High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will undertake a visit to Sri Lanka from 25 to 2013, in response to an invitation formally extended to her by the Sri Lankan government in April 2011, the government said.

Addressing the Human Rights Council -23rd Regular Session in Geneva today Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva and the Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation Ravinatha P. Aryasinha said that Sri Lanka considers this visit as part of its continued, transparent and proactive engagement with the Hi

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the TNA to shake free of the notion ‘that it is the international community that is going to frighten us, intimidate us and impose a solution on us.’

“I tell the Hon. R. Sampanthan on the Floor of this House that it will never happen,” the Minister asserted, wrapping up a debate on the adjournment motion moved by TNA Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan on the US-sponsored UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka, in Parliament last Tuesday.

Sri Lanka has expressed deep concerns over the lack of financial independence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) currently headed by Navi Pillay, saying it leads to disproportionate attention being paid to country-specific action in the Council.

The government says such action selectively targets some countries, while situations, human rights violations and restrictive practices in other parts of the world that warrant more urgent and immediate attention and action remain conveniently ignored.

The Sihala Ravaya, a group comprising of Buddhist monks, have called for the closure of slaughter houses until, at least, the final rites are carried out on the monk who died after setting himself on fire in Kandy.

Sihala Ravaya National Organizer Venerable Akmeemana Dayaratne thera said that a formal request has already been made to the government in this regard.

He said that some slaughter houses in parts of the country had been approached by the Sihala Ravaya and they had agreed to the request.

There are fears more asylum seekers have drowned at sea while attempting to reach Australia after several life jackets were found washed up on a beach in Australia, the Australian media reported today.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) said eight life jackets had washed up on a beach at Cocos Island, off the north coast of Western Australia on Friday, Nine News reported.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia has taken steps to conduct a special mobile service running Monday and Tuesay for illegal migrant workers from Sri Lanka.

Mangala Randeniya, spokesperson and deputy general manager of the Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau, noted that temporary passports will be issued to Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

The competency assessment test and the practical examination conducted by faculties of universities has been made compulsory for students who are awaiting university entrance decisions, after passing the 2012 GCE Advanced Level Examination.

The Department for the Registration of Persons notes that the due to inactive nature of the principals in schools, a crisis might arise in issuing National Identity Cards for students who will be sitting for the GCE Ordinary level examination this year.

The Commissioner of the Department R.M.S. Sarath Kumara noted that several such cases have been reported.

Ganeshan Nimalaruban Case: Chief Justice Mohan Peiris Denies Petitioner's Lawyers Right to See Replies Filed By Attorney General.
The Fundamental Rights case of Ganeshan Nimalaruban was taken before the Supreme Court yesterday.

The Bench consisted of: Mohan Peiris CJ, P. A Ratnayake PC J and S Hettige J.

In the course of submissions by the petitioner's lawyers, Chief Justice Mohan Peiris made the following remarks:

Relatives and neighbors of Nagendran Kanthimati, the 21 year old Sri Lankan maid who recently died mysteriously while on duty in Jordan, plead for a probe on her death.

Her Mother, Nagendran Mangaleshvari says that the officers of the Jordan embassy notified her on the 19th that her daughter had died from a gun shot wound on the 6th.

She says that the officers had told hr that Kanthimathi had committed suicide by shooting herself with a gun in the house.