups have basically got the wrong end of the stick! rather than using the doctrine by the en lighted one to enhance our position as nation and country within and outside our shores they are using this influence to isolate and to destroy our nation.

What they have failed to understand which Sobitha Thera and the NMSJ has understood is that it is when all of our rights are protected that our individual rights will be upheld a truth that not only the BBS but LTTE and its proxy groups of today don’t seem to understand. There is a saying that “mountains will labour and a mouse will be born” which is what all these groups can achieve even for their core support base; history has shown nothing tangible is achieved by these groups even to the core group whom they confess to represent; Hitler the German people, LTTE the Tamil people.

The post independence political journey of our country is fast coming to the point of  ”no return” where the pilot of the state has no option but to continue by hook or by crook; leaders with vision and who heed to good advice soon realise this and are quick change course before they reach this point thus avoiding being sent into political wilderness and taking the whole population of the country sometimes with them. Recent world events show how leaders get to this point very quickly and have paid sometimes with their lives.

Sri Lankan’s have always put trust in people rather than in a system to deliver justice, development, peace ,stability and fair play in the distribution of wealth; however each passing term of government from post independence have abused this trust and the only current way to turn this tide is to support a system that offers a very meaning full alternative which is based on a “system” rather than a person; the proposals by the NMSJ has offered all of us Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgers the principals of forming a united front to bring about this change this front is not UNP, JVP, TNA or UNFP it is a system which guarantees the rights of every one.

As a student of politics and as a campaigner in the West for the rights of all Sri Lankan’s I am indeed proud of the proposals put forward by NMSJ of course these proposals are nothing new, we all know them because this what politicians have promised us over the years at each and every election we also know the objections as these are the same lame reasons which they give us at the end of each term as to why they did not keep to the promises.

The proposal aim to break the culture of absolute power and absolute power as we see and know corrupts absolutely. I think we all agree at least the normal hard working people of Sri Lanka that we need to resolve the issues of corruption, naptiuism and Lawless of this country it is only then that transformation can earnestly begin to re-address the economic issues that underpin and act as the fuel for the above evils, otherwise the so called development will be nothing more than a doted set of white elephant projects; the proposals put forward offer a very quick way of breaking the current political cycle that is plaguing and draining the country of its life blood. I am confident that if Ven Sobitha Thera and NMSJ is able to see this plough through and give leadership to it long enough they will achieve this, they have too as this is the only way!

Great freedom fighters always fought for others as they realised very quickly that is only through the preservation of others that one is preserved. Dr King in one of its speeches says this “All I’m saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated. And we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny — whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality”

Rewind back to 2005 president Rajapaksa at his inauguration speech had among other things this to say ;

“Political power is not a privilege but only a temporary trust. I am not the master but the trustee of the country. I pledge to defend by all means the country you entrusted to me. I will act according to this pledge. From now on Mahinda Rajapakse as President will not be a leader that belongs exclusively to any single party or group. I will not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of politics, colour, race or religion. My political policy from now on will be the rule of law and protection of human rights”

Honestly looking at this in 2013 have we not fallen sort of the above standard? of course we have but for this is it only President Rajapakse to blame ? or does the system not allow for such high standards of government?  How is it that a system of government allow when people talk about human right failings that we should call them terrorist or unpatriotic? when as above the political policy of the president is the protection of human rights? Not only under this government but under the previous government President Rajapakse himself was called a traitor when he travelled to Geneva in 1988 to bring to the attention of the same world body the details of the missing Sinhalese youth for this president Rajapaksa was called a traitor by the UNP MP’s in parliament .

I wonder if Mr Wickramasinghe, John Amratunge and Lakshman Krialla objected to him being called this? if they have not are they also not guilty of the same crime of preventing the course of international justice with they accuse president Rajapaksa of today? It is very clear the social, political, economics and justice problem in Sri Lanka lies fairly and squarely in the system the government has the power to change it but it will only happen if we the masses cry out for it.

As a nation that loves teledrams the script for the political teledrama has not seen a script change for a long time only the actors have changed the current tragedy is that the actors have also not changed. The solution their fore is only one; which is to change the script the proposals for NMSJ aim to do just this

The only way to proceed from a point of no return in terms of establishing good governance and democratic rights would be a full overhaul starting at the top this means the executive presidency. If not the only thing we could reap would be what we will need to sow to keep the system running which are the seed of suspicion, divide and rule use violence in trying to control as much as possible of the lives of population this was the same under the British as it is seen today; Support and patronage to groups such as BBS is also part of this extremist groups are undoubtedly part of this act of divide a rule.

In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock asks: “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means… as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed?” We all know in our hearts of hearts that their is no basis to divide on race color or religion yet we do so because it human nature to blame someone else for one’s problems we do this as individuals communities and countries. A proper system will allow us to move away from this culture and take responsibility as country, community and individuals for our lives.

If we are to rediscover our country we need to re-start the fire of this of common humanity; to all community leaders I beg you work towards rekindling the common humanity and spend less time in trying to be patriots to your own community. The proposals by the NMSJ I think offers all of us this opportunity. 

Bodu Bala Sena and associate German NGO in a legal mess, Was there a set up?

Bodu Bala Sena and associate German NGO in a legal mess, Was there a set up?

Bodu Bala Sena’s Associations with Little, Little Smiles by Ajith Parakum Jayasinghe

Friday, May 31, 2013

On March 09, 2013, Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa  inaugurated ‘Meth Sevana,’ the Cultural and Training Centre of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), in Pilana, Wanchawala in Galle.The Head of Meth Sevana, Ven. Embilipitiye Vijitha Thero said that training programmes for bhikkus and laymen will be held at the Center. It was introduced as a leadership training institute as well. BBS announced that this academy would be developed into a full-fledged Buddhist University in the future.

Michael Kreitmeir  in Sri Lanka
The latest news which was partially reported in Lankadeepa website on May 29 said that Galle Additional Magistrate Gunendra Munasinghe had ordered BBS to evacuate the Meth Sevana Center inGalle.

The order was issued after hearing a petition by Batagoda Gamage Asanka Amarasiri. BBS secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, Embilipitiye Vijitha Thero, Vitharandeniye Nanda Thero and the Little Smiles Association, an NGO, were the defendants of the petition.

Bodu Bala Sena and Associate German NGO in a Legal Mess, by nelvely

US limited training with SL due to ‘human rights abuses’

31 May 2013

The United States limited ‘counterterrorism cooperation and training’ with Sri Lanka in 2012 due to allegations of human rights abuses, according to the State Department’s ‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2012‘, which was released on Thursday.
In the overview on Sri Lanka, the report stated,

“Counterterrorism cooperation and training with the United States in 2012 was limited, however, due to statutory and policy restrictions based on concerns about alleged past human rights abuses committed by Sri Lankan security forces”.

The report went on to say,

“The Sri Lankan government claimed that it continued to uncover abandoned weapons and explosives in areas of the country formerly controlled by the LTTE. Although there were no known LTTE activities in Sri Lanka in 2012, the government asserted that peaceful protests at Jaffna University in November were organized by students trained by overseas LTTE supporters and made several arrests.”

It was noted that Sri Lanka was “a proactive partner with the U.S. Departments of State, Homeland Security, Defense, and Energy on securing its maritime border”, adding that the US Coast Guard had trained the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard in October last year.
The LTTE was still designated as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation”, with the report noting,

“there have been no known attacks in Sri Lanka that could verifiably be attributed to the LTTE since the end of the war”. 

Pune replaces Chennai as venue for Asian Athletics Championships

Associated Press | Posted on May 30, 2013 at 06:18pm IST

Meritage Portfolios

Tax-Efficient Income Portfolios   Check out our yields online!www.promonbc.ca/Meritage

Ads by Google

New Delhi: The Asian Athletics Championships have been switched to the city of Pune in July after Chennai refused to host any Sri Lankans.

New Delhi was considered as an alternative but the logistics for the July 3-7 event worked better for Pune, Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwala told The Associated Press by telephone on Thursday.

Chennai, the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, was ruled out in February after the state chief minister Jayaram Jayalalitha said hosting the event would anger people in her province because of alleged atrocities against the ethnic Tamil minority during the civil war in Sri Lanka.

The Asian Athletics Championships have been switched to the city of Pune in July after Chennai refused to host any Sri Lankans.

