Resettling Tamils silently expelled from Champoor in Trincomalee

Following the election of Maithiripala Sirisena as new Sri Lankan President, the uprooted families from a section of the 5th Division and 7th Division of Champoor situated along both the sides of Champoor main road, started to clear their lands for resettlement. Their lands, seized by Colombo under the so-called ‘Special Economic Zone’ (SEZ) were… Continue reading Resettling Tamils silently expelled from Champoor in Trincomalee

Protests erupt in Jaffna against continued militarisation, unemployment

The owners of five houses and lands that have been illegally seized by the Sri Lankan military for more than two decades at Koozhaavadi, situated on Maanippaay Road at Aanaik-koaddai in Jaffna protested on Wednesday against the attempt by Colombo to transform their lands into State property with the motive of permanently sustaining a war-time… Continue reading Protests erupt in Jaffna against continued militarisation, unemployment

An unexpected change of power in Sri Lanka is good news for democracy

(By Editorial Board) SRI LANKAN President Mahinda Rajapaksa considered himself a shoo-in to win an unprecedented third term when he called an early election in November, and with some reason: He had presided over both victory in a 26-year-long civil war with Tamil insurgents and surging economic growth of 7 percent a year. The opposition… Continue reading An unexpected change of power in Sri Lanka is good news for democracy

Pope Francis at Madu: ‘Our Lady remained always with you’

Pope Francis on Wednesday paid a pilgrimage to Madu shrine, which is the famous pilgrim centre of Tamil Catholics, where even the Sinhalese Catholics of the western coast, who were Tamils a century ago, flock in for festivals. “No Sri Lankan can forget the tragic events associated with this very place, or the sad day… Continue reading Pope Francis at Madu: ‘Our Lady remained always with you’

Resettlement meaningless without guarantee against structural genocide in East

Governments may come and go, but the State of Sri Lanka gets strengthened in its genocidal project whether there is war, peace or talk of ‘change’, comment the resettled women of Mu’raa-oadai village, situated 5 km south of Vaazhaich-cheanai town in Batticaloa district. 400 houses have been destroyed. Two temples are damaged. Almost all the… Continue reading Resettlement meaningless without guarantee against structural genocide in East

Sri Lanka leader delays cabinet picks

Sri Lanka’s new president on Monday again delayed naming a cabinet as he failed to reach agreement with partners in his wide-ranging coalition over apportioning ministerial portfolios. Maithripala Sirisena originally pledged to form a government on Sunday, but aides said discussions were still under way. Analysts have already warned that Sirisena, who ousted veteran strongman… Continue reading Sri Lanka leader delays cabinet picks

KP and Karuna have to be tried – Fonseka

(Adaderana ) Leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Sarath Fonseka says that former LTTE leaders such as Kumaran Pathmanathan and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan would have to face legal action as they were once “hardcore terrorist” and that a probe will be launched into the whereabouts of seized LTTE assets. The former international arms procurer of the… Continue reading KP and Karuna have to be tried – Fonseka

Ananthy urges Pope to see genocide, get answers from local, international players

As Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the island from Tuesday to Thursday, NPC Councillor Ms Ananthy Sasitharan, urged him to grasp the underlying factor of the conflict in the island, i.e. genocide and sought his help in getting answers from the government in Colombo and the international players, including the UN, the Co-chairs and… Continue reading Ananthy urges Pope to see genocide, get answers from local, international players

Sri Lanka votes out Rajapaksa – Channel 4 News

Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa, a man accused of presiding over multiple war crimes, has lost his bid for a third term as Sri Lanka’s president. Mr Rajapaksa conceded defeat to Maithripala Sirisena, his one time close ally, on Friday morning and is reported to have promised a smooth transition of power. Seen by many as… Continue reading Sri Lanka votes out Rajapaksa – Channel 4 News

Modi congratulates Sirisena for election as Lanka President

(PTI) Reaching out to President-elect of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated him on his electoral victory and said he looked forward to working with him to take the bilateral ties to a new level. Modi first called up Sirisena and then wrote a letter to him, hailing his win and… Continue reading Modi congratulates Sirisena for election as Lanka President