UNHRC probe to cover violations from 2002-2009

Tuesday 25th March 2014

• Third draft text of US resolution on Sri Lanka circulated in Geneva
• Sets up time-frame for OHCHR inquiry into violations in Sri Lanka
• Draft resolution sticks to period of conflict studied by LLRC
• Draft provides no mandate for probing post-war abuses
• Amends operative paragraph on NPC to cover all provincial councils

By Dharisha Bastians
An international probe into allegations of human rights violations will be confined to the last seven years of the war in Sri Lanka and will have no mandate to investigate post-war abuses, according to the latest draft of the US sponsored resolution to be taken up in Geneva this week.

UNHRC Probe to Cover Violations From 2002-2009 by nelvely

Colombo Telegraph Has Every Right To Raise Dhanapala’s Conflict Of Interest; Friday Forum Member Speaks Out

March 25, 2014 

“I am confident that no one in the civil society in Sri Lanka approves restrictions on media freedom by State Sector or Private sector. I am also equally confident that without exception, the civil society condemns the blocking of the websites (including Colombo Telegraph) by the Government, directly and/or indirectly by giving unconstitutional directives to the regulator (TRC) and the service providers. Blocking of websites is among the series of challenges we face today, under an authoritarian setup.” JC Weliamuna, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent Human Rights lawyers and activists, the former Executive Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka told Colombo Telegraph.

As a member of the Civil Society group Friday Forum, he made above remarks when asked his opinion on Jayantha Dhanapala’s roles as a director of Dialog Axiata PLC and as a member of the Civil Society group Friday Forum. Dialog continues to block access in Sri Lanka to news websites critical of the government including the Colombo Telegraph. [Colombo Telegraph is being blocked by all internet service providers and mobile networks – private and state owned – in Sri Lanka.]

The Friday Forum, representing a group of distinguished Sri Lankans, publishes statements about democracy and good governance, and frequently, and in our view rightly, criticises the erosion of democratic rights including the freedoms of expression and information in Sri Lanka. The Friday Forum’s public statements that are often issued under the signature of Dhanapala.

“Re the specific issue of conflict of interest raised by Colombo Telegraph relating to Jayantha Dhanapala,  I am sure that, in the course of his dealings with Dialog and its stakeholders, Dhanapala would follow the corporate best practices and principles of corporate good governance. Further, as required under the Company law and Codes of Conduct, I have no doubt that Dr. Dhanapala, being a person with high integrity,  will address the instant issue within the framework of corporate governance and avoid any potential conflict of interest.” Weliamuna said.

“Every individual has a right to raise matters of conflict of interest and such matters are generally raised in the public interest (as opposed to private interests). Conflicts can arise in any sphere including private companies and even media organisations and therefore I believe that Colombo Telegraph, like any citizen, has every right to raise it in the public interest.” he further said.

The Dialog Axiata PLC’s 2013 annual report  is clear that: “The Board has separate and independent access to the Group’s Senior Management… ..The directors, especially non-executive directors, have access to independent professional advice in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities, at the Company’s expense.”

Dhanapala is an “Independent, non-executive” director of Dialog, and would in accordance with company policy, have “independent access to the group’s senior management,” and also “professional advice,” on the legal status of the blocking.

When contacted for comment on the ‘aims and objectives’ of the Friday Forum, a prominent member replied that it was committed to supporting the “rule of law,” “freedom of information and expression,” and  “an independent media.”

While Colombo Telegraph has no direct information of the quantum of compensation Dialog pays Jayantha Dhanapala, the 2013 annual report of lists an amount in excess of 76 million Rupees, as directors compensation for the entire board of 8 members, who meet 7 times a year.

Related posts;                           Read More

ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தின் எதிரொலி : யாழ் பல்கலை மாணவர்கள் ஐவர் கைது

24 மார்ச் 2014, திங்கள்

பொலிசாருக்கெதிராக  யாழ். பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் இராமநாதன் நுண்கலைத் துறை  மாணவர்கள் இன்றைய தினம் போராட்டமொன்றில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

இச்சம்பவம் தொடர்பாக மேலும் தெரியவருவதாவது,

யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழக நுண்கலைப்பீட மாணவர்கள் இனம் தெரியாத 15 பேர் கொண்ட குழுவால்  நேற்று முன்தினம் கண்மூடித்தனமாக தாக்கப்பட்டு வைத்தியசாலையில் ஒருவர் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார்.


