Canada remains steadfast in its intention to boycott next year’s Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka unless “real progress” is made in that country following its
reconciliation report that Canada says failed to address human rights concerns stemming from the civil conflict in 2009.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that actual change must occur […]

The concluding report of Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was finally made public in mid-December, after multiple delays and an
interim report that went mostly unnoticed.
Stifled public sphere
The Commission’s report has sparked considerable debate within an increasingly stifled public sphere, rejuvenating conversations in Sri Lanka about governance, human rights, and a permanent political […]

Despite differences that spurred civil war and cost tens of thousands of lives, the Tamils and the Sinhalese from Sri Lanka have at least one thing in common: a love of tea.
But some Tamil Americans say they are cautious when they go to Dupont Circle’s Teaism because their archenemies — the ethnically Sinhalese Sri Lankan […]

NEWS: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s relative Thirukumur Nadesan was yesterday attacked by MDMK activists with sticks and footwear when he was
coming out of a house after a ‘pooja’ at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, an official said.
“It is an unfortunate incident. It should not have happened. However, he is on his way to Colombo,” Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, […]

David Cameron will attend the Leveson Inquiry into press standards if summoned to give evidence, Downing Street has said.
The revelation comes as three editors of broadsheet national newspapers are to face questioning at the official probe, ordered by the Prime Minister following the exposure of illegal phone hacking at the News of the World.
The Daily […]

LLRC REPORT AND PRESSURES FROM TAMIL CIVIL SOCIETY

The TNA has yet to issue its follow up response to its initial rejection of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. In a strongly worded statement the TNA noted that “The report of the LLRC is a serious assault on the dignity of the victims […]

The Sun will not shine on a country where impunity reigns – : PROTEST MEETING
A Protest Meeting will be held to mark the 3rd Death Anniversary of the senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge on Wednesday, 11th January 2011, 4 pm at
J.R.Jayewardene Centre, Colombo 7.
This meeting is being organized by the Platform for Freedom, a coalition of […]

8 JANUARY 2012:Today  marks the third death anniversary of Lasantha Wickrematunge a human rights journalist from Sri Lanka who fought
fearlessly for the freedom of the press and relentlessly pursued what he believed was right. On January 8, 2009 he was brutally murdered by the Sri Lankan authorities for his journalism.
Three years after Lasantha’s brutal murder […]

NEWS: The Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada has written a letter to Rona Ambrose Canada’s Minister of Public Works and Government services calling on
her to ban personalised stamps bearing symbols of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers). The letter alleges the Tamil Youth Organisation has misused the Canada Post service.
Below are excerpts of the letter […]

Lessons from China or Tunisia?
Just few months ago, in response to a public outcry for more accountability and transparency in the use of public funds, the State Council, which is the Cabinet in the Chinese government, directed 98 public institutions including
ministries to make public their budgets and expenditure on official receptions, official overseas visits and […]