Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 05 Jun 2011 11:18

Case against Seeman
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 074692.ece

UBanerjee · Post by **UBanerjee** » 05 Jun 2011 21:14

ankitash wrote:http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011 ... 2%80%A6-2/
Some thugs can’t even name themselves…
Posted on May 24th, 2011
by Malinda Seneviratne
Not sure if this reflects the average Sri Lankan , but, just check out the comments on this page. Quite pacqui !

Reading this website it seems the whole world is conniving and evil, and focused on blaming "innocent" Lanka.

Eye-opening. China seems well-beloved.

g.sarkar · Post by **g.sarkar** » 06 Jun 2011 10:30

http://www.economist.com/node/18775481
"Sri Lanka's army
In bigger barracks
A victorious army keeps busy despite the lack of an enemy
N THE run-up to Vesak, the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, which this year coincided with the second anniversary of its victory against the Tamil Tiger rebels, Sri Lanka’s armed forces had plenty to do. The throngs who clogged Colombo’s streets on May 18th for the festival of light marking the Buddha’s birthday were treated to an array of glimmering, white paper lanterns, each meticulously assembled by a soldier, sailor or airman.
The army’s non-martial tasks do not stop at lamp-making. Between 2006 and 2009 Sri Lanka inducted thousands into its army, navy and air force to fight against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. With the war won, servicemen are being deployed in everything from market gardening to tourism.
The bloody end of the war is still being refought diplomatically. On May 27th Sri Lanka celebrated it with a military parade in Colombo featuring mostly Chinese, Ukrainian and Russian hardware. And on May 31st a three-day seminar opened in Colombo, with the aim of teaching the world how to defeat terrorism the Sri Lankan way. Meanwhile, in Geneva, at the United Nations Human Rights Council, a UN special investigator was showing video of Sri Lankan soldiers in the war’s final days, apparently executing civilians. He called it “trophy footage” and evidence of serious human-rights abuses. However, despite calls for a boycott of the Sri Lankan seminar, 42 countries attended.
A notable omission from the agenda was any initiative to pare back Sri Lanka’s now bloated armed forces. Instead, the government is finding new things for them to do. Soldiers are taking on the civilian middlemen who control the vegetable trade by selling cheap produce, some of it from military farms. The navy has even opened a vegetable shop near one of its biggest camps in Colombo. The army has an air-ticketing agency. It is building roads and bridges, and houses for the internally displaced. Soldiers built one cricket stadium and renovated another for the World Cup earlier this year. Restaurants along the highway to Jaffna in the north are mostly army-owned or -run. The army will even supervise the private companies that collect the rubbish in Colombo...."
Gautam

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Jun 2011 07:07

Yup,the SL armed forces will have to be gradually reducd to prevent eco collapse.Giving them civvie tasks is a go way to wean them off the rifle.Opportunities for retd. service officers and men will have to be found for the time being.The risk is in allowing the military to carve out its own money-making rackets using military muscle as has happened in Pak.In infrastructure development,the manpower of SL forces serve very well and the country can reduce its dependency upon cheap Chinese prison labour,being used extensively by the PRC in it contracts abroad.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 07 Jun 2011 20:15

Comments from thinktanks in Chennai...

New Delhi had been sensitive to the plight of the internally displaced. An important step to ameliorate their suffering was the starting of a hospital to provide medical relief. New Delhi also has done commendable work in demining operations, so that the IDPs could return to their original homes. India also has sent 500 tractors so that agricultural operations could commence, but allegations have been made in the Sri Lankan parliament that most of these tractors are being used in the Sinhalese areas. The announcement that New Delhi proposes to construct 50,000 houses for the IDPs was heartily welcomed by the Sri Lankan Tamil community, but the sad fact must be underlined that even after the expiry of several months, the work in this direction is yet to commence. Is the Government of Sri Lanka putting obstacles on the way is a moot question. It may be relevant to mention in this connection that Colombo had been cultivating Beijing and Islamabad to checkmate the growing influence of India in Sri Lanka. Pakistan and China have, for their own reasons, found convergence of interests with Sri Lanka. The two governments have been backing the Sri Lankan Government in international forums. According to media reports two Chinese business houses, China Electrical and Technologies Corporation and Chinese Poly Technologies substantially financed the international seminar Defeating Terrorism: Sri Lankan Experience held in Colombo at the end of May 2011, to synchronise with the second anniversary of the defeat of the Tigers.

http://www.eurasiareview.com/sri-lanka- ... -06062011/

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 08 Jun 2011 18:16

Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday adopted a unanimous resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions on Sri Lanka by India to "rein in" Colombo on the Tamils issue and pressing for speedy rehabilitation of displaced Tamils.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tamil ... ka/800930/

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 08 Jun 2011 19:34

Sri Lanka has a model nation Pakistan to follow! They deserve each other.

