Hula finally remembers ‘human rights’!

 Sunday, 23 February 2014 

In an irony of fate, former director general of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle, aka Hula, has been forced to seek the help of ‘human rights’, the so-called conspiracy against Sri Lanka by Western nations and the so-called weapon of anti-government saboteurs. He is going to file a case, alleging a violation of his human rights, against officers of the State Intelligence Service.

The first respondent in this HR case is SSP Nalaka Silva of the SIS, while the second respondnet is head of the SIS, DIG Nimal Wagista. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was to be named the third respondent, but Hula has dropped the name of the defence secretary, fearing matters would become worse for him if he did so. In the defence secretary’s place, the attorney general has been named the third respondent.

Hula is going to take the SIS to courts against his being blacklisted. SSP Nalaka Silva, known in the police department to be an incompetent, had blacklisted the ex-DG of the MCNS on the order of the defence secretary. The SSP has become frightened after hearing about the imminent court case and is trying to lift Hula’s medical file at Apollo Hospital.

Of them all, DIG Wagista is the one who is frightened the most. He has reprimanded Nalaka Silva, saying whether he was trying to deny him his pension. If no service extension is given, DIG Wagista is due to retire this year.

Hula cannot die, or leave country!

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Former director general of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle has been blacklisted to prevent him from leaving the country, reports say. He lodged a complaint with the IGP yesterday (22) against this.

The State Intelligence Service blacklisted him on the orders of defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Therefore, Hulugalle has been barred by the police clearance unit from going overseas. SSP Nalaka Silva has informed the airport authorities about this blacklisting.

The ex-DG of the MCNS has inquired from the IGP as to why he had been blacklisted thus, but the police chief’s reply was that he was unaware about it. The IGP promised to look into it and inform Hulugalle by tomorrow.

According to reports reaching us, the reason for the blacklisting is that the Rajapaksa regime suspects that Hulugalle will flee to a Western country and reveal to the Western media about all the wrongdoings in the war. Last night, Hulugalle had telephoned a closest female friend and told her that he had wanted to go overseas for medical treatment, but that he had to abandon that idea now. “I cannot die or to go overseas freely”, he has lamented.

Former Head Of International Finances Of The LTTE Exposed Of Serious Fraud

• Scandal revealed by Thesam Tamil newspaper in London
• His unemployed son, an MP of TGT too is involved in the fraud.

| English Translation of the report originally published by the ‘Thesam’ Tamil Newspaper

Nagendram Seevaratnam

Former head of international finance of the LTTE

Founder of Sivayogam Trust

Bankrupted in 2012

Now a bogus swamy

( February 23, 2014, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tooting Amman temple known as Sivayogam Trust and its founder Nagaratnam Seevaratnam are always spoken about for wrong reasons d’être. Mismanagement, financial delinquency and sex abuses are focus of Sivayogam-Seevaratnam affiliation.

Former Head of International Finances of the LTTE Exposed of Serious Fraud by nelvely

Drugs found in the Army

Sunday, 23 February 2014

A Lieutenant Colonel was arrested yesterday (Feb 22) while buying drugs from a smuggler.

Army Commander Daya Ratnayake has ordered the suspension of a Lieutenant Colonel from his duties after he was arrested by the Police in Anuradhapura with approximately three grams of heroin in his possession.

The arrested officer, who is resident of Maharagama, has been attached to Pampemadu Rehabilitation and Protective Accommodation Centre.

The two officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had met Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem few days ago at his office and warned him to set up a system in Sri Lanka to catch drug traffickers.

Average income of a Sri Lankan: When numbers gathered from top and bottom do not tally!

February 24, 2014  

Household Income and Expenditure Survey of 2012/13
The Preliminary Report of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, abbreviated as HIES, for 2012/13 has just been released by Department of Census and Statistics or DCS (available at:
http://www.statistics.gov.lk/HIES/HIES2012PrelimineryReport.pdf).
Without doubt, the survey report carries a wealth of information on the socio-economic conditions of the Sri Lankans at this juncture of their history. It supplies feed-material for researchers, analysts, policymakers, commentators and even marketers.
Since HIES is conducted periodically – once in every three years now – its numbers can be compared with those in the previous HIESs to assess whether there has been an improvement or a decline. The report has been written in technical terms but it does not reduce its value. All those who had been involved in the survey deserve commendation for the efforts they have made to bring out the survey results.

