Australia warns 'high degree of caution' for tourists to Sri Lanka

Australia warns 'high degree of caution' for tourists to Sri Lanka

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Created On Saturday, 06 July 2013 10:16

Category: General

Australia warns 'high degree of caution' for tourists to Sri Lanka as follows
Exercise a high degree of caution
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka at this time because of the unpredictable security environment.

On 25 August 2011, the Sri Lanka government announced it would not extend the state of emergency, which had been in place almost constantly since 1971. The state of emergency lapsed on 31 August 2011, with the removal of emergency regulations. However, new regulations have been introduced under the Prevention of Terrorism Act which replaced several provisions of the emergency regulations.
Security forces maintain a visible presence throughout the country. Military and police checkpoints are present along some roads and road closures can occur without warning.
You should avoid all demonstrations and large public gatherings as they may turn violent or be a target for politically-motivated attacks. Police have used tear gas in response to protests.
In the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which includes Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochichi and Jaffna Districts, post-conflict security forces activity is ongoing, especially demining. Marked and unmarked minefields and unexploded ordnance are widespread in some areas.
In both the Northern and Eastern Provinces you should stay on main roads and pay close attention to signs warning of danger from landmines.
Foreign passport holders, including diplomats and international and local non-government organisation personnel, no longer require approval from the Ministry of Defence to travel to the north of Sri Lanka. However, individuals and groups intending to visit military establishments or high security zones or to meet military officials still require specific approval from the Ministry of Defence.
All regions of Sri Lanka experience outbreaks of the mosquito-borne dengue fever. Almost half of the cases in 2012 were reported in Western Province, where Colombo is located. See Health Issues below for more information.
Because of the prevailing security situation, we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us so we can contact you in an emergency.
Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.

Courtesy -http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Why are asylum seekers disbelieved?

4 July 2013

Why are asylum seekers so often disbelieved? How is it that clinical evidence of torture is oftentimes rejected on the grounds of ‘credibility’? Why has the UK judged so many Tamil asylum seekers not to be at risk, forcibly returning them to Sri Lanka where they have gone on to be tortured?

Prof Good

All who are involved in asylum work wrestle with some or all of these questions.Professor Anthony Good, Professor Emeritus in Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, has sought to provide answers through conducting analysis of Home Office policy documents and guidance for asylum caseworkers. Professor Good presented his findings at a MEDACT conference last month. Drawing heavily upon his excellent analysis, we follow suit in examining the Home Office guidance and policy materials. Analysis of these documents goes far to explaining why the Home Office has rejected asylum claims from Sri Lanka despite the applicants demonstrably being at risk.

Tamils Against Genocide, made a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture for its 5th periodic review of the UK. In that submission we expressed concern regarding the UKBA’s record to date and its methodology. We noted:

Why Are Asylum Seekers Disbelieved by nelvely

Sri Lankan Govt Invites Tamil Nadu Fishermen for Talks

 Sri Lankan Govt Invites Tamil Nadu Fishermen for Talks
 JUL 05, 2013
The Sri Lankan government today reached out to fishermen community of Tamil Nadu as President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa met their delegation here with a promise of addressing their concerns.

Basil invited the fishermen to Sri Lanka to meet President Rajapaksa, ministers and representatives of Navy and coast guards to discuss their problems which include killings, arrests and harassment of Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait by Sri Lankan navy.

"It has been decided to have an open dialogue between both countries' fishermen with the consent of governments of India and Sri Lanka," a source familiar with the development told PTI here.

Through people-to-people contact, the problems can be solved, Basil Rajapaksa told the Tamil Nadu fishermen's delegation.

Devadass and Sesudass, representing the Association, appealed to Rajapaksa to give instructions to the Navy not to disturb or arrest them while fishing in the traditional areas.

They also requested him to release all the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested by the Lankan navy, Association sources said.

The fishermen's Association functionaries met the minister in the wake of incidents of Tamil fishermen being threatened and arrested by the Lankan navy. The fishermen also charged the Navay men for causing damages to their fishing nets and boats.