Manny · Post by **Manny** » 10 Jun 2011 21:16

Pakistan talks Kashmir, thanks Lanka for help in 1971 war

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pakistan- ... 07988.aspx

During the 1971 war, Pakistani aircraft refueled at the Bandaranaike airport while on way to East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. Because Pakistani aircraft couldn't fly over India, the planes had to stop here to refuel.

Interestingly, during the same time when Pakistani aircraft were filling their fuel tanks inside the airport, a limited contingent of Indian army troops were deployed to guard airport's periphery against an attack by extreme Left insurgents.

It is widely believed that Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations were considerably soured after Colombo allowed the refueling.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 12 Jun 2011 15:49

Lanka heads for collision course with India: Report
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lanka ... rt/802524/

I wrote this long back. When India encourages Lanka to do best for their own people without interfering, this is the mind of Rajapakse. This is very similar to Prabhakaran's mindset. Whenever he wanted support of India and Tamils from Tamil Nadu he will beg for it when he is in control he will not even listen to them. For Prabhakaran it is not only the experience with India but also with Chinese when they had supported him. Now they both Prabakaran and Rajapakse though from opposite camps, in terms of thinking and eliminating any opposite voices and emotionalising their own communities they are very similar in every way! India is learning her lession and coming back to their own RAW equations as before! I think Budhdhists believe in the circle of events happening again and again!

India to Lanka: Resolve ethnic issue
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed ... 08231.aspx

Nesoj · Post by **Nesoj** » 13 Jun 2011 20:08

ankitash wrote:http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011 ... 2%80%A6-2/
Some thugs can’t even name themselves…
Posted on May 24th, 2011
by Malinda Seneviratne
Not sure if this reflects the average Sri Lankan , but, just check out the comments on this page. Quite pacqui !

Having interacted with numerous Sri Lankans in the Gulf, I can confirm that the views expressed in the 'comments' share commonality with that I've experienced

The common Sri Lankan grown up on stories of -
- RAW training camps for the LTTE in TN
- TN being a logistic base for the LTTE
- GOI turning a blind eye the movement of man and material between India & SL
- vocal support offerred by TN politicians

and that India was FORCED to change all this once SL started cultivating China & Pakistan

Basically they lay the blame of the entire LTTE mess firmly in India's lap, and believe that they politically managed to stop India by playing 'my enemy's enemy is my friend'

Vashishtha · Post by **Vashishtha** » 13 Jun 2011 20:26

LOTS of anti-india comments on that article... what the f@@@ do these guys think of themselves??

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 13 Jun 2011 21:09

All is not really well in Srilanka. The tamilians have not attained all that they fought for. Jayalalitha's stance on Srilanka should be nothing surprising. She was all for fighting and getting back Kachchatheevu. She is seeking economic blockade of Srilanka. I do not think that is wise, economic sanctions never work. It will shove Srilanka further away from us. If the newspaper reports are to be believed, NSA is consulting JJ and JJ is heading to New Delhi. Srilanka is going to feature in the talks. JJ has been quite aggressive.

http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/06 ... tions.html

It was quite well known that the Lankan Tamil question was of marginal interest in the TN election, so Colombo was startled when Jayalalitha gave it such prominence in her first TV appearance as Chief Minister. Her declarations were combative and political analysts in Lanka, trying to understand the reason for her aggressive stance, have attributed it to fallout from the Darusman Report. This is important, since in this case it comes across as moral outrage (like the reaction of the rest of the international community) rather than some brand of opportunist politicking.

If this reading is correct, the significance is that TN is likely to keep up pressure on the Centre (Delhi) on both the need for an international investigation and a political settlement of the Tamil question in Lanka, {the reading has proved to be correct so far} and not barter all away as politicians are wont to do. The cold shoulder that Foreign Minister GL Peries and the president’s brother Basil received in recent weeks in Delhi is explained in Colombo circles in this light. To but it simply, it is being said that Delhi does not want to infuriate the TN state government – quite apart from the fact that it may, on its own, be hugely embarrassed by war crimes and human rights abuse allegations against its erstwhile protégé .

