| |
| PM has not spoken to Rajapaksa |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
UNP blames Sri Lankan government for Manmohan’s decision
Contrary to reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will call up Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to explain why he could not attend the Commonwealth summit, the two leaders have not spoken on the phone since New Delhi firmed up its decision, it is reliably learnt.
Sources in the Indian mission here said Dr. Singh’s letter, expressing his inability to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), was handed over at the Pre
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Rights groups push for probe |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
A leading human rights group has released a media guide to coincide with the Commonwealth summit, calling for attention to be placed on Sri Lanka’s human rights situation.
Human Rights Watch and the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice said that Governments attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting should press the host, Sri Lanka, on accountability for alleged war crimes and ongoing human rights abuses.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| South Africa snubs boycott call |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
Despite pressure from some groups including the Global Tamil Forum, South African President Jacob Zuma has decided lead the South African delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo this week.
The South African Foreign Ministry said that President Zuma will be accompanied by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The Heads of Government Meeting will be preceded by the Pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers Meeting on 13 -14 November 2013, where Minister Nkoana-M
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Channel 4's Snow to accompany Cameron |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
John Snow who presented UK's Channel 4's controversial No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka – which claimed Sri Lanka committed war crimes – is expected to be among the official delegation of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, when he visits Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), according to reports.
John Snow will arrive in the country as a member of the British Prime Minister's media team and as such will be accorded all the privileges accorded to the d
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| CHOGM |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
Over 300 MDMK activists, including its General Secretary Vaiko were, arrested for blocking train traffic as the dawn-to-dusk Tamil Nadu bandh called by pro-Eelam outfits demanding that India completely boycott CHOGM meet in Colombo got underway.
Normal life remained unaffected due to the bandh for which police have made elaborate security arrangements. However, people who preferred to commute through railway faced hardship as some political parties staged rail-roko in various parts of the state which affected running of trai
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Channel 4 greeted by demo (Audio) |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
A protest was staged at the exit door of the Katunayake airport when a group of Channel 4 journalists arrived in Sri Lanka to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Demonstrators carrying placards and posters objected to the presence of the Channel 4 team saying they had discredited Sri Lanka and failed to highlight the atrocities committed by the LTTE.
H. K. D. Chandrasoma of the Alliance to Foster National Unity, which organised the protest, said that they also wanted to voice their anger towards t
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| MDMK detains train in Madurai protesting against CHOGM |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
Vehemently opposing the Centre's decision to participate in the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Colombo on Friday, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) activists led by its general secretary Vaiko detained the Madurai-Chennai Egmore Vaigai Express and staged a demonstration here on Tuesday.
As a result of the agitation, the superfast Express was detained for about 30 minutes. The train, which was scheduled to leave Madurai at 6.50 a.m., left at 7.20 a.m., police said.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Australian Senator and New Zealand MP breached visa conditions, Sri Lanka says |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
Sri Lanka's Ministry of External Affairs said the Sri Lankan immigration authorities took proper action regarding the detention of Australian Green Party Senator Lee Rhiannon and New Zealand MP Jan Logie for visa violations.
The Ministry in a statement said Senator Rhiannon and MP Logie who were in Sri Lanka on tourist visas, were questioned by the authorities for breaching the conditions of their visas.
According to the Ministry, the visas issued for the two legislators were bona-fide tourists visas issued f
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Abbott notes progress in Lanka |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott won’t be joining other world leaders in a boycott of the Commonwealth summit, saying Australia shouldn’t be giving lectures to other countries about human rights.
Abbott, who will be in Colombo on Friday after the first week of parliament in Canberra, said he respected the Commonwealth as an institution, the Australian Associated Press reported.
“I certainly don’t want us to trash one of the very long-standing and important bodies that we are a senior m
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Hunger strike against land grab |
| 2013-11-12 |
|
A hunger strike was launched by some residents in Vallikamam North today against the alleged forceful occupation of their land by the military.
Northern Provincial Council member M.K. Sivajilingham said that the demonstration which began this morning will continue over the next few days.
He said that the issue will also be raised with foreign delegates who are in the country to attend the Commonwealth summit and who are expected to visit Jaffna.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
