Labour Party pledges support if Cameron government acts on accountability for Sri Lanka war crimes

18 November 2013

Labour leader Ed Miliband said in the House of Commons today that Britain cannot let the human rights situation in Sri Lanka rest, and that his party would support any government moves to take action towards a war crimes enquiry.

"The Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of India decided not to attend this summit. In explaining his decision, Prime Minister Harper said this: 'In the past two years, we've seen a considerable worsening of the situation.
"Accepting the good intentions of the Prime Minister (Cameron), weren't Prime Minister Harper and Singh right to believe that the attendance of heads of government at Chogm would not achieve any improvement in human right in Sri Lanka? Indeed the summit communique, failed even to reference human rights in Sri Lanka.

"The UN Human Rights Commissioner called two years ago for an internationally-led inquiry, and we have supported that call. Isn’t the right thing [for Britain] to do now to build international support for that internationally-led process?"

"We believe we cannot let the matter rest. Britain must do what it can to ensure the truth emerges. When the government acts to make that happen, we will support them."

Lalkantha to be named common candidate for the West?

 Tuesday, 19 November 2013 

Several opposition political parties including the JVP are engaged in discussions to name JVP politburo member and Head of the National Trade Union Centre, K.D. Lalkantha as the common candidate for the chief ministerial candidate at the Western Provincial Council election.

Elections for the Western Provincial Council are expected to take place next year when the term of the current council comes to an end in April next year.

The JVP earlier in the month named Lalkantha as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the Western Provincial Council election.
Sources from the JVP have said that discussions are now underway with opposition political parties to name Lalkantha as the common chief ministerial candidate at the Western Provincial Council election.

Opposition political parties are discussing the formation of a united front to contest the election and discussions according to sources have been positive.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has so far not officially participated in the discussion.