In summary then, the fallout from the Indian state elections of April-May 2011 on Sri Lanka has been unexceptionally beneficial, though adding to the discomfiture of the government in Colombo.

A good read: Emerging trends

Role of the Think Tanks

The Authors believe that though foreign policy comes under the exclusive domain of the Central Government, Tamil Nadu should and could make constructive inputs into the making of India’s policy towards Sri Lanka and countries in Southeast Asia. But if Tamil Nadu has to play such a role, it pre-supposes that we have dynamic think tanks which undertake in-depth studies and assist in policy formulations. Two Think Tanks – Center for Asia Studies (CAS) and Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) – are doing pioneering work in this direction. Started by a group of enlightened former bureaucrats, academicians and former service officers, the CAS and C3S have already made a distinct mark in the intellectual life of the country. Their faculty includes former bureaucrats like Dr. S. Narayan, B Raman and DS Rajan; academicians like Prof. V. Suryanarayan and retired service officers like Commodore RS Vasan and Col R Hariharan.

The website of the C3S is one of the most popular websites in the developing world. And the CAS, during the last two and a half years of its existence, has brought out nine books and monographs and published 180 articles, both in English and in Tamil, and organized number of seminars and lecture discussions. The two think tanks are also interacting with institutions of higher learning in southern states to sensitise the student community about India’s changing strategic environment and foreign policy goals. But the two institutions are unable to expand their activities due to lack of financial support. {the authors plug for their cause} It will be a good idea if the Government of Tamil Nadu, under the new dynamic Chief Minister, comes forth to support these two fledgling institutions, while, at the same time, ensuring their academic and administrative autonomy.

Subramanya Swamy, true to his self, has criticized JJ for talking of SL's war atrocities. It is like one eccentric unreliable fellow advising another eccentric unreliable lady. In this case JJ is correct, and SS is wrong.

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 15 Jun 2011 13:38

Haven't seen it yet. Its pretty late here. But Channel 4 documentary on the Srilankan conflict and killing of civilians -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri- ... ing-fields

edit : M'chod! This video is Graphic as hell !! Discretion advised.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 15 Jun 2011 21:55

"Having interacted with numerous Sri Lankans in the Gulf, I can confirm that the views expressed in the 'comments' share commonality with that I've experienced"

Tell your Sri Lankan friends/associates that the fundamental problem was the "Sinhala only" policy of their country, which did not recognize Tamil as a legitimate language, and second major language of the island. And tell them to contrast that policy with India's recognition of 18 major languages and many more dialects without any serious problem.

Do mention that after vicious anti-Tamil riots in 1983, thousands of Tamils fled to India as refugees, that LTTE was only the most extreme of a number of outfits, that starting in 1987 if not earlier, whatever little support India was giving the Tamil separatists had stopped, and from that time, India has been unreservedly committed to supporting Sri Lanka's territorial integrity.

Sen_K · Post by **Sen_K** » 16 Jun 2011 04:17

Prasad wrote:Haven't seen it yet. Its pretty late here. But Channel 4 documentary on the Srilankan conflict and killing of civilians -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri- ... ing-fields

edit : M'chod! This video is Graphic as hell !! Discretion advised.

The video was extremely disturbing.

I wonder how Mahinda Rajapakse govt is trying to and is successful also in presenting SL as a country marching forward after the May 2009 incidents. SL is never going to go anywhere up with these suppressed unhealed wounds of the Tamils, which may potentially form the basis for creation of another LTTE type organisation.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 16 Jun 2011 04:43

Sri Lanka, India ferry service resumes

India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday resumed sea ferry services for the first time in 30 years, aiming to boost tourism and economic cooperation after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war.

An Indian ferry with a capacity for 1,044 passengers docked at Colombo's port this morning after leaving Tuticorin port.

The ferry will initially operate twice a week, with the journey taking about 10 hours each way, said W. Chandradasa, a director of Sri Lanka's Shipping Corp. Another vessel will be added soon, he said.

