Channel 4 Videos On Sri Lanka: Background Is Essential

 March 18, 2012 
It is also important to get the point across to the Sinhalese that yesterday it was the Tamil people, tomorrow it will be the Sinhalese, since this is what Totalitarian regimes have done for centuries

By Brian Senewiratne -

Dr. Brian Senewiratne

The Channel 4 News videos on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lankaare about the most important contributions to apprise the world of what has gone on, and is still going on, behind the closed and censored doors of Sri Lanka.

There are now two documentaries, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields released in June 2011, and Sri Lanka’s killing Fields. War Crimes Unpunished released in March 2012. They contain crucial evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, if not Genocide of the Tamils.

The world needs to see these, since all that comes out of Sri Lanka is what the Sri Lankan Government wants the world to believe. That is what a Totalitarian does – to shut down the Media, among other repressive measures.  It is therefore essential that these dreadful atrocities be seen by as many people as possible.
I do not believe that the majority of Sinhalese are barbarians despite their ‘celebration’ of Rajapaksa’s ’victory’. I do believe that many, indeed most, of them will be horrified if they see what their Government has done to the Tamil civilians in the North and East 

There is, however, a problem with these Channel 4 videos. There is no background information which is so important to appreciate why these atrocities occurred. ------

There is, however, a problem with these Channel 4 videos. There is no background information which is so important to appreciate why these atrocities occurred. If this is not provided, then these videos are nothing but yet another ‘horror movie’. What has gone on in the war waged by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) on the Tamil people (not just the Tamil Tigers), is much more than a horror story.  
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Shavendra Silva declared "persona non grata" to British event

[Sun, 18 Mar 2012, 15:25 GMT]

The U.K.'s United Nation Mission in New York, decided not to invite Sri Lanka's Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and ex-Major General in Sri Lankan Army (SLA), Shavendra Silva, to the Commonwealth Day reception, triggering a boycott from Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Palitha Kohona, the current co-chair of the Commonwealth Caucus in New York, media in Colombo reported. Full story >>

Lanka boycotts C’ wealth Day reception

Sunday March 18, 2012

The battle over war crimes charges moved from the corridors of the Palais des Nations in Geneva to the cocktail circuit in New York this week.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr Palitha Kohona, the current co-chair of the Commonwealth Caucus in New York, boycotted the Commonwealth Day reception held at the UK Mission in protest against the Brits refusing to invite Deputy Permanent Representative, Maj Gen Shavendra Silva to the event.

Kohona apparently stayed away from the reception in consultation with Colombo, although Sri Lanka was this year's co-host of the event with Australia. According to reports from New York, it is understood that Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the UK Permanent Representative had not even consulted Australia on the decision not to invite Silva, who is at the centre of a political controversy at the UN over allegations of war crimes.

"The white Commonwealth appears to be acting in concert targeting Silva," said an External Affairs ministry source, as did Louise Frechette, the Canadian chairwoman of the Senior Advisory Group (SAG) on Peacekeeeping, who had tried to keep Silva out of the SAG meeting although he was representing the 54-strong Asia Pacific Group at the UN.

The UK action was ironic, he pointed out, given that the visiting British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, who was the chief guest at the New York reception, is being sued in London for being an "accessory to the murder of civilians in Afghanistan". As co-chair, Kohona had graciously provided the savouries and the flowers for the high-level social event. But as one diplomat in New York observed:

"Holding the Commonwealth Day reception without the co-host Sri Lanka was like staging Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark". Sri Lanka hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year.

War widows 'forced into prostitution'

 18 March, 2012

'The only way to feed their children is to sell their body'

Women who have lost their husbands and sons in Sri Lanka's decades-long conflict have been forced to turn to prostitution, say women's rights activists.

Geetha Lakmini of World Fisherfolk Solidarity Movement said over 85,000 women were widowed in the north and east after the war.

"One village in Madhu area is infamous for prostitution because they have no male family members, no jobs and there is no other way of survival," she told journalists in Colombo.

"The only way to feed their children is to sell their body."

Many war widows still do not get any compensation announced by the government, she added.

Accountability

A conference on war affected women also heard that thousands affected women are currently suffering from serious physical illnesses including headaches, high blood pressure as well as psychological illnesses such as depression.

Accountability is demonstrating to the world that we are human beings   Shantini Satchitanandan, Viluthu

The executive director of Viluthu Centre for Human Resource Development, Shantini Satchitanandan said that many countries investigated alleged war crimes after a conflict mainly as an attempt to console psychologically impaired war-affected women.