இந்நிலையில் குறித்த சம்பவம் தொடர்பான சந்தேக நபர்களை பொலிசார் கைது செய்ய தயக்கம் காட்டி வந்த நிலையில் மாணவர்கள் இதற்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து இன்றைய தினம் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.


இன்று காலை ஆரம்பமாகிய இப் போராட்டத்தில் திட்டமிட்டு எம்மை பழிவாங்காதே, பொலிசே மாணவரை பொங்க வைக்காதே, பொலிசாரே பக்கச் சார்பாக நடக்காதீர்கள், விபூசிகா ஜெயக்குமாரியைக் கைது செய்த நீ இவர்களை ஏன் கைது செய்யவில்லை போன்ற பதாதைகள் மற்றும் கோஷங்களை எழுப்பியவாறும் போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.


இதேவேளை மாணவர்கள் ஒரு புறம் போராட்டத்தில்  ஈடுபட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கும் வேளையில் யாழ். பல்கலைக்கழக நுண்கலைத் துறையில் கல்வி பயின்று வரும் 3ம் வருட மாணவர்கள் ஐந்து பேரை சந்தேகத்தின் பெயரில் கைது பொலிசார் செய்துள்ளனர்.

குறித்த மாணவர்கள் ஐந்து பேரும் குறித்த சம்பவத்துடன் தொடர்புபட்டார்கள் என சுன்னாக பொலிசார் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

கைது செய்யப்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் இன்று மல்லாகம் நீதிமன்றில் முன்னிலைப்படுத்தப்படவுள்ளதாக தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.



 

more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=506812774725452008#sthash.sZFOcLy1.5zzlLYU0.dpuf

Sri Lanka SC clips Northen Chief Minster Wigneswaran’s wings

Sri Lanka SC clips Northen Chief Minster Wigneswaran’s wings

C.V.Wigneswaran

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The Supreme Court yesterday issued an Interim Order suspending the operation of the Administrative Standing Instructions of the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran.

Sri Lanka SC clips Northen Chief Minster Wigneswaran’s wings by nelvely

Geneva To Delhi, Shift In Focus And Locus For Tamils

By S. Sivathasan -March 25, 2014

S. Sivathasan

The eyes of the Tamils long transfixed on Geneva are changing direction toDelhi. From a wish to the real and the realizable as some may have it. From investigation to a solution is the glimmer, may be to yet a few more. From a slow track to a fast one some others may call it. The shift is occasioned by a sharply visible sea change in India’s political sense. From unclear to clear appears the path of progress.

What is foreseen is not a prosaic transfer of state power from one political formation to another but a change of persona of India. To merit great power status, which the world expects of India, she has unshakeable imperatives. Firm governance at home and robust policy abroad. On these twin planks, legitimacy for governance is being sought by Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) and its larger version National Development Alliance (NDA). Herein lies the compulsion to target an absolute majority. The recent alliance in TN could signify eight additional seats for DNA. Fifty more days for the time of reckoning are long enough for subterranean surges to surface.

Jashwant Sinha a former foreign minister and finance minister of India made a stirring speech for 46 minutes in Chennai on March 20^th2014. He came exclusively to participate in a Human Rights event at the invitation ofVaiko. Therein he made a scathing attack on the weakness of the Congress regime in its tenure of two terms. When Vaiko urged spirited action to redeem the SL Tamils, the PM had cited India’s powerlessness. The helplessness of India that Manmohan Singh referred to, Sinha said is going to end within three months and within three months the situation is going to change dramatically. Not because we are going to send troops into Sri Lanka but because a strong man will occupy the chair as PM. The tenor of the speech conveys a mood of assurance.

He added, the tragedy of Sri Lankan Tamils is one of the greatest tragedies of our times. It didn’t take place when Vajpayee was Prime Minister. That is the courage and determination that we are going to show again. The world will realize as will Sri Lanka that a regime change in India is not merely a regime change but a complete change in the personality of India.                                                       Read More          

SRI LANKA: Release Balendran Jeyakumari - stop harassments of human rights defenders!

March 25, 2014

Today, as the United Nations commemorates the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) reiterates its strong condemnation against the arbitrary arrest and detention of Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13-year old daughter and the intensifying intimidation and harassment against Rukj Fernando and Father Praveen after their release from detention.

Balendran Jeyakumari's husband disappeared during the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). After the war, her son disappeared after surrendering to the Sri Lankan army.

Since then she has actively campaigned against disappearances as a woman human rights defender and worked with other families of the disappeared for truth and justice.

