Colombo plans forced ‘militarisation’ of ex-LTTE members

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 September 2013, 09:09 GMT]
In a shocking revelation, it is reported that former LTTE members – both men and women – are being threatened to join the SL military in the East. The paramilitary operatives of Karuna and Pillaiyan groups are being used by the SL military intelligence for this purpose. The former Tiger fighters are threatened that their parents will be in danger if they refuse to join the military. The intelligence operatives have been conducting doo-to-door campaign in areas including Vaakarai, Vellaave'li, Kudumpi-malai and Veappa-vedduvaan in Batticoala district intimidating the former Tiger fighters to enlist themselves with the occupying SL military. 

The ex-LTTE members have been subject to untold miseries in detention camps in the guise of rehabilitation by the occupying SL military and have settled with their families upon release. Some of them have gotten married after the release. Under the circumstances, the ex-LTTE members are now being forced to join SL military ranks failing which they are told that ‘their parents will face the consequences.’ 

It is reported that every paramilitary operative in Karuna and Pillaiyan groups have been instructed by their paymasters, the SL military intelligence, to enlist at least two former Tiger members in a month failing which they would be losing their monthly salaries.

Hence, the Karuna and Pillaiyan groups have been forcing men and women, married and unmarried ex-LTTE members, to join the SL military.

Not knowing where to report about the forced enlistments, the Tamils in Paduvaankarai and Vaakarai areas have been living under constant state of panic, civil sources told TamilNet Friday.

It is also reported that the SL military intelligence personnel have been keeping surveillance over the movements of former Tiger members who have been released from the detention camps where they were subject to inhuman torture. 

A former woman fighter said that the SL intelligence had conducted an inquiry about a family that had visited her to extend invitation for a wedding. 

The former LTTE members have been beneficiaries of some livelihood schemes given by some Non governmental organizations. It is reported that the military intelligence are holding enquiries in the houses soon after they have been visited by the representatives of these NGOs.

The former Tiger cadres are also forced to sign some documents in Sinhala by military personnel who visit them every month or once in every two months, claiming that they are being offered assistance. They are not informed of the content of these papers, which is in Sinhala.

The Person Who Exposed EPDP’s Child Prostitution Was Abducted And No Information So Far

September 14, 2013 

The person who gave information to US Embassy about the EPDP ‘s child trafficking rings in Jaffna was abducted on May 07, 2009 and since then, no information has been obtained concerning him.

He told US Embassy Colombo on March 26, 2007; “The children are sold into slavery, usually boys to work camps and girls to prostitution rings, through EPDP’s networks in India and Malaysia. Sunthararaj maintains that children are often smuggled out of the country with the help of a corrupt Customs and Immigration official at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.”

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa

“Sunthararaj’s story was partially verified by Government Agent Ganesh, who stated that the EPDP works in concert with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to operate Tamil prostitution rings for the soldiers. Ganesh stated that young women were taken and forced to have sex with between five and ten soldiers a night. Sometimes they are paid approximately a dollar for each “service.” The young women’s parents are unable to complain to authorities for fear of retribution and because doing so would ruin the girls’ reputation, making it impossible for them ever to marry” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Stephen Sinnavan Sunthararaj was the Project Manager at the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), well known for documenting cases of child abuse in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

The Amnesty International said;  “On 7 May 2009, Stephen Sunthararaj was abducted by five men whilst travelling in his lawyer’s car in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. He had been released without charge from police custody a few hours beforehand and has not been heard from since. Amnesty International fears that he has been subjected to enforced disappearance because of his work at the Centre for Human Rights and Development in Colombo.”                                             Read More       

War Crimes in Sri Lanka-genocide

Govt. breached promise to ban cattle slaughter

By Rashini Mendis-Saturday, 14 Sep 2013

The hardline nationalist organization Sinhala Ravaya yesterday charged the government had breached an earlier promise to ban the slaughter of cattle within two months.

General Secretary of Sinhala Ravaya, Ven. Akmeemana Dayarathana Thera said the government has only submitted a legal draft to the Department of Legal Draftsman.