"They say the reconciliation is a long process. It should go on. It should go on for these women to find out what exactly happen to their husbands, loved ones," she said commenting on the need for accountability after a civil war.

"Accountability is demonstrating to the world that we are human beings," she added.

The conference was organised by he Women's Movement for Social Justice.

 

UK arms sales to Sri Lanka continue, despite new evidence of atrocities

 15 March 2012

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has challenged the government to explain why it continues to licence weapons for export to Sri Lanka, as a Channel 4 documentary reveals further evidence of war crimes by the Sri Lankan military.

Since the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009, the UK has licensed military and dual use equipment for export to Sri Lanka to the value of over £3 million - with arms sales comprising over £2 million of the total.

On Wednesday 14 March, Channel 4 screened Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished, containing graphic scenes of deliberate heavy shelling of civilians and a hospital, denial of food aid to civilians and targeted summary executions, including the 12-year-old son of the Tamil Tiger leader.

Between May and December 2009, the UK licensed military and dual use exports worth £700,000, of which £580,000 were military, and in 2010, just under £1 million, of which £185,000 were military. In the first nine months of 2011 (the latest date for which figures are available), the value reached almost £1.5 million, of which over £1.3 million were military.

Some of the most high-value items licensed were armoured military vehicles. For example, in August 2009, a few months after the end of the fighting, the UK approved a licence valued at £175,000 for "all wheel vehicles with ballistic protection" followed by a licence for similar vehicles in November, this time worth £300,000. This was surpassed in July 2011 when a licence was approved for £500,000 for the same military vehicles.

Other high-value items have involved cryptography. In April 2011 the UK approved export licences for "equipment employing cryptography" of £166,000. In the same month, a licence was issued for export of "decoying countermeasure equipment and components", coming under the heading of "grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures", totalling £412,800. In June 2011, there were approvals for body armour and components for body armour valued at £96,000.

Kaye Stearman, spokesperson for Campaign Against Arms Trade, said:

The Arab Spring has bought world attention to the repression practiced by governments against their own people. "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished" brings a similar focus on the brutality exercised by the government of Sri Lanka against opposing forces and thousands of helpless civilians trapped in the warzone. We need to ask why the UK government continues to licence arms for export to Sri Lanka, given their long and proven knowledge of the situation.

ENDS

For further information please contact CAAT's Media Coordinator, Kaye Stearman on 020 7281 0297 or mobile 07990 673 232 or emailpress@caat.org.uk.

NOTES

1. Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) works for the reduction and ultimate abolition of the international arms trade.The arms business has a devastating impact on human rights and society and damages economic development. Large-scale military procurement and arms exports only reinforce a militaristic approach to international problems. Around 75% of CAAT's income is raised from individual supporters.
2. In 2005, the first year of the ceasefire, the UK approved military and dual use exports of £4.5 million to Sri Lanka. In 2006, this rose to £8.5 million, falling to £1 million in 2007, and rising again to £4.5 million in 2008. The weapons exported during this period included armoured vehicles, machine gun components and semiautomatic pistols.
3. The data for arms export licences for Sri Lanka can be found via CAAT's export licence app here.The full app can be accessedhere.
4. In August 2009 the cross-party Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) said that it could not guarantee that UK were not used during the Sri Lankan military onslaught of April-May 2009. CAEC said the UK should review its policy on arms sales to Sri Lanka. The then chairman of CAEC, Roger Berry, said that the UK "must assess more carefully the risk that UK arms exports might be used by those countries in the future in a way that breaches our licensing criteria." That criteria includes not exporting arms to countries in conflict or who are likely to use arms in internal repression. Roger Berry further called for a review of all existing licences and recommended that the government assess what UK weapons were used by the Sri Lankan military against LTTE. To CAAT's knowledge this recommendation has not been adopted.

UN war crimes resolution: India to vote against Sri Lanka

 Mar 19, 2012

Video

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New Delhi: In a victory for the DMK and the AIADMK, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that the government intended to vote in favour of the US-led resolution against Sri lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but the final draft of the resolution was awaited.

"We are still waiting for the final draft of the resolution, but we intend to vote in favour of the resolution," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking on the issue of alleged war crimes and Tamils in Sri Lanka, Manmohan Singh said, "India has stressed on reconciliation and healing the wounds of the Lanka Tamils. We have asked Lanka govt to stress on meaningful devolution of power."

The Prime Minister also claimed that normalcy was returning to the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.

