The Sri Lanka Navy sent the following response to an article published in The Sunday Leader newspaper: 1. Your attention is drawn to the article under the caption, “Land Grab at Panama “, published in the Sunday Leader of 12th June 2013. The article is factually incorrect and highly malicious in its intention. As such, [...]
The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) has called for an investigation into the alleged threats on the life of the President of Peradeniya Student Union (PSU), Janaka Nilanga Madushan. FUTA says it unreservedly condemns all intimidation and aggression against academic community including students. “Such incidents are unfortunately becoming far too common within the Sri [...]
Amnesty International has written to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) ahead of its 23rd session beginning on May 27, calling for a credible and independent international investigation under international law into allegations of crimes committed by Sri Lankan government forces, allied armed groups and the LTTE. The human rights group says investigation should be [...]
By Nirmala Kannangara The management of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital Kalubowila rejected allegations that construction work at the hospital is causing inconvenience to some patients. Patients at Ward No 5 claim that the construction work is along the corridor of the ward. According to some patients the ward with 40 beds now has more [...]
At least 16 houses – 15 of Tamils and one of Sinhalese – had been attacked in Tangalle last week over an illicit love affair between a Tamil woman and a Sinhalese man, the police said. The police said that eight were arrested over the incident and further investigations are underway. According to the police [...]
The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns has said he wants to visit Sri Lanka. In a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) ahead of its 23rd session scheduled for the end of this month, Heyns said he encouraged the Governments of Sri Lanka to accept his [...]
By Nirmala Kannangara The Chief Incumbent of the Mihintala Rajamaha Viharaya, the Ven. Walawahangunawewe Dhammaratana Thero has accused the Education Services Minister and Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayake of disrupting the Mihintala Aloka Poojawa programme. Minister Dissanayake, according to the Thero, has visited Mihintala Sacred City on Wednesday and has instructed the vendors, who were to be [...]
By Raisa Wickrematunge The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) said that over the years members of the public had begun to celebrate Vesak in an unethical manner. In particular, the BBS focused on the now common practice of wearing Halloween-type masks while travelling around Colombo to see the Vesak lanterns and pandols. “Some of these people [...]
By Nirmala Kannangara Government hospitals in the country are facing a challenge to provide a satisfactory service to patients due to a severe shortage of nurses. According to Chairman Health Services Trade Union Alliance Saman Ratnapriya, although the hospitals need a cardre of 45,000 nurses to discharge a proper service, there are only 27,000 nurses [...]
By Camelia Nathaniel Azath Salley says that while he had written to the UN general secretary Ban Ki Moon regarding the issues affecting the Muslims in the country, he had also sent copies to all the embassies in the country as well. “The US embassy had responded and I am happy to note that our [...]