Officials said a Sri Lankan ferry would also make the journey within two weeks, and the service could be boosted to three round trips a week, depending on passenger traffic.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 16 Jun 2011 04:50

India, Sri Lanka to play tri-series in Oz

DR. SINGH’S VISIT TO BOOST INDO-LANKA ties

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 16 Jun 2011 04:55

PGCIL to set up undersea power line from Lanka

Apollo Tyres enters Sri Lanka market

Gamesa signs agreement to supply wind turbines in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka starts taxi service with Tata Nano

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 16 Jun 2011 05:21

The Eelam War was not fought according to Geneva Convention rules.Let's be brutally frank on that score.Both sides committed dire deeds.If anyone thinks that the LTTE were saints,let him jump ino the nearest well! Their use of human shields,killing civvies who tried to flee is also well documented.Moreover,many of them disguised themselves as civvies and distinguishing an LTTE fighter in "mufti" from a civilian was almost impossible.

The attitude of the west reg. Lankan "war crimes" is completely hypocritical.Far greater casualties and crimes have been committed by the US & co. in the Balkans,Iraq (remember Abu Grahib?),where lakhs of civvies have been killed in indiscriminate US shelling and bombing.The same situ is happening in Af-Pak, and now so evident in Libya.It was not too long ago when the BBC ,the "bullsh*t corp.,tried to fool the world by showing Chechen War pics claiming them to be Indian atrocities in Kashmir.The BBC' slant towards Pak is well known.Even a US military attache recently cast doubts upon some of the the Lankan war crimes allegations.Bush,Blair,and co. are far more guilty of war crimes (committed abroad) than Rajapakse and crowd who put down the equivalent of a civil war.

However,having won the war,the onus on the Lankan govt. is to "win the peace".Much more needs to be done by Rajapakse for Tamil rehabilitation in the north and faster.One bitter complaint is about the promised Indian assistance.It is so slow in delivery when compared with the Chinese.Look at the speed of Chinese built projects in the island like Hambantota Port.They deliver while we simply promise.Our own well-informed scribes have told me about this sad fact apart from Lankans.India must get its act together of promised aid for rehabilitation of displaced Tamils in everyone's interests.

Secondly,there is absolutely NO way that any fragmentation of the country through devolution of power to the provinces will ever take place, based upon the (unlucky) 13th amendment.Those who think that this is possible,dream on.A new young Tamil political movement has to be established.The LTTE exterminated the TULF and the northern Tamils have no leaders.They must get their political act together now that the war is over.However,there is still some fear in Tamil minds that Tamil politicians who take an anti-LTTE/diaspora stance are still not safe enough for the moment.The resurgence of pro-LTTE sentiment in Tamilnadu because of electoral events,has cast a negative shadow on the emergence of a new northern Tamil polity free of LTTE influence.

Having abdicated our role in the island when it mattered (when for the last 25 years I've been screaming hoarse about the PRC infiltration ),our influence is no sadly diminished somewhat with the Chinese and Pakis well entrenched.But do not for a moment think that the Lankans love them more! The Chinese are literally "eating their way" into Sinhalese space and the islanders are becoming very resentful of this.On each visit to the island the complaints about the Chinese gets stronger.The Pakis are not trusted bcause of their terrorist bent.They are used merely for acquiring military hardware if not available elsewhere.India however has to kep a very close eye on the Pakis using Lanka as a base for anti-Indian activiities,supporting clandestine LTTE entities who will try and to destabilise Tamilnadu, and use the island as a launching pad for ISI orchestrated terror acts since adjacent Kerala has a large Muslim population with known Islamist outfits already in the dock in India for anti-Indian/terror acts.A close joint Indo-Lankan anti-terror working and agreement will be of positive help.

India remains the spiritual home of almost all Lankans,predominantly Buddhist and Hindu and the revival of the sea link through the ferry service from Tuticorin is a huge + point in Indo-Lankan relations.The significance of this link,which in the future will also see the Rameswaram-Talaimannar link revived as well,will make it very easy and economical for pilgrims and traders on both sides to travel.This will enhance Indo-Lankan people-to-people ties far more than any official agreements.

PS:Marutis and Nanos have and will do more for Indian prestige and respect in Lanka than the efforts of Indian diplomutts!

PPS:http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/jun/11 ... ronger.htm

India-Sri Lanka naval ties to get stronger
By: Bipin Kumar Singh Date: 2011-06-11 Place: Mumbai

The strained relationship between Indian and Sri Lankan naval forces is all set to ease soon. Aware of imminent threats from terrorists and Somali pirates, both the warring parties have joined hands to curb any untoward incident in the high seas falling in their respective territories. Forty-two officers from the special wing of Sri Lankan navy on Tuesday arrived at the Mumbai international airport with "the sole purpose of making the bond stronger with naval forces here".

