Sri Lanka's president Wednesday ordered a new investigation into the disappearance of thousands of people in the island's northeast during an ethnic war which ended four years ago.
The announcement comes just days before UN human rights chief Navi Pillay is due to visit the island, amid international criticism of Colombo's human rights record during the war against Tamil separatists.

Intelligence information has revealed that four university lecturers have gone to London to attend a pro ‘Eelam’ event organized by the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), the Military said today.

Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya told newspaper editors and heads of the electronic media, that this information came to light during a Security Council meeting in Colombo.

He said that among the four lecturers who had gone this month to London is a lecturer from the Peradeniya univers

"The world understands that there are no squeaky clean countries. It sympathises with those making an honest effort to improve and it takes time to achieve all our objectives.We must use the CHOGM to effectively showcase our strengths and explain any shortcomings and gain the confidence of our friends and well wishers" so said Sri Lanka's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Dr.Palitha Kohona in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer.

Three youngsters paid with their lives in the most unfortunate manner and 33 were injured. All because, unarmed but angry, they demanded from the authorities, for a better service delivery.

Much has been said and written about the 'Weliweriya incident.' Most of it has been critical accounts on the conduct of the military in quelling a peaceful protest. There had been public outrage at what happened but finally, it turned out to be a double whammy for the innocent citizen in Rathupaswala in Weliweriya.

UNP parliamentarian Rosy Senanayake said today the army should have acted with responsibility when taking on orders, whoever ordered them to fire at the innocent civilians who protested for clean water at Weliweriya.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Baathiudeen, in a letter to IGP N.K. Illangakoon, criticised the police over the Grandpass incident saying they failed to take action when the mosque was attacked.

The Minister attached a DVD with the letter to the IGP containing CCTV footage where he says police inaction is clearly evident during the Grandpass incident.

Local EU issued a statement on the right to peaceful protest and freedom of religion in Sri Lanka.
 
The European Union Delegation issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Sri Lanka.

UNP says that there are children, Pregnant mothers and even elderly people who are among the casualties of Weliweriya army attack.

Pointing our that some of the journalists who were covering the event even by risking their lives have been assaulted, the UNP demands that the Govt should provide relief to those journalists whose camera equipment have been destroyed.

Britain has raised concerns over the attack on a Mosque at Grandpass over the weekend.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said that it is vital that the Sri Lankan government investigates the incident.

He also said that the government must ensure that all are able to practice religion without fear.

The US Embassy in Colombo says, issuing a communique, that it is concerned by the attack on the mosque in Grandpasss.

While urging calm from all sides the US Embassy in Colombo notes that targeting any place of worship should never be permitted.
The US Embassy calls for the prosecution of perpetrators in this attack and an end to religious-based violence.