Average Income of a Sri Lankan When Numbers Gathered From Top and Bottom Do Not Tally! by nelvely

World Bank banned CHEC

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Posted on Tue, 05/06/2012 - 15:04 in World News

(CNS): The Chinese company that the Cayman Islands government is negotiating with over the development of cruise berthing facilities has been banned by the World Bank because of fraud and corruption. The parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), has been barred from being involved in projects financed by the global bank since 2009 under its fraud and corruption sanctioning policy. The revelation was made by the Jamaica’s Contractor-General, Greg Christie, who has raised concerns about developments in that country which were given to the Beijing based firm.

Port City developer defends itself vigorously

No outlay by Colombo govt., 20 ha. 

freehold for developer

February 22, 2014, 5:50 pm 

An artist impression of the Colombo City Port Project.

China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), handling the mega Colombo Port City Development, yesterday issued a detailed statement titled "Clarification on the Colombo Port City Project" vigorously defending itself against various allegations and statements recently made against the company.

World Bank Banned CHEC by nelvely

Yet another despot unseated from his throne by the people –Flees amidst people’s uprising

(Lanka-e-News-23.Feb.2014, 10.00PM) Yesterday , another President who was mollycoddled by senseless countries like China and Russia and their pet, and who was sitting in a dictatorial chair while masquerading as a socialist, had to leave his chair and flee for dear life in the face of the massive opposition mounted by the people demanding Democracy.

This so called socialist scoundrel is Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych who tried to stay in his post by promising to give even 15 billion dollars towards the Euroasia project of Russia’s Putin.

Viktor Yanukovych was a facsimile of our own Medamulana land crocodile MaRa the despot . He was also a tyrant who clung on to power like MaRa , by destroying media freedom ; stifling opposition ; reciting ‘baila’( bogus tales in songs to calm the people ); holding fraudulent elections and winning them ; and plunging the country into an irretrievable economic mess. He was a puppet dictator whose strings were controlled by Russia. With the imprisonment of the opposition leader Ms. Yulia Tymoshenko by him , the people took to the streets in fierce protests and converged on the independence square demanding the resignation of the despotic President a few months ago. 

Viktor who is a facsimile of our own MaRa then sent his forces and shot down the unarmed civilian people of Ukraine when dozens of people died when Viktor’s forces fired. What is noteworthy in this incident is though Viktor and MaRa are alike , the people of Sri Lanka are unlike the Ukrainians . When the forces of MaRa shot down two unarmed civilians , the rest of the crowd fled beating all Olympic sprinting records. The Ukrainians on the other hand in stark contrast stood their ground .They did not flee like the Sri Lankans nor did they go to offer bodhi poojas to the forces. Instead they erected barriers on the roads and protested more furiously. Finally , the forces of Viktor joined with the people and Viktor’s administration completely collapsed in the city.

At the same time the international community too came forward to support the grateful people who deserved such assistance. The European union (EU) also started discussions immediately to impose embargos on Viktor’s government. Unlike the Sri Lankan cardboard self seeking patriots and the spurious self centered leftists , the people of Ukraine did not berate the international community on false and flimsy grounds , on the contrary they only requested the international community to help them. A mother appearing on BBC London channel 2days before yesterday morning on behalf of her son engaged in the rebellion , related the insecure state of her son , and urged the EU to intervene swiftly. The BBC too unlike the SL media lickspittles, did not say they are of the media middle zone and played a ‘voice cut’ of Ukraine Ambassador to counter the mother’s speech. 

In the end Viktor had no option but to release the opposition leader and enter into an agreement to hold another Presidential election on 25 th May , and thereby tried to save his skin. But the people did not fall prey to that deception. 

Ultimately , Viktor last morning without anybody’s knowledge had disappeared. Currently , the people and anti riot squad that joined with the people are providing security to the Presidential palace . This is in profound contrast to our stupid rebels – they did not set fire . 

