In spanish

By David Blacker

Last week, I attended a seminar conducted by the Colombo-based Marga Institute, a think tank devoted to studying and influencing human development in Sri Lanka. Marga is in the process of putting together a review of the UN Secretary General’s advisory panel report on Sri Lanka (the well-known Darusman Report), which will analyze several aspects of this document, including its legal credibility; the manner in which it makes its allegations and narrates the series of events that made up the final stages of the war; the recommendations of the report; and, very importantly, the impact all of this will have on the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, via accountability and restorative justice. The seminar itself was to elaborate on the thinking behind the review, discuss the draft, and possibly include the conclusions of such discussions in the final review.

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Courtesy: Defence.lk

In Spanish

"The false claims and allegations made by Tamil Diaspora together with the LTTE international network will be laid to rest with the release of the factual analysis reports, said Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  

He expressed these views addressing the gathering at the launching of the report titled "Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 - May 2009," on Monday (Aug 01), at the Hilton Colombo.  

Secretary Defence further questioned, "Why should the government, which directly looked after the family of LTTE leaders, kill those who surrendered to the military?"  

"The sole purpose of these allegations is to discredit Sri Lanka and disrupt the prevailing peace in the country," he said commenting on the Channel-4 canard, 

 "11,000 former LTTE cadres have been rehabilitated and reintegrated to society thus far. Medical supplies were released to the North even up to the last day of the humanitarian mission, which ended on May 18, 2009", he further stressed.

The Government of Sri Lanka has noted the statement by the British Foreign Office Minister for South Asia, Alistair Burt on the Channel 4 documentary telecast on 14th June 2011.  

This documentary, like the Darusman Report, does no more than put together a sequence of events and images, to justify a conclusion arrived at in advance.  The origins of this footage are yet to be established, and no one has so far taken responsibility for its contents.  It is a mere collection of visuals previously aired through LTTE websites and a miniscule section of the international media, at the behest of parties with vested interests to undermine the present efforts at reconciliation and development taking place in Sri Lanka.  The views expressed in the film are without any guarantee of authenticity.

Statement by Sri Lanka High Commission, London on the Channel 4 Film “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” 

The Government of Sri Lanka categorically denies the allegations that it has deliberately targeted its own civilians, as the Channel 4 alleges in its film “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields”. 

Mr President 

Excellencies 

Madam High Commissioner 

Distinguished delegates

I wish to commend the constructive manner in which you, Mr President, have been conducting the work of the Human Rights Council. Our deliberations have been guided by you with sagacity and sensitivity, aimed at achieving the objectives of our agenda in a fair and equitable manner. You have the fullest cooperation and support of my delegation for the work of the Council.

Mr. President,

Consequent to the liberation of our people from the clutches of terrorism in May 2009, and mindful of the insurmountable challenges faced in its aftermath the Government of President Rajapaksa has embarked upon several initiatives in the areas of resettlement, rehabilitation, economic development, reconstruction and reconciliation to benefit those whose lives were affected by 30 years of conflict. In the immediate aftermath, the Government's priority has been the resettlement of the approximately 290,000 IDPs, while ensuring that they are provided adequate shelter, food, security and livelihood support.  Today, ninety five percent (95%) have been resettled. It is envisaged to resettle the remainder, once the demining process is completed. 

Statement by H.E. Kshenuka Senewiratne, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, Geneva on the Statement of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay on 30 May 2011  

Mr. President,

 My delegation is perplexed to note the High Commissioner’s reference as stated, to the report of the Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka.  It is widely known that the said report was borne outside of an intergovernmental process.  It is a report which was initiated solely by the UNSG to advise himself on the modalities, applicable international standards and comparative experience relevant to an accountability process in respect to the conflict in Sri Lanka.  It is extremely unfortunate, Mr President, that the High Commissioner has thought fit to refer to it in her report to the 17^th Session of the HRC, a document which was compiled by a Panel to advise the SG, that too at his own request, and well exceeding its mandate, thereby bringing into question her objectivity. In this context, the High Commissioner has resorted to drawing on recommendations culminating from a report of a non intergovernmental process, which also has no official status in the UN system.  This Council would agree that at no point has it sought this so called information referred to by the High Commissioner.

The Government of Sri Lanka has consistently espoused and been guided by the gentle tenets of Buddhism, which emphasizes Karuna, Metta, Muditha and Upeksha meaning  -kindness, loving compassion, thoughtfulness and equanimity said Kshenuka Senewiratne addressing a large international gathering at the commemoration of the  2600^th Anniversary of Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi, which  was celebrated at the United Nations in Geneva on the 11^th May 2011. This commemorative event was organized by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, at the United Nations Assembly Hall, which is considered a most prestigious venue. This occasion was also graced by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Disaster Management and Mr. Kassym Jomart Tokayev, United Nations Under-Secretary General and the newly appointed Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, who is the former Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.

Need to build new financial order to better face future crises – President  

“Essential that globally influential economies act in a globally responsible manner”   

The global economic crisis taught us many lessons that varied across nations. All countries learnt both common and individual lessons, from this crisis, which left behind a trail of serious damage across nations and shook the very foundations of the financial structure of the world. It is therefore, clear that if we are to safeguard the world economy in the future, we would need to build a new financial order and a model that will better equip us to face crises of this nature, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his inaugural address to the 49th South East Asian Central Bank Governors’ (SEACEN) Conference, in Colombo today (25).