Meanwhile, all the 49 fishermen from the state, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on June 5 while fishing near the Palk Straits and released by the island nation's court a couple of days ago, were handed over to Indian Coast Guard officials at the International Martime Boundary Line today.

Eight fishermen, who were arrested on June 15, are still in Sri Lankan prison, the sources said.

Red Cross worker's murder: DNA evidence delays trial SATURDAY, 06 JULY 2013  Problems with DNA evidence have delayed the prosecution of suspects over the murder of a Red Cross worker in Sri Lanka in 2011, British officials said. Khuram Shaikh, 32, from Milnrow, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was shot and stabbed on Christmas Day 2011. Eight people, including a Sri Lankan politician, were arrested and bailed in November. They all denied the charges. The British High Commission in Colombo said the 18-month delay was "not a good message to tourists". The Sri Lanka High Commission said the "Government Analyst's report relating to DNA evidence is awaited and all arrangements have been made to commence proceedings upon receipt of the same". Robbie Bulloch, Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, said: "What we have been told is that they have been waiting for DNA evidence and that has been holding it up. "Why that should take 18 months to process I don't know, but what we have done from the very beginning is urge the government to take this very seriously. "It's a brutal attack, it's not a good message for a country which attracts very many British tourists each year." Mr Shaikh, who graduated from Salford University, had been working in Gaza for the Red Cross, fitting prosthetics limbs. He was shot and stabbed when he and his Russian girlfriend, Victoria Aleksandrovna Tkacheva, were attacked on holiday in the resort of Tangalle. In a statement, the Sri Lanka High Commission said the government of Sri Lanka "is committed to prosecute the persons responsible", with a "special prosecutor nominated by the Attorney-General to conduct the prosecution". It confirmed the case had been transferred from Tangalle to Colombo Magistrates Court "to prevent the alleged intimidation of witnesses". "These incidents, though extremely sad and unfortunate, have happened in many other tourist destinations in the past and can happen anywhere in the world," it said. "This will by no means overshadow the warmth that is offered to tourists by our hospitable nation and its people". Mr Shaikh had been trying to break up a fight in the hotel bar. His brother, Nasir, said: "There's still witness accounts outstanding, DNA evidence outstanding, 18 months on this should have been completed. We need a trial date set". The Sri Lankan government has said it strongly condemned the killing, but Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk said he was "extremely disappointed" with their response. He said: "They need to follow the rule of law and rise to the standards expected of Commonwealth countries. We need to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to ensure justice is done."

Here is the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo Midterm Report under Resolution 1533, Dated June 20, 2013, Exclusively Put Online by Inner City Press

Here is the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo MidtermReport under Resolution 1533, Dated June 20, 2013, Exclusively Put Online by Inner City Press

Here is the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo MidtermReport under Resolution 1533, Dated June 20, 2013, Exclusively Put Online by Inner City Press

Letter dated 20 June 2013 from the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo addressed to the Chair of the Security Council Committee establishedpursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo have the honour to transmit the mid-term report of the Group, prepared in pursuance of paragraph 5 of Security Council resolution 2078 (2012).
Nelson Alusala
Daniel Fahey
Henry Fomba
Bernard Leloup
Marie Plamadiala
Emilie Serralta

Here is the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo MidtermReport under Resolution 1533... by nelvely

Defence Secretary Defends Majority Domination, Denies Devolution

By Laksiri Fernando -July 5, 2013 

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

The interview given to the Daily Mirror (4 July 2013) by the Secretary of Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, may be candid as the reporter has prefaced, but not helpful to resolve the post-conflict issues or reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Moreover they raise questions about his political/military ambitions which should be concerns for the democracy in the country. He was fairly a good Defence Secretary during the war but not after. Instead of defending the country or the people as a total he now defends the majority domination of his own ethnic community over the minorities, identifying himself as a ‘Sinhala Buddhist.’

Defence Secretary Defends Majority Domination, Denies Devolution by nelvely

Government total budget deficit 343.5 billion - Karu

Government total budget deficit 343.5 billion - Karu

Friday, 05 July 2013

'Total of the budget deficit of the government for the first four months of the year is Rupees 343.5 billion' said by MP Karu Jayasooriya at media conference.