DMK chief Karunanidhi welcomed the Prime Minister's statement and said, "I welcome the Prime Minister's statement. We will wait to see the final decision." He also announced that the DMK will fast on March 22 for Sri Lankan Tamils.

The DMK and the AIADMK had been stepping up pressure on the Centre to vote in favour of the resolution and take a strong stand against Sri Lanka.

The resolution demands those found guilty of war crimes against Lankan Tamils be declared as war criminal.

While the DMK indicated a review of ties with the UPA, AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to the Prime Minister to take up the issue of war crimes with the United Nations.

DMK chief Karunanidhi had said, "DMK will deem it as betrayal of Tamils if Centre does not support US resolution on Lanka. I can't decide on withdrawing support to Centre on this. We would discuss and decide in our executive meet."

Earlier, DMK MP Kanimozhi also hoped that the Centre will "not push" the party to take a decision on its continuance in the government over India's stand on the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lankan Government in the UN Human Rights Council.

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Activists urge India to vote against Sri Lanka

 Mar 19, 2012es".

New Delhi: A group of Indian activists has urged the government to vote in Geneva in favour of a US-backed resolution attacking Sri Lanka over "war crimes".

"While the government of Sri Lanka has taken some steps towards strengthening peace, there are specific issues where there has been no tangible progress," the activists said in a statement. 

The statement noted that much of the resolution at the Human Rights Council (HRC) had ideas that India had voiced earlier including those related to national reconciliation following the end of the war in 2009.

It said India too had suggested an independent and credible mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights violations in a time-bound manner. 

"The resolution also calls (Colombo) to report back to the HRC on the implementation of the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) and to accept technical support from the UN to implement it. 

"We sincerely hope that the Indian government will follow through on its own statement by supporting this resolution, and (we) strongly urge it to do so," it said. 

Among the signatories to the statement were Anuradha Kapoor, Anusha Hariharan, Bobby Kunhu, Fatima N., Geetanjali Gangoli, Geetha Nambisan, Jayasree Subramanian, Lalita Ramdas, Madhu Mehra, Sheba George, Suneeta Dhar, Tapan Bose and Vasanth Kannabiran.

Sri Lanka faces allegations that it is overlooking "war crimes" against Tamil civilians which took place when the military crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009. 

Geneva meet: rallies galore in Sri Lanka, not all altruistic though

 
R. K. RADHAKRISHNAN 

“Let us not lose the victory achieved by war heroes by sacrificing their lives” read one placard at a pro-government rally soon after the draft of the U.S.-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, was available in the public domain.

That rally was on February 27. Since then Colombo, and many parts of Sri Lanka, have witnessed rallies, some on their own, some encouraged by the government. In fact, it's protest season and every community and organisation, which depend or want the government to do them a favour, are falling over one another to join in. The protest is against the foreign powers. At most of the rallies, leaders denounce many countries, notably the U.S., U.K., Norway, and European Union in general. Surprisingly, there was little anti-India rhetoric.

In fact, on March 13, Minister Wimal Weerawansa, called for a boycott of American products. The National Freedom Front leader wanted people to boycott even Google. Of course, no one seems to have taken him seriously.

The resolution comes up this week, and hence, last week saw the maximum number of protests. The theme as seen from the placards is: “Keep off Sri Lanka. We know how to deal with our problems.” The rallies also blamed the opposition United National Party, which has not publicly criticised the Geneva move. “UNP, do not betray the country” one placard read.

Last week, it was the turn of the organised professionals, monks, trade unions, Muslims, and Tamils to protest. A group of Muslims, who protested in front of the United Nations Development Programme office here on March 15, demanded that the “UNHRC allow Sri Lankans to live peacefully”. Another placard asked where the UNHRC was when the LTTE massacred the Muslims at the height of its segregation campaign. “Our support”, one placard made it clear, was “to protect our motherland”.

Many organisations that seem to have been floated recently have also joined in with statements. One such statement came from “working professionals and trade union members” under the banner of an outfit named National Organization for the Protecting the Country. It described the resolution as an “unwelcome action”.

What confirms the suspicions who is behind the protests was the fact that one such was organised in Jaffna. Ever since Sri Lanka took control of the northern province, nothing happens in the area without the Army being informed about it. The last protest in Jaffna was against India — in front of the Consulate — demanding its fishermen stay off Sri Lankan waters. The March 17 protest attracted a sizeable crowd, including former LTTE cadre, who were rehabilitated into society. One poster was telling: “Emadhu naatirkku velinaattu soozchigal vendam.” (Our country does not need conspiracies by foreigners!).