Commenting on the theme of the conference - “Post-Global Financial Crisis: Issues and Challenges for Central Banks of Emerging Markets” - he said that in seeking to build a new financial order much attention has been paid to regulate and supervise financial institutions which are considered to be “too big to fail”. This is indeed commendable, since the fall of major global financial institutions damages the international financial structure in a permanent manner.

‘Inconvenient and difficult decisions also necessary for nation’s progress’ 

The people of our country must change their attitudes about future progress of the country, similar to the manner in which they began to think afresh about achieving victory over the forces of terror. There is the need for an enormous attitudinal change from children to adults to achieve national development, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation at the 63rd celebration of Independence in Kataragama today (4 Feb). 

This is the true freedom that we believe in, he stressed. 

Similar to the success of our conviction that terrorism could be defeated, we have also shown our ability to build large power stations at Norochcholai, Upper Kothmale and Kerawalapitiya, build massive ports in Hambantota and Colombo, develop major irrigation schemes as in Moragahakanda and Uma Oya, and make our cities clean, he said. 

He pointed out that all of this will not make our freedom meaningful in the absence of a law-abiding society. ‘Therefore, we are committed to building a law-abiding society. The respect for discipline in a society is essential for development.’ 

President Rajapaksa added that the country cannot be developed solely on popular decisions. ‘Inconvenient and difficult decisions are also necessary for the nation’s progress. It is the nation’s responsibility to take hard and difficult decisions to bring light to the future of our children, rather than take popular decisions that will lead them to darkness ahead’, he said.

With great determination and patience, we have built mutual understanding and trust among the people about the nation's development. Strengthening this should be among our wishes for the New Year, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message.

We look towards the future at the dawn of this New Year with renewed determination, firm commitment and many positive expectations, he said adding, ‘Our aim is to recover with speed all that was lost to Sri Lankan society in more than three decades'.

The purpose of celebrating Christmas is to enshrine the message of peace and love in one's heart, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Christmas message. 

Following is the message: 

I wish a Happy Christmas to all Sri Lankans and citizens of the world who celebrate the birth of Christ at this Christmas!

The purpose of celebrating Christmas is to enshrine the message of peace and love in one's heart. It is especially a time to spread the message of love and compassion towards the poor and peace among all peoples.

Today, we in South Asia commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and I have the pleasure on this occasion to extend warm greetings and best wishes of the Government and people of Sri Lanka to the Governments and people of South Asia.

It gives me great pleasure to extend greetings and good wishes to the people of South Asia on the occasion of the SAARC Charter Day.

Twenty-five years ago, it was on this day that the Heads of State and Government of South Asia signed the Charter of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation based on the realisation that, in an increasingly inter-dependent world, the objective of peace, economic prosperity and social justice are best achieved by fostering mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation among Member States. Since then, we have made gradual and careful progress in furthering the ideals enshrined in the Charter. Our journey towards fulfilling the objectives of the Charter will be one that all the Member States of SAARC would have to continue upon with utmost commitment, in the larger interest of the people of our region.

Twenty-five years ago, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation came into being when the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka placed their signatures to a Charter that embodies the enduring hopes and dreams of the people of South Asia. Since then, our Association has been strengthened with Afghanistan joining the SAARC family at the 14th Summit.

Our first task in our rise to be among the great nations of the world, is to ensure lasting national unity and sustainable, permanent peace in our motherland, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the swearing in of his second term of office today (19 Nov) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Out policy is one of non-alignment, he said adding, ‘we do not have enemy states or such groups or blocs. During the last era, we worked with many nations in agreement and friendship for national security. We now step into the development era. We extend our hand of friendship to those who assist us in this endeavour’.  

We have the inherited wisdom to tolerate all opinion and take mature decisions. We have a tradition of understanding our problems and conflicts and finding solutions for them, he further stated.

‘We are not a miniature of a developed country. We are Sri Lanka. Our motherland is Sri Lanka’.

Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 9th Asia Co-operation Dialogue in Tehran, with H.E. Dr. Mohammad Sabah Alsalem Alsabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. 

The Ministers noted that 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Kuwait, and discussed modalities for deepening bilateral relations, with the advent of durable peace in Sri Lanka.

Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs and Dr. Mehdi Ghazanfari, Minister of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had detailed consultations in Tehran on Monday with regard to significantly expanded economic co-operation between the two countries.

Prof. Peiris expressed appreciation for the generous assistance given by the Government of Iran for socio-economic development in Sri Lanka following the visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Sri Lanka in April 2008. He said that the Uma Oya and the Rural Electrification Projects are now in progress.  

May the light of goodwill and peace of Deepavali lead our people to the joy of enlightened harmony, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message for Deepavali. 

Celebrated by Hindus the world over, Deepavali is a celebration of the spiritual richness of people as it marks the progress that humans have made in the constant struggle for a better life in keeping with the great spiritual values of Hinduism, the President added. 

Following is the full message: