Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

The European Union has reiterated its concerns over what it sees as the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

French envoy Philippe Delacroix speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated countries told the UN General Assembly that in Sri Lanka, the human rights situation was deteriorating and all parties in the conflict should take concrete measures to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of civilians and to enable humanitarian organizations to safely carry out their work.

He was speaking at Wednesday s meeting of the UN General Assembly s committee on social, humanitarian and cultural issues to hear country statements as part of its general discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights.

The discussion was expected to focus on alternative approaches for improving the enjoyment of human rights, human rights situations and reports of Special Rapporteurs and Representatives, and the rights of disabled persons.

Referring to the statement made by France, the representative of Sri Lanka said his government had undertaken effective measures to safeguard the rights of all individuals, even in the face of serious security concerns.

He said National mechanisms towards that end were firmly in place and the government had maintained a constructive engagement with the United Nations and its special procedures.

Indeed, several special rapporteurs and other special representatives had been invited to the country on visits and, in May, Sri Lanka had submitted itself to the universal periodic review mechanism, the Sri Lankan representative who was not identified on the UN website had said.

He expressed his delegation's regret over the 'highly generalized and ill-conceived' comments on the deterioration of the human rights situation in the country. A number of initiatives had been implemented to ensure humanitarian assistance for those most affected by terrorist actions. He also stressed that the recruitment and use of child soldiers was done by illegally armed terrorist groups and not the state, which had a zero-tolerance policy on child conscription by any group.

In conclusion, he said that any comment on human rights matters in Sri Lanka must also refer to the numerous cooperative and investigative measures undertaken by the government, which were in keeping with long-held tradition of cooperation in such matters.

any comment on human rights matters in Sri Lanka must also refer to the numerous cooperative and investigative measures undertaken by the government, which were in keeping with long-held tradition of cooperation in such matters.

Harthal by LTTE supporters in Sri Lanka's north unsuccessful
Oct 30 (CP) Vavuniya- A Harthal (protest campaign) called by the supporting groups of Sri Lankan rebels in Vavuniya today was reported to be unsuccessful. According to the police sources in Vavuniya some LTTE supporting groups have yesterday informed the public to organize this Harthal today and tomorrow to support the rebels.

Kilinochchiye thanakola thama kanawa

Anandasagaree tells Tamil Nadu film producers,
directors, exhibitors and employees

LTTE annahilates Tamils in Sri LankaIn a strongly worded letter to Chennai film director Bharathirajah, who presided over a massive rally of Tamil Film producers, directors, exhibitors and employees, at Rameswaram, TULF President V. Anandasangaree admonished him for eulogising LTTE leader V. Prabaharan as the valliant leader of Tamils the world over. He said, the charge that the Sinhala government was engaged in an annihilation of Tamils was a deliberate lie. Contrary to that it was the LTTE that was engaged in the annihilation of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Are our civil and political rights being abused?

The government devoured Rs 3.2 million of people s money on Mihin Air. According to Sachin Vaas (interview in a Sinhala paper) 'President on the request of a few Sri Lankans in Maldives who could not afford air fares of other airlines, started Mihin Air.' What a charade?

Now they are going to pump in more people s money to rejuvenate it. What can people do when the opposition is doing nothing concrete to stop this waste. Why not the UNP seek a ruling from the supreme court on this issue also, as in the case of oil prices.

Now we are losing GSP+ it appears. Prof. Peiris says that the government is strongly against the EU wanting to carry out an investigation in the country to ascertain whether or not civil and political rights and other international labour conventions are being put into practice. The Cabinet and the Central Bank are formulating a US$ 150 million bailout package to the apparel sector in the event the GSP + scheme is not renewed.

Why does not the government permit an international organisation to look into the compliance factor before granting a facility? It clearly proves that the government is violating civil and political rights and the government is scared that it will come to light internationally. The government is sure to use people s money US$ 150 million again to hide the true facts and save themselves from other aid suspensions.

Some cartoonists show the Elephant as a wounded animal and Ranil as down and out. This is far from the truth. Both are hale and hearty with more vigour than before and with more and more followers. The UNP has not lost it's vote base but increased it's votes considering the votes they polled in the recent elections amidst heavy government violence and one time insurgent sponsored violence.

It is also true that the UNP, even if it changes its leader, will find it difficult to win any election in the near future because of government sponsored thuggery and vote rigging. But that does not mean that everything is rosy for the government which keeps on marketing the war and abusing power.

Pillayan says that Janaka Perera was killed by the LTTE and asks what his fate would be if he and his men lay down arms. The President has also believed his stance and allowed him to carry arms while operating as a political party.

Does that mean that UNP also could build a private para-military organisation because the LTTE is targeting it? For that matter, could any political party arm itself because there is a threat from the LTTE?

They are eating THANAKOLA (GRASS)