See full speech below.

Government Total Budget Deficit 343.5 Billion Karu by nelvely

Journalist flees Sri Lanka media crackdown, seeks safety in U.S.

By Sarah Stuteville-July 4, 2013 

Special to The Seattle Times

Frederica Jansz worked for decades as a journalist in Sri Lanka — a country Reporters Without Borders ranked among the worst for press freedoms. After 25 years of tough stories and taking on powerful people, Jansz is seeking asylum in the United States and making her home in the Pacific Northw

Frederica Jansz is used to making people mad. She worked for decades as a journalist in Sri Lanka — a country ranked among the worst for press freedoms by Reporters Without Borders.

Journalist Flees Sri Lanka Media Crackdown, Seeks Safety in U.S. by nelvely

Commonwealth and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission explore national inquiries

Commonwealth and Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission explore national inquiries

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Created On Friday, 05 July 2013 10:04

Category: General

Over 50 staff members from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) completed a Commonwealth workshop on conducting national inquiries in compliance with international standards on 4 June.

John Walters, Ombudsman of Namibia - an ‘A’ accredited national human rights institution - led the three-day workshop in Colombo.

Chairperson of the HRCSL Justice Priyantha Perera said: “The workshop has been very beneficial for us, as many of the staff and officers have little awareness of national inquiries. The facilitation has been very comprehensive in building our knowledge, and we are pleased that so many HRCSL staff members have been able to participate.

“I personally have benefitted by broadening my understanding of national inquiries and how they can be used as an effective tool.”

HRCSL Commissioner Jezima Ismail added that Mr Walters’ presentation will be useful in guiding the Commission in developing a model for application.

While making a presentation at the workshop on the HRCSL’s enabling legislation and its mandate in conducting investigations and inquiries, Javid Yusuf, Attorney-at-Law and former Commissioner of the HRCSL, highlighted greater media engagement and public awareness raising as two central strategies in raising the public profile, confidence and authority of the Commission.

The Commonwealth Secretariat's Head of Human Rights, Karen McKenzie, said: “We have had positive and constructive engagement by all participants. They have demonstrated a keen commitment to strengthening their capacity and taking a stronger leadership role on human rights protection, promotion and advocacy both nationally and internationally.

“The Commonwealth Secretariat will continue to provide technical, financial, monitoring and oversight support.’’

T Kanagaraj, an HRCSL Regional Coordinator for Jaffna, noted: “The workshop has been beneficial in enhancing team work between the HRCSL staff members, and I appreciate the opportunity to spend time with the Regional Coordinators so that we can share our experiences between the regions.”

The workshop is taking place in parallel to a visit by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, to review arrangements for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November. Mrs Masire-Mwamba will meet with the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Professor G L Peiris, Judge Priyantha Perera and members of the CHOGM 2013 Task Force.

In his last two official visits to Sri Lanka in September 2012 and February this year in preparation for CHOGM, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma committed to providing technical assistance to the HRCSL. This, he said, would strengthen the Commission’s capacity to investigate human rights abuses, which would contribute to further enhancing the independence, authority and effectiveness of the Commission in compliance with international standards.

Courtesy - http://reliefweb.int/

Basil briefs India

Basil briefs India

2013-07-05

Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa, who is presently in New Delhi, is expected to brief Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Kurshid, and Secretary, Ranjan Mathai, on the Sri Lankan Government's stand on the 13th Amendment, and the need to make changes to suit the current situation in Sri Lanka. "The time has come when police and land powers stated in the 13th Amendment have to be seriously reviewed, and Minister Basil Rajapaksa will brief India in this regard," Government Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, said at the weekly Cabinet news briefing yesterday.

"The stand of the government is that there have been many changes since the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was made, consequent to the infamous Indo-Lanka Accord, which was thrust by Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, on then President, J.R. Jayewardene.

It is also a matter of protocol and courtesy that Minister Basil Rajapaksa is in the Indian capital to brief its leaders on these developments, Rambukwella told the local and the Colombo based foreign media.