Earlier, a delegation from Sinhala Ravaya met President Mahinda Rajapaksa to demand the government ban cattle slaughter. After the meeting, the delegates told the media the President acceded to the demand. Later, Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, clarified that the President had not promised to ban the slaughter of cattle but had only agreed to look into the demands made by the delegates.

Dayarathana Thero insisted the authorities promised to bring an end to cattle slaughter within two months, during the meeting with the President, alleging the promise has not been kept.

He also said his organization is planning to set up a sanctuary for cattle with the extent of 22,000 acres at Kanthale.

The oxen and cows that will be saved from the abattoirs will be placed in the sanctuary, he said.

War Crimes in Sri Lanka-genocide

Sajin Appoints Rosy’s Daughter, 11 Others As CHOGM 70k Consultants

I September 15, 2013 

The Government has recruited several consultants to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 to be the ‘face’ of the summit coordination efforts in November this year.

Thisakya Maya Senanayake

12 such consultants have been hired at remuneration in the range of Rs. 70,000 each, Colombo Telegraph learns. They include male and female youngsters of between 20-26 years old sources told Colombo Telegraph. The consultants function under the office of the Monitoring MP for the Foreign Ministry and presidential close associate Sajin Vaas Gunewardana. The consultants commenced work a few months ago.

Among the recruits are the 25 year old daughter of United National Party Parliamentarian former beauty queen and former Ambassador to Malaysia Rosy Senanayake,Thisakya Senanayake. Thisakya is a fashion design graduate from the London College of Fashion in 2012.

Colombo Telegraph learns that the daughter of John Keells Holdings Chairman Susantha Ratnayake, Anitra is also on the list of CHOGM consultants. John Keells Holdings is heavily involved in the CHOGM organisation and has been co opted for much of the event organisation and software and hospitality management.

It is not immediately clear what the criteria was for the selection of ‘consultants’ but it is reliably learnt that the appointments were made by Vaas Gunewardane.

All 12 CHOGM consultants are tipped to receive diplomatic positions in Sri Lankan embassies overseas after the summit is over. The locations of the postings include Ottawa Canada and Victoria Australia, the Colombo Telegraph learns.

Break-in of Mandana’s home confirmed to be a contract by Sajin Vaas!

 Saturday, 14 September 2013 

Opposition leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe is in the possession of written and oral proof that confirm that it was Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, the Galle district MP and clandestine financial affairs advisor of the president, who had given the contract to the gang of thugs that had twice broken-into the home of ‘Sunday Leader’ associate editor Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema, according to sources at the opposition leader’s office.

The sources say further that it was entirely to gratify MP Namal Rajapaksa that MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena had laid his hands on something that was none of his affairs. The president, in no uncertain terms, has reprimanded MP Sajin Vaas for botching up an issue that could have been dealt with easily. Reminding Sajin Vaas Gunawardena about the monkey who used a sword to drive away a fly on the king’s body, the president had severely admonished him for his second flop less than a month after the fiasco over the booing the opposition leader, and stressed, “You do not go to do anything. In the end, it is we who will have to pay for your sins.”

Champika cautions against casinos

Sunday, 15 Sep 2013 General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Patali Champika Ranawaka, yesterday asserted the legalization of casinos in the country would be a major factor in deciding the fate of future politics in Sri Lanka. He warned the Cabinet that gambling kingpins will be able to control and influence the country’s politicians, in the event that casinos are legalized. Minister Ranawaka pointed out that a network of prostitution can emerge, while the usage of small arms will also become common. In addition, the revenue generated in the country may also flow out of the country, he said. “When we take these factors into consideration, granting tax relief to casino owners is against the law,” he added.The minister further said Sri Lanka should take an example from other countries that have been destroyed by the casino business.

KELANIYA UNIVERSITY HOSTEL ATTACKED

September 14, 2013
A group of unknown individuals have attacked a hostel at the University of Kelaniya this morning, causing damages to around 12 motorcycles parked outside.

The Kelaniya Police OIC said that the attack took place at the Kannangara Hostel in the university and that no casualties have been reported from the incident.

According to the students in the hostel the attack was carried out by a group that had come from outside the university, police said.

Kelaniya Police are conducting further investigations. 

