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UN role for Sri Lanka ex-army General Shavendra Silva

[ BBC ][ Jan 28 01:06 GMT ]

One of Sri Lanka's most controversial diplomats, an ex-army commander, has got a senior post advising the UN secretary general, the government says. Major General Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka's deputy ambassador to the UN, is the subject of a lawsuit in the US accusing him of war crimes. Maj Gen Silva denies the charges. He is one of many military men given top diplomatic posts by Sri Lanka. He will now be part of a group advising Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. [ full story | comments ]

- Top peacekeeping post for Shavendra - The Island
- Sri Lankan Alleged War Criminal Silva "Selected" as Ban Adviser on Peacekeeping? - Inner City Press

Feature Image

Image Courtesy: Reuters
A man polishes and cleans metal items at a Hindu temple in Colombo January 26, 2012. [ more ]

Prime Minister Harper unveils grand plan to reshape Canada

After five years of minority governments, Stephen Harper finally has t...

The Inevitable 20 percent Depreciation in the Rupee

Fast eroding foreign exchange (forex) reserves and a ballooning trade ...

Ensure Sri Lanka delivers

The visit by an Indian external affairs minister to Sri Lanka is alway...

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Tamil MP doubts LLRC implementation

[ BBC Sinhala ][ Jan 27 17:14 GMT ]

Sri Lanka government has no intention to implement the recommendations of the presidential war panel, says a young Tamil government MP. Journalist turned politician Sri Ranga told BBC Sandeshaya that the government should implement panel's all recommendations including a special investigation into alleged war crimes by certain elements of the military. The panel concluded the military gave the "highest priority" to protecting civilians and said Tamil Tiger rebels had had "no respect for human life". [ full story | comments ]

Oman may help Sri Lanka if Iran oil sanctions bite

[ Reuters ][ Jan 27 13:31 GMT ]

Oman may sell oil to Sri Lanka in the event of a crisis, which the island nation is racing to avert with U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude threatening its primary refining supply, Sri Lankan officials told Reuters on Friday. Omani Oil Minister Mohammad bin Hamad al-Rumhy on Friday was holding a second and final day of talks with Sri Lankan Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, who is hunting for a new oil supply amid limited options. [ full story | comments ]

The Inevitable 20 percent Depreciation in the Rupee

[ TamilCanadian ][ Jan 27 12:12 GMT ]

Fast eroding foreign exchange (forex) reserves and a ballooning trade deficit has led to internecine warfare between Sri Lanka’s two economic policy setting organs; i.e. its Treasury and Central Bank (CB) such that the latter was kept in the dark when President Rajapakse announced the unanticipated 3 percent devaluation in the rupee-US dollar (USD) exchange rate to 113.89/90 during his budget speech. Rupee trading had to be halted and several hastily arranged conference calls were held with foreign investors, who fund Sri Lanka’s rupee denominated debt, to assuage their concerns that further devaluations were not imminent. [ full story | comments ]

Resettled Tamil woman's body recovered near SLA bund in Thenmaraadchi

[ TamilNet ][ Jan 27 11:56 GMT ]

The skeleton of a recently slain 28-year-old unmarried Tamil woman has been recovered near an abandoned military bund used by the Sri Lanka Army in A'rukuve'li, located along Kearatheevu Road (Jaffna - Mannaar Road) in Thenmaraadchi on Wednesday. The victim, Atputhamalar Subramaniyam, who had resettled in Thanangki'lappu near Ma'ravanpulavu of Thenmaraadchi last year, has been missing since November 13. But, her family was receiving SMS messages for some time from her cell phone. The abductors have been sending the messages with the intention of making the family to believe that she was not abducted, relatives of the victim who came for the funeral on Thursday told media. Tension prevailed in the recently resettled area where the occupying SLA is still on random patrol. [ full story | comments ]

Sri Lankan products taken off shelves in Chennai stores

[ Weekend Leader ][ Jan 26 13:09 GMT ]

The Special Officer in charge of the oldest consumer cooperative society in the State, TUCS (Triplicane Urban Cooperative Society) - which runs a chain of provisions stores and public distribution shops in Chennai - issued orders to have Sri Lankan products removed from all its outlets with immediate effect following a representation made to him by Tamil activists.“Therefore it is duty of Tamils to ensure that we do not buy or sell any Sri Lankan products inside Tamil Nadu. Please stop selling of Sri Lankan products at the earliest from all TUCS stores.” [ full story | comments ]

