In the lead up to the proposed Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election in September Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran, has expressed the belief that the government is not genuinely committed to the process of reconciliation.
pic courtesy of: Knowledge Box

In a wide ranging interview with Ceylon Today, he explained why he is doubtful the election would be held as announced and why change has to happen from within. He also said hosting the CHOGM will undermine the values of the Commonwea

Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University in Anuradhapura was reportedly closed from yesterday until May 27. The sources at the University said the University administration decided to temporarily close the University due to a contagious disease.

Asked about the disease, an administrator said the University was closed as an infection control measure to prevent the spread of diarrhoea. He said fallen ill with diarrhoea.

The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns has said he wants to visit Sri Lanka.

In a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) ahead of its 23rd session scheduled for next week, Heynes said he encourages the Governments of Sri Lanka to accept his pending requests for a visit.

Britain has said there would be “consequences” for Sri Lanka if its leaders did not address international concerns over human rights abuses, ahead of a Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told parliament “despicable human rights violations” had taken place in Sri Lanka, but that Britain still planned to attend the Commonwealth meeting there, a stance that has drawn heavy criticism from rights groups.

The Sri Lankan government is investigating a controversial video footage aired by a British Channel accusing the army of war crimes during the final phase of the battle with the LTTE.

This was conveyed to European Parliament by Sri Lankan Ambassador to European Union PM Amza on Tuesday, a government statement said.

The ceremonial sitting to welcome the newly appointed Supreme Court judge, Justice Rohini Marasinghe was held at the Supreme Court yesterday with the notable absence of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which traditionally represents the country’s legal fraternity.

Justice Marasinghe was accorded a warm welcome at the ceremonial sitting by an array of Judges of the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court and the Magistrate’s Court.

A group of 42 suspected illegal immigrants staying at a lodge to leave for Australia was arrested by the Chilaw police in the early hours of last morning. The group included 28 men, five women and nine children.

Police said that they were members of four families from Jaffna and Gurunagar areas. “They were waiting for the arrival of a multi-day trawler to the Negombo fishery harbour,” a Police spokeman said.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday there would be "consequences" for Sri Lanka if its leaders did not address international concerns over human rights abuses, ahead of a Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told parliament "despicable human rights violations" had taken place in Sri Lanka, but that Britain still planned to attend the Commonwealth meeting there, a stance that has drawn heavy criticism from rights groups.

The local magistrate has remanded to police custody the principal of a school in Galkiriyagama, Kekirawa in Sri Lanka’s North Central province till May 22, for allegedly sexually molesting 11 underage school girls, ‘Divaina’ newspaper reported on Monday.

The 45-year-old suspect, a father of two, identified as A. M. P. Dissanayake from Unduruwa and principal of Galkiriyagama Primary School, was produced before acting magistrate Vipula Wickramanayaka on Saturday.

War came to an end in May 2009, but that did not put an end to the suffering of the communities. Even today, numerous Tamil families await justice for their families and friends in Sri Lanka.

This tale is similar but also different. Different because it highlights the plight of women – mothers, wives and sisters – who are waiting for the men in their families to return home, post war. That story is so common to many thousands here. But it is different because these women are refusing to accept the loss of their dea