 Sri Lankan court grants bail to Buddhist monk and four others over attack on a Christian shrine
Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 10:44 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 13, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court Friday granted bail to a Buddhist monk and four laymen accused of attacking a Christian religious place.
The Homagama Magistrate Court today granted Rs.50,000 personal surety bail each to Homagama Wimalawansa Thero and four other suspects who were produced before the court today.
They were ordered to appear before the court on September 20.
The Buddhist monk said that the Christian praying center was carrying out conversion of Buddhists into Christianity. A group led by the monk has held a protest demonstration against the praying center a week before the attack.
The Police today dispersed a mob that was holding a demonstration from Pitipana to the court premises in support of the Thero.

‘Yaazh Theavi’ claims life of 78-year-old man in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 September 2013, 18:56 GMT]
A 78-year-old Tamil man, who survived the genocidal onslaught on Vanni, was killed Friday in Ki'linochchi where ‘Yaazh Theavi’ train, which was under a trial run, knocked him down at a crossing without an operational barrier. The accident comes two days ahead of SL president Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to declare the train service extended to Ki'linochchi from Vavuniyaa in a hasty election propaganda move on Sunday. 

The victim was identified as Vairamuththu Thirunavukarasu from Tho'ndamaan-nakar in Ki'linochchi. 

The fatal accident which claimed the life Mr Thirunavukkarasu on the spot has taken place at 155th Mile Post in Ki'linochchi around 10:00 a.m. Friday. 

The trial run of the train has been conducted without operational barriers or signal lights, news sources in Ki'linochchi said. 

Steve Biko in five quotes

As we mark 36 years since the death of Steve Biko, we remember him in five significant quotes.

12 SEP 2013 10:33 HAJI MOHAMED DAWJEE
Steve Biko was an anti-apartheid activist during the 1960s and 1970s and founder of the Black Conscious Movement that empowered and mobilised the South Africa's black population to fight against minority rule. 

Since his death in police custody on September 12 1977, people called him a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement. Biko's writings, activism and ideologies continue to influence South African politics and academics today.

In this rare television interview which was broadcast on German television, Biko talks about the ideologies of the Black Consciousness Movement:

His influence also resonates in music, art, television, film and poetry of which the most popular being the 1987 biographical drama Cry Freedom, directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Denzel Washington and Kevin Kline. A supply ship within the Star Trek canon called the USS Biko, which is referenced in the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, was also named after him, such is the reach of Biko's influence.

We take a look at five of Biko's most timeless and prominent quotes:

Coercive Population Control in Kilinochchi

• by The Social Architects 
• - on 09/13/2013 

Recently, women in three Kilinochchi villages were subjected to coercive population control.

This incident occurred on August 31, 2013 – at the Veravil government divisional hospital in Kilinochchi.  The affected women reside in Valaipaddu, Veravil and Keranchi[1] ; all three are coastal villages.

On August 30, the hospital staff and volunteers attached to Veravil divisional hospital informed community members residing in the three villages that any woman with a child under the age of five should come to the hospital the following day to weigh their children and to receive a vaccination.

Coercive Population Control in Kilinochchi by nelvely

Vote To Send A Message To The World About The Problems In The North: Commission For Justice And Peace Of The Jaffna Diocese

September 13, 2013

The people of the north should vote at the September 21 Provincial Council election in order to send a clear message to the Government and the world about the issues faced by people of the region, including the ongoing militarisation and lack of progress on numerous cases of custodial deaths, sexual abuse and disappearances, a Catholic organisation has urged.

Jaffna Bishop Thomas Soundaranayagam

Citing a long list of problems faced by the people of the north and revealing insights about the Government’s election incentives, the President of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Jaffna Diocese, Fr. S.V.B. Margalarajah said not voting would indicate that the people of the area were not too disturbed by the current state of affairs in the North.

“The development projects such as carpet-roads. railway-tracks etc are only secondary,” the President said in a statement.

He said the only way to highlight the problems of the people was to exercise the right to vote. “Refraining from voting and voting carelessly will only help the ruling government party to secure some seals for them to show the world the people in the North are beginning to give their approval to the government for their development work as well as for their other works in the past” Fr. Mangalarajah said.

