|
|
| |
DATE: 31 July 2008
The responsibility for July 1983 |
| The many accounts of the events of July 1983 that have appeared in the media over the last two weeks have also drawn many rather indignant responses........................................read more |
 |
DATE: 28 July 2008
Opposing sectarian violence and allegations |
| The Peace Secretariat regrets a recent article by Christian Post Reporter Ethan Cole which gave a distorted account of an attack on a church in Talahena Sri Lanka. In particular it was a pity that he did not note that the police acted promptly,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 25 July 2008
Basil Fernando |
| The tragic events of July 1983 contributed more than any others to protracted war in Sri Lanka, the exacerbation of a political problem into one of violence and unremitting hostility........................................read more |
|
DATE: 24 July 2008
Jean Arasanayagam |
| The tragic events of July 1983 contributed more than any others to protracted war in Sri Lanka, the exacerbation of a political problem into one of violence and unremitting hostility........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 July 2008
Endgame |
| Reports from the North suggest that at long last there seems an end in sight to LTTE terrorism. This has to be said with circumspection, for the LTTE is a very capable outfit, its resources reaching far and wide........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 July 2008
Sri Lanka’s Strategy for Combating Terror Recognized by US State Department |
| "The multi-pronged approach for combating terrorism was a tremendous success in Sri Lanka," said Dayani Panagoga, Director (Policy) of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP).......................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 July 2008
The Lost One |
| he tragic events of July 1983 contributed more than any others to protracted war in Sri Lanka, the exacerbation of a political problem into one of violence and unremitting hostility........................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 July 2008
Yasmine Gooneratne |
| The tragic events of July 1983 contributed more than any others to protracted war in Sri Lanka, the exacerbation of a political problem into one of violence and unremitting hostility........................................read more |
|
DATE: 21 July 2008
Animal Crackers |
| The tragic events of July 1983 contributed more than any others to protracted war in Sri Lanka, the exacerbation of a political problem into one of violence and unremitting hostility........................................read more |
|
DATE: 18 July 2008
The influence of the second rate |
| The Peace Secretariat views with concern the recent statement by the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum regarding the work of the Commission of Inquiry........................................read more |
|
DATE: 15 July 2008
Conditions in the East show dramatic improvement |
| “The conditions prevailing in the Eastern Province are much better now than one year ago seemed to be the consensus of representative sections of the community in Batticaloa”.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 July 2008
The Enemies Within - why political compromise failed over half a century |
| Over the last year, I have been struck by the number of times I have been told that a political solution to our problems is not possible unless the two main parties get together........................................read more |
|
DATE: 08 July 2008
The Muttur Massacre – a quest for the whole truth |
| In the first week of August 2006, 17 workers of the French Aid Agency Action Contre La Faim were killed in Muttur in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka........................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 July 2008
Carnival Time for HRW |
| Our old friends Human Rights Watch are at it again. Last week saw a spate of releases targeting Sri Lanka, timed it seem to put the kybosh on what seem successes both internally and internationally in our struggle against terrorism........................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 July 2008
SCOPP Quarterly Newsletter (April – June, 2008) |
| The restoration of democracy in the East despite numerous obstacles and after a lapse of nearly twenty years is a cause for cheer and optimism........................................read more |
|
DATE: 01 July 2008
More sleight of hand from the ‘Asian Human Rights Commission’ |
| The Asian Human Rights Commission has once again decided to engage in critical generalizations about Sri Lanka, in pursuit of its aim of proving that the government.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 27 June 2008
Can Poverty be the cause of Terrorism? |
| I like being an optimist given that most of my life has been in the world of business. But my gurus have always said it’s good to stop and take stock of the reality........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 June 2008
Response to Shanie of the ‘Island’ dated June 14th, 2008 |
| The following letter was sent to the Editor of the Island in response to references to the Peace Secretariat in a column by Shanie........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 June 2008
The current state of Human Rights in Sri Lanka, June 2008 |
| A recent article by the Asian Human Rights Commission had some characteristic critiques of the requests for assistance in strengthening Human Rights in Sri Lanka.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 18 June 2008
The Village as a Developmental Unit in the North and the East |
| Poverty in Sri Lanka has become a multi-dimensional situation where low income groups are faced with a situation where basic consumer needs cannot be satisfied. The poor are faced with gaps in access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation........................................read more |
