Thursday, January 20, 2011

Galle Literary Festival: An international appeal launched


Support the campaign - sign the appeal

Reporters sans frontières | Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka
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Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS), a network of exiled Sri Lankan journalists, announce the launch of an international appeal already signed by Noam Chomsky, Arundathi Roy, Ken Loach, Antony Loewenstein and Tariq Ali, asking writers and intellectuals to endorse a campaign for more freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

In a few days, the family and colleagues of political cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda will be commemorating the first anniversary of his disappearance. He was kidnapped in the heavily-guarded capital, Colombo, on 24 January 2010, a few hours before the most recent presidential elections. The authorities have never given his wife any information about where he might be and the investigation is in limbo.


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Post-war normalcy diminishing in the North



By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema | The Sunday Leader
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Civilians in Jaffna and many areas in the North are living in fear once again following the increase in the crime rate in the area. The crimes that have so far been reported from the North include abductions, murders and robberies.

Civilians in Jaffna and many areas in the North are living in fear once again following an increase in the crime rate in the area. The crimes that have so far been reported from the North include abductions, murders and robberies.


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

President Rajapaksa leaves to USA after meeting Armitage



Tamil Net
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Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa Wednesday morning left Colombo to United States of America on a 'private' trip , according to Ada Derana, an electronic media that cited Bandula Jayasekara, the director general of the SL President Media. On Tuesday, Mr.Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussion with the former United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge and Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe were present during the discussion.


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

'Rising ethnic nationalism in Sri Lanka targets minorities for abuse ' says new report



Minority Rights Group International
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Human rights violations in Sri Lanka continue unabated against ethnic Tamils and Muslims who fear an increasingly nationalist government, a new report by Minority Rights Group International says.

Nearly two years after the end of the war, minorities face daily repression and marginalisation in politics and development policies, particularly in the country's north and east, documents the report.(Read the full report)


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Pak army chief arrives in Sri Lanka for three-day visit



Daily Mirror
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Pakistani Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani accompanied by his spouse Ms. Zahida Kayani arrived yesterday in a special flight on a three day visit.

He was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo by Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya and his spouse.


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Massive scale land and sea grabbing at Kalpitiya Islands



By Herman Kumara | The Sunday Leader
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The fishing communities in the 14 islands of Kalpitiya including Mohoththuvarama, Uchchimune, Keerimundel, and Baththalangunduwa are tense with fear of future displacement from their traditional lands and loss of their customary rights. They have all the justifiable reasons to claim these, as tourism development is the government’s main target to achieve the ‘Wonder of Asia’ status. There are three islands already leased out for 99 years while tenders have been called for another five to be leased out.

There was a series of field studies carried out by NAFSO, Praja Abhilasha network (PA), People to People Dialogue on Peace and Sustainable Development (PPD) and Puttalam District Fisheries Solidarity (PDFS) on the land issues in the islands of Kalpitiya peninsula during the last two months, and it was found that the grievances of fisher people as well as the others are justifiable and have valid reasons.


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