Bonhomie: Sri Lankan Navy officials arrive at the international airport
in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/Atul Kamble

A Sri Lankan navy personnel said the main purpose of this visit was to make the ties between both the navy stronger. "We are not going to carry out any joint-operation, though," said a senior officer of the Lankan Navy on the condition of anonymity He also revealed that they would visit different sensitive points along with the India officers. "After spending some time with the naval officers in Mumbai, we will move towards Goa and then to Chennai. We will also review what best could be done in the future to curb any untoward incident on these sensitive points," added the officer.

Tension between the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy aggravated after reports appeared in the media that the neighbouring country was allegedly providing shelter to Somali pirates. Sri Lankan Navy has been accused of allowing Somali pirates to refuel their vessels and regroup along the Sri Lankan coastline. Earlier, Defense Minister AK Anthony said, "Our waters are not safe like before as there are some other forces helping them (the pirates). We cannot remain mere spectators."

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 16 Jun 2011 11:39

Lifting the lid on Sri Lanka's war crimes

My film Sri Lanka's Killing Fields exposes atrocities committed against civilian Tamils that the UN must not ignore
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... war-crimes

Jayalalithaa seeks curbs on Lanka for 'war crimes'
TNN Jun 15, 2011, 02.00am IST
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... a-s-tamils

India “Punishing Sri Lanka”: Myth or Reality?
http://groundviews.org/2011/05/28/india ... r-reality/

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 16 Jun 2011 18:32

Lanka envoy inaugurates Amity ecological workshop on elephants

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 17 Jun 2011 03:07

Colombo, June 10 (TruthDive): With Jayalalitha led AIADMK passing resolutions in the State Assembly asking for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka and to implead in getting back Katchatheevu island, the meeting of National security Advisor Shiva Shanker Menon with her on the eve of the talks with the island nation has deep political significance. Analysts believe that this signals a new beginning and marks the start of changes to India’s policy towards Sri Lanka.

http://truthdive.com/2011/06/12/nsa-con ... ected.html

Sri Lanka did creditability in winning the war, but will lose its peace unless it changes its mindset. Otherwise it will be brutalising the society. It has to be accountable for its actions to its own people. Then it can care a fig about international opinion because the people will be supporting it wholeheartedly.

(Col R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka as Head of Intelligence. He is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies and the South Asia Analysis Group. E-Mail: [email protected] Blog: http://www.colhariharan.org)
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/06 ... ciety.html
I am indeed happy Jayalalitha is doing something for peace in Lanka by putting the right pressure. DMK indeed betrayed Tamils in Lanka along with Congress govt.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 20 Jun 2011 00:09

Sri Lanka president receives US court summons

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 20 Jun 2011 00:11

Re-building severed links: Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service

Indian arrivals boom with over 55%

while UK remained consistent and continues to be a strong market, India has surged to becoming the number one source market. The 39% growth in May arrivals to Sri Lanka mainly came from India that contributed 55.8% in growth with 16,649 arrivals compared to the 2010 figure of 10,686. He noted that arrivals increased due to promotions and cultural similarities between the two countries

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 20 Jun 2011 01:56

"..cultural similarities between the two countries.." Key factor why Indo-Lankan relations should prosper over Sino-Pak competition.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 20 Jun 2011 10:56

Sri Lanka Tamil party says military attacked its poll campaign
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/06/1 ... 4620110616

Sri Lanka Tamil MPs 'beaten up by troops'
(AFP) – 2 days ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... 7a061d.401

Sri Lankan Tamil party accuses army of attacking its election meeting
http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/06/s ... n-meeting/

I thought TNA is supported by Indian govt in the peace making process!

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 24 Jun 2011 12:24

President Rajapakse handed them a flat ‘Nyet’ and for once in a lifetime, I must admit, he spoke the truth. “If I make any devolutionary concessions to the Tamils, 13A Plus, Minus, Divided or Subtracted, it will be curtains for me.” That much is absolutely true; it has been so starkly obvious to anyone who had brains enough to see (so that excludes Delhi), so why on earth it came as a surprise beats me. The government’s parliamentary group met the evening before the esteemed visitors arrived and decided; ‘Let’s tell them the truth straight from the shoulder and upfront; let’s tell them, if we do it we are dead meat.’