|
DATE: 16 June 2008
"Letter to the Editor - The Sunday Leader" |
| "The following is a letter sent to the Editor of The Sunday Leader, in response to misleading statements in the political column of June 15th. The misleading seems deliberate, because a letter clarifying the position was sent the previous week, but was not printed........................................read more |
|
DATE: 16 June 2008
Final Statement of the Sri Lankan delegation on the occasion of the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) June 13th 2008 (adapted from delivery) |
| This had been preceded first by the statement of the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, read by the Secretary, introducing the Report of the UPR Process........................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 June 2008
The APRC mourns the tragic loss of Maheswary Velautham |
| The All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) at its 74lh meeting moved a vote of condolence on the murder of Ms. Maheswary Velautham, the representative of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) in the APRC, by an LITE assassin. This act of terrorism on an innocent.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 June 2008
Letter to Executive Director, Freedom House |
| I write with reference to your recent report on Sri Lanka. Though most of it was balanced, and made clear the difficulties the government has in dealing with a forceful terrorist group, there were a few errors of face that should be corrected,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 June 2008
Letter to the Human Rights Tribune |
| I read with some surprise the article by Isolda Agazzi, under the delightful headline ‘UN wimps out on Sri Lanka’, which appeared in your journal on June 6th. Admittedly the article was translated from the French, but from what appeared it would seem that your writer’s concern for facts and rationality are deficient........................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 June 2008
Letter to the Editor, ‘The Island’ |
| I am sorry to take up more of your space, but this time I need to respond to an even lengthier critique by Shanie. This time she has expanded the area of debate even more widely, and evidently feels I must be brought to book for every issue on which she and I seem to disagree.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 June 2008
Sri Lanka replies Pax Romana, Interfaith International |
| Sri Lanka notes with sadness the emotional and misleading statements of Pax Romana and Interfaith International during the interactive dialogue........................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 June 2008
The Conference of Major Religious Superiors |
| It is reported that the Conference of Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) in Sri Lanka has joined a chorus of calls for ‘a political dialogue to meaningfully resolve the ethnic problem and bring peace to Sri Lanka.’.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 06 June 2008 |
| I write with reference to your editorial of June 3rd, in which you have misrepresented the views expressed by our ambassador in Geneva, Dr Dayan Jayatilleka........................................read more |
|
DATE: 04 June 2008
Straitjacketing Mr Puleedevan |
| The Peace Secretariat is deeply worried about the story, current in several media outlets including in India, that the Head of the LTTE Peace Secretariat has been placed under arrest by the LTTE hierarchy........................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 June 2008
Sri Lankan Response to the Report of Mr. Walter Kälin,
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Human Rights
of Internally Displaced Persons |
| The Eighth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is currently being held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. During the Interactive dialogue held today on the reports of the UN Special Rapporteurs,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 June 2008
Sri Lankan Response to the Report of Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitary Executions |
| The Eighth Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is currently being held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. During the Interactive dialogue held today on the reports of the UN Special Rapporteurs, Sri Lanka responded to the report of Mr. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions........................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 June 2008
Statement by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha Secretary General of the Secretariat
for Coordinating the Peace Process At the General Debate On the Annual Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| Let me begin by extending our sympathies to the people of China and Myanmar who have suffered from the recent natural disasters........................................read more |
|
DATE: 02 June 2008
Pragmatism or Hypocrisy? |
| Some years back I was a member of what is termed the Dutch Third Chamber, a body of individuals supposed to help prepare policy guidelines for Development Assistance provide by the Netherlands........................................read more |
|
DATE: 30 May 2008 |
| I write in response to some misrepresentations in the article entitled “Security Council concerned over civilian deaths’ on the front page of the Daily Mirror of May 29th........................................read more |
|
DATE: 29 May 2008
Children Caught in the Conflict |
| Children bear the deadliest effects of the conflict and carry its greatest burden. Why? The majority of the LTTE’scombatants are forcibly recruited children........................................read more |
|
DATE: 29 May 2008
