Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

CONDITIONS for about 300,000 refugees forcibly detained in camps across Sri Lanka remain dire, with reports of a prostitution racket run by officials in a remote camp.

Aid workers told The Australian yesterday officials at the internally displaced people's camp in Pulmoddai, a remote northeast region, are running the prostitution ring using women kept in the camp. The Australian understands the allegations are the subject of a joint investigation between the Sri Lankan government and an aid organisation. 'It's been brought to the attention of senior government officials but no one seems to be doing anything about it,' said an aid worker, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

'It's hard to know whether it's coercive or not, but there is an average of three families living to a tent and it can be extremely difficult trying to get privacy. You can imagine the military coming in and asking for something in return for more space or more favours.'

UN official said yesterday many families remained separated in the camps and that men and women believed to be Tamil Tiger fighters were being removed with 'no due process or proper documentation, like arrest receipts, given to parents or guardians'. 'These issues are of huge concern for us,' the official said. 'The lack of freedom of movement is a violation of human rights under Sri Lanka's own constitution.'

The restrictions have heightened tensions in the camps, including a mass protest in the Ramanathan camp in the northern town of Vavuniya on Sunday in which IDPs tried to break down barbed-wire fences separating one camp zone - and many relatives - from another.

Tamilnet.com claimed two people were killed and at least two were injured when troops opened fire on the refugees

If the Sinhalese have nothing to hide, give free acces to the UN monitors atleast.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to seek reelection in November, once the four years of his term is completed, a source close to the President said.

According to high level sources in the ruling party, plans are being made to hold the Presidential elections this year and the general election early next year to capitalize on the immense popularity that the President enjoys now due to his solid leadership in defeating the terrorism.

A re-election bid after completing 4 years of his term is in line with Sri Lanka's Constitution. According to the Constitution the President, at any time after the expiration of four years from the commencement of his first term of office, can declare his intention of a reelection, for another term.

President Rajapaksa will be completing 4 years of his presidency on November 19. He was elected as the fifth executive President of the country in 2005 for a six-year term that is to end in 2011.

Tell your president to let the independent journalists, NGOs and foreign monitors to Vanni. Then the entire world media will tell you the true count of massacres of innocent Tamils by the Sinhala thugs.

MR term is ending Prematurely !

MR term is ending Prematurely !

MR won t tolerate dissent, vows to implement political solution

President Mahinda Rajapaksa wouldn t tolerate any dissent within his government to proposed devolution of power to the provinces on the basis of 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at a press conference at the Information Department. The President had emphasised that he wouldn t give in to pressure from any party, he said.
Minister Yapa said the President had received an assurance from coalition parties, at a special meeting held at Temple Trees, on Tuesday (June 30) that they wouldn t hinder his efforts.
Recently the UNP and JVP challenged the President to reveal his position on the 13th Amendment against the backdrop of JHU and National Freedom Front (NFF) ...

anyways there is an indian hospital over there isnt it? have they made any remarks on this

It is in the constitution that even if you hold presidential election befoe six years,