The government and a part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance are ranged on different sides of the vote for or against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva later this month.

The government believes censuring Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa in Geneva would make him lose face and worsen the plight of Tamils in that country. But, with both the DMK, a partner of the UPA alliance, and its AIADMK political foe, presently ruling Tamil Nadu, hoping to win the hearts and minds of people in that st

In a move that would embarrass the Government of Sri Lanka, the second draft of the US-sponsored Human Rights Resolution on Sri Lanka has welcomed calls by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay for an independent international investigation into war crimes, while also ‘reiterating’ that the government initiate an independent investigation into alleged violations of international law.

The second draft, which is currently being circulated among UNHCR members, has also welcomed the report of the Off

Amidst Sri Lanka’s protests against the screening of No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka at the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva, the British government allowed the screening of the controversial documentary produced by the UK media outfit Channel 4 News in the British Parliament.

The screening took place in the Committee of the British Parliament on Feb. 27 with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and two cabinet m

Is Sri Lanka under siege in Geneva - is the main poser for personnel with political interests in Colombo and elsewhere in the country.

This is a sequel to various reports emanating from Geneva where the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission are now underway.

Sri Lanka is no doubt taking a low key approach to the United States-sponsored procedural resolution; the resolution though not punitive would be a rather difficult one for Sri Lanka to circumvent under the present circumstances.

According to the BBC the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka will be officially brought before the UNHRC on Monday.

The BBC reports that an informal discussion on the US-sponsored resolution was held in Geneva on Saturday.

According to the BBC the resolution titled HRC 22 was handed over to dignitaries of the UNHRC on Thursday.

The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission says that India too could be influenced by the resolution to be made against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights council.

Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said that India's attention had been drawn Clause 11, 4 of the draft resolution circulated among the diplomats so far.

Amnesty International has urged Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to stand up for justice in Sri Lanka

The Hindu newspaper reported that the Amnesty International's Indian Chief Executive made this request submitting a memorandum to the Indian Premier.

The memorandum requests that an independent investigation be held into the allegations of crimes under the international law committed by the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE during war in Sri Lanka.

The police has commenced investigations into the attack on a journalist attached to the Walampuri Newspaper in Jaffna.

Police media spokesperson Superintendant of Police Buddhika Siriwardena said that the suspects connected to the incident have not been identified.

U. Salin, a correspondent for the Walampuri Newspaper was attacked by a group of unidentified persons close to the Niraviadi Kovil in Jaffna.

The body of the woman who was employed in Jordan and went missing and was later pronounced dead, has been flown back to the country.

Deputy General Manager of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Mangala Randeniya said that an investigation has been launched following a request made by the woman's relatives.

The body which was flown into the country on Saturday has been placed at the Negombo Hospital for the postmortem.

The Government appears to have agreed to the United States-sponsored resolution to be presented at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions and had sent a delegation to the US to discuss ways of implementing its recommendations, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today.

JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the subservient manner in which the Government was handling this year’s resolution on Sri Lanka clearly showed its mindset.