Bishop of Jaffna Rev. Thomas Soundaranayagam is the patron of the Commission.

Following is the full text of the priest’s statement:

Voting is a basic right of every citizen. The general public in the North of Sri Lanka had not shown much interest in any election in the last few decades. In this background the Provincial Council election is being held after a long gap on the 2lst of September 2013. It is generally felt that the Sri Lankan Government decided to conduct this election due mainly to pressure placed by her donor countries. If we consider the importance of this election have to say this is not going to solve the basic problems faced by our people- There will not be a meaningful devolution of power to the Provincial-Council in the North. The Government ruling party which has won comfortably in the other Provinces realize very well that it will not be able to win the election the Northern Province and has hinted that there will not be much of devolution of power in the basic sectors. Hence we cannot foresee that the upcoming Provincial-Council will not be able to exercise much power.

However this election is being observed by all and especially by the international Community carefully. The Government ruling party though not able to win, will try to secure substantial number of votes and show the world that the people in the North are beginning to appreciate their development work such as carpet-roads. railway tracks, the proposed express-highway, new buildings for schools, hospitals, markets etc. The Government party candidates with the direct and indirect support of the security forces and other state machinery are hence involved in wide-spread election law, violations. Some of which are:Read More

Namal cheats businessman in a sum of Rs. 10 million on Norocholai tender
(Lanka-e-News-13.Sep.2013,2.30PM) Namal Rajapakse the one and only synthetic lawyer cum racketeer had collected a sum of Rs. 10 million fraudulently from a businessman on a false promise that the latter will be awarded the tender to supply the necessary equipments for the Norocholai coal power project which is eternally plagued by defects , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

This businessman who we shall name as Thomas had been fleeced of Rs. 10 million by Namal to whom this amount was paid as an advance. Namal of course belonging to the double tongued double faced Madamulana backwoods land crocodiles who are possessed of the overriding trait of promising one thing and then cheating wholesale every Dick ,Tom and Harry, had following his family’s fraudulent traditions duped poor ‘Tom’ and awarded the tender to another party . Based on reports, this new party had given Namal Rs. 20 million as ‘santhosam’ (bribe)

The victim , poor Thomas whose ten million was gobbled up by Namal was so distraught that he had suffered a stroke and is in a paralytic state. He is now being treated in a Colombo private hospital

Photograph Evidence: Presidential Offspring Navy Officer Violating Election Laws

September 14, 2013

Instances of gross violation of election laws by public officials relating to the use of the public property during the upcoming provincial election in the Northern Province have been reported to the Elections Commissioner by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) with documentary proof including photographs, on Wednesday.

These include an incident of the Governor of the Northern Province Major General G.A. Chandrasiri taking part in election propaganda work and more than 500 government officials being used for the UPFA’s election campaign, TISL said in a statement.

Presidential offspring, member of parliament Namal Rajapaksa’s yesterday tweets show that his brother, navy officer Yoshitha Rajapaksa is also taking part in election propaganda work in Killinochchi and violating the elections law . Under the elections law, a State official cannot get involved in political campaigns.

Dr. Gunaratne’s Advice On Conflict Is More Mythical Than To Reality

By Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe -September 14, 2013 |

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe MP

I got an opportunity to watch an interview of Dr. Rohan Gunaratne, an expert on international terrorism, telecast over Sri Lanka Rupavahini on 8^th September 2013. I have seen him before when he disseminated his experiences and views. Strategical studies on conflict resolutions, especially on war ridden countries as well as regions have triggered this subject  to be important subject in the world. This is now being taught as a subject in certain universities too. After a one and half score prolonged brutal terrorism, our nation expected a speedy healing process to soothen, not only the physical human bodies but also the minds of our people. Although our constitution does not give a definition for a nation, we are civilized enough to understand it as all the people living in the country without any difference based on race, creed, language, religion, sex etc.

Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka have a long history of habitation on this soil. Muslims migrated here as professional traders and live for generations. Our history is absolutely clear about harmonized lifestyle of Sri Lankans with an ameliorated cultural values and norms. The fact that the colonial rulers adopted various ruses to disintegrate the ethnic unity among our people was not a matter of surprise as that type of conduct was an integral part of imperialism in every part of the world. But the sad part of it is the fact that even after passing a substantial period and after snatching the link between British Emperor and us, still we are in the same pit-fall as was during the period of colony.

Even after independence, those who were on the saddle of political power could not drive the nation towards unity within diversity, which is the idealistic goal to achieve in any democracy, if it is expected to prosper as a nation.

No doubt that we shudder to think about the ordeal of horrendous and gruesome war that prevailed over here. There are enough post-mortems that have been held including United Nations’ Expert Panel Report(Darusman’s One) in the international level and Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee Report (LLRC) in the local level. There are certain strategic plans proposed by the government as well as recommendations and requests by international agencies. We also know that Tamil Diaspora also playing a vibrant role in between.

Read More

Nuwara eliya HC judge from the junk openly speaks filthy politics from the bench

(Lanka-e-News-12.Sep.2013, 11.30PM) Lalith Ekanayake , the Nuwara eliya high court judge is actively engaging in filthy and foul politics even while being on the sacrosanct judicial bench . He has made deplorable political remarks insulting the bench , profession and the judiciary as a whole , according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

When the trial was taken up yesterday (11) in the case No. 172/2010 filed by the Minister for private transport C B Ratnayake against Walapane division chairman Jagath Kumara Samarahewa and Jatila Gunasekera this high court judge from the junks had made a most disdainful politically motivated announcement most unbecoming of a high court judge. 

While there is a rumor that Jagath Kumara the UPFA chairman is going to resign from the government and is about to join the UNP , Lalith Ekanayake the judge from the junks had remarked in open court “Ah , hasn’t the chairman come today? Tell him I shall be hearing the case on both days – 24 th and 25 th . I shall hear the case keeping him standing all the while. Then we can see whether he can desert the party and leave.” 

This judge by his remarks had not only betrayed his ignorance of laws and court decorum , but even disgraced the bench by his most reprehensible conduct and insolent politically motivated comments while being on the hallowed bench. He had only demonstrated shamelessly that he is openly contributing to make the judicial court a prejudicial court of MaRa . The lawyers and the police officers who watched this stupid judge’s buffoonery and tomfoolery while still on the bench at the expense of lofty court traditions and legal ethics, were so rudely shocked that they had begun to wonder whether they were within the court premises listening to a judge or a lunatic in an asylum .

It is significant to note that this judge was transferred to Nuwara eliya by Minister Ratnayake solely because of the impending central province elections. This judge from the junk has been at Nuwara eliya Dharmaraja College and has been the classmate of Minister Ratnayake’s younger brother Thilak Ratnayake from Kindergarten to GCE advanced level. Ekanayake is also a very close family friend of Ratnayakes. 

Minister C B Ratnayake’s other younger brother S B Ratnayake is a candidate at the upcoming provincial council elections. This Minister Ratnayake who is flagrantly violating the election laws had told at the recent divisional chairpersons meeting openly , “Don’t fear anyone. If you have enemies just tell the OICs , they will frame charges and haul them before court. When they are produced before court Lalith (judge from the junk) will look after the rest.

All of you must work for SB with full zeal and zest . Thrash whomsoever you wish . Give them a thundering slap. Clearly remember the PC elections shall be somehow won. The President when he came to Nuwara eliya told me personally ‘ CB , somehow win this for me by hook or by crook.’ Therefore don’t back out or retreat” Minister C B Ratnayake had asserted.

The Walapane division chairman Jagath Kumara against whom the case is filed was a UNP er . When S B Dissanayake defected to the government , Jagath Kumara was pressurized to join the government. Now Jagath Kumara is disillusioned with the government in much the same way as a great majority . Being dissatisfied with the government’s actions , he is now in the ready to join the UNP . This case that was filed in 2010 against him has been revived to bring pressure to bear on Jagath Kumara once again.