Special discussions will be held on the proposed amendments made to land and the police powers, the minister said, adding, the process would be carried forward to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which would begin its sessions on 9 July.

The Media Minister also assured the 13th Amendment will not be repealed but amendments would be made to it.

Responding to a question from Ceylon Today, as to the rationale underpinning the government spelling out on the one hand, that it was reducing/diluting the police and land powers, and on the other hand, spelling out that it was increasing the powers of the Provincial Councils through devolution, the minister said, although the 13th Amendment had been in existence for the last 25 years, no Sri Lankan leader had implemented the provisions of the amendment, and it was this government which was to implement it even after making amendments, through the 19th Amendment.

However, Rambukwella said the government would proceed with the Northern Provincial polls in September, which would also mean it would be prior to the recommendations made, and the implementation, of the 19th Amendment.

On being questioned on the government's stand in relation to the Katchchativu Island, and whether he thinks the Indian Government would reclaim it due to Sri Lanka being in the process of diluting the 13th Amendment, Rambukwella said the Indian Government had not made that official as yet. "The government is confident the issue will not arise," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Basil Rajapaksa is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in Delhi today.

It is also likely that Rajapaksa and the Indian Premier will deliberate on issues related to Indian fishermen, for which the latter had made a written request. Rajapaksa is expected to return to Sri Lanka tonight.

Repeal Of 13A Flouting Constitution – CPA Urges SC To Uphold Integrity Of Constitutional Process

July 5, 2013 

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has highlighted to the Supreme Court, the serious dangers of failing to hold that failure to follow the mandatory provisions of the Constitution and refer the JHU Bill to repeal the 13th Amendment to every established province does not enable such a Bill to be ‘passed into law’. In written submissions filed on behalf of the CPA, it has been pointed out that it is imperative for the Supreme Court to continue to uphold the integrity of the constitutional process by not departing from the established jurisprudence of the Supreme Court, which has given harmonious construction to the constitutional provisions, so as to enable mandatory requirement of compliance with mandatory provisions of Article 154G(2) and Article 154G(3) of the Constitution.

Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu - Executive Director - CPA

It is reliably learnt that in their written submissions, the CPA urges the Supreme Court to recognize that it is both empowered and required to consider (and not decline to) make determination as to the issue of non-compliance with the mandatory constitutional provisions, in order: (a) to enable the Parliament and the citizenry to have the benefit of the relevant Constitutional interpretation that it involves; and (b) for the Supreme Court, as the judicial organ of government to be duly compliant with Article 4(d) of the Constitution.

Narrating at length the way in which the Supreme Court has not hesitated to protect the integrity of constitutional process by ruling several times in the past on the mandatory requirement to comply with the Constitutional requirement to refer such Bills to the Provinces in order for them to be capable of being passed into law, the Supreme Court is strongly urged not to discard this jurisprudence, which would only weaken the role of the Supreme Court.

The Attorney General and intervenient-petitioners have submitted the argument that the Supreme Court should hold that it does not have the power to look at whether mandatory procedural requirements of the Constitution have been followed up to the Bill being placed on the Parliament Order Paper. This argument is contrary to clear rulings of the Supreme Court in several recent Bill challenges, by different benches of the Supreme Court. The petition of the CPA that The Colombo Telegraph was able to get and publish in an earlier story refers to those rulings. (Click here)

Several constitutional and political analysts contacted by The Colombo Telegraph for their views (who were reluctant to be named), were of the opinion that if the Supreme Court refuses to rule on the matter of non-compliance with mandatory constitutional process, it would only pave the way for further serious flouting of the Constitution by the Rajapakse regime.