Anglo-Saxons, Abu Ghraib and Impunity |
| Amidst the plethora of allegations launched against Sri Lanka recently with regard to Human Rights, clearly there are a few with regard to which some action is necessary. Whilst we can dismiss as ridiculous charges.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 28 May 2008
THE DONATION OF COMPUTERS AND BOOKS TO DESERVING SCHOOLS
IN JAFFNA |
| On an initiative taken by Major General GA Chandrasiri, the Commander of Security Forces, Jaffna to donate Desktop Computers and school books to schools in Jaffna and the Islands,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 28 May 2008
Private sector focus on Eastern Development |
| After the restoration of peace and a pluralistic civil administration in the Eastern Province, investor confidence is returning and it is likely that GDP will grow in what is potentially one of the most productive areas in the country........................................read more |
|
DATE: 26 May 2008
Explaining the peace process in Britain and Ireland |
| En route to and from Geneva to attend the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General of the Peace Secretariat.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 26 May 2008
Wickremesinghe amongst the Liberals |
| The Peace Secretariat is deeply concerned about yesterday’s incidents at Kattankudy, in which several of our citizens lost their lives. We extend our condolences to the families of the bereaved and hope that feelings.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 May 2008
Overcoming created tensions to work together for peace |
| The Peace Secretariat is deeply concerned about yesterday’s incidents at Kattankudy, in which several of our citizens lost their lives. We extend our condolences to the families of the bereaved and hope that feelings.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 May 2008
Interview With Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General Of The Secretariat For Coordinating The Peace Process (SCOPP) On BBC World Service TV – Asia Today (May 9, 2008) |
| Presenter: Here with us now is Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP). Welcome and thanks very much for your time indeed. Well is there a peace process? – or are you now redundant?.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 May 2008
Ancient Mariners shooting the albatross |
| Over the last couple of weeks there has been high drama with regard to Sri Lanka and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. May 13th saw the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka, with nearly 70 countries putting themselves down to speak, only 56 ultimately having time to do so........................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 May 2008
Corporate Volunteerism for Peace Building |
| Volunteerism is not a new concept for Sri Lanka as we have seen many a top CEO/Industry professional dedicates hours on a regular basis at cluster meetings and national committees for the purpose of formulating policy and strategy for Sri Lanka........................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 May 2008 |
| I read with much sadness your article of May 10th about Sri Lanka entitled ‘The War Dividend’. It is not like the Economist to engage in one-sided reporting but, as on the last occasion on which I took issue with you, with regard to flawed reporting about military action in the North of Sri Lanka, I fear that your reporter has been misinformed........................................read more |
|
DATE: 21 May 2008
Child soldiers in Sri Lanka and their rehabilitation
The LTTE use of child soldiers |
| The problem of child soldiers has been a recurrent nightmare for Sri Lanka, since the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam made almost a fetish of using children in their forces........................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 May 2008
In memory of Maheswary Velautham |
| The Peace Secretariat profoundly regrets the murder of Ms Maheswary
Velautham during a visit to Jaffna to see her sick mother. Given the
plethora of deaths this country suffers from, the Secretariat has not been
accustomed to issuing statements of sympathy and sorrow for individual
cases........................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 May 2008
A Woman of Our Time: Ms. Sivageetha Prabhakaran |
| Sivageetha Prabhakaran, alias Padmini, is a quiet, soft spoken person, polite yet firm, deeply confident, knowledgeable and diplomatic. She is the first female Mayor of the Batticaloa Municipal Council. She is 26 years of age........................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 May 2008
An opportunity for peaceful pluralistic development |
| The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process welcomes the conclusion of the Eastern Provincial Election, and the possibility now of establishing an Eastern Provincial Administration that will be able to fulfil the spirit of devolution as required in Sri Lanka........................................read more |
|
DATE: 13 May 2008
The increase of food prices globally and the opportunity to develop the Eastern Province |
| With the prices of food across the world increasing drastically in many markets in Asia, producing it has become a challenge for governments and Central Banks to manage the terms of trade deficits which is widening monthly. .......................................read more |
|
DATE: 12 May 2008
New Hotlines at the Disaster Management Centre |
| The Peace Secretariat welcomes the establishment of hotlines on which disappearances and related problems can be reported immediately for investigation. The Policy Unit of SCOPP had discussed this problem with the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights and notes the swift implementation of suggestions in this regard .......................................read more |
