09/29/2011
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Defence.lk
Chairman, Subcommittee on middle East and South Asia, US House of Representative (Congressman) Mr. Steven Joseph Chabot during his one day visit to Jaffna on Wednesday (28) called on Commander Security Force - Jaffna Major Genaral Mahinda Hathurusinghe who briefed about prevailing security situation and other development activities taking place in post - conflict Jaffna.
09/15/2011
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Daily Mirror
President Mahinda Rajapaksa informed Cabinet last evening that heads of diplomatic missions breach protocol by meeting various departmental heads and directors, bypassing the subject ministers, to canvass for various projects.
03/03/2011
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Groundviews
In consideration of the vague exposition on the reasons behind the meeting between Ban Ki-moon and representatives of the Sri Lankan Government in New York on the 23rd of February 2011, as well as the Government’s own disclaimer on the meeting, it is clear that there has been a concerted effort to disclose as little information as possible on this ‘eleventh hour’ attempt by the Government at back-door diplomacy in order to address the UN’s ‘panel on accountability.’ It is rather obvious that suspicions will arise when there are contradictory statements provided by both sides on the content of the discussions, which differed considerably as Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, stated that it was a ‘courtesy call’ on ‘reconciliation and reconstruction efforts,’ while the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, Romesh Jayasinghe, stated that the meeting was about ‘legal issues.’ It was also interesting to note Deputy Minister Neomal Perera’s statement, which denied that there was an official visit planned by Mohan Peiris and Romesh Jayasinghe to New York to meet Ban Ki-moon. This possibly indicated that the hierarchy of the ruling alliance might have made the decision without the consultation of G.L Peiris and Neomal Perera, or perhaps only the latter was excluded. The rejoinder provided to Inner City Press by Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the UN, Dr. Palitha Kohona, in response to Neomal Perera’s statement was that ‘the deputy doesn’t know anything, just ask him.’ No further clarification is required on the level of maturity and statesmanship exhibited in that response.
02/22/2011
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Hindustan Times
A Tamil Nadu MP and his two associates were deported from Colombo international airport early Tuesday after they attempted to enter Sri Lanka to attend slain Tiger chief V Prabhakaran’s mother’s funeral in Jaffna. President of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (Panther’s Party) T. Thirumavalavan, known for pro-LTTE sentiments, had taken an early morning flight from Chennai. He landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport at around 2 in the morning.
02/08/2011
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Express Buzz
CHENNAI: Former US envoy to Sri Lanka Teresita Schaffer ruled out American backing for Tamil Eelam and said that the concern about war crimes in Sri Lanka was not frivolous. There was evidence that the end of the civil war between the island troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) was brutal.
01/30/2011
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The Sunday Leader
Sri Lanka’s US Embassy has set up an ‘American Corner’ in Jaffna city. The American Corner initiatives, which are also present in Kandy and Oluvil are used for the purposes of engaging with locals and helping them take advantage of networking and educational opportunities.
01/24/2011
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The Age
AUSTRALIA is under pressure to reject Sri Lanka's choice of a senior military commander as its next top envoy in Canberra over a war crimes controversy dating from Sri Lanka's grisly civil war with Tamil separatists.
01/23/2011
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The Sunday Leader
The government in post war Sri Lanka is fast militarising the administrative and diplomatic services. The appointment of military heads to key Sri Lankan missions overseas and state institutions has become a talking point among the general public. Since the appointment of military men in civil administration work as well as the diplomatic service, questions have been raised on their roles in such positions.
01/18/2011
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AFP
A top UN official due in Sri Lanka Wednesday to assess flood relief needs will also visit civilians displaced by the island's Tamil separatist conflict, the UN said.
01/01/2011
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Maxwell School of Syracuse University
VIDEO: Bob Blake gives a speech at Syracuse. The final minutes relate to Sri Lanka. Go to 1:09 to hear the question that prompts Blake's response, which includes confirmation of two reports on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka being sent to the U.S. Senate. (via @TamilDiaspora on Twitter)