The bench which took up the Bill was headed by de facto Chief Justice Mohan Pieris who was installed in office after Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was forcibly prevented from functioning, after a kangaroo style impeachment inquiry process by a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that was held illegal by the Appeal Court and according to a Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court is urged by the CPA to (a) determine that the Bill titled “The 21st Amendment to the Constitution (Private Member’s Bill) has not been validly placed on the Order Paper of Parliament and cannot be enacted into law; and (b) determine that the Bill can only be placed on the Order Paper of Parliament AFTER such Bill has been referred by the President, after its publication in the Gazette and BEFORE it is placed on the Order Paper of Parliament for the expression of its views thereon within such period as may be specified in the reference, and shall not become law unless there is due compliance with Article 154G(2) of the Constitution, including the requirement that such Bill is duly referred to every Provincial Council.

Several lawyers also pointed out that by naming this Bill as the “21st Amendment”, it seems that the drafter is ignorant of legal matters. They said there have only been 18 amendments to the Constitution so far, which means the next one would be only the “19th Amendment” (not the 21st). They pointed out that it is dangerous for people ignorant of the law to try and draft such important laws.

On 01.07.2013, after oral submissions were made on the Bill, all parties were told by the court to file written submissions by 08.07.2013 and that the court’s ruling would be given on 12.07.2013.

On Sri Lanka Eliasson Cites UN Failures, Report Not Yet to Ban, Nor Public

On Sri Lanka Eliasson Cites UN Failures, Report Not Yet to Ban, Nor Public

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 3, updated with (censored) transcript -- Now more than four years after the UN's “systemic failure” during the killing of 40,000 civilians in Sri Lanka in May 2009, Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson has before him a report about the UN's failures and what can be done.

Inner City Press asked Eliasson about the process on May 9, 2013; he said the report would be finished and in front of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by “mid-June.”

  Once mid-June came and went, Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesperson about the report, but got nowhere. So on July 3 when Eliasson re-appeared to brief about his trip to Afghanistan, Inner City Press asked again.

  Eliasson said the report was given to him on June 17, but not yet to Ban Ki-moon. He said it is up to him and his colleagues in the Executive Office of the Secretary General to go through the report and draw conclusions, about “human rights early warning signals” and how to be ready to act quickly, as did not happen in 2009.

  Then, as Inner City Press reported daily in detail, the UN pulled out of Kilinochchi in northern Sri Lanka, did little when the government locked up local UN staff, and did not even call for a ceasefire in the run up to the bloodbath on the beach. There was murdering -- and apparently misleading -- of surrenderees.

  Since then there has been little to no accountability, and the Secretariat did nothing when Sri Lanka maneuvered to make military figure Shavendra Silva, depicted in the UN's own report as engaged in war crimes, a member of the UN Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations.

  It is still a troubling tale, and one wonders if Eliasson can move to at least turn it around somewhat. Inner City Press asked -- over the spokesperson's objection -- whether the report will be public. Eliasson said that will be up to Ban Ki-moon, but pledged “maximum transparency.” Watch this site.

Footnote: while Ban's deputy spokesman tried to disallow a single follow up on Sri Lanka and if the report will be public, he allowed two UNCA executive committee members follow ups, and gave one of them a second round of questions.

  UNCA is the group which screened, inside the UN's Dag Hammaskjold Library Auditorium, the Sri Lankan government's film denying war crimes, then tried to get Inner City Press thrown out of the UN for writing about it.

  Following that, Inner City Press co-founded the new Free UN Coalition for Access to defend journalists from these type of insider attacks. The result has been... more attacks, including most recently threats from the UN to suspend or withdraw Inner City Press' accreditation for merely hanging a sign of the Free UN Coalition for Access on the door of its office, while UNCA is allowed two big signs and more.

This is being fought back, taking the battle beyond the space and other issues on which the UN openly favors UNCA to the online world, through @FUNCA_info. Watch that feed, and this site.

From UN transcription which in typical Censorship fashion omits the name of FUNCA:

Q: I want to thank you for doing this briefing so soon after you got back, and also I hope that we will have some questions on more general UN items, after, it should be... There is DRC, Haiti and other things going on.

DSG: Sure, sure.

Q: I have tried to figure this out in your absence: you had said the last time that you gave us a briefing that in your function on Sri Lanka, that you had begun an internal review and that it would be finished by mid-June, so I had asked here and didn’t really get anywhere, so where does it stand on that? Thank you.