It is Minister Ratnayake’s evil motive to use the unscrupulous judge Lalith Ekanayake who would stoop to any sordid level including selling his soul and professional honor if he can only achieve his selfish foul ambitions . It is therefore no wonder that Jagath Kumara has been indicted on a most flimsy charge that a jeep of the government given for official purposes to the agriculture Ministry was misused by him.

Later news says the other accuser Jatila Gunasekera has submitted a affidavit today regarding this Judge’s misbehavior

CJ Impeachment: First Time In The Sri Lankan Judicial History Commonwealth Lawyers And England And Wales Bar HR Seek To Intervene

Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CAL) and Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) sought to intervene into the controversial appeal of the Attorney General and make submissions. It is the first time in the Sri Lankan judicial history that these internationally renounced law association are seeking to assist the Sri Lankan highest courts on a vital case affecting the entire commonwealth.

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake

On July 15, 2013, Vijitha Herath (Member of Parliament, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna – JVP) and R. Sampanthan (Member of Parliament – TNA) who are respondents in a controversial appeal filed by the Attorney General (AG) to reverse Appeal Court and Supreme Court rulings that held the kangaroo style Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) findings against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake unconstitutional and illegal, have filed motions underscoring that they should not be denied their rights to be heard – both in objection to leave to appeal being granted, and also to raise any relevant questions of law if court decides to grant the AG leave to appeal.

Read the submissions filed by the interventions here

Related posts;

Vasan against selling warship to Sri Lanka

ERODE, September 12, 2013

Voicing opposition to Centre’s proposal to supply two naval warships to Sri Lanka, Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan has said he would urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to sell the vessels.

“I am against the selling of warships to Sri Lanka. I will meet the Prime Minister soon and represent him not to sell the warships,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a private function here last night.

Mr. Vasan said he would also urge Dr. Singh to insist that Colombo implement the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution without dilution to protect the legitimate rights of Tamils.

He had already requested the Union Government to boycott the Commonwealth Summit to be held in Sri Lanka in November and hoped that a decision would be announced soon, Mr. Vasan said.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had on Wednesday expressed shock over New Delhi’s proposal to supply warships to Lanka, saying any move to supply military hardware would be the “most telling statement on the insensitivity” of the Government to the strong sentiments in Tamil Nadu on the Tamils issue.

In a letter to Dr. Singh, she said she was shocked to see media reports in which the “Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (V Narayanasamy) confirms that the Government of India is in the process of supplying two naval warships to Sri Lanka.”

She said while Mr. Narayanasamy appears to have indicated that he would communicate to Dr. Singh the feelings among people and political parties in the state against any such move, “what amazes me is that the Government of India could even contemplate such a move.”

Two Offshore Patrol Vessels, to be built by the Goa-based defence PSU Goa Shipyard Limited, are expected to be delivered to the Island nation by 2017-18.

US puts Lanka on notice (Updated)

September 13, 2013

The United States has warned that if Sri Lanka fails to address accountability issues through its own internal process then there will be pressure exerted towards an international process.

Nisha Desai Biswal, President Barack Obama’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs, said this while addressing the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in her confirmation hearing.

“As Sri Lanka works to rebuild its society after a devastating civil war, I will, if confirmed, continue to stress the importance of reconciliation and accountability and for the government to meet its commitments to all of its population,” she said.

Senate member Marco Antonio Rubio noted during the hearing that in Sri Lanka there were reports of 30 churches being attacked by Buddhist extremists. He said that he was not aware such a thing took place in Sri Lanka.

Senator John Mccain noted that Sri Lanka went through a terrible bloody conflict but there continues to be reports from human rights organizations that there are still significant human rights abuses taking place against the Tamils which rise to a level that is “very disturbing”.

He asked if the US should be more active in condemning the ongoing serious human rights abuses.

“The US has been very active and very engaged with Sri Lanka and with the international community in expressing our concern about both accountability and reconciliation between minority populations and majority populations in Sri Lanka. We have made clear that we believe that if Sri Lanka does not address through its own internal processes that there will be increasing calls for international processes to address these issues,” she said.

If confirmed by the Senate, Desai will become the first person of Indian or even South Asian origin to head the bureau, which oversees US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan.

Biswal will take over the South Asian affairs division from former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake. (Colombo Gazette)