Government of India told UNHRC that it hopes early progress towards reconciliation, reduction of high security zones, return of private land by the military and phasing out of the security forces in civilian activities in the Northern province, will be done in effective and timely manner. India also hopes that investigation of allegations of Human rights violations and loos of civilian life will be independent and credible.

Information has come to light on six Sri Lankan women who are stranded in Oman after leaving for employment.
 
This group has arrived in Oman through a private, foreign job agency in Kurunegala.
Speaking to Newsfirst, they said that they are currently in the Oman branch building of the job agency.

They further said that they are suffering from many issues including the lack of food.

The Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka had requested to deport all Saudi Nationals ( madrasa)who have been staying in Sri Lanka for long periods teaching the Saudi Language in Muslim  Daham Paselas.

It is learnt that about 700 of them had been teaching in Muslim Daham Paselas and had been involved with the recent conflicts we had with regard to the halal certificate issue.

This was revealed that at a launching of a new edition of the book” Al Jihad Al Qaeda’  ceremony. He had quipped that for th

Doctors leaving Sri Lanka, to serve in other countries, have a number of very valid reasons for doing so, the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said yesterday.


GMOA Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa made this statement to Ceylon Today in response to a remark made by Minister of Health, Maithripala Sirisena, on that a 'it is a doctor's responsibility to serve his or her motherland first.'

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that a section of the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet had been propagating lies against the navy at the behest of interested parties, while poaching and causing immense damage to fishery resources in the country’s northern waters.

The Defence Secretary said that much publicised claims of recent attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen were lies timed for the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva. "They are working overtime to show us in bad light.

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) warns the country's export sector will face a serious breakdown, if the Halal Certificate is not issued to the exporters who have applied for it.

The ACJU has also pointed out that, due to the controversy surrounding the halal certification process, some who had exported goods without the halal label have had to face losses, due to rejection of such goods by the buyers. The Islamic organization reiterated that in future they will not issue halal certificates to goods sold in the loca

Sri Lanka undertook a task never undertaken by any country that faced terrorism: rehabilitation of suicide bombers of the LTTE and releasing them to the Sri Lankan community, said Mr. Palitha Kohona, our man in the UN.

LTTE suicide bombers struck over 230 times, killing thousands of civilians. They targeted men, women and children indiscriminately and left thousands dead and maimed. They created a massive wave of terror in the country, said Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Palitha

The final amended draft of the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka, which will be presented in Geneva, indicates several of the resolutions have been 'softened-up' to 'pacify' the Government of Sri Lanka. However, the resolution also calls Sri Lanka for a 'dedicated general debate' at the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The debate will be on the report, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) would be presenting to the Council.

The Universal Periodic Review on Sri Lanka will be held at the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions today.
The review is scheduled to be held from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. Sri Lankan

The world's peak human rights body should take decisive action to prevent intimidation, attacks and reprisals against human rights defenders, the International Service for Human Rights said today.

“Retaliation against human rights defenders for speaking out against human rights abuses is a widespread and popular method employed by governments intolerant of criticism,” said Michael Ineichen of ISHR.