The dictator Viktor who gave orders to shoot the unarmed civilians had flown out of the country by Emirates airline , some say. Some others say , he had fled to a remote destination in the east of Ukraine. No matter what ,there is no inhabitant in the palace at the moment , and is deserted. The entire regime is in a shambles.

This is a good illustration that before a people’s uprising no dictator or despot can hold on to his power or hold sway. The Ukraine dictator could not stay in power depending on China and Russia nor by proclaiming Russia and China are there to come to his aid. None of these countries could or did come to the rescue of Viktor.

There is no doubt at all that the same inevitable fate awaits the Medamulana murderous land crocodiles , but that fate can befall them only if the opposition is united . An opposition that is disunited with each at the other’s throat , and by upbraiding the international community that comes to assist , the opposition can only reach nowhere . It is only an opposition that is united with minimum conditions attaching that can oust these Medamulana land crocodiles . If the opposition can realize that and unite , throwing out the Medamulana regime is as simple as chasing a cat away. Of course the media that betrays its professional ethics and sells its soul for a laptop should also transform into genuine media professionals with honorable aims of serving the nation without seeking only the daily ration by collecting the crumbs falling off the sumptuous tables of the baneful powerful .
By Wimal Dheerasekera
i

Ukraine revolution: interim president appointed - watch live

SUNDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2014
Ukraine's MPs vote for the parliament speaker to become interim president and are given until Tuesday to form a new unity government. Watch events unfold live from central Kiev.

Gold taps and a private zoo: President Yanukovych's luxury compound

Ukraine's parliament voted on Sunday to hand over the duties of president to the new speaker of the assembly, Oleksander Turchinov, as a temporary measure.
Saturday's revolution. Watch his reports below

Ukraine Revolution Interim President Appointed - Watch Live by nelvely

THE NO-PEACE PROCESS

By MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI -Nominee, Nobel Peace Prize

February 10, 2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest push for a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians is based on a two-state solution. Palestinian legislator and peace activist Mustafa Barghouti argues that Israel is undermining the fulfillment of any peaceful solution by failing to respect Palestinian rights.

The No-peace Process by nelvely

The Central African Republic: The Companions of the Ditch

Posted by: Z. A. Rahman

“By the sky containing great stars; And (by) the promised Day; And (by) the witness and what is witnessed; Cursed were the companions of the trench (Containing) the fire full of fuel; When they were sitting near it; And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses; 

The Central African Republic the Companions of the Ditch by nelvely

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considers report of Switzerland

17 February 2014
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today completed its consideration of the combined seventh to ninth periodic reports of Switzerland on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Considers Report of Switzerland by nelvely

Analysts say China holds key on UN North Korea Report

Press conference - Independent Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK - 17 Feb '14

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be charged with human rights abuses

Monday's United Nations report on North Korea's crimes against humanity is not for the faint of heart. It contains gruesome details of systematic extermination, torture, rape, forced abortions and starvation.

By Anthony Zurcher-20 February 2014 

Although it was a "polite letter", in the words of the Telegraph's Colin Freeman, the report constitutes a clarion call to action, according to many analysts. It will also amount to little, they say, unless China, one of North Korea's few allies, gives its consent.

Analysts Say China Holds Key on UN North Korea Report by nelvely

தமிழ் மக்களின் பூர்வீகக் காணிகள் அரச ஆதரவுடன் இராணுவத்தினரால் பறிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன;கூட்டமைப்பு குற்றச்சாட்டு

19 பெப்ரவரி 2014, புதன்

வடக்குக் கிழக்கிலிருந்து தமிழ் மக்களை வெளியேற்றி அங்கு சிங்கள மக்களை குடியேற்றி இந்த நாட்டை சிங்கள பௌத்த நாடாக்க அரசு திட்டமிட்டு செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றது என தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் பேச்சாளரும்  நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான சுரேஷ் பிரேமச்சந்திரன் குற்றஞ்சாட்டியுள்ளார்.

