10 August, 2011Reduction of Jaffna MPs 'erodes Tamil sovereignty'
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| The EC has decided to reduce the number of seats allocated to Jaffna district |
The biggest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka has objected the decision to reduce the number of parliamentary representatives from Jaffna district.
In a special statement to parliament, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) described the decision by the elections commissioner (EC) as an "erosion of sovereignty" of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.
But the government said the Commissioner has made the decision in line with regulations.
"The seat allocation is done annually by the commissioner of elections according to the constitution," Prime Minister DM Jayaratne told parliament in response.
EC has recently decided to reduce the number of seats allocated to Jaffna district from 10 to six.
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Colombo, Aug 11 (PTI) China has promised to extend its "fullest" support to Sri Lanka, which has been under pressure over alleged rights violations, at international forums whenever the need arises, External Affairs Minister G L Peiris said today.
Peiris, who is accompanying Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a visit to China, told a state radio here today that China has assured the country of its support in situations of discomfort.
Peiris said the assurance was made by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when Rajapaksa called on him in Beijing.
"Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said he will extend its fullest support in all necessary situations to Sri Lanka in international fora," Peiris told the ''Lakhanda'' radio on a voice despatch from Beijing.
Peiris added that the Chinese Premier also promised action for Sri Lanka''s exports to increase its gains in China.
Rajapaksa''s four-day China visit came on an invitation by the Chinese Premier extended at the economic summit in St Petersburg, Russia.
Analysts say Sri Lanka banks on Chinese veto power to annul any UN Security Council resolution that may lead to economic sanctions against it.
China came in support of Sri Lanka when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon''s advisory panel issued its report on Sri Lanka in April, accusing the government of committing war crimes during the last stages of the military conflict with the LTTE.
It called for the establishment of an independent investigation.
The Sri Lankan government dismissed the UN panel report as a devious Western plan backed by the pro-LTTE diaspora to undermine Sri Lanka''s post conflict development.
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China assures SL of backing in international fora: Peiris
Colombo, Aug 11 (PTI) China has promised to extend its "fullest" support to Sri Lanka, which has been under pressure over alleged rights violations, at international forums whenever the need arises, External Affairs Minister G L Peiris said today.Peiris, who is accompanying Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a visit to China, told a state radio here today that China has assured the country of its support in situations of discomfort.
Peiris said the assurance was made by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when Rajapaksa called on him in Beijing.
"Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said he will extend its fullest support in all necessary situations to Sri Lanka in international fora," Peiris told the ''Lakhanda'' radio on a voice despatch from Beijing.
Peiris added that the Chinese Premier also promised action for Sri Lanka''s exports to increase its gains in China.
Rajapaksa''s four-day China visit came on an invitation by the Chinese Premier extended at the economic summit in St Petersburg, Russia.
Analysts say Sri Lanka banks on Chinese veto power to annul any UN Security Council resolution that may lead to economic sanctions against it.
China came in support of Sri Lanka when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon''s advisory panel issued its report on Sri Lanka in April, accusing the government of committing war crimes during the last stages of the military conflict with the LTTE.
It called for the establishment of an independent investigation.
The Sri Lankan government dismissed the UN panel report as a devious Western plan backed by the pro-LTTE diaspora to undermine Sri Lanka''s post conflict development.
