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| But, On No Account Should The CHOGM Be Held In Sri Lanka |
| 2013-03-19 |
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The most important reason for the selection of a country as the host-venue for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is that it serves the interests of the Commonwealth as a whole.
If this reason were a consideration, President Mahinda Rajapaksa would already have withdrawn Sri Lanka from hosting the CHOGM in November. The President has not done so. Instead, he has insisted that the Commonwealth Summit must be held in Sri Lanka even as his government is mired in intense controversy over violations of h
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| Vote fixing within UN bodies |
| 2013-03-18 |
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Those of us in Sri Lanka have to understand, that voting in international fora is often no different to the way votes are conducted at national level. Interest group block votes, bribery, skulduggery, arm twisting, all have a role to play in voting in international bodies. For at least a decade, one of the main topics under discussion in both the old UN Commission on Human Rights and the present UNHRC has been the creation of ‘a democratic and equitable international order’. On October 11, 2012, the UNHRC passed a resolution
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| CHOGM: Come or get lost |
| 2013-03-18 |
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With its focus on the fallout from the ongoing Geneva meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Government, which is straining every sinew to hold the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) here later this year, amidst all odds, appears to have forgotten to put up a show last Monday on Commonwealth Day.
Sri Lanka was not alone. Not many others marked the day. In London, the heart of a once mighty empire, the 54 member-nation grouping’s head, Queen Elizabeth II, launched the new Commonwealth Charter of
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| While US, UK censure Lanka, India pats its back |
| 2013-03-18 |
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Even as speculation is mounting on the stand it would take on the US-sponsored resolution in the UN Human Rights Council, India has made a statement that is not in the least critical of Sri Lanka's handling of the Tamil issue. The fortuitously timed statement came on Friday in the context of Sri Lanka's universal periodic review (UPR) of its human rights record.
Despite political pressure from DMK to act tough, India complimented Colombo for responding positively to its suggestions on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliat
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| Canada won’t boycott forthcoming CHOGM says Senator Segal |
| 2013-03-18 |
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Canadian special envoy to the Commonwealth Senator Hugh Segal said Canada will not boycott the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka.
Senator Segal, who will be arriving in Colombo tomorrow morning, on a fact-finding mission, talking exclusively to the Sunday Island in London said that there will be a Canadian delegation in Colombo for CHOGM and "Canada is sorting out as we speak the level of that delegation".
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| Rapporteur Refused Entry |
| 2013-03-18 |
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The government has refused to accede to a request by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, to visit Sri Lanka.
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva has told La Rue that his mandate on Sri Lanka was only for the period the UN Human Rights Council resolution 19/2 adopted in March 2012 was in force and not after.
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| Geneva 22 No Win Situation For Rajapaksa Govt |
| 2013-03-18 |
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It is now evident that the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva would be a decisive one for the Mahinda Rajapaksa government despite the “watering down” of the draft US resolution presented before the Council.
Albeit attempts being made by the Rajapaksas to indicate that the somewhat watering down of the US resolution is a “victory” achieved by the government, the international community has in no uncertain terms stated that Sri Lanka would remain on its agenda until the Rajapak
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| Will consult allies before U.N. vote on Sri Lanka: Khurshid |
| 2013-03-18 |
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The decision on the vote in United Nations Human Rights Council on the resolution against Sri Lanka will be taken after consulting DMK and other allies, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said in New Delhi on Sunday.
“The UPA government will take a decision on the vote against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC, later this month, after a meeting with its allies, particularly DMK,” the Union minister said.
But the minister was not too forthcoming on the issue of Italy’s refusal to send back the two marin
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| Statement says India hopes for a credible investigation into alleged HR violations in SL |
| 2013-03-18 |
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India hopes that the investigations of allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives in Sri Lanka, will be independent and credible.
Circulating a statement on Friday on the adoption of the report of the working group on the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Indian representative thanked Sri Lanka for its constructive engagement with the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism.
The statement reads that India ap
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| Students banned from Sabaragamuwa University |
| 2013-03-18 |
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Five students of the Student Union of the Sabaragamuwa University have been banned from the university.
Student Advisor Chandana P. Udawatta said that these steps were taken as the students had carried out activities in breach of the student code.
It is learnt that until they carry out investigations on the students and arrive at a decision, the students are banned from the university.
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