திபெத்தில் சீனர்களின் குடியேற்றத்தைப் போன்றும் பலஸ்தீனத்தில் யூதர்களின் குடியேற்றத்தைப் போன்றும் செயற்பட்டு வடக்கு கிழக்கில் சிங்களவர்களைச் குடியேற்றி சிறுபான்மையினரை இல்லாதொழிக்கவே அரசாங்கம் செயற்பட்டு வருகின்றது

ஜக்கிய நாடுகளின் மனித உரிமை விவகாரங்களுக்கான உயர்ஸ்தானிகர் நவநீதம்பிள்ளையால் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பரிந்துரைகள் மிக முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தவையாகும்.

அவற்றுக்கு வெறுமனே கருத்துக்களை வெளியிட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்காது அவற்றை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கு அரசாங்கம் முற்படுமேயானால்  அரசி மீதான அரைவாசி அழுத்தம் குறையும்

இதேவேளை அரசாங்கம் விரும்பியிருந்தால் மீள்குடியேற்றத்தை மேற்கொண்டிருக்க முடியும். இராணுவத்தை வடக்கிலிருந்து வெளியேற்றியிருக்க முடியும்.

நான்கு வருடங்கள் கடந்துள்ள நிலையில் நிலையான தீர்வொன்றையும் முன்வைத்திருக்க முடியும்.  எனினும் அதனைச் செய்யாது இராணுவத்தின்  உதவியுடன் தமிழர்களை கடல் வழியாக நாட்டை விட்டு வெளியேற்றும் திட்டத்தை மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றது என அவர் குற்றஞ்சாட்டியுள்ளார்.

மக்களின் மனம் நோகாமலும் உரிமைகளுக்கு மதிப்பளிக்கும் வகையிலேயே  காணி சுவீகரிப்புகள் இடம்பெறும் என்று காணி அமைச்சர் ஜனக்க பண்டார தென்னக்கோன் இங்கு கூறினார். அவரது கூற்று சிங்களவர்களுக்கு  மாத்திரமே பொருத்தமாக இருக்கும்.

வடக்கு ,கிழக்கில் தமிழ் மக்களின் பூர்வீகக் காணிகள் அரச ஆதரவுடன் இராணுவத்தினரால் பறிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. துப்பாக்கி முனையில் கொள்ளையிடப்படுகின்றன. அப்படியானால் வடக்கு கிழக்கைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் மிருகங்களா எனக் கேட்கின்றேன்.

இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக சர்வதேச ரீதியில் அநீதி இழைக்கப்படுவதாக உலகு எங்கும் பிரசாரம் செய்யப்படுகின்றது.

இலங்கைக்கு கால அவகாசம் வழங்குமாறு கோரப்படுகின்றது. கால அவகாச கால்பகுதியில்  தமிழர்களுக்கு சொந்தமான காணிகளை பறிமுதல் செய்யும் செயற்பாட்டில் அரசு செயல்படுகின்றது. அதுமாத்திரமின்றி காணிகளையும் பறிமுதல் செய்வதோடு தமிழ் மக்களை நாட்டை விட்டே வெளியேற்றுகின்றது.

அரசாங்கத்தினதும் கடற்படையினரதும் திட்டமிடப்பட்ட செயற்பாட்டின் அடிப்படையில் படகுகள் மூலம் தமிழ் மக்கள் அவுஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு அனுப்பப்படுகின்றனர். தமிழ் மக்களின் விவசாய நிலங்கள், வாழ்வாதாரங்கள் திட்டமிடப்பட்ட வகையில் அழிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

இங்கு சீனாவைப்பற்றி புகழ் பாடப்படுகின்றது. ஆனால் இதே சீனாதான் திபத்தியர்களை வெளியேற்றி சீனர்களை குடியேற்றியது. அதே போன்று பலஸ்தீனத்தில் யூதர்கள் பலவந்தமாக குடியேற்றப்பட்டனர்.

அந்த வகையில் வடக்கு கிழக்கில் இருந்து தமிழ் மக்களை வெளியேற்றி அங்கு சிங்கள மக்களை குடியேற்றி இந்த நாட்டை சிங்கள பௌத்த நாடாக்க அரசு திட்டமிட்டு செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றது.