We believe that the recent incident remains part of a systematic attack to vilify the legitimate work of human rights defenders and to prevent the truth of Sri Lanka's human rights atrocities from being discovered completely by the local and international community.

The arbitrary arrest and detention of Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan were committed on 16 March 2014 while they are documenting and assisting detained Balendran Jeyakumari. During their days in the custody of the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), both were prevented from access to their lawyers and family members. While they were released on 19 March 2014, the intimidation and harassments continue with court orders restricting their travel, confiscating their laptops, hard drives, among others and prohibiting them from issuing statements to local and international groups.

Ruki Fernando is the human rights adviser of Inform — Human Rights Documentation Centre in Colombo, the Chairperson of Rights Now and former Coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders Program of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). He was awarded by the Bishop Tji Hak Soon Foundation with the Justice and Peace Award in 2009 in South Korea.

Rev. Fr. Praveen Mahesan OMI, a human rights defender and the former director of the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR) based in Jaffna.

We affirm the work of Ruki Fernando, Father Praveen Mahesan and Balendran Jeyakumari for human rights and humanitarian protection. We deplore such attacks on the two human rights defenders' freedom of expression and opinion and the restrictions of their movement. An assault to their rights is an assault to the victims and the cause they have served for years. Prior to Ruki and Father Praveen's arrest, human rights defenders and other critics of the authoritarian Rajapaksa-led government were intimidated, harassed, and disappeared.

Activities conducted by family members of the disappeared are consistently harassed by security forces and in worse situations, families and human rights defenders were held and detained. On 27 October 2012, a gathering of members of Families of the Disappeared and Right to Life was conducted in Negombo. Local police started detaining family members and leaders of Right to Life over a screening of a documentary which showed the struggles of the families of Sri Lanka's disappeared.

600 families of the disappeared from North and Northeast part of the country were mobilized on 5 March 2013 by the Association of the Families Searching for the Disappeared Relatives. The group intended to join a symbolic gathering of family members in Colombo to submit a petition before the UN office. However, the families from the North and Northeast were blocked in Vavuniya by the Sri Lankan police and prevented from participating in the Colombo campaign action.

During the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillay's visit in August 2013, she was severely branded as an LTTE supporter. Families of the disappeared and civil society groups were likewise harassed, In a campaign action to demand for justice during the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government's meeting in Sri Lanka, AFAD Council Member and Chairperson of Families of the Disappeared (FOD) Brito Fernando was branded as supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ideology and was threatened along with other civil society leaders.

The increasing harassments against the families of the disappeared and human rights defenders are occurring amidst the backdrop of the discoveries of mass graves in Mannar, Matale and Puthukkudiririppu-Mullaitivu which if investigated and studied properly can lead to identification of disappeared victims from the late SOs and conflict period with the LEfTS. As such graves are discovered, increasing international attention is being directed to support the proposed UK-US resolution before the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) for an international probe of the war crimes committed during Sri Lanka's conflict period.

To note, the UN Human Rights Council is conducting the last week of its session this week and is highly critical of the state of human rights in Sri Lanka. The human rights community is watching over the human rights performance of Sri Lanka, which was then voted out from the Human Rights Council in 2008 and whose continuing dismal state of human rights is frowned upon with eyes of condemnation by the international community.

The Sri Lankan government must uphold its citizens' right to truth and justice. We demand the release of Balendran Jeyakumari and other victims of arbitrary arrest and detention, stop the persecution of human rights defenders, families of the disappeared and critics of the Rajapaksa government, and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other draconian laws aimed at paralyzing the movement for truth, justice and peace in Sri Lanka.

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) is a regional federation campaigning against the practice of enforced disappearances. Based in the Philippines, the Federation has member organizations working in Bangladesh, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste. AFAD also serves as the focal organization for the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), an international unit campaigning in different regions and sub-regions across the globe. ICAED is composed of 52 member organizations — and human rights groups and organizations of families of the disappeared, whose general membership is presently convened in Geneva this week.

Signed and authenticated by:

MUGIYANTO
Chairperson

MARY AILEEN BACALSO
Secretary-General

No Fire Zone Goes To Michigan

March 25, 2014

The Amnesty International Chapter of Michigan State University will screen No Fire Zone at the University’s International Center, 427 N. Shaw Lane, Room 303. East Lansing, MI 48824 at 7:00 PM on March 31, 2014. The event is co-sponsored by the University’s Asian Studies Center.

The screening comes immediately after the crucial vote on the US resolution at the UN Human Rights Council calling for war crimes investigations in Sri Lanka.