Sri Lanka: Indian Delegates Go Home Empty Handed – SAAG Analysis
http://www.eurasiareview.com/sri-lanka- ... -24062011/

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 25 Jun 2011 03:48

Matara Hindu fest after 21 years
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/index.php/lat ... r-21-years

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 25 Jun 2011 17:56

The growing Chinese influence has further weakened the Indian approach which, many here contend, was anyway weak on multilateralism in Sri Lanka. Says Dr Hoole, “When India places the onus on bilateral relations, the human and political rights of the Tamils tend to become hostage to Sino-Indian rivalry, as appears the case now.” Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran feels that India’s foreign policy in Sri Lanka has failed, pointing out how New Delhi has been unable to get a devolution package for the north and east. He adds, “India had satellite images of the war...its government knew how many people were killed. India must decide whether it wants to isolate itself from the Sri Lankan Tamils.” With the government change in Tamil Nadu and AIADMK leader Jayalalitha’s negligible influence over the UPA, it scarcely matters that the state assembly recently passed a resolution asking New Delhi to impose economic sanctions on Colombo.

Even pro-government Tamil politician Dharmalingam Siddarthan says human rights issues, if left unattended, would further widen the gap between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Despite the civil war ending in 2009, the island remains a nation at war with itself.

Satarupa Bhattacharjya
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277338

India should broaden its political agenda from focusing solely on devolution and ensuring the rights of Tamils. Without a reversal of the Sri Lankan government’s growing authoritarianism, centralisation of power and continued repression of dissent, any devolution will be meaningless and the risks of renewed conflict will increase. India’s longstanding interest in a peaceful and politically stable Sri Lanka is best served by strong messages to Colombo to end impunity and reverse the democratic decay that undermines the rights of all Sri Lankans. By raising political concerns that affect all of Sri Lanka’s communities, India can also counter suspicions among Sinhalese and eventually strengthen its hand with the government. This will take some time, but the work should start now.

India and Sri Lanka after the LTTE
Asia Report N°206 23 Jun 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
International Crisis Group
Colombo/Brussels, 23 June 2011
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/a ... -ltte.aspx

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 26 Jun 2011 05:56

BJP to raise Katchchatheevu issue in Parliament: Sushma
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... epage=true

The resolution, moved by the Chief Minister, cited the Supreme Court's ruling in 1960 in the Berubari case that any agreement on the cession of Indian territory to another country should be ratified by Parliament through an amendment of the Constitution.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 29 Jun 2011 02:43

U.S. threatens action against Colombo for failure to redress Tamils

The United States on Tuesday hardened its stand against Sri Lanka government cautioning it to take necessary steps to book the perpetrators of alleged war-crimes in the country and to bring together the war-torn north and east with the rest of the country after 26 years of war.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles ... s%20Tamils

Fishermen issue: Sri Lankan Navy retreats seeing Indian ship
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 136645.ece

so Srilankan Navy arrests Indian fishermen within Indian territory?!

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 30 Jun 2011 01:20

Grievances of Tamils in Sri Lanka 'legitimate': PM
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/griev ... pm/810498/

US warns Sri Lanka on war crime charges

'We hope the Sri Lankans will themselves do this, but if they do not, there will be growing pressure from the international community to examine other options,' it said.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNew ... 85178.html

Lack of clarity in foreign policy; Sri Lanka on collision course

* India disappointed over Govt.'s refusal to implement 13th Amendment as Premier Singh tells Jayalalithaa, 'they won't listen to us'
* After Channel 4 film, Britain sets deadline for Rajapaksa regime to probe war crimes charges
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110619/Columns/political.html

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 30 Jun 2011 05:36

India, Lanka hold first Army-to-Army staff talks

The three-day talks, led by Sri Lankan military secretary Major-General HCP Goonetilleke and Indian Army's additional director general (international cooperation) Major-General I P Singh, will chalk out the programmes to be undertaken by the two armies over the next one year.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 30 Jun 2011 05:37

Commonwealth Games Federation evaluates Sri Lanka Bid

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 30 Jun 2011 05:39

India's RPP Infra Projects opens new venture in Sri Lanka

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 30 Jun 2011 06:40

India, Lanka hold first Army-to-Army staff talks

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 01 Jul 2011 13:41

UN rights chief warns of action in absence of S.Lanka probe
http://www.expatica.com/ch/news/swiss-n ... 60010.html

Sri Lanka Continues Genocide, Thumbing Nose at UN and World
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june ... deaths.php

We're being told ex-Tamil rebels who were were previously in custody and then released, are eventually ending up raped or murdered by "unknown" men.