ஐக்கிய நாடுகளின் மனித உரிமைகளுக்கான உயர் ஸ்தானிகர் நவநீதம்பிள்ளை இலங்கை தொடர்பான தனது அறிக்கைகளை வெளியிட்டுள்ளார். அதில் அவற்றில் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பரிந்துரைகள் மிகவும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்தவையாக உள்ளன.

இந்த பரிந்துரைகளை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துவதற்குப் பதிலாக அரசாங்கமும் அமைச்சர்களும் பதில்களையே கூறிக்கொண்டிருப்பர்.

இந்த பரிந்துரைகளை நிறைவேற்றினால்  பிரச்சினைகளில் அரைவாசிக்காவது தீர்வு கிடைக்கும். சர்வதேச அழுத்தம் இல்லாவிட்டால் எதுவும் இடம்பெறாது என்ற நிலையே காணப்படுகின்றது என அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

‘Government is trying to Sinhalise the country’ - TNA MP

21 February 2014

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran stated that the Sri Lankan government was trying to 'Sinhalise' the whole island, as he condemned the government’s grabbing of traditional Tamil land in the North-East.

According to a report in the Uthayan, Premachandran compared stated that Tamil people were having their land taken against their will, with the help of the armed forces and at many times at gun point. He went on to state the government was attempting to ‘Sinhalise’ the whole island, comparing the situation to that of the Chinese in Tibet and the Jews in Palestine.

Premachandran added that in the meantime, the government was attempting to deport Tamils, referring to the Navy’s alleged involvement in people smuggling schemes.

The TNA MP went on to add that the recommendations from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s report had to be implemented, but noted that without international pressure that was impossible.

See the report from the Uthayan here.

NPC member presents data exposing extent of genocidal land grab in Vanni

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 February 2014, 23:09 GMT]
Colombo has seized at least 30,000 acres of residential and agricultural lands for Sinhala colonization in Mullaiththeevu district alone after 2010, according to the data presented by Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member Thurairasa Raviharan, who moved a resolution condemning the demographic changes at the NPC. 

The land grab in Sinhalicised Gajabapura in Oddu-chuddaan is also being expanded to the ancient village of Othiya-malai, Mr Raviharan said adding that the Colombo government was using the Mahaweli ‘Development’ Porgramme’s L Scheme to occupy the lands in Mullaiththeevu district. Othiyamalai is situated 25 km beyond the reach of Mahaweli waters, he said. 

300 Sinhala families have been brought from South into Gajabapura, which was earlier known as Ceylon theatre. Each of the occupying family has received 1/2 acre residential land and 1 acre of agricultural land. Similarly, 450 Sinhalese families have been brought into Nikkawewa , 400 families into Kalyanapua and 400 in Kiripanwewea, Mr Ravikaran said. 

Sinhalese from South have been brought in to the occupied Tamil villages. Not a single Tamil has received lands from Colombo under the Mahaweli scheme so far in Mullaiththeevu district, the NPC councillor said. 

In Odduchuddaan, ancient Tamil villages have become Sinhalicised into Gajabapura, Nava-kalyana-pura, Apitawatunu-wewa and Nikkawewa, These areas now come under the Sinhala division of ‘Weli Oya’. 

In Karai-thu'raip-pattu division, Tamil villages have been Sinhalicised into Janakapura, Kiripanwewa, Agatualwewa, Kalyanapura and Sampathnuwara.

MI - 24 Helicopter - Sri Lanka Air Force - Part 1

Sri Lanka Air Force - MiG-27

Dawn On The Ethnic Front? (2)

By Izeth Hussain -February 22, 2014 |

Izeth Hussain

In my last article I argued that a sense of darkness could be the challenge that provokes the response of working earnestly to bring about the dawn, and further that since our ethnic minorities cannot all leave this island or be subjected to total genocide there is no alternative to our majority and the minorities learning to live together in some degree of peaceful accommodation. Regarding the external dimension of the problems facing us – the impending UNHRC meeting in Geneva – I argued that the key to what happens there lies with India. Obviously the Government should try to attain an understanding with India to help us out.

