EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty republic. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was reelected to a second six-year term in January 2010, and the parliament, which was elected in April 2010, share constitutional power. The government is dominated by the president’s family; two of the president’s brothers hold key executive branch posts as defense secretary […]

Collective Appeal
Kilinochi, Mullaitheevu District
2012.05.15
The Relatives of the Surrendered and Disappeared Persons
We, the members of the above organization, humbly make the following submission to you:
The arms of the LTTE were brought to silence on 16th May 2009. On 18th May 2009, hundreds of LTTE cadres surrendered to the army of Mullaitheevu under the guidance of Reverend […]

“I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot” – Gary Hart
The grapevine has been rife with many a gossip and rumour over the last couple days about the impending pardon/release of General
Fonseka. The reasons adduced and scenarios imagined for this atmosphere are many and diverse. However, the electricity that […]

“No intrepid journalists smuggled their way into rebel territory as they did in Syria, even though an erratic bus service ran across the frontline until mid January 2009” – Frances Harrison

“Every journalist has heard of Srebrenica. But how many have heard of Mullivaikkal where just as many perished?” – Frances Harrison

Today marks three years since the end […]

A report from a UN mine removal expert says unexploded cluster munitions have been found in northern Sri Lanka, appearing to confirm, for the first time, that the weapons were used in that country’s long civil war.
The revelation is likely to increase calls for an international investigation into possible war crimes stemming from the bloody […]

An analysis of ongoing “abduction blueprint” in Sri Lanka
In a country that has achieved so much in literacy, education and social development, is it not indeed unfortunate that “White Van” has frightened the entire nation? Appearance of a white van assures a disappearance of some one. If you Google or do any other internet search […]

Muslim heavy weights in Mahinda Rajapakse’s government –  Urban Affairs (Senior) Minister AHM Fowzie and Governor Western Province Alavi Moulana came out strongly against the government’s plan to relocate the Muslim mosque at Kandalama in Dambulla yesterday.
They told the Lanka Standard that under no circumstance will they agree to a proposed plan to relocate the […]

As the west’s influence wanes, China’s influence in some of the world’s most turbulent countries is on the rise – and having a significant impact
Saferworld’s Ivan Campbell kicked off a panel discussion on Thursday about China’s role in conflict-affected countries with a quote from a government official in South Sudan. “If a man is thirsty, […]

Shift
The Human Rights Council made a shift from May 2009 by voting (March 22) to criticize the Sri Lankan government for “not adequately address[ing] serious allegations of violations of international law” when conducting its final phases of war against the liberation
guerrilla army LTTE (Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam), which ended, May 18, 2009, with government-caused […]

Thursday 22nd March, 2012: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said India’s support to the US resolution at the UN against alleged Sri Lankan war crimes was in line with the government’s stand and urged Colombo to deliver justice to Tamils in the island nation.
“We have to weigh the pros and cons… What we did is […]