Monthly Archives: December 2011

US says Sri Lanka’s war report does not fully address serious human rights violations

The United States today (December 19) voiced concern over a Sri Lankan commission’s report on the end of the
island’s civil war and urged the government to address human rights allegations more fully.
In a 400-page report released last week, the government-created commission cleared the military of charges that it deliberately targeted civilians as it wiped out […]

By | Published on December 20, 2011 at 11:15 am

Rajapakse banks on Blake in US war crimes case

WASHINGTON DC, DECEMBER 19: Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert O Blake has not always been Colombo’s darling. He has earned the wrath of many an extremist pen-pusher in the government controlled press for his comments on human rights issues and his name […]

By Sonali Samarasinghe Wickrematunge | Published on December 20, 2011 at 8:42 am

BREAKING NEWS: Rajapakse files motion in US war crimes case

WASHINGTON DECEMBER 17: Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse who has consistently avoided the service of summons, yesterday (December 16) filed motion in the war crimes suit against him in the District Court of Washington DC, Lawyers said.
Mr. Rajapakse’s motion filed through Patton Boggs preempted an outstanding motion filed by the Plaintiffs in the case
calling on […]

By Sonali Samarasinghe Wickrematunge | Published on December 18, 2011 at 2:08 am

Rights groups criticize Sri Lanka war report

International human rights groups criticized a Sri Lankan report Friday on the island’s civil war and called for more
accountability after the commission cleared the military of key charges.
The Sri Lankan government commission, in a 400-page report, concluded that the military did not deliberately target civilians during the final stages of the conflict as forces wiped […]

By | Published on December 18, 2011 at 12:41 am

Corporate scandal and white collar crime on the rise

‘O cursed lust of gold\, to what canst thou not compel the heart of man!’ – Virgil Aenid (greed)
This column dedicated to the notion of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia turns its spotlight today on the dreadful
suffering of Sri Lankans due to the fraudulent activities of persons masquerading as great philanthropists thereby building public […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on December 13, 2011 at 3:42 am

Racing towards an Apocalypse?

This is the way the World ends; Not with a bang but a whimper –T S Elliot, The Hollow Men
Is it possible that our planet is heading for a worldwide apocalypse that will ravage humankind? Some of the best minds on the subject of nuclear holocaust met in the year 2007 to outline their plans for curtailing […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on December 13, 2011 at 3:20 am

Address the past for Sri Lanka’s sake

Periodically there are strong statements made by members of foreign governments on the issues of war crimes and human
rights violations in Sri Lanka. But it ends there unless the Sri Lankan government chooses to answer. While the international rhetoric of war crimes and human rights abuses still prevails, there is little or no manifestation of […]

By Dr. Jehan Perera | Published on December 13, 2011 at 1:16 am

Consumer Protection: When corruption is rampant anarchy will follow

‘It is difficult but not impossible to conduct strictly honest business .What is true is that honesty is incompatible with the amassing of a large fortune.’ -M.K.Gandhi Non-violence in Peace and War
The above statement depicts the need for legislation for the protection of the consumer. The recent import of sub standard petrol by the government caused […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on December 12, 2011 at 1:23 am

Land Issues in the Northern Province – Post-War Politics, Policy and Practices

6 December 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Land Issues in the Northern Province: Post-War Politics, Policy and Practices by Senior Researchers Bhavani Fonseka and Mirak Raheem at the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is the most recent endeavour by CPA to critique and provide alternatives to land and related issues in the post-war Northern Province in […]

By Staff Correspondent | Published on December 7, 2011 at 12:08 am

THE DARK ARTS: We wrote Sri Lankan President’s speech, boast lobbyists

Exposed: Public relations firm’s dealings with some of the world’s most controversial regimes
Senior executives at Bell Pottinger told undercover reporters that they were so influential that they had written a key speech
given by the Sri Lankan President to the United Nations.
During the address by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year, which the company said was used […]

By Staff Correspondent | Published on December 6, 2011 at 9:54 am