Category: Local News

Navi Pillay can meet LTTE Mahaveer widow but not families of civilians killed by LTTE

– by Shenali D Waduge – pix by Reuters The UN Human Rights head is now in Sri Lanka and visiting the country’s North to see for herself the developments since the fall of the LTTE. Much prominence has been given to her meeting with a Mahaveer widow. Leaving aside that her ‘missing’ husband is […]




Pillay goes off track

The visiting UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navaneetham Pillay had no right whatsoever to dictate how Sri Lanka should organise its defence affairs; they would flatly reject it if she had the temerity to do so, the government said yesterday. […]



Tamil ethnic bias and potential conflict of interest disqualifies Navi Pillay from conducting investigations against Sri Lanka

  – by Shenali D Waduge – Ms. Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has impressive credentials.  A South African of Indian Tamil origin, she is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She was also the first non-white woman on the High Court of South Africa, and she has also served as a judge of the […]



Lessons for Sri Lanka from the Libyan experience

  – by Shenali D Waduge – It is not difficult to conclude that Western imperial powers are mapping out their war master plan for economic and political domination across regions. They are openly and covertly interfering in domestic affairs, they are now even openly arming opposition groups, their motive is to destabalize governments that […]



Navi Pillay visits former war zone

UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has visited Jaffna to meet relatives of people who disappeared at the end of the war. According to the BBC Tamil families complained to her about missing relatives, military land grabs and life without basic facilities. […]



Sri Lanka and Belarus to Establish Inter-Parliamentary Associations

Sri Lanka and Belarus today agreed to establish an inter-parliamentary association to ensure cooperation between the Parliaments of the two countries. Such an agreement was reached with several objectives: To enhance mutual understanding in political, economic and social sectors; to ensure mutual cooperation in international fora; and to further cooperation in economic, trade and business […]




Pillay raises “religious tensions” with Hakeem

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said today that visiting UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay raised concerns regarding the rise in religious tensions, and said that he briefed her about the steps taken to curb violence directed at religious groups. […]




Sri Lanka and Belarus Agree to Further Enhance Cooperation in a Number of Sectors

Sri Lanka and Belarus agreed to enhance cooperation in a number of sectors, including economic, trade, investment, education and technology. The agreement was reached during bilateral discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko this afternoon at the official residence of President Lukashenko. […]



Ms Pillay what about civilians murdered by LTTE in Sri Lanka in non-combat areas and during ceasefires?

  – by Shenali D Waduge – What or who gave the right to terrorists and their movements to plan, execute and eliminate people? What or who gave terrorists rights when they are not signatory or bound by the international laws that prevail? Who gave terrorists any right to declare war on nations and with […]



UN’s Navi Pillay to visit Sri Lanka former war zone

The UN’s human rights commissioner has arrived in Sri Lanka on a fact-finding mission after the government said she could visit former conflict zones. As part of her week-long visit, Navi Pillay is due to travel to former war zones in the north and east. She is also expected to hold talks with Sri Lankan […]



GHOGM prompts arrest of beggars

In view of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, about 200 suspected beggars, who had been arrested and held in remand custody, were transferred to a facility maintained by the Department of Social Services in Ridigama, last week. […]



President Rajapaksa arrives in Belarus

– by Janaka Alahapperuma – Pix By: Sudath Silva President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Belarus this afternoon on August 25, on a three-day official visit to the East European nation. On his arrival the President was warmly received according to the Belarus traditions at the Minsk National Airport by the Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs, […]



Pillay arrives

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneethan Pillay arrived in the country a short while ago on a week-long official tour. […]