A Mayor – The Army, And White Van Abductions

 Sunday, March 18, 2012

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

MP Duminda Silva’s former supporter Kolonnawa Urban Council Chairman Ravindra Udayashantha Picture by Dinouk Colambage, The ID cards and papers found in the possession of the driver of the white van, The number plate of the white van - PC 8649, The Mitsubishi white van used by the army personnel and The army personnel at the Wellampitiya Police

The attempt to abduct governing UPFA Chairman of the Kolonnawa Urban Council, Ravindra Udayashantha has taken an interesting twist with various versions being related. The Chairman and the army, who were involved in the attempted abduction, have made contradictory statements.
The involvement of army personnel in the incident has raised concerns over the series of white van abductions that seem to be taking place yet again. The army however denies that forces personnel have been deployed to carry out abductions.
Udayashantha claims that two of the army personnel who had attempted to abduct him last Saturday night were involved in the abduction of his brother last month who to date remains missing.
Udayashantha’s younger brother, Janaka Prabath Dodampegama was abducted on February 2, this year.Read More »

Is the 2009 war victory, a licence to plunder?

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

There is a fundamental fallacy in believing that the fortunes of Sri Lanka will rise or fall solely on the outcome of the US draft resolution due to be taken up before the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva this coming week.

Desperate exercises in self deception

The contrary is precisely the case even though the Government is expending extraordinary expenditure and exhibiting frantic energies in support of its cause. Let us make no mistake about this. If the resolution fails, the relentless outside pressure will undoubtedly continue unless and until this Government is seen to make concrete steps towards addressing its serious Rule of Law problem. Empty rhetoric, favourable media spin and bombastic pronouncements on the part of the administration cannot prevent this. Are we prepared to allow this Government to continually divert all these financial resources on desperate exercises of deception before the international community purely to avoid its adherence to the Rule of Law? We will return to this question later on.Full Story>>>

Rajapaksa Govt. faces uphill battle in Geneva

Vital need to review country's foreign policy, top professionals must be called in to avoid more debacles India's position double-edged, vote against Lanka will weaken its position and give walkover to China

By Our Political Editor

A week that will be a milestone in Sri Lanka's contemporary history begins tomorrow. On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council will take for voting a United States-backed resolution, described as "non-condemnatory," on Sri Lanka. Among its co-sponsors are France, Norway, Nigeria and Cameroon. Since the UNHRC sessions began on February 23 in Geneva, government ministers, officials, politicians and their supporters have been engaged in a campaign in Geneva. Even if their approach was contradictory and multi-pronged, the goals remained one - to either defeat or seek the withdrawal of the resolution. Both seemed a formidable task. The prognosis came just three days ago from the man who conducts Sri Lanka's foreign policy, External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris. He literally toured the world, churning out one statement after another, and holding out great hope. He bitterly criticised the west and called for a change in the United Nations system. It seems his campaign has not worked. Last Wednesday evening, he told the weekly cabinet meeting that there was only a "50-50 chance" of Sri Lanka thwarting the resolution. His remarks came during a briefing which President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked Peiris to give ministers when they had finished the day's official business. The Minister explained why he was pessimistic and expected a 'photo finish' outcome. In his view, the United States, which had diplomatic representation in all capitals of member nations of the Human Rights Council, had carried out a vigorous campaign. Whether Peiris was unaware of the worldwide reach of US diplomatic missions or their vigorous campaign is indeed a critical question. After all, he is Sri Lanka's Minister of External Affairs. However, when he ended his briefing, Rajapaksa was in a defiant mood. Whilst Sri Lanka delegations were lobbying foreign countries for their vote at Thursday's sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a team from the London based Global Tamil Forum has been following suit. On Friday, the delegation was in Oslo, Norway meeting Erik Solheim, Minister of Environment and International Development. Norway is a co-sponsor of the US backed resolution on Sri Lanka and is a voting member of the UNHRC. "Ena ona deyakata moona demu. Mama paava denney nehe," (Whatever comes, let us face it. I am not going to betray) he told his ministers. Chipping in was Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development. He said that the External Affairs Ministry should concentrate on the countries that were extending their support to Sri Lanka. Though he did not name these countries, he did mention their number. The idea was to ensure they, less than the figure required for a majority vote, are not forced to change their stance under pressure. There was still a semblance of hope in some diplomatic quarters in Geneva on the likelihood of the resolution being adopted without a vote. This is the result of behind-the-scene moves by India to strike a deal with the US where the resolution could be further moderated by amendments enabling member states of the Council to adopt it through a consensus. A ranking diplomatic source in Geneva said such a move was highly unlikely for a number of reasons. "Already, the draft which was condemnatory has been modified to acceptable levels. It is too little too late now," the source who cannot make public statements said. Sri Lanka's delegation to the UNHRC has also not been mandated to back any move for a consensus without a vote.