|
DATE: 12 May 2008
Letter to the Editor, ‘Sunday Leader’ from Professor Rajiva Wijesinha |
| Last week the Peace Secretariat sent the following letter to the Sunday Leader as a reply to the article entitled 'Rajiva and Vaiko clash in Oslo' which appeared in the ‘Sunday Leader’ on May 4th. The reply has been published in the ‘Sunday Leader’ (May 11, 2008) .......................................read more |
|
DATE: 08 May 2008
Admitting the link between Opposition Politicians and
Human Rights ‘Activists’ |
| The Peace Secretariat has often noted that perhaps the most insidious threat to the efforts of the Sri Lankan government to promote peace through pluralism and democracy comes from political opponents who will say or do anything to promote their own agendas........................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 May 2008
Indiscriminate attacks by Human Rights Watch |
| The latest Human Rights Watch report on Sri Lanka, issued as a submission to the UN Human Rights Council in connection with the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka, repeats several canards that have been refuted in the past, with no response from HRW to the detailed rebuttal of their falsehoods........................................read more |
|
DATE: 05 May 2008
Intellectual dishonesty in the service of terror |
| I was sent recently an essay entitled ‘Pax Americana, the EU, and the Tamil Resistance Movement (TRM), written by Peter Schalk of Uppsala University........................................read more |
|
DATE: 30 April 2008
Crudities from the Asian Human Rights Commission |
| Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission has finally gone over the top in attacking the Head of the Peace Secretariat in scatological terms, though clothed in impeccable literary references as befits a former scholar........................................read more |
|
DATE: 30 April 2008
Sir Nigel Rodley Pronounces |
| The Peace Secretariat is amused at the intemperate reaction of Sir Nigel Rodley, ‘an eminent person from Britain’ as he was described, to the revelation that the eminent Indian head of the IIGEP Justice P N Bhagwati has made it clear that he does not accuse the government of lacking political will with regard to the Commission.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 28 April 2008
Liberating the Church from terror |
| The Peace Secretariat welcomes the extremely dignified manner in which Sri Lankan forces regained control of the Madhu Church premises on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka........................................read more |
|
DATE: 24 April 2008
Watchlist for Disaster |
| One of the more predictable aspects of the silly season, when Sri Lanka’s human rights record gets attacked in preparation for review in Geneva, is that the usual suspects should reiterate the old discredited stories........................................read more |
|
DATE: 24 April 2008
Peace through Soccer festivities in
Trincomalee – a resounding success |
| The Soccer Carnival, organized jointly by SCOPP, the Eastern Governor and the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Eastern Province proved to be a resounding success, attracting large crowds........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 April 2008
Medical Camp for the Wanni IDPs
in the Puttalam District |
| A Medical Camp for the residents of the Noracholai and Alankudah camps was successfully conducted at the Alankudah Muslim Vidyalaya on 23rd February 2008........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 April 2008
Discussions in The Netherlands on Democracy and Human Rights
in Sri Lanka |
| Several meetings with regard to democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka were held during the recent visit to the Netherlands of Secretary-General of the Peace Secretariat in Sri Lanka, Professor Rajiva Wijesinha........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 April 2008
Peace Promotion Tour to Japan |
| Since the liberation of the Eastern Province from the clutches of terrorism in 2007, development activities sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka have been implemented on a large scale across the Province........................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 April 2008
The plodding nature of the International Eminent Persons |
| The Peace Secretariat notes with sorrow the claims of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) that ‘Colombo lacked the political will to investigate grave rights abuses.’.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 23 April 2008
Livelihood Assistance to Tsunami Affected Women |
| A sum of Rs. 300, 000 (Three hundred thousand Rupees) granted by the Rotary Club of Windward Oahu (Hawaii) via the Rotary Club of Colombo North was distributed to 06 Tsunami affected women in Trincomalee through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Trincomalee in the form of loans to develop their businesses........................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 April 2008
The hypocrisy and culpability of Action Against Hunger |
| The Peace Secretariat is astonished at the effrontery of Action Against Hunger (ACF) which claims it has no trust in a government investigation into the massacre of 17 of its workers two years ago,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 April 2008
Abusing media freedom to promote terror and attack its opponents |
| In the last couple of weeks I have been faced with two bizarre examples of what seems calculated falsehood in the cause of terror. Neither is direct,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 22 April 2008
The tragedy of Tamil Civilians |
