At UN, As Ban Gets Sri Lanka Report, He Gives to Government, Misleading on Meetings, Nambiar Conflict Called "Specious"
2011-04-13
Ban depicted in Sri Lanka camp with (Basil) Rajapaksa & gun
The UN's long delayed report into accountability for war crimes in Sri Lanka was handed to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday, Ban's acting deputy spokesman Farhan Haq announced on April 12, confirming Inner City Press' exclusive report on April 11 that Tuesday would be the day.
UN chief receives report of panel of experts on human rights issues
2011-04-13
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) with President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka
The panel of experts set up to advise Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on accountability issues with respect to the conflict in Sri Lanka today delivered its report to the United Nations chief, who is sharing a copy with the Government prior to making it public.
Minister Anura Yapa gives gem mining licenses illegally to mine in the reserve surrounding the Saman Devala
2011-04-13
Although gem mining has been legally banned in the reserve surrounding the Saman Devala in Ratnapura, the legal officer at the Gem and Jewelry Authority H.G. Gunaratne has given licenses to two directors at the Authority on the direction of Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, to commence gem mining in the land adjoining the Saman Devala.
After Kabir was appointed as Vice Chairman after removing Imthiaz
Muslims ask Kabir to resign from the post
2011-04-13
A large number of Muslims affiliated to the UNP have asked Kabir Haishm to resign from his newly appointed Vice Chairman post under the new party Constitution, soruces from Sirikotha said.
A single party democratic rule
President asks for a report from experts
2011-04-13
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked a group of university lecturers to hand him a detailed report on the establishment of a single party democratic rule in the country. The President has assigned the main task to Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara from the Kelaniya University.
President asks state media heads
To get comments against Ban Ki-moon's experts panel's report from UNP's “voice cut MPs”
2011-04-13
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the state media heads to get comments against the report handed over to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by the panel of experts appointed by him on Sri Lanka, from popular UNP MPs who constantly figure in the media and to give maximum publicity to those comments.
An inquiry to be held against Anura on John's request
2011-04-13
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the IGP to immediately hold an inquiry into the alleged gem miningt is said to be taking place in the archaeological reserve next to the Saman Devala in Ratnapura following a complaint made by Public Administration and Home Affairss Minister John Seneviratne to the President that the Gem and Jewelry Authorityhadd given permission to several persons to engage in gem mining in the reserve, which is illegal, a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat said.
The Free Media Movement (FMM) is deeply concerned about recent government moves to ostracise the independent Uthayan newspaper in Jaffna and restrict its coverage of state events, and views it as not only an attempt to suppress media freedom but also deprive the people of Jaffna their right to be informed.
Mervyn's parliamentary affairs secretary arrested for extorting money at the Peliyagoda fish market
2011-04-12
Parliamentary affairs secretary of the Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva, Buddhika Jayasinghe and four others have been arrested by aa special police team on the 10th over the alleged extortion of Rs. 5 lakhs from from the Peliyagoda fish market.
No ban on importing tomatoes, inquiry into tomato importers is false – Customs Director
2011-04-12
The statement made by the Agriculture Minister about holding an inquiry to find out the persons who had imported Indian tomatoes to Sri Lanka has been made to mislead the local framers, it is learnt.
In recent months there has been a systematic campaign in sections of the media to bring a few NGOs that work in the areas of human rights, governance, peace and reconciliation into public disrepute. At the core of these charges is the allegation that NGOs are accountable to no one but to themselves, do not have independent audits of their accounts and are not registered with the government. The National Peace Council (NPC) is one of the NGOs that have been singled out for this unfavourable commentary.
"They threw my unconscious body in a ditch and left me to die."
Poddala Jayantha is a Sri Lankan journalist who was nearly killed because of his investigative reporting with regard to alleged human rights violations executed by the Sri Lankan government. He spoke of his experience last Thursday as part of the First Amendment Day celebration in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union.
