Sri Lanka: British Journalist Shot By GunmenA British investigative journalist has been shot and seriously wounded in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.Three gunmen broke into the home of Faraz Shauketaly, who works at the Sunday Leader, and opened fire, police said.

The journalist - who holds dual British and Sri Lankan nationality -  is being treated in hospital for serious injuries to his neck.

The 52-year-old was on the telephone discussing a story to appear in this week's edition when he was shot

UNITED NATIONS,  When the Committee to Protect Journalists came to the UN Thursday to “launch” its annual report on press freedom Inner City Press asked them, not for the first time, about the UN's own treatment of the full range of journalists, their right to access the UN and to due process if challenged. Video here, from Minute 29:12.
As example, Inner City Press noted the UN limiting accreditation by geography and to those who abide by the “principles of the Organization,” and total lack of due p

That last refuge of the persecuted might be vanishing. Faraz Shauketaly of The Sunday Leade was shot in his place of residence.

The three gunmen escaped, naturally. In Sri Lanka, some criminals never get caught.

Why was Mr. Shauketaly shot? The answer will be revealed by the manner in which his case is handled. If the crime is non-political, the culprits will be apprehended. But if Mr. Shauketaly was shot because of his journalistic investigations, the perpetrators will remain as free as the wind, as free as those who

Food exports from Sri Lanka to Muslim countries, especially to the Middle East may be adversely affected if Halal certification is withdrawn, Businessman cum Colombo District Sri Lanka Freedom Party organizer M. Fawzan Anwer said.

He said that food exports to Middle East alone exceed US $ 1 billion per annum.Anwer pointed that the Halal certification implemented by All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) was legal and transparent.

Fifteen days after Buddhini Kaushalya’s death at Nawaloka Hospital, the hospital authorities claim that “child was NOT put into the M.R.I machine. “
Five-year-old Buddhini Kaushalya of Mabima, Kelaniya died at Nawaloka Hospital in Colombo on February 1. It was widely reported that she died while undergoing an MRI scan. The family of Buddhini Kaushalya accused Nawaloka hospitals PLC of negligence which, they said, led to the child’s death.

High profile committee appointed by the government to probe into the Halal controversy is to submit its first report at the next cabinet meeting.
The committee, headed by Senior Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake, has the representation of all the constituent parties of the ruling UPFA coalition.
It is learnt that the committee will also hold discussions with representatives of opposition parties in order to formulate a solution to the Halal controversy. 

Proper forensic studies into the skeletal remains that were exhumed from a mass grave near the Matale Hospital have commenced following the conclusion of excavation work at the gravesite.

Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. Ajith Jayasena said that 154 skeletal remains were exhumed from the mass grave when the excavation work was completed last week.

He explained that although some preliminary tests were conducted on the skeletal remains during the excavation work, the proper forensic analysis would now be carr

Central Bank (CB) Governor Nivard Cabraal and senior officials of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) are to be summoned again before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) soon, to continue an earlier inconclusive meeting which was abruptly halted without a valid reason, a member of the committee said.

UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told the Business Times these officials will be grilled for misusing the EPF money and letting the mafia make billions while at the same time getting control of private banks.

Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district parliament member E.Saravanabawan alleges that those engaged at the hunger protest held at Jaffna Tellipalai are attached to the military intelligence unit.

 

Regarding this incident, he said, on conclusion of   opposition party leader Ranil Wickramasinghe’s speech at the hunger protest, three persons came to the spot and were saying  "everything over, go… go".

 

This unexpected incident petrified him and the

As the parents of a five-year-old girl made many serious allegations against the Nawaloka Hospital over her death and the hospital authorities responded with a media statement on Friday, the issue comes up in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (Monday).�When the Sunday Times visited the bereaved family in their home at Mabima in the Kelaniya area last Tuesday, the alms-giving in memory of Buddhini Kaushalya Ratnayake was just over.