Human Rights Day 10 December 2010: Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay
2010-12-10
Since the United Nations was established over 60 years ago, there have been dramatic advances in crafting and implementing a system of universal human rights – rights which are, under international law, applicable to each and every one of us: old and young, male and female, rich and poor, whoever we are and wherever we are from.
SLWJA condemns attack, urge people to stand up to restore lost liberties
- Sri Lanka Working Journalist Association
2010-12-10
Sri Lanka Working Journalist Association (SLWJA) condemns in unequivocal terms the assault of two journalists at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Tuesday (7).
Journalists Injured in Attack on Political Leader in Sri Lanka
2010-12-10
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is outraged to learn of an attack on journalists at the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake near Colombo on December 7.
Moves are afoot to arrest the General Secretary of the Nava Sama Samaja Party Vickramabahu Karunaratne.
2010-12-10
Senior Police officials called by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya on Thursday have discussed steps to take Dr. Vickramabahu who has expressed solidarity with the Tamil movement in public meetings across London. In a meeting held at the House of Commons he declared that nearly a 1,00,000 Tamil civillians have either being killed or dissapeared during the governments war against Tamil Tigers.
Owner of the high class brothel at Liberty Plaza, Geena Madam, had paid Rs. 10 lakhs per month to the Colpetty Police
2010-12-10
A senior officerom the crime detection bureau of the Walana Police told Lanka News Web that the owner of the high class bobbrothelat operated on the seventh and eieeighthloors of Liberty Plaza, GeGeenadam, had paid Rs. 10 lakhs every month to the senior police officers of the Colpetty Police and they had also been provided with young women.
Island fellows should be given Lake House
Lake House fellows should be sent home – President tells the Media Minister
2010-12-09
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (8) to inform the seniors at Lake House to learn how best to safeguard the interests of the government by looking at the manner in which the senior journalists at The Island newspaper acted, an official from the Government Information Department told Lanka News Web.
IUSF Convener granted bail, preventing him from participating in political activities
2010-12-09
The Colombo High Court today (9) granted bail to Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convener Udul Premaratne while ordering him not to participate in any student movement or political meetings or paste posters. High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera had said that if any complaint was received of his participation in any of the forbidden activities, his bail would be recalled and he would be jailed till the end of the proceedings.
Private Transport Minister C.B. Ratnayake is unable to even appoint a chairman to the only state institution under his purview, which is the National Transport Commission, ministry sources said.
Krishantha Kapuwatte's advise results in the increase in prices of imported goods
2010-12-09
The actions of Krishantha Kapuwatte, who is a coordinating secretary and an advisor to Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando has resulted in the increase in prices of imported essential items, a ministry official told Lanka News Web.
New video evidence of alleged Sri Lankan war crimes requires UN investigation
2010-12-09
Video footage allegedly showing evidence of war crimes by Sri Lankan soldiers in the closing days of the war against members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) underlines the need for an independent investigation by the United Nations, Amnesty International said today.
Footage aired this evening by the UK’s Channel 4 News television, allegedly reveals new details about the location, date and time of the events, the military units involved in the incident and the identity of at least one victim. The Channel 4 video was allegedly filmed in northern Sri Lanka in May 2009 and appears to show Sri Lankan soldiers executing prisoners.
Sri Lanka 'war crimes' video: woman's body identified - Channel 4
2010-12-09
Channel 4 News can name a woman journalist as one of the victims in the Sri Lanka execution video along with damning new details of the date and location where the video was filmed.
Attack on journalists at BIA, State sanctioned attempt at suppressing media freedom - Free media movement
2010-12-09
The Free Media Movement (FMM) unequivocally condemns Tuesday’s (7th December) attack on journalists at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and views it as yet another serious blow to media freedom, ethical and democratic right to impartial reporting.
Lanka pledges solidarity with China,
boycotts Nobel Prize ceremony
2010-12-09
Sri Lanka will boycott the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony following China’s decision to shun Friday’s event in protest against awarding of the prize to Chinese national and convicted dissident Liu Xiaobo.
