Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, met with Navanetham Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva on Tuesday (09). The Minister, who was accompanied by Attorney General Mohan Peiris, PC, and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN at Geneva, Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, briefed High Commissioner Pillay, on the progress achieved in developing a National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NAP) in Sri Lanka. Noting that the NAP was the outcome of a pledge made in 2008 at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council, he outlined the process to date and also the next steps contemplated towards finalization of the first draft Action Plan.

Today we celebrate the anniversary of Independence after the liberation of the entire country from terrorist threat for the first time in 30 years. I am proud to proclaim that we are in a position to raise the flag of Sri Lanka with dignity in the entire country.

In 1815, Variyapola Sumangala Thero hoisted our flag on this historic land after lowering the Union Jack. I wish to pay my respect to the venerable monks as well as the revered clergy of all religions for their dedication and commitment displayed to preserve this freedom.

The 62nd anniversary of independence we mark today has special significance being the first such celebration of our freedom since the defeat of terrorism in our country last year, and also as it takes place soon after  our people have expressed their firm and resounding commitment to democracy.

Freedom is desired by all living beings.

Sri Lanka enriched by Buddhist values, is a nation which gives importance to the freedom of the individual. 

Inhumane acts of a few in the society violate the freedom of the entire society. The value of freedom is deeply felt when it is lost, more than when it is enjoyed.

Rising from the shackles of colonialism 62 years ago and annihilating an almost three decade long grip of terrorism from our shores eight months ago, we celebrate this anniversary of Independence in 2010, with a great sense of oneness and pride.  Nearly half of our country’s contemporary independent history has witnessed a struggle against the brutal forces of terrorism which sought to tear asunder the very sovereignty of our great nation gained by our forefathers.

PAST	PRESENT

Exactly 53 years after the first journey of the "Yal Devi", the popular train to Jaffna, the government of Sri Lanka launched, on 23 March 2009, the “Uthuru Mithuru” Yal Devi Friendship Rail Track Reconstruction Project to rebuild the North-South railway line. 

The line, which was permanently closed in 13 June 1990 following disruption and intermittent severance of linkages by terrorists, is now undergoing reconstruction to restore the rail connectivity between the Northern Province and the existing railway grid.  The project currently involves the laying down of rail track between Vavuniya and Kankesanthurai, as well the rebuilding of 27 railway stations.

Statement following the election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a second term  

President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a historic and resounding victory in the Presidential Election held yesterday (26), the first free and fair election in which the entire country could participate  in nearly three decades, and also the first such election since the defeat of terrorism in Sri Lanka in May last year.   

The people of Sri Lanka have spoken and they have voted for an end to division, an end to terrorism, and for a new beginning of peace and prosperity.

Having restored peace to the country after 30 years of terrorism, the Government of Sri Lanka is wholly committed to a free and democratic election in every part of the country, the government said in a statement issued today (Jan 24). 

"The Sri Lanka Government calls for a peaceful election, and stands committed to taking whatever steps deemed necessary to ensure the same," the statement further said.

Full text of the statement:

Sri Lanka ranked among the Top Ten Fastest Economies, being eighth in the world according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of United States.

As the global economy would emerge in the recession, it is envisaged that Sri Lanka would record a 6.3 percent GDP growth rate that is second only to China, which will record a 8.6 percent in the Asian region. The improvement in 2010 is that the world will emerge from recession and post crisis economic landscape will become clearer. This will pave the way to achieve a higher growth of about seven to nine percent in the medium term, said the Ministry of Finance and Planning, quoting the EIU.

Jan 20, Colombo: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed an agreement with a major farmer society in Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province to expand the milk production in the East and raise the incomes of 1,200 participating farmers.