"We did not consider Chennai as a venue once the government refused to host the event. Sports is one thing and public sentiments another. We should understand that it would not be possible to organize the meet there," said Sumariwala, India's top sprinter during the 1980s.

Sri Lankan cricketers contracted by Indian Premier League franchises were also not allowed to play in Chennai this year.

The Sri Lankan government and now-defeated Tamil Tiger rebels have been accused of serious human rights violations during the 25-year war, especially in its final stages.

According to a UN report, tens of thousands of civilians were killed in the five months before fighting ended in 2009.

Rohingyas hit with multiple charges for not registering as ‘Bengalis’

 

By AYE NAI-30May 2013

Men offer Friday prayers in a temporary mosque after returning to a Rohingya IDP camp from a shelter from cyclone Mahasen, outside of Sittwe, on 17 May 2013. (Reuters)

Prosecutors in Sittwe have hit seven Rohingyas in Arakan state with myriad charges, including rioting, after they were arrested for refusing to register as ‘Bengalis’.
During a hearing on 23 May, senior immigration official Yan Aung Myint charged the seven suspects from Thetkalpyin displacement camp with robbery, intimidation and disturbing officials on duty. Twenty-four individuals, who authorities claimed might be on the run, were also charged in absentia.
The hearing comes after a scuffle erupted between government officials and the Rohingya on 26 April, after authorities tried to register the internally displaced persons (IDPs) as ‘Bengalis’ in accordance with a programme headed by the Ministry of Immigration and Population.
Prosecutors said that around 100 residents, armed with sticks and swords, quickly gathered at the scene and began attacking authorities, which included policemen and soldiers who were accompanying the officials.
According to the defendants’ attorney Hla Myo Myint, the skirmish began after one of his clients, Suleman, was slapped in the face by an official, which prompted children in the camp to begin throwing rocks at authorities.
Army sergeant Win Aung reportedly sustained a head injury after being struck by a rock at the scene, while local Arakanese team member Tun Hla Aung and immigration official Sai Myint Thu sustained lacerations on their backs.
Security forces reportedly fired shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd as they hurled rocks and screamed “Rohingya! Rohingya!” Seven individuals from Thetkalpyin and two from Bawdupha displacement camps were arrested in the skirmish’s wake.
According to Hla Myo Myint, the officials who went to the camps to register the IDPs had no legal right to force his clients to identify as Bengalis – a term commonly used by government officials that implicitly infers that the group are illegal immigrants
“The officials had no authority to determine their ethnicity – according to the 1982 Burma Citizenship Law, the decision has to come at the last stage and made by a government body,” said Hla Myo Myint.
“Reportedly the [officials] were listing them [as Bengali] by force.”
Hla Myo Myint, who has represented high-profile opposition activists including the National League for Democracy’s chair Aung San Suu Kyi in the past, said his clients’ families and the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) asked that he provide legal counsel to the group. Two of the individuals Kyaw Myint and his son Hla Myint who are being charged are both USDP members.
“I’m doing this for the rule of law – one of the main objectives of the NLD – to allow human rights for them regardless of their religion and ethnicity,” said Hla Myo Myint.
The next court appointment has been set for 6 June, but will likely to be postponed until officials can decide if the 24 individuals charged in absentia have actually fled.
Arakan state is home to more than 140,000 IDPs, after two bouts of religious violence pitting Arakanese Buddhists against Muslim Rohingya last year led to massive displacement.

While Thai Prime Minister Visits Sri Lanka – 90,000 Tamil War Widows Face Sexual Abuse by Sri Lankan Forces: TGTE

Friday, 31 May 2013 

While Thai Prime Minister Visits Sri Lanka, 90,000 Tamil War Widows Face Sexual Abuse by Sri Lankan Forces said by TGTE

• As a leader, who is a mother, you are best suited to raise this issue.

• Urged to raise war crimes and genocide committed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.

• UN Internal Review Report: 70,000 Tamils killed in five months.

- In an urgent appeal to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, urged her to raise the plight of 90,000 Tamil war widows and their daughters during her visit to Sri Lanka. The Thai Prime Minister begins her state visit to Sri Lanka on May 30th.