Sri Lanka media press for probe into killings

[ AFP ][ Jan 25 23:12 GMT ]

Dozens of media rights activists took to the streets in Colombo on Wednesday demanding action against those responsible for killing journalists and attacking news organisations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined Sri Lankan media organisations at the demonstration in Colombo's Lipton Square. Organisers said the rally was in response to a spate of attacks on the media and the failure of the government to bring those responsible to justice. [ full story | comments ]

- Sri Lanka journalists demand probes of attacks - AP

'Black January' marked amidst rival protests

[ BBC Sinhala ][ Jan 25 13:26 GMT ]

Media organisations in Sri Lanka have been marking 'Black January' while an international watchdog has downgraded the country's rank in press freedom index. The campaign, organised by Sri Lanka's Alliance of Media Organizations, to mark killings of journalists and threats and intimidation against media personnel in January, is also supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). [ full story | comments ]

Examining Sri Lanka’s Diplomacy Machine

[ GroundViews ][ Jan 25 13:16 GMT ]

Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights, Both documents are part of the Sri Lankan government’s strategy to placate international observers and convince people that there is no need for any kind of international assistance because the country’s domestic institutions are working just fine. In theory, Rajapaksa’s administration has plenty to worry about. Lobbying and debate surrounding the next session of the HRC has already begun. [ full story | comments ]

Visa process keeps body in mortuary for weeks

[ NZH ][ Jan 25 11:03 GMT ]

Immigration officials have refused to issue a visa to a Sri Lankan man wanting to attend his father's funeral because he presented a risk of becoming an illegal immigrant. Mr Mylavaganam died on New Year's Day aged 78, surrounded by his Auckland-based family, who are New Zealand citizens. The family hoped that Mr Mylavaganam's only son, would be able to fly in for the funeral to perform the customary Hindu last rights. [ full story | comments ]

Why Krishna's visit to Lanka can't be termed 'successful'

[ Rediff ][ Jan 24 18:03 GMT ]

S M Krishna's [ Images ] praise for the Sri Lankan government-appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission will diminish our credibility as an honest broker in the eyes of the Sri Lankan Tamils who are becoming increasingly bitter towards India, feels Satish Chandra. As is customary, official circles in India have hailed External Affairs S M Krishna's four-day visit to Sri Lanka from January 16th to 19th 2012 as 'successful.' Whether or not it was indeed 'successful' demands an examination of what transpired during the visit and the extent to which India's interests were promoted. [ full story | comments ]

Sri Lanka to seek China's support for UN World Youth Conference

[ Xinhua ][ Jan 27 13:33 GMT ]

Sri Lanka is seeking the support of China and the Group of 77 to adopt UN General Assembly resolution to host United Nations World Youth Conference in 2014, a government spokesman said on Thursday. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the cabinet has given approval to obtain official UN endorsement to use other diplomatic missions abroad to implement the global process for the conference. [ full story | comments ]

- Sri Lanka contracts to China queried by legislator - LBO

Prime Minister Harper unveils grand plan to reshape Canada

[ Globe and Mail ][ Jan 27 12:13 GMT ]

After five years of minority governments, Stephen Harper finally has the freedom to act. He’s no longer looking at the limited horizon of the next budget or the next election. He’s planning on transforming Canada for a generation or more. This is Stephen Harper’s blueprint for reform. Although short on details, Mr. Harper’s speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday made clear the sweep of his ambition. He will change how Canadians finance their retirement. He will overhaul the immigration system. He will make oil and gas exports to Asia a “national priority” and aggressively pursue free trade in India and Europe. [ full story | comments ]

- Harper wins when voters snooze - Ottawa Citizen
- Harper signals big policy changes - Vancouver Sun

Sri Lanka genocide story draws 22m vistors, says Argentine paper

[ TamilNet ][ Jan 27 12:10 GMT ]

The Spanish Language Diario La Tarde, an evening journal published by independent journalists in West Argentina said the recent web publication of the story "Genocidio: (Primera entrega) - La masacre de los Tamils en Sri Lanka," [Genocide: (First Delivery) The Slaughter of Tamils in Sri Lanka] drew 22 million visits in two days. The story appearing in Spanish covers history to the conflict, the slaughter at Mu'l'livaaykkaal, and asserts the post-conflict miliary aggression in Tamil areas as a form of structural genocide. [ full story | comments ]