DSG: On the follow up of the Sri Lanka report, I was given the responsibility to set up a working group, and they delivered their report to me on 17 June. It is now up to me and my colleagues in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to go through these recommendations and draw the appropriate conclusions from that report. It was a serious report, that there were systemic failures of the UN system, and others also, not least Member States and the Security Council. But we took it upon ourselves to analyse these systemic failures, and the working group came up with some very important conclusions. It is premature for me to, at this stage, tell you about the contents. I will report to the Secretary-General as soon as we have analysed all these recommendations of the Working Group, but I can go so far as to say that we need to be better prepared for action when we see, at an early stage, human rights violations.

It is up to the Secretary-General to decide, but we will work with maximum transparency, of course. But the preparedness to see human rights early warning signals is crucial, but also the different measures we can take to better protect civilians, and then, above all, the need to have the possibility to react quickly in situations. But we will come back later on this issue. I would hope that we will be able to finish this work in the near future.

People of Jaffna want their homes back

People of Jaffna want their homes back

by Text Dinouk Colombage-2013-07-03 

The controversial retention of public land in the Jaffna Peninsula, on the excuse they come under 'high security zones (HSZ),' has left thousands of Jaffna residents homeless and prime agricultural land unused by the civilians.

 

Hidden from locals, in the Valikamam North HSZ, the military has taken to developing the region for tourism purposes, unfortunately at the expense of hundreds of people, who have lost their homes.

In an area sitting along the Peninsula's northern beach front, and covering nearly 25 square miles, the Valikamam North HSZ is cordoned off to all locals, who wish to travel to what were originally their own homes.

Many of the former residents have been displaced from the region since 1990. However, with the end of the war and the publication of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), these people feel they are not being treated fairly by the government.

S. Paramanthan, Secretary for the People's Council for Peace and Goodwill, said his original plot of land sits just outside the HSZ and was only returned to him a few months back. "I am happy I got my land back, but because it is just outside the HSZ it is still difficult to rebuild. There are a lot more restrictions in place regarding constructions," he said.

However, Paramanthan complained that many of his family and friends were living in temporary housing because their lands and homes are inside the HSZ. "These people have been displaced for over 20 years; many of them see little chance of returning to their homes. A government-appointed Committee produced a report (LLRC) that called for the return of these lands. Yet, the government continues to ignore the recommendation. There is little chance that they will listen to us, if they do not listen to their own administration," he said.

While the secretary was lucky enough to regain his own property many others have not been as fortunate. Ganesh Raghu, a local fisherman, has accepted that neither he nor his family will ever see their own home again. Having lived in displacement camps for several years, before moving from the houses of family members and friends, Raghu has never been able to earn enough to buy a new house. "Our land, and the house on it, was in my family for three generations. When it was first taken over by the Army, we were told it would be returned once the war ended. Now the fighting has been over for four years and we have still not been given our land," he charged.

It has been over two decades since he has last seen his house. Raghu has only a photo to remind himself of the building. "I am scared that I will forget the house I grew up in. I show this to my children to remind them that they do have a home, which was wrongfully taken."

Raghu is one of the hundreds of civilians, who have filed petitions in the courts to have their lands returned. "I am not looking to fight for political rights and I certainly am not looking to have a separate State. All I want is the opportunity to return to my own home, and make sure my children and their children live somewhere that is their own," he said.

Most residents have complained that they cannot even gain access in to the HSZ to check on their former homes. However, the newly re-opened Thalsevana Holiday Resort (formerly the Harbour View Hotel) ensures local tourists from other districts can visit the area.

Travelling along the newly laid road to the hotel, either side bears reminders of the military occupation, which now appears to be settling in for a permanent stay. Arriving at the hotel, either side is full of military personnel hard at work expanding the already existing structure. The hotel consists of 15 rooms, which ranges from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 a night. According to the local residents, it is near impossible for them to get a booking. However, on inquiry at the reception it was learnt that rooms would be readily available from next week.