| The Peace Secretariat regrets the death of Father M X Karunaratnam, in a roadside bomb attack on the road between Mankulam and Mallavi. The LTTE has blamed what they term a government Deep Penetration Unit for the attack, while the military claims it was the LTTE........................................read more |
|
DATE: 21 April 2008
Endless misrepresentation, excessive racism |
| The last few weeks have seen increasing efforts on the part of the LTTE and its surrogates to disrupt the steady progress of the Eastern Province towards peace and multi-party multi-ethnic democracy........................................read more |
|
DATE: 19 April 2008
Chanaka Amaratunga and the 13th Amendment
– a 50th birthday reflection
A lost opportunity
By
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
President of the Liberal Party of Sri Lanka, 1987-2007 |
| Had he lived, Chanaka Amaratunga would have been 50 on the 19th of April. He died a few months after his 38th birthday, in a state of some disappointment, having been denied in 2004 the nomination to Parliament that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress had promised........................................read more |
|
DATE: 18 April 2008
Peace Secretariat Secretary General in discussions on Dutch contribution to international development and cooperation |
| Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat, was in Amsterdam last week for the 5th Anniversary of the Third Chamber. This is a shadow-parliament in the Netherlands to look at issues of international development. Prof Wijesinha had served in the Third Chamber in 2004,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 17 April 2008
Speech by Rajiva Wijesinha at the meeting of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean in Brussels, Wednesday 16th April 2008 |
| When I was asked last evening to speak tonight, I did not worry overmuch since I thought that all that was expected was an after dinner type speech, a brief coda to one of Graham Watson´s special performances........................................read more |
|
DATE: 17 April 2008
Ethnic Cleansing and the Moral Perspective
of Sri Lankan Tamils |
| Attending the recent conference on Peace and Reconciliation in South Asia’ arranged by the International Association for Human Values’ proved a fascinating experience........................................read more |
|
DATE: 16 April 2008
Sri Lankans discuss peace and reconciliation in Oslo |
| A number of speakers from Sri Lanka participated in the Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in South Asia organized by the International Association for Human Values in Oslo on 10th and 11th April 2008........................................read more |
|
DATE: 15 April 2008
A Presentation by Professor Rajiva Wijesinha at a
Conference on ’Peace and Reconciliation in South Asia’,
held in Oslo on 11th April, 2008 |
| Ladies and gentlemen, I am most grateful to His Holiness, and to the organizers of this Conference, for having given me an opportunity to contribute to this Panel discussion on ‘The Role of the Media in Conflict Resolution’........................................read more |
|
DATE: 11 April 2008
Journalistic Misrepresentations and the Failure to Correct |
| The following letter was sent to the Sunday Times in response to some inaccuracies concerning the government’s interactions with the International Commission of Jurists........................................read more |
|
DATE: 11 April 2008
SPOKEN TAMIL / ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING
PROGRAMME FOR TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICERS |
| A training programme entitled “ Spoken Tamil / English Language Training Programme for the Traffic Police Officers” sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colombo Mid-Town,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 April 2008 |
| I read with interest the April 6 piece by your correspondent Dan McDougall regarding the activities of what he terms the Karuna faction........................................read more |
|
DATE: 08 April 2008 |
| I write in response to the article by Nimalka Fernando entitled ‘Human Rights, canards and review of Sri Lanka performance’ which appeared in your paper on Wednesday March 26th........................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 April 2008
The White Man’s Burden |
| Over the last few months I have had to travel quite a lot, which has allowed me greater access to foreign papers than I had enjoyed for a long time. Coincidentally, on almost every trip I came across descriptions of inadequacies.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 04 April 2008
Facts Versus False Allegations Regarding Targeting of Civilians |
| The Sri Lankan government recognizes that in some areas protection of Human Rights needs to be strengthened, and it has sought assistance in such areas. Unfortunately such requests have often been ignored, whilst the whole debate has turned into a no holds barred attack in which every possible.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 April 2008
More Concern for the Victims? - ACF Statement on the UTHR Report |
| The Peace Secretariat notes, with hopes that it will lead to greater regard in all respects for the victims, what seems to be a statement of Action Contre le Faim UK.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 April 2008
The International Eminent Persons and their Assistants |
| At the session on ‘International Dimensions’ during the Seminar on Conflict in Sri Lanka: Road Ahead, held at the Bandaranaike Centre for Ethnic Studies,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 03 April 2008
Seminar on ‘Conflict in Sri Lanka: Road Ahead’ |
| The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), in collaboration with the CSA (Center for Security Analysis), an independent, non- profit think tank based in Chennai,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 01 April 2008
