“The skeletons in the mass graves in Matale are those of the 60,000 JVP members killed during the UNP regime in 1988-89. We urge the government to immediately conduct a probe into the findings,” says the JVP.

While the media began reporting the issue, the JVP held media briefings and issued communiqués in this regard. However, after a while, the JVP changed its tune, somewhat. They suddenly alleged that during the period in question, it was Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who was the army officer in charge of Matale, an

 
The boat carrying 66 Sri Lankans arrived in Geraldton harbour, 430km north of Perth, at 12.45pm local time yesterday en route to New Zealand. Picture: Graeme Gibbons Source: News Limited

TWO brothers testing out a new dinghy in Geraldton yesterday came across the first asylum-seeker boat in five years to come within sight of mainland Australia undetected, carrying 66 Sri Lankans.

The Government yesterday reaffirmed in Parliament that it did not concur with the US-sponsored resolution adopted at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions on March 22.

Responding to a statement by Opposition United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said therefore the Government would not hold talks with anyone on the matters contained in the resolution.

The Colombo Magistrate's Court yesterday dismissed an appeal by a Senior DIG to issue a court order to disperse a crowd involved in an indefinite satyagraha in Meethotamulla, Kolonnawa, demanding the immediate removal of the 16-acre garbage dump site in the area.

Senior DIG, Anura Senanayake, informed Court the crowd has been involved in the satyagraha campaign at the garbage dump site, since last Saturday (6), causing disturbances to the area residents. Senanayake argued the group should be immediately removed and r

The UN was not in a position to comment on the recent attack on the Uthayan newspaper distribution office in Killinochchi.

When asked for a comment during the daily press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York yesterday (Monday), UN spokesman Martin Nesirsky said that he did not have a comment on the particular attack.

The United States says some of the most important steps in achieving real reconciliation in Sri Lanka have not yet moved ahead and this includes dialogue with the TNA on political devolution.

The US Ambassador in Sri Lanka said the US will continue to push for reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

US Ambassador Michele J. Sison, speaking to Foreign Correspondents in Colombo, said that as the US examines the next step, they will renew its consideration of all mechanisms available, both in the Human Rights Co

The wife and children of Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan, who had been an LTTE spokesman have been given asylum in Sweden, a former LTTE reader Lohini Rathimohan told the BBC in an interview.

She said that she also sailed in a refugee boat with them.

Lohini is also among the refugees, who are now staying in Dubai under UNHCR care. When the boat they were sailing had broken down at sea, they contacted UN Refugees unit and were rescued by a ship sailing from Singapore to Dubai.

Government Radiologists will commence a strike today based on several demands.

Chairman of the Government Radiologists' Association, Chanaka Darmawickrama says that radiologists will be on sick leave from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Chairman of the Government Radiologists' Association, Chanaka Dharmawickrama said that the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, the Soysa Hospital, Castle Street Hospital and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children's hospital in Peradeniya will not be affected by the strike.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in South Korea has sought details of all Sri Lankans in that country as a result of the recent tensions prevailing between North and South Korea.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Rodney Perera told the Colombo Gazette that the Sri Lankan Embassy in South Korea has urged Sri Lankans to register with the Embassy so that the Embassy can keep track of them in the event there is a situation.

However he said that so far the South Korean authorities have not informed the Embassy to evacuate Sri La

North Korea warned foreigners in South Korea to take evacuation measures on Tuesday in case of war, in the latest escalation of warnings from Pyongyang.
Its KCNA news agency, citing the spokesperson for its Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said "we do not wish harm on foreigners in South Korea should there be a war.