NfR Sri Lanka, a net work of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders,  views the discovery of a mass grave in Matale in the  Central Province of Sri Lanka   should lead  to a renewed  discussion on   violence against political opponents, accountability, truth and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Finding a mass grave of 200 [...]

In her February 11th ‘Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on advice and technical assistance for the Government of Sri Lanka on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka,’ Navi Pillay says that civilians in the Tamil majority north have been barred by the military from ‘holding private and religious ceremonies to commemorate family members, both civilians and combatants, killed in the war,’ since the military defeat of Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in May 2009. Her report is for the Geneva United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) session in March 2013, expected to vote on a US sponsored ‘procedural resolution’ about Sri Lankan government’s war crimes accountability during its war against the LTTE.

In November 2011, appearing before the United Nations Committee against Torture, legal advisor to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Attorney General Mohan Peiris said : ‘our current information is that Mr. Ekneligoda has taken refuge in a foreign country… It is something that we are reasonably certain of.’ But six months later, when he was summoned before a Sri Lankan court to testify about the information he has on Prageeth Ekneligoda, he recant his statement to the UN : ‘I don’t know if he is alive or dead, only god would know if the information that I received about him is true’ he said.

February 6, 2013 Dear Commonwealth Heads of Government, I am writing on behalf of Human Rights Watch to express our grave concerns about the Commonwealth’s decision to press forward with the holding of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka in November 2013. Unless Sri Lanka makes prompt, measurable, and meaningful progress [...]

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I write this pastoral letter to you I write this as your Bishop as we approach the 65th anniversary of our national independence. It is with a heavy heart that I write it, the reason being that in the past few days we have seen the complete collapse [...]

We are saddened by the death of our dear Fr. Tissa Balasuriya at the age of 89. We are equally happy to celebrate his successful, colourful and controversial life. He was a brilliant intellectual from his youth. Born at remote Kahatagasdigiliya, he graduated from the University of Ceylon in Economics, winning the prestigious Khan Gold [...]

Your Excellencies,
The International Commission of Jurists and the undersigned senior judges and eminent jurists from around the world condemn the recent removal of Chief Justice and urge you to act immediately to restore the  independence of the judiciary by  reinstating the legal Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. We are gravely concerned that recent actions to remove the Chief Justice have been taken in contravention of the Constitution, international human rights law and standards, including the right to a fair hearing, and the rule of law.

For the first time in its history, the country has two Chief Justices, which further damages the Judiciary, says former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. “I don’t accept either” said Sarath N. Silva when asked whether he thinks there are two Chief Justices at the moment and who is he willing to accept as Head of the Judiciary? “I believe there should be an entirely new person. I supported the Government on the question that the Chief Justice should answer and the Courts proceedings were hasty. My perception is that in this situation the Government should have considered the most senior person in the Supreme Court. This is why I say I don’t recognise either. If the Government wants Mohan Pieris as the Chief Justice and if it is hell bent of getting him, let them get him. But at least give a breathing period till the judicial system can settle down.” he further said.

Press release/ 28 Oct 2012  Open appeal to Human Rights Council: At UPR – Sri Lanka prevail upon Sri Lanka not to dismantle the 13 amendment and provide speedy political solution  An open appeal to the UN HRC in connection with the Universal Periodic Review in November, 2012  on Sri Lanka urging  it  to  prevail  upon Sri Lanka to [...]

There was much publicity given in state media, run by a group of well-known hate campaigners, that the impeachment of the Chief Justice is the right thing  in the anti-corruption discourse and that that Sri Lanka can be proud of such an impeachment. We are not at all surprised with this line of crusades, particularly [...]