• READ MORE..

Sri Lankan war crimes in spotlight

Refugee

Sri Lankan is under pressure over repeated allegations of war crimes committed during its war against the pro-independence Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The war, which lasted nearly three decades, ended with the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. An estimated 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the first five months of 2009 alone.

A panel of experts appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon concluded that the bulk of these deaths were due to the bombardment of Tamil civilians by government forces. The panel recommended the setting up of an international investigative body.

To avoid this possibility and placate international concerns over the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Army, the Sri Lankan government set up its own enquiry, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Full Story>>>

Sri Lanka's Post-War Economic Miracle Turns Sour

Arab Times

COLOMBO, March 18, 2012 (AFP) -Sri Lanka's president began his second term vowing an economic miracle after decades of conflict, but the post-war boom is already fraying, putting his record on economic management to the test.
Mahinda Rajapakse launched his second six-year term in 2010 promising to turn Sri Lanka into the "wonder of Asia" by doubling GDP per capita income to $4,000 by 2014.
After the end of the island's civil war in 2009, brought about by an army onslaught that is dogged by war crime allegations, Sri Lanka reaped a peace dividend that has seen some of the fastest development in Asia.
But now, less than three years later, the government must tackle a ballooning trade deficit, a falling currency, and discontent about rising living costs after huge hikes in fuel and electricity prices.
"Right now our problem is the trade deficit," Sri Lanka's Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse, who is the president's younger brother, said last week. "In fact, I would say it is our only problem."
The government has allowed the rupee to depreciate and slapped credit ceilings on commercial banks to discourage loans that could fuel further imports.
Last year's trade deficit hit nearly $10 billion, or a fifth of the country's GDP, imposing a massive strain on the country's dwindling foreign reserves and hurting the island's credit-worthiness.
Rajapakse's former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera accuses the administration of "mismanagement and corruption" for the economic woes which has seen the currency drop 10 percent against the dollar this year.
"The looming economic crisis is not something that happened suddenly," says Samaraweera, an MP from the opposition United National Party. "It's the result of mismanagement and corruption in the past five to six years."
The Colombo Stock Exchange, which doubled in value in 2010 and was Asia's best performer, has slid this year, shedding 10 percent of its value.
Sri Lankan economist and former central bank deputy governor W. A. Wijewardena believes the economy is in trouble despite an official 7.2 percent growth forecast for 2012.
He says the balance of payments problem will have a knock-on effect on Sri Lanka's ability to service its large commercially raised foreign debt, the value of the local currency and domestic prices.
The country needs to borrow heavily to finance the trade deficit and repay debt which could push the country into a vicious debt cycle, experts warn. The government has insisted, however, that it does not risk a sovereign default.
The government raised fuel prices by up to 49 percent and electricity by 40 percent last month, blaming the move on surging global crude prices.
Several public demonstrations against the rising living costs in the island's south last month were brutally put down by police with at least one demonstrator killed during anti-government riots.
"The need for making these changes (increasing prices) had been felt by the economy for a long time and he problem had accumulated to an explosive level," Wijewardena said.
MP Samaraweera said the government's failure to improve its human rights record and its anti-Western rhetoric had also dampened foreign interest in the economy which should have increased after the end of the separatist war.
Foreign direct investments fell by 14 percent to $516 million in 2010, the first full year after government forces crushed ethnic Tamil rebels in the north of the country, according to the Central Bank.
Since the end of fighting, Sri Lanka has been facing allegations of war crimes and is resisting international calls for an independent probe.
The European Union withdrew concessionary tariffs for imports in 2010, accusing Sri Lanka of failing to meet human rights standards, but the country has managed to maintain its exports at the same level.
Samaraweera said Sri Lanka would not be able to attract bigger and better quality foreign investors by ignoring rights issues raised by the international community. Sri Lanka risks isolation, he warned.
"We will become the new Burma (Myanmar) of Asia unless we do something about improving our human rights record," Samaraweera said.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives think-tank in Colombo says the government is likely to try to mask domestic economic problems with anti-Western rhetoric.
"The government has already organised anti-Western demonstrations to divert attention," said the think-tank's director Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu. "But they won't be able to do it for long because people are feeling the pinch." 