As for the internal dimension, I argued that rather than think in terms of a political solution as something that follows from Constitutional changes and the setting up of certain institutions we should envisage it as something that comes about through a process of organic growth. At present the TNA wants much more than 13A, while the Government is only willing to give much less. Suppose both agree to put all that aside and work earnestly to make a success of 13A. Much can be done through it to meet the needs of the people of the North at the grass roots level. The success of theNPC could be emulated by the other PCs, and that could be enormously beneficial for the country as a whole. Suppose also that 18A is repealed and we have a fully functioning democracy. A process of organic growth would be set in motion resulting in a political solution. There is really nothing fanciful about what I am outlining here, but we don’t really expect it to happen. Why not? I concluded my article by pointing out that to answer that question we must do much rethinking on the fundamentals of our ethnic imbroglio.

At the time I sent in my last article for publication I had not seen NPC Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s address to a meeting organized by the University Grants Commission on February 13. Its contents showed a broad convergence with some of the views sketched out in the preceding paragraph. He made a distinction between a post-conflict situation and a post-war situation. In the latter the focus is on taking corrective action over the ravages caused by the thirty-year war. By the former he means the conflictual relations between the Sinhalese and the Tamils which long antedate the war between them, and which require a political solution. He clearly regards the problem of dealing with the ravages of war as something that is quite distinct from the problem of reaching a political solution. In effect, he is saying that the TNA is willing to put aside for the time being the problem of a political solution and focus on making a success of 13A.Read More

Dawn On The Ethnic Front?(1)

British High Commissioner visits Jaffna

Page history:

Updated 20 February 2014, see all updates

20 February 2014 11:27am

First published.

20 February 2014 11:27am

World location:

Sri Lanka

World agency:

British High Commission Colombo

World priorities:

Promoting peace, democratic values and human rights in Sri Lanka

The British High
Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, paid an official visit to Jaffna from 19-20 February, 2014.

The High Commissioner made a donation of children’s books, gifted by Number 10 Downing Street.

He was accompanied by a senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London and colleagues from the British High Commission, Colombo.

He was pleased to meet Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Sabapathypillai welfare village – whom the British Prime Minister David Cameron also met in November last year – and make a contribution of books to the children’s nursery at the village. He also called at the Jaffna Library and made a donation of over 150 children’s books, gifted by Number 10 Downing Street.

Commenting at the conclusion of the visit, the British High Commissioner said: “This is one of the many visits we make around the country to see for ourselves the situation on the ground. My team and I met a range of individuals and groups who continue to play a significant role in Jaffna. We’ve seen the continuing welcome economic development and discussed how it can trickle down to benefit all sections of society. We also discussed how the diaspora can support inward investment. We noted the continuing challenges – including finding a durable solution for the remaining IDPs – and heard about the problems faced by single women and women heads of households, including from sexual violence. We discussed land issues in the North, including the High Security Zones (HSZs) and the role and level of military presence. We also engaged with the Chief Minister and the Governor on how the Northern Provincial Council can function more fully.

I was particularly pleased to meet with The HALO Trust. The British Government continues to provide significant support for demining activities in Sri Lanka – our Prime Minister announced a further £2.1 million (pounds) towards this effort last November. We are encouraged that The HALO Trust’s good work allows people to return to their lands, as part of restoring normality to their lives.

Nobody to whom I spoke wished a return of LTTE terrorism. And nor, emphatically, do we want to see that happen again. In all our discussions, we highlighted the continued importance of addressing issues of accountability, the vital importance of pursuing long-term reconciliation and the need for respect for human rights. We believe that positive developments in these areas will contribute to peace and prosperity for all the people of Sri Lanka.”

During his visit, the High Commissioner met a variety of individuals and groups, including the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, Justice C V Wigneswaran; the Security Forces Commander, Maj. Gen. Udaya Perera; the Jaffna Governor, G A Chandrasiri; members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Members of Parliament; members of the Northern Provincial Council; international agencies working in the area; and civil society.