Setting the Latest UTHR Report on Mutur in Context |
| The latest report from the Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights claims to have pieced together the entire story of the killing of 17 ACF staff at Mutur........................................read more |
|
DATE: 01 April 2008
If the UNP had a far-seeing Leadership they would have Participated in the Batticaloa Local Election |
| The Batticaloa local government election is over, but some people still complain about it and say they cannot accept the results........................................read more |
|
DATE: 27 March 2008
International Dimensions in seeking a Road Ahead
to the Conflict
in Sri Lanka |
| I had not intended to produce a paper for my presentation today, but I was struck last week by an article entitled ‘War of Words on the ethnic front’ by one of our more distinguished former diplomats........................................read more |
|
DATE: 26 March 2008
The state of Human Rights in Sri Lanka |
| Since Sri Lanka is to be subject in a few weeks to the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it has been the subject of a spate of attacks by many organizations with interests in this subject........................................read more |
|
DATE: 16 March 2008
New Era Dawns in the Eastern Province |
| The successful holding of local Govt. elections in Batticaloa (eight Pradeshiya Sabhas and Batticaloa Municipal Council) on March 10 vindicates the decision of President Mahinda Rajapakse to hold free elections and restore.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 March 2008
SCOPP Secretary General at Conference on Migration |
| At the Conference on Migration organized by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the South East Asian Committee for Advocacy and the Migrant Forum in Asia,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 14 March 2008
Correcting the Misinformation of the Tamil Information Centre |
| The report of the Tamil Information Centre to the United Nations Human Rights Council deserves some respect since it is specifically addressed to the Council........................................read more |
|
DATE: 12 March 2008
Law and Society Trust – More Adventures with the Truth |
| Human Rights should be a serious business, but the way in which some heavily funded NGOs approach it with regard to Sri Lanka suggests more a sense of theatre than genuine concern for people who suffer........................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 March 2008
SCOPP Quarterly Newsletter Launched |
| “When the Ceasefire Agreement was abrogated at the beginning of this year, people asked us whether this will be the end of the peace process. We said absolutely not........................................read more |
|
DATE: 10 March 2008
Bilateral Discussion in Geneva re the British Position on Democracy, Terrorism and Human Rights |
| In the course of a series of bilateral meetings with Ministers from different countries attending the High Level segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 March 2008
The Mandate and Duties of the Peace Secretariat |
| The Peace Secretariat is amused at recent attempts to denigrate its role, through releases attributed to a range of sources. With regard to the ICES issue where wild allegations were made in one newspaper,.......................................read more |
|
DATE: 07 March 2008
Using the United Nations to Fulfil NGO Agendas |
| Once again the silly season is upon us, with Human Rights Watch unleashing yet another statement about Sri Lanka, timed to coincide with the March meeting of the Human Rights Council........................................read more |
|
DATE: 05 March 2008
The Long Table –Dialogue Forums |
| The “Long Table” dialogue forums series is an initiative of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO (SLNCU), .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 03 March 2008
Idealists Attacking Democracy |
| Once again the same set of NGOs that launched what was supposed to be a pre-emptive strike against Sri Lanka before the last session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva has returned to the fray. .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 29 February 2008
Radhika Coomaraswamy Resigns from GCR2P Advisory Board |
| Since misleading reports have appeared in both English and Sinhala language newspapers concerning the involvement of the Peace Secretariat in the ICES controversy, .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 28 February 2008
Recovery in Tsunami Ravaged North and East
Government Spearheads Reconstruction Drive |
| Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in restoring normalcy in Tsunami affected areas of the North and the East. Reconstruction and recovery activity under the aegis of the Government has been rapid. A majority of the displaced have returned to their homes and their livelihoods were restored. .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 27 February 2008
The Sri Lanka Police Welcomes Its First Ever Batch of Tamil Stream Police Recruits |
| Saturday February 16th saw a historic moment in the 141 year old history of the Sri Lanka police with the passing out parade of 175 new police constables trained at the Kallady Police Training College in Batticaloa. .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 27 February 2008
The Ceasefire Agreement Six Years Later |
| The Ceasefire Agreement was signed six years ago by the then Sri Lankan Prime Minister, without consultation of the elected Executive President or even the Cabinet. Though he could claim a mandate for initiating negotiations, .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 26 February 2008
Passenger Transport Services Restored to Normalcy in the East |