The surrounding areas still carry the scars of a war, with many buildings destroyed and overgrown through neglect. However, the military is doing the best to restore the HSZ to normalcy, with police stations and accommodation for the soldiers being set up.

The residents of the Peninsula have criticized the government's retention of these lands, saying that this area has the most fertile soil and they are reducing the earning capacity. N. Thangam, a local onion farmer, explained, "Jaffna is a difficult land to farm. We do not have rivers or lakes to water our crops and so we have to struggle to dig deep wells. One positive thing is the fertility of the red Jaffna soil. Now one of the most fertile areas in the region has been taken over by the Army. They have cost us a potentially large amount of income," he complained.

Despite the large protests against the acquisition of the land, there seems to be little being done to answer the demands of the locals.

Sinhala colony, military, Buddhist complex crop up at Jaffna city entrance

[TamilNet, Friday, 05 July 2013, 14:04 GMT]
Naavat-kuzhi is a place just 5km east of Jaffna city where the two highways A9 and A32, the only existing land arteries that lead into Jaffna from the south and the western coast meet. First the Sinhala military occupied the junction with camps at both the branching highways. Then a Sinhala colony cropped up in the last two years with permanent concrete houses complete with all facilities at the most potential stretch of land there. Now, foundation is laid for the construction of a Buddhist stupa at this place along the highway to gleefully greet everyone entering into Jaffna city through land. Officers of the genocidal Sinhala military occupying Jaffna attended the foundation-laying ceremony, conducted recently by the Naaka Vihaara Buddhist prelate in Jaffna. 

Sinhala Colony, Military, Buddhist Complex Crop Up at Jaffna City Entrance by nelvely

India wants deal respected

July 5, 2013

India says the Sri Lankan government must respect the agreement reached between both countries and first discuss any changes bilaterally before going ahead with such changes.

Indian Minister of State V. Narayanasamy told the BBC Sandeshiya that India however is not putting undue pressure on the Sri Lankan government with regards to the 13th Amendment.

He says India is against diluting the powers in the 13th Amendment to the constitution which came about through the Indo-Lanka accord in 1987.

The Indian Minister also noted that as the 13th Amendment was part of a joint agreement, any changes being made should be first discussed between both countries.

Narayanasamy recalled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had given an assurance to India that the 13th Amendment will be fully implemented. (Colombo Gazette)

Govt. plays down interaction with India over 13A

By Uditha Jayasinghe-July 5, 2013 
The Government yesterday played down intensified diplomatic engagement with India over power devolution to the Tamil minority and insisted that it was merely to keep the regional super power “informed”.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa flew to New Delhi to meet with top officials including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the Government’s plans on power devolution to the Tamil minority.
The move comes after Singh expressed “dismay” over the Government’s plans to roll back power devolution under the 13th Amendment to its Constitution, which was made with the intervention of India in 1989.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday acknowledged that the Government was keen on revamping land and Police powers under the 13th Amendment but insisted the interaction with India was merely a “courtesy”.
“The Government of Sri Lanka has scientifically evaluated the situation and found that these two areas, Police and land powers, have to be reviewed, revisited and it is by common courtesy since the 13th Amendment stems from Rajiv-JR, heads of two states.
Therefore it is common courtesy to sort of have this discussion to inform the signatories to the agreement. On that basis a member of the Cabinet nominated and designated by the President is visiting India,” he said.
When asked how the Government could have a stance on land and Police powers when it had said the PSC should decide that, Rambukwella noted that the Government stance of limiting these key powers would be taken before the PSC.
“The Government position is that with regard the 13th Amendment it is necessary that we re-look at it and there has to be certain amendments. Major two areas are Police and land powers. We feel that the time is right for us to revisit those areas and make the necessary arrangements. As it is an agreement between two states we find that it is common courtesy to inform them and to explain the situation as far as those two issues are concerned and this position will be carried to the PSC.”
The Minister also dismissed criticism over its plans insisting that “limited Police and land powers are better than not having any, which is the situation now at least we are implementing some level of power devolution rather than not doing anything,” he said, stressing that it all “depends on the interpretation” given to the Government’s actions.