Sri Lankan intelligence has two goals to achieve ...

1) Tell the world that military presence is needed to avoid such massacres.

2) To threaten the local Tamils who know the truth

The Anti Tamil Dialogue of Shiv Shankar Menon with Rajapakse
http://truthdive.com/2011/07/01/the-ant ... pakse.html

Hundreds of people protested Thursday demanding to know the whereabouts of their family members abducted by "white van squads" allegedly operated by the Sri Lankan government during the height of the country's civil war.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z1QqEGhRRT

We therefore call on our governments to set a deadline, soon, for satisfactory response from the Sri Lankan government, and if it is not forthcoming to initiate the international arrangements recommended by the report.

Reports like the one compiled for the secretary general must not stand on the shelf. They must be the basis of action. Or the law becomes an ass.

David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner were foreign ministers, respectively, of Britain and France from 2007 to 2010.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/opini ... and21.html

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 02 Jul 2011 13:27

Making a case for the 13th amendment

Sri Lankan society needs national reconciliation after the LTTE’s defeat and the war’s conclusion. The claim that the Tamil polity is divided is hollow. True, it is diverse in a party sense, but dominantly represented by the TNA. Only two Tamil parties are represented in parliament. The TNA and the EPDP. Douglas too wants the 13th implemented now, wants an NPC election soon held and for him to be the UPFA chief ministerial candidate. The EPDP party program, calls for the re-merger of the North and East. The 13th amendment is already a part of our basic law and implemented everywhere else in the country. It is overdue for the North in a free and fair election.

H Peiris - A Progovernment newspaper writes on these. So it is clear there are criticism within Rajapakse's group about his handling and failure to settle issues in Lanka.
http://print.dailymirror.lk/opinion1/48602.html

The following photos and videos are not for the faint hearted. They are further evidences of war crimes.

http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/index. ... &Itemid=54

http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/index. ... d=40:photo

The self-assigned label of “protector of Tamils” worn by M. Karunanidhi, former chief minister and DMK supremo, is no longer finding endorsement among those fighting for the Tamil cause. In fact, he is drawing criticism ranging from the mild—“he loves Tamil only in word, not in deed”—to the harsh—“he’s a betrayer of the Tamil cause”. His farcical fast against the genocide of Tamils during his term as chief minister—he’d said, “Let me become one of Sri Lanka President Rajapakse’s victims, it will be my sacrifice on behalf of all Tamils”—and such other actions have led to the perception that he’s an opportunist who clung to power while selling out the Tamil cause.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277442

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 03 Jul 2011 00:20

joshvajohn wrote:http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/index. ... d=40:photo

How dumb is srilanka for waging a genocide in this time and age? Its past has become officially f'ed. Will killing thousands of tamils wipe this community from the face of mother earth?

The tamils are here to stay. The sinhalese have earned a reputation in the process. The BD genocide too received civilian cooperation.

Keep watching SL: it has foolishly committed ethnic cleansing. Where is it heading?

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 04 Jul 2011 13:47

Gives dhoti shivering a new meaning and the carcass of the lost Tamil cause continues to draw diaspora flies.

Karunanidhi's dhoti may well be at risk again.

Jaya strikes at Karunanidhi’s proprietorship of the Tamil cause

The Tamil diaspora, which is disillusioned with Karunanidhi, is gushing in its praise of Jayalalitha. “Madam Jayalalitha’s initiative in this tough resolution in the assembly has lifted our morale. We will meet and thank her,” says Charles Antonidas of the London-based Global Tamil Forum. The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations has written to Jayalalitha “bowing our heads in gratitude”. Even fringe Tamil groups have gone overboard praising Jayalalitha. “We will hold a massive rally in Rameswaram to thank her,” says Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath. The Periyar DK and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi are among the Tamil organisations keen on anointing Jayalalitha with the “savior of Tamils” title.

Dr A.R. Venkatachalapathy, a Tamil writer and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, feels that disillusionment with Karunanidhi worsened with his flippant remarks. When the Sri Lankan army marched into an area where the LTTE had holed up using about one lakh non-combatants as a human shield, he had said, “After it rains, it continues to drizzle”, implying that in war, collateral damage is normal. He blotted his copybook further by rushing to Delhi to fight for cabinet berths for his kin in UPA-II, but never once went there to seek intervention for a cause he claimed was dear to him.