After the screening, AI’s country specialist Jim MacDonald and the university’s Professor Ratnajeevan Hoolewill make their observations and be part of a discussion.

The Forever War?: Military Control in Sri Lanka’s North

25 March 2014 by Crisis Group

Sri Lanka’s army soldiers stand guard in the back of a truck during the opening of a Bartleet Finance Limited investment branch in Jaffna, April 30, 2010. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

The heavy militarisation of Sri Lanka’s northern province after the civil war’s bloody end in 2009 has been the subject of growing domestic and international concern. The large numbers of military personnel in the north, and the deep involvement of the military in the province’s governance, endanger the re-establishment of democratic institutions that i
s necessary to lasting peace (see our Nov 2013 report Sri Lanka’s Potemkin Peace: Democracy Under Fire).

The Forever War Military Control in Sri Lanka’s North by nelvely

Sri Lanka army chief confirms military rule, land grabs in North

BY RAMANAN VEERASINGHAM-

25 MARCH 2014

Sri Lanka's Army Chief Lt.Gen Daya Ratnayake has publicly admitted that the Northern Province has been under the military rule and that his troops in the name of ensuring the stability and security of the former northern war-zone, were involved in mass-scale land grabs, by symbolically releasing a few plots of lands to the Tamil rightful owners.

According to the army media unit, Gen. Daya Ratnayake at ceremony held at the Kilinochchi Security Forces Headquarters on Monday has "returned 21 plots of land of the Kilinochchi SF headquarters premises" in Pooneryn, Mulankaavil and Puliyankulam areas to the rightful owner. Trying to paint a picture that the military was doing a favour to the Tamils in the area, it said that this was done "in consistent with the government's policy of releasing land of civilians hitherto used for security purposes".

These are lands traditionally belonging to the Tamil people and were forcibly taken over by the army after the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009. Even five years after the war, several fertile villages in the Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts are in complete control of the army and thousands of traditional Tamil families from these villages still remain displaced, going through untold agonies on a daily basis.

Military supersedes Provincial admin

Some villages have seen complete transition with the ongoing Sinhala colonisation. Even the names are changed into Sinhala names. To name a few, traditional Tamil villages such as Kokkilai, Kokkothoduvai, Karunaddukkerni have been renamed as Janakapura, Mahindapura and Namalpura.

Although the army has ceremonially retuned just 21 plots of land, mainly aiming to counter the wide-spread allegations of ongoing military land grabs and Sinhala colonisation in the Wanni ahead of the Geneva vote, the Army Commander's action has ironically and inadvertently confirmed the fact that it is his troops who rule the north and the east. The "colourful ceremony" in which the army chief was the chief guest, has confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that the army was in fact occupying the lands of the Tamils at the expense of their freedom of movement, free speech and basic right to livelihood.

There is an elected Provincial Council administration in place, in addition to the central government and its line ministries, which are legally entitled to handle pure civil administrative affairs of this nature. The military has no business in identifying, processing or determining the rightful owners. But, the army in its own admission said that Kilinochchi Security Forces Headquarters "succeeded confirming the identities of those rightful owners before documents were processed for return of their lands".

Army chief predict more arrests, abductions?

While addressing the troops in Kilinochchi, which was formerly the politico-military headquarters of the LTTE, the Army Chief in obvious reference to the ongoing Geneva UNHRC sessions, has explained to the troops "how different actors both at regional and international arenas are burning midnight oil to negate the onward march of our nation after elimination of terrorism and disturb peace dividents prevailing in the country".

In his bid to justify a huge military presence and their fresh campaign to intimidate the civilians in the region in the name of preventing the "regrouping of the LTTE", Gen Daya Ratnayake has stressed the need for the soldiers to "sustain vigilance and surveillance while engaged in security work in respective areas of service". In the past, this meant more arrests, abductions and disappearances.

Tamils can cause more damage to UNHRC outcome and media can make or break government

by Pearl Thevanayagam from Bradford UK
(Lanka-e-News- 24.March.2014, 11.30PM) Sri Lanka has every reason to be jittery this week. UK has said in no uncertain terms that it will settle for nothing less than international investigators deployed to probe into war crimes.