“We urge you to remember that while you are visiting Sri Lanka, 90,000 Tamil war widows and their daughters are facing rape and sexual abuse by the Sri Lankan security forces.”

“We urge you to raise the plight of these widows and their daughters during your address to the Sri Lankan Parliament on May 31st. As a leader, who is a mother, you are best suited to raise this issue. We are confident you will not miss this opportunity” continued Mr. Rudrakumaran.

According to a May 2012 report by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Human Rights and Democracy; there are up to 90,000 Tamil war widows in the North & East of Sri Lanka.

The Thai Prime Minister was also urged to raise war crimes and genocide committed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and the forces under his authority.

"As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, you have a duty and responsibility to raise war crimes & genocide committed by the Sri Lankan President and his armed forces," said Mr. Rudrakumaran.

"According to a UN Internal Review Report on Sri Lanka, troops under the Sri Lankan President's command, killed over 70,000 Tamils in five months and raped hundreds of Tamil women," said Mr. Rudrakumaran. "Tamils were singled out to face these abuses simply and solely on account of their Tamil nationality."

The appeal to the Thai Prime Minister also explained that Tamils have faced repeated mass killings since 1958 and that the killings in 2009 prompted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a Panel of Experts to report on the scale of killings. According to this UN report tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed in five months due to deliberate and intense shelling and bombing of areas designated by the government as "no-fire zones", where Tamil civilians had assembled for safety.

"The Sri Lankan Government also restricted food and medicine for Tamils, resulting in large numbers of people dying from starvation and many of the injured bleeding to death," noted Mr. Rudrakuamran.

According to the UN Panel, the killings and other abuses that took place amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Independent experts believe that there are elements of these abuses that constitute an act of genocide.

The UN Human Rights Council looked into this mass killing and passed two Resolutions on accountability for these international crimes in 2012 and 2013.

"According to Bishop of Mannar, Dr. Rayappu Joseph, 146,679 Tamils went missing when Sri Lankan forces attacked Tamil people. Members of the Sri Lankan security forces are almost exclusively from the Sinhalese community and the victims are all from the Tamil community," Mr. Rudrakumaran concluded.

For information contact: pmo@tgte.org

About Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE):

Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a new political concept. It is a new political formation based on the principles of nationhood, homeland and self-determination. The raison dâetre for the TGTE is lack of political space inside the island of Sri Lanka for the Tamils to articulate and realize their political aspirations fully due to Constitutional impediments, racist political environment and military strangulation; and the coordination of diaspora political activities based on democratic principles and the rule of law.

TGTE held internationally supervised elections in 12 countries. These elections were held to ensure that core believe of democracy be upheld within the TGTE and to demonstrate TGTE’s belief and reliance upon democratic ideals. TGTE has a bicameral legislature and a Cabinet. Although an elected body, TGTE does not claim to be a government in exile. The Constitution of the TGTE mandates that it should realize its political objective only through peaceful means.

Presently, in addition to the campaign for an international investigation, the TGTE is also campaigning for an International Protection Mechanism and the release of documents pertaining to Tamils prepared by the Office of the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. TGTE is also in the process of preparing the Freedom Charter incorporating the “freedom demands” of Tamils across the globe.

TGTE believes that the referendum among the Tamils inside the island of Sri Lanka and the Tamil diaspora will contribute to the political resolution of the Tamil national conflict. So far, the human cost has reached 100,000 as it grows. There are also 90,000 Tamil war widows, facing sexual abuse by the Sri Lankan security forces.

For information contact: pmo@tgte.org

Web: www.tgte-us.org

Courtesy - http://world.einnews.com/

Thailand, SL should promote Buddhist way of life: Thai PM

FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2013 

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told Sri Lanka's parliament today the two countries should work together to strengthen Buddhism as a religion and as a way of life.

Yingluck, in Colombo on a two-day visit to commemorate the 260th anniversary of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks obtaining higher ordination from Thailand, followed her brother in addressing parliament.

Then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra addressed parliament in 2003 on a visit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the same event.

Yingluck added both Sri Lanka and Thailand deeply value democracy, which "is not an internal affair" of any other country.

She also had talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and will also visit Kandy.

Yingluck will be also signing bilateral agreements on tourism, science and technology during her stay in Sri Lanka.(Kyodo)