Will probe war abuses: Lanka tells US

Will probe war abuses: Lanka tells US Washington: Sri Lanka will conduct investigations into the allegations of war abuses, its Foreign Minister said while presenting a detailed reconciliation plan of the island to the US. The visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, GM Peiris, presented to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a detailed reconciliation plan and said that Sri Lanka itself would conduct investigations into allegations of war abuses, which includes those by the security forces. The...
01:01 PM, May 19, 2012

India's vote at UN not good for Lanka: Chandrika

India's vote at UN not good for Lanka: Chandrika Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga on Tuesday said that India's decision to vote against the country on a UN resolution is not good for the island nation. Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN's Senior Editor Suhasini Haidar, Kumaratunga said something "serious must have happened" that India took a decision of not supporting Sri Lanka. Here is a full transcript of the interview: Suhasini Haidar: Your views on India's vote against Sri...
02:53 PM, Apr 10, 2012

Anti-Kony group releases follow-up to viral video

Anti-Kony group releases follow-up to viral video Los Angeles: The makers of the viral "Kony 2012" video that drew world attention to a violent rebel campaign by fugitive Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony released a new film on Thursday, pushing back against criticism that their work oversimplified a long-running conflict. The video, shot in the same energetic and idealistic style as the viral hit, encourages viewers to see themselves as global citizens in a close-knit world that needs...
08:00 AM, Apr 06, 2012

'Lanka has proud record of safeguarding human rights'

'Lanka has proud record of safeguarding human rights' Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday said that his country has a rich and proud record of safeguarding human rights. Addressing a public gathering in the central town of Balangoda, Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka's human rights protection was inspired by the influence of Buddhism over a period of over 2,500 years. Rajapaksa said his objective while appointing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was that he did...
12:52 AM, Apr 01, 2012

Sri Lanka to shut some embassies in Europe

Sri Lanka to shut some embassies in Europe Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to shut down some of its embassies in Europe, the External Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday. A spokesperson at the ministry said that the government is of the view that embassies in Europe which are not serving any purpose in obtaining support for Sri Lanka's national issues will be closed and new embassies will be opened in Asia. "President Mahinda Rajapaksa had discussed...
02:01 PM, Mar 27, 2012

PM reminds Rajapaksa India's key role in Geneva

PM reminds Rajapaksa India's key role in Geneva New Delhi: India played a key role to introduce "an element of balance" in the US-sponsored resolution in Geneva on Sri Lanka rights violations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said. In a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Manmohan Singh said he had instructed the Indian delegation "to remain in close contact with its Sri Lanka counterparts in an attempt to find a positive way forward." "You would be aware that...
03:53 AM, Mar 25, 2012

'Sri Lanka must continue to be friends with India'

'Sri Lanka must continue to be friends with India' Colombo: Despite India's backing for a US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, the country must continue to be friends with its neighbour, a senior minister said on Saturday. "We must continue to be friends with India. We must remember that when south Indian film stars joined Tamil Nadu politicians to bring pressure on Sri Lanka through India, the Indian central government stood by us," Dullas...
11:20 PM, Mar 24, 2012

India made all efforts to balance UN motion: PM

India made all efforts to balance UN motion: PM New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday offered Sri Lanka an olive branch explaining India's vote against it at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The PM in his letter said that Delhi made every effort to ensure the resolution was balanced. The PM said that it is India's conviction that a meaningful devolution package would lead towards a lasting political solution. "I had instructed our delegation to...
07:06 PM, Mar 24, 2012

UNHRC warns Sri Lanka over war crimes

UNHRC warns Sri Lanka over war crimes New Delhi: The UNHRC has issued a stern warning to Sri Lanka over intimidation of human rights activists by local activists. The UN is calling these threats unprecedented alleging intimidation by members of NGOs, families of victims and also a few Sri Lankan officials. Many activists and officials are in fact in Geneva to lobby against a US resolution that seeks action against alleged Sri Lankan war crimes. However, the...
09:11 AM, Mar 24, 2012

'India is a loser', says Sri Lankan media

'India is a loser', says Sri Lankan media Colombo: 'India is a loser', the Sri Lankan media on Friday proclaimed in comments, a day after Colombo faced censure at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, saying New Delhi had failed to carry other South Asian nations with it on the issue. "India has failed to carry Asia, or at least South Asia with it. In other words, Sri Lanka has won against India in Asia," the pro-government...
01:58 PM, Mar 23, 2012
India's stand on UN resolution unfortunate: Sri Lanka

India's stand on UN resolution unfortunate: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is disappointed not just with India's stand but the resolution adopted at the UNHRC itself. ...
10:00 AM, Mar 23, 2012

UN motion: SL upset, opinion divided in India

UN motion: SL upset, opinion divided in India New Delhi: India voted in favor of a US-sponsored resolution at the UN Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka calling for Colombo to investigate human rights violations during the war with LTTE. While Colombo has called India's anti-Lanka vote a big disappointment, the opinion is divided back in India with some calling it a monumental error made under US pressure. Speaking to CNN-IBN, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy said, "It's...
07:36 AM, Mar 23, 2012
Has India made a diplomatic error by voting against Lanka on war crimes?

Has India made a diplomatic error by voting against Lanka on war crimes?

However, Sri Lanka got the support of 15 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Russia and China, all of whom voted against the resolution. ...
10:50 PM, Mar 22, 2012

Lanka hits back, calls UN war crimes resolution arbitrary

Lanka hits back, calls UN war crimes resolution arbitrary Colombo: The 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted the resolution against Sri Lanka on alleged war crimes on Thursday with 24 countries voting in favour, 15 against and eight abstaining. India also voted in favour of the US-backed resolution. Reacting to the adoption of the resolution, Sri Lanka said that it was a matter of "great satisfaction" for them that 15 countries voted with them "despite the...
06:52 PM, Mar 22, 2012

SL war crimes resolution: DMK, Left welcome India's move

SL war crimes resolution: DMK, Left welcome India's move New Delhi: The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted the resolution against Sri Lanka on alleged war crimes on Thursday with 24 countries, including India, voting in favour, 15 against and eight abstaining. Welcoming the move of India to vote in favour of the US-backed resolution, DMK MP Kanimozhi said that all the parties in Tamil Nadu were asking for it and the credit for it went to...
05:40 PM, Mar 22, 2012
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