Tamils Can Cause More Damage to UNHRC Outcome and Media Can Make or Break Government by nelvely

இறுதி வரைவு முன்னேற்றகரமானது என்கிறது உலகத் தமிழர் பேரவை

• பிபிசி தமிழோசை CTAநேரடி ஒலிநிகழ்ச்சி
• பரப்பு

24 மார்ச், 2014

இலங்கையில் இறுதிப் போரின் போது இடம்பெற்றதாகக் கூறப்படும் மனித உரிமைகள் மீறல்கள் தொடர்பில் இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக ஜெனிவாவில் ஐநா மனித உரிமைகள் ஆணைக்குழுவில் அமெரிக்கா தலைமையிலான நாடுகளால் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டுள்ள தீர்மானத்தின் இறுதி வரைவு முன்னேற்றகரமாக இருப்பதாக உலகத் தமிழர் பேரவையைச் சேர்ந்த சுரேன் சுரேந்திரன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

முன்னதாக வந்த வரைவை விட இந்த வரைவு முன்னேற்றம் கண்டிருப்பதாகவும், ஆனாலும் இதனையும் விட இறுக்கமானதாக இதனைக் கொண்டுவந்திருக்க முடியும் என்றும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

ஐநா மனித உரிமைகள் ஆணையர் இலங்கை விசாரணைகளை கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற விடயம் உண்மையில் ஒரு சர்வதேச ரீதியிலான விசாரணைக்கு சமமானது என்றும் ஆகவே அது வரவேற்கத்தக்கது என்றும் அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

இலங்கை அமைச்சர் கருத்து

அதேவேளை, இலங்கையின் தலைநகர் கொழும்பில் செய்தியாளர் சந்திப்பு ஒன்றில் பேசிய இலங்கையின் மூத்த அமைச்சரான நிமல் சிறிபால டி சில்வா அவர்கள், சர்வதேச விசாரணை ஒன்று நடப்பதை தவிர்த்ததால், இலங்கைக்கு அங்கு ஓரளவு வெற்றி கிடைத்திருப்பதாகக் கூறியுள்ளார்.

''நாங்கள் தற்போதைய சூழ்நிலையில் ஓரளவு வெற்றியை அடைந்திருக்கிறோம். அதாவது சர்வதேச விசாரணை ஒன்று நடத்தப்பட வேண்டும் என்ற நிலைப்பாடு மாற்றப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. சர்வதேச விசாரணைக்கு தமது ஆதரவு கிடைக்காது என்று பல நாடுகள் கூறியிருந்தன. ஆனால் கடைசி தருணத்தில் கூட தற்போதிருக்கின்ற தீர்மான வரைவில் திருத்தம் கொண்டுவரப்படலாம். அதனால் நாங்கள் அதுபற்றி அதிகளவில் மகிழ்ச்சியடைவது கூடாது.'' என்று அமைச்சர் நிமல் சிறிபால டி சில்வா கூறியுள்ளார்.

UN panel of experts: Why a UN probe of Sri Lanka would spark new hope for reconciliation

25 March 2014

The panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary General to study the final months of Sri Lanka’s civil war today urged the UN Human Rights Council to support a formal investigation the UN’s human rights chief, Navi Pillay, into the violations of international law by both sides they had identified.

The experts, Marzuki Darusman (former attorney-general of Indonesia), Steven Ratner(law professor at the University of Michigan) and Yasmin Sooka (executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights in South Africa), said in an op-ed in the Globe and Mail:

“While not as formal as a freestanding commission of inquiry like that for Syria, this mechanism could finally provide the independent investigation that is long overdue. It will need a budget and staff sufficient to the challenge of investigating the events of 2009.
“Sri Lanka has deployed its diplomats worldwide to try to persuade the developing states on the Council that an investigation by the UN is an attack on Sri Lankan sovereignty. But Sri Lanka has agreed to all the human rights standards that the UN investigation will apply. And a UN inquiry will ascertain the facts without prejudice.
“Members of the Council should give the UN investigation not only their vote, but the financial support it will need to carry out a careful inquiry.
“With such a record, the denial by the government and LTTE sympathizers can finally be addressed, and the task of justice for Sri Lanka’s victims can enter a new stage.”

The experts said their own report three years ago had recommended that the Sri Lankan government investigate war crimes and that the UN step in with its own international investigation if the government failed to do so.

However, “while our report garnered support within Sri Lankan civil society and abroad, the government rejected it as a sort of plot by LTTE sympathizers,” they said.

They pointed out that subsequent calls for Sri Lanka to conduct an independent investigation in the UNHRC resolutions of 2012 and 2013, and again last year by High Commissioner Pillay, had not been heeded.

“Meanwhile, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate, as opponents and journalists disappear, the Tamil areas in the north remain highly militarized, survivors live in fear, and many missing from the war remain unaccounted for.”