Detective journalist busts doctorate racket

 Sunday March 18, 2012

By Leon Berenger

An undercover journalist from the Sunday Times busted a multi-million rupee scam involving the sale of doctorates by a group of Buddhist monks and a layman at a Temple in Kandy earlier this week. It all began after a member of the group approached our Dambulla Provincial Correspondent, Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa and offered him a doctorate in return for Rs. 200,000. They said the cash was needed for a cloak, scroll and photographs and also for payments to six monks. Journalist Kanchana A member of the group told our correspondent he deserved a doctorate for the public service he had done through the print and electronic media. Mr. Ariyadasa readily agreed to accept the offer and told the man to go ahead and make the arrangements for him to receive the doctorate soon. But he had other things on his mind. So when the day was set the correspondent drove to Kandy where he was directed to a studio. There he was handed over the cloak and other garments that are worn before receiving a doctorate. Later he was photographed. Thereafter the journalist was taken to another location in the Kandy town where he met a layman identified as S. A. Kariyawasam who directed him to keep the cash in six separate envelopes to be given to the Buddhist Monks. Later Mr. Ariyadasa was taken to a Buddhist Temple in Mahaiyawa. There he met the chief incumbent who identified himself as Ven. Indrajothi Wansanlankara Maldeniya Vajirana who later handed over the certificate. The correspondent was instructed to give the envelopes containing the cash to a courier who was waiting farther up the road and away from the temple. The envelopes were later handed over as instructed and our correspondent made a quick getaway. Soon his mobile began to buzz and the caller at the other end was furious. This was understandable. The envelopes did not contain a single rupee but they were neatly packed with tender jak leaves. Later in the night our correspondent was offered a valuable Valampuri (Conchshell). This came despite an assurance by the Higher Education Ministry that it was preparing a policy framework that would prevent bogus education institutions from granting qualifications. The Ministry also banned 10 such education institutions from giving bogus doctorates and degrees. The decision to ban the institutions was taken following recommendations by a Cabinet sub-committee appointed to look into the matter. They were the Sri Lanka Vishwa Samadhi Foundation, Jathika Sammaana Upadhi Sarasavi Aayathanaya, Sri Jayawardenapura Commemoration Foundation (Battaramulla), Dharmapala Olcott Commemoration Foundation,International University for Alternative Medicine, Sri Jayawardenapura Lanka National Cultural Foundation, Multi National Peace Organisation, All Communities United Organisation, Samaja Subha Saadhana Acharya Upadhi Aayathanaya and Saamadhaana Vinishvayakara Maanava Himikam Sanvidhaanaya

Reconciliation at gun point: will it work in Sri Lanka?

News First Srilanka

The diplomatic row between Sri Lanka and the United States of America reached fever pitch by midweek, following statements made by both parties adding salt to the already festered relationship. 

Though US has categorically said a week ago that the US –Sri Lanka relationship is at its best for the moment: the US now has expressed its apprehension over certain statements made by several politicians including government ministers.

.

The latest of all comes from Wimal Weerawansa Minister in charge of Housing in the Rajapaksa Government when he called for a boycott of US (American) goods in Sri Lanka on Tuesday at a public rally organised by National Freedom Front at the Hyde Park to oppose the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.more 

Global Tamil Forum met with Norwegian politicians in Oslo, Norway on 16 March 2012

 

These photos are issued to the media by Global Tamil Forum (GTF) to inform that delegates had formal meetings with Norwegian politicians Mr Erik Solheim MP - Minister of Environment & International Development, Leader of the Opposition & Conservative Party Leader Ms Erna Solberg MP and Ms Karin S Woldseth MP of Progress Party - Member of the Foreign Affairs & Defence Parliamentary Select Committee.

Norway is one of the 47 voting members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the Norwegian Parliament will be debating on 26 March 2012 on Interpellation of Peter Skovholt Gitmark to the foreign minister to stand behind a request for investigation of allegations of war crimes and humanitarian atrocities in Sri Lanka.


GTF Delegates with Erik Solheim MP---Minister-of Environment & International-Development

GTF Delegates with Leader of the Opposition & Conservative Party Leader Ms Erna Solberg

GTF Delegates with Ms Karin S Woldseth MP of Progress Party---Member of the Foreign Affairs & Defence Parliamentary Select Committee