| The Sri Lanka Transport Board together with the Road Development Authority (RDA) has restored the public transport services in the East to normalcy. This has been achieved by effective .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 19 February 2008
UNDP official demands an apology from Rama Mani |
| The appalling situation at ICES continues to reverberate, with yet more articles claiming that it is essentially an internal dispute that has spilled over into the public domain. .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 19 February 2008
Elections in the Eastern Province
Democracy unfolds for Representative Local Government |
| Elections will be held in the Eastern Province on 10th March 2008 to elect representatives to 101 positions after a lapse of more than twenty years in which democratically elected representatives .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 15 February 2008
A Political Solution, But not to Cater only to Tigers |
| The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) recently presented interim proposals to provide a solution to the problems in the North and East of the country. .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 14 February 2008
Paymasters and Godfathers of Centres for Poisonous Accusations |
| The last couple of weeks have seen much verbiage expended over what might be termed the ICES issue, with a predictable range of skilled polemicists rushing to the defence of Dr Rama Mani, the once and future .......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 01 February 2008
Sri Lanka Peace Chief Holds Wide Ranging
Discussions in Geneva |
| The Secretary General of the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) in Sri Lanka, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha was in Geneva this week to participate.......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 31 January 2008
Sri Lanka: Geneva U.N. Missions briefed on CFA and APRC Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka - Geneva - Switzerland - 31st January 2008 |
| A briefing titled, The CFA and After: Sri Lanka's Withdrawal from the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), was held today, 31st January, from 15:20 to 17:20 in room XIX of the United Nations Office at Geneva.......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 28 January 2008 |
| "Letter sent by Secretary General of SCOPP, Professor Rajiva Wijesinha to the Editor of New York Times, dated 28th January 2008 regarding a recent article published in the newspaper by Warren Hoge about R2P concept.".......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 28 January 2008
Negative Criticisms of the APRC Proposals |
| There has been much discussion recently regarding the proposals of the APRC which the Government has decided to implement. Much of this is based on ignorance and illogicality,.......................................read more
|
|
DATE: 18 January 2008
Ill-Conceived Responses to the Abrogation of a Flattened Ceasefire |
| The Peace Secretariat is astonished at what seems the general amnesia afflicting many persons who pontificate about the recent abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 17 January 2008
Amnesty Amnesia about Ceasefire Violations |
| The Peace Secretariat is sorry that the latest venture of Amnesty International into international politics should have coincided with a terrorist attack which left 26 people dead and more dying........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 16 January 2008
SCOPP Hosts Farewell for Outgoing SLMM |
| Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, today praised the Sri Lanka Monitor Mission (SLMM)..........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 14 January 2008
The APRC, Power Sharing and the 13th Amendment |
| The Peace Secretariat is surprised at the barrage of criticism directed recently at attempts to initiate a political solution to the country’s current problems through the All Party Representative Committee...........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 11 January 2008
Not quite 100% - a Ceasefire in Tigerspeak |
| The Peace Secretariat views with sadness the statement of the Head of the LTTE political wing regarding the recent decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to terminate the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002...........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 10 January 2008
The Need for Negotiations, Pluralism and Democracy |
| The Peace Secretariat views with satisfaction the recent pronouncements of several countries, in response to the forthcoming termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement,..........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 08 January 2008
Human Rights: Public Relations and Private Agendas |
| In recent months there has been much criticism of the national Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. This criticism has been a focal point of the determination of interested parties to establish a field office in Sri Lanka of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,..........................................read more
|
|
DATE: 08 January 2008
UNP Hypocrisy Regarding Abrogation of the CFA |
| The Peace Secretariat views with bemusement the statement of the United National Party regarding the abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signed with the LTTE in 2002.........................................................read more
|
|
DATE: 07 January 2008
Peace Secretariat Regrets ahistorical Statement of Nordic Ministers |
| The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process regrets very much the recent statement of five Nordic Foreign Ministers regarding the decision of the Sri Lankan government to terminate the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002.........................................................read more
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