In Sri Lanka, the possibility of realizing human rights continues to become bleaker as the power and authority of the courts are continuously reduced due to the expansion of the power of the executive president. The country's constitution itself has entrenched impunity by way of virtually displacing the separation of powers principle with the absolute power principle in favor of the executive. The actual possibilities of judicial protection of the individual against the state has been reduced to an extent that today, the power of the judiciary is marginal. Judges who dare to act with independence to uphold the writ jurisdiction for the purpose of safeguarding i
WFP stops projects in the East
Office to be closed down on December 31
2010-12-08
The World Food Programme (WFP) has decided to stop all its ongoing projects in the Eastern Province by December 31st and its offices in the area will also be shut down simultaneously.
“I will reveal details about everyone's character if they do not come forward to save me” - Owner of the super luxury brothel threatens ministers
2010-12-08
Jane alias Geena Madam has threatened several government ministers that she would go before court and reveal the names of the ministers and government officials who have enjoyed the services of the high class brothel maintained by her. Geena had made this threat through her son Dinesh, who operates the Cleopatra karaoke pub at Liberty Plaza.
A wife of a senior minister has gone to the well known Seenigama devala in Hikkaduwa and had ground mustard cursing the President for the current plight of her husband, a senior official from the SLFP headquarters told Lanka News Web.
Government permits importation of a cigarette in violation of the law
2010-12-08
The Excise Department has granted permission for the importation and distribution of a cigarette brand called Just Black, in total violation of the laws that govern tobacco and alcohol usage. The Commissioner General of the Excise Department has approved this cigarette, which is manufactured in the Netherlands, saying it is a kind of cigar.
The issuance of an Interpol wanted notice for the Australian founder of Wikileaks within days after his website began releasing hundreds of thousands of classified United States government cables is blatantly political.
The Government in an obvious attempt to draw attention away from their embarrassment from the fiasco in London, is seeking scapegoats. The Government mind you that it sheltering a criminal wanted for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of our neighbouring country. No attempt is made is extradite this criminal.
Sajith tries to take over UNP's media unit
Summons media secretaries of each electorate to Colombo
2010-12-07
Sajith Premadasa and his group of eight are trying to take charge of the UNP's media unit and has summoned the media secretaries of every electorate to Colombo for a meeting this evening. A media coordinator in the UNP's media unit, Aruna Dahanayake told us that the meeting was scheduled to be held at the Bodhi Ranasinghe Foundation office in Kirulapone and that a large number of media secretaries have agreed to attend the meeting.
Foreigners in President's flight from London face many difficulties
2010-12-07
The foreigners who had been flying in the President's flight to Colombo from London, which was made in a hurry due to fear of member sin the President's delegation being arrested for war crimes, have been faced with many difficulties.
Motion calling for select committee to probe Jayalath handed over to the Speaker
2010-12-07
The government today (7) handed a motion requesting the House to appoint a select committee to probe the alleged involvement of UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena in anti government protests.
Young minister caught inside Geena's brothel during police raid
2010-12-06
A new minister had been inside the high class brothel that is being carried out on the 6th and 7th of the Liberty Plaza apartment complex when the crime detection bureau of the Walana Police had raided the place on the 4th, police sources said.
Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake who participated in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's London visit had been sidelined, one of SB's close friends told Lanka News Web.
Defence Secretary unhappy with Wimal's statement on KP
2010-12-06
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has expressed his dissatisfaction at the comment madeeeee by NFF Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa to the media on the 3rd that Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP would be usedidentifytify the LTTE forces operating overseas, to get down assetsstes and monies belonging to the LTTE and to change mind framerame of the Tamil Diaspora. The Defence Secretary it is learnt had advised Wimal about it.
President intervenes to give Mt. Lavinia bus halt to Siddhalepa mudalali
2010-12-06
The President has intervened to give the Mt. Lavinia bus halt that was owned by the SLTB to the owner of Siddhalepa, Victor Hettigoda, through a court.
The Oxford debacle and the Ministry of External Affairs
2010-12-06
Much has already written and spoken about the MR’s Waterloo in London and Oxford. However, many critics including the so called Terrorism Expert and Analyst Rohan Gunaratne from Singapore has criticized the Ministry of External Affairs which has nothing to do with this disastrous visit just like many other Presidential engagements.