Ensure Sri Lanka delivers

[ Express Buzz ][ Jan 26 19:51 GMT ]

The visit by an Indian external affairs minister to Sri Lanka is always an important affair. Sri Lankans of all communities and political leanings watch it carefully. They listen to the statements and read between the lines. To many, especially for the Sri Lankan Tamils and the committed democratic sections of the Sri Lankan and Indian polity, these are moments of hope. S M Krishna has had a busy week in Sri Lanka. Can peoples’ hopes in a post-conflict situation be fulfilled by this visit? Krishna’s visit has been more than symbolic. He handed over the first lot of 1,000 houses of the total 50,000 that is India’s contribution in post conflict reconstruction in the north of the country that remains easily one of the most devastated regions. [ full story | comments (2) ]

- India, Lanka mull joint solution - IBN Live

Implementing 13th Amendment plus ploy to hoodwink intl. community: Kiriella

[ Daily Mirror ][ Jan 26 11:09 GMT ]

The UNP charged today that the government’s recent pledge to implement the 13th Amendment plus was a ploy to hoodwink the international community. Addressing a press conference, UNP Vice President Lakshman Kiriella said that the SLFP-led alliances opposed the 13th Amendments when it was introduced in 1987, but today, they had pledged to honour it. Mr. Kiriella said that the SLFP leaders dubbed the 13th Amendment as a move that would pave the way for the separation of the country. [ full story | comments ]

Poorest Still Go Hungry

[ IPS ][ Jan 25 23:11 GMT ]

Experts agree that Sri Lanka's free pre and postnatal clinics across the island nation have helped bring infant mortality down to 15 per 1,000 live births and the under-five mortality rate to 21 per 1,000 live births. But, beneath that general picture of success lie pockets of vulnerability where poverty and lack of awareness are causing high levels of malnutrition in this country, classified as a middle-income country by the International Monetary Fund in 2010. According to a November 2011 paper released by the Institute of Policy Studies, a semi-government research body, a fifth of children under the age of five suffer from malnourishment, as also every sixth newborn. [ full story | comments ]

Indian fishermen advancing to our Eastern seas: Sri Lanka Navy

[ Daily Mirror ][ Jan 25 13:24 GMT ]

The Sri Lanka Navy said that Indian fishermen are now advancing into the Eastern seas to engage in illegal fishing activities. Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said that the Navy came to this conclusion following the arrest of 43 Indian fishermen in six fishing trawlers from Tamil Nadu were arrested in the seas off Pulmudai. [ full story | comments ]

No justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka: Human Rights Watch

[ Weekend Leader ][ Jan 25 13:11 GMT ]

The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa continued to stall on accountability for abuses by the security forces, threatened media and civil society groups, and largely ignored complaints of insecurity and land grabbing in the north and east, Human Rights Watch said. [ full story | comments ]

- Sri Lanka: No Progress on Justice - HRW
- Families and activists demand information on Sri Lanka's disappeared journalist, civilians - AP

‘In ravaged times, poets become the voice of the voiceless’

[ Tehelka ][ Jan 25 04:43 GMT ]

R Cheran is a Sri Lankan Tamil poet and academician, born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He published his first collection of poems Irandaavathu Suriya Uthayam (The Second Sunrise) in 1982. His other titles include Yaman (God of Death) (1984), together with an anthology of Tamil resistance poems, Maranatthul Vaalvom (Amidst Death, We Live), which he edited in 1985, and Miindum Kadalukku (Once More, The Sea), published in 2004. He is currently a professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Windsor, Canada. [ full story | comments ]

Going beyond the 13th Amendment: Newspaper coverage of the Sri Lankan’s President’s assurance to India

[ Groundviews ][ Jan 24 18:02 GMT ]

Our affiliate Vikalpa did a short media monitoring exercise anchored to the front page reportage of the Indian Foreign Minister’s official visit to Sri Lanka and the press conference in which the President’s commitment to going beyond the 13th Amendment was reiterated by him. The following is a translation of the report that first appeared on Vikalpa. In addition to the translation below, which deals with the Sinhala and Tamil media, it is interesting to note the differences in reporting the Indian FM’s statement regarding the 13th Amendment between the state-run Daily News and the privately owned Daily Mirror. [ full story | comments ]

- Examining Sri Lanka’s Diplomacy Machine - Groundviews

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டாவோஸ் 2012: உலகமயமாதலும் மனித உரிமைகளும்

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2012-01-27 - Scarborough, ON