Referring to the possibility of reconciliation through a truth commission, the experts said:

“The peace in Sri Lanka about which the government brags is based on conquest and fear. It could not be more the opposite of the peace based on truth, justice, and reconciliation that Nelson Mandela insisted upon for South Africa; and the fate of those two states could also not be more divergent.”

Sri Lanka: Waffling India Faces Tough Decision

Whichever way it votes on an upcoming UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka, India will offend key constituents.

By Srini Sitaraman-March 25, 2014

A recent report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights carried the strongest criticism yet of Sri Lanka’s Human Rights record. 

Sri Lanka Waffling India Faces Tough Decision by nelvely

International Press Institute Urges UN To Ensure Interference With Colombo Telegraph Ends

March 25, 2014

In an open letter to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Frank La Rue, and members of the U.N. Human Rights Council, the International Press Institute (IPI) Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie called on them to “do everything in [their] power to ensure that the interference with the Colombo Telegraph and other news websites ends, and that the government respects its international commitments to press freedom”.

“IPI would like to call your attention to press freedom restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan government.  In particular, we are concerned about the ban imposed on the Colombo Telegraph, an on-line newspaper, and other news websites that are being blocked in Sri Lanka.  We believe these actions represent a serious violation of people’s right to access a broad range of information and opinions.” it said.

“Sri Lanka must ensure that the website of the Colombo Telegraph and other news websites are not blocked in the country, as this represents an unacceptable form of pre-publication censorship,” IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi said.

We publish below the statement in full;

Vienna, March 25, 2014

Open letter on the blockage of the Colombo Telegraph’s website in Sri Lanka

To the attention of:

Mr. Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression;

Members of the UN Human Rights Council

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights Council Branch

Palais des Nations

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Your Excellencies,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in more than 120 countries, would like to call your attention to press freedom restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan government.  In particular, we are concerned about the ban imposed on the Colombo Telegraph, an on-line newspaper, and other news websites that are being blocked in Sri Lanka.  We believe these actions represent a serious violation of people’s right to access a broad range of information and opinions.

Alison Bethel McKenzie

According to IPI’s sources, the website of the Colombo Telegraph, run by a group of exiled journalists, is frequently targeted by the authorities in Sri Lanka and has been periodically blocked in the country since 2011, most recently starting in February 2014.  According to a Feb. 20 Colombo Telegrapharticle, Sri Lanka’s Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) “officially issued instructions to mobile service providers to block Colombo Telegraph and other critical websites on its servers, with a warning that the companies are to maintain to customers that the inability to view the sites on the networks were merely ‘technical’ problems.”Read More

Warnasinghe says CBK fixes Mahinda in Geneva 

By Gihan Nicholas-March 25, 2014 
 
The Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday alleged that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's report on 'Religious Reconciliation in Sri Lanka' has paved the way for France to make a submission against Sri Lanka at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council session.
 
Expressing his views, during a media briefing yesterday, Western Provincial Council Election, Colombo District candidate Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe accused the former President of having emulated Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem. He said that the successive reports published by the duo had paved a path for inciting religious violence in Sri Lanka. "The report which was secretly handed over to the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner by Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem has already caused irrevocable damage.
 
Closely following on the heels of that report, former President Kumaratunga decided to compile another report, the contents of which say that there is no religious harmony in Sri Lanka. Being a Buddhist she in her report states that the Buddhist majority of the country led by Buddhist organisations is harassing followers of other minority faiths. When the report was handed over to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, he too quietly accepted it. His silence says that he condones the content of the report; he did not take measures to redress it. Chandrika's report has aided to strengthen the US sponsored resolution which has been presented against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Former President Kumaratunga has betrayed the Buddhists of the country. She together with Rauff Hakeem are colluding against the country with Western powers," Warnasinghe added.
 
Speaking further he said that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), led by Minister Rauff Hakeem, should express their stance with regard to radical Islamic Fundamentalists who are operating in the East and are disrupting the lives of ordinary Muslims.
 
"Information has come to light that a Radical Islamic Fundamentalist group named 'Thowheed Jamat' is causing major hindrances to ordinary Muslims in the East. They have placed severe restrictions over the lives of Muslims in the province. The outfit is attempting enforce fundamentalist Islamic ideologies on Muslims. Why is the SLMC silent on this? They accuse the Buddhists of religious harassment, but they are silent when it comes to this issue. We demand that the SLMC immediately expresses its stance in this regard," Warnasinghe said.