In what appeared to be a new political development in the post-war period, EPDP Leader Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday contacted TNA leader R. Sampanthan for talks to reach a common understanding on a solution to the national question and other immediate needs of the Tamil people.

Minister Devananda told the Daily Mirror yesterday that he had telephoned Mr. Sampanthan and General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah for talks.  He quoted TNA’s response as ‘quite positive’.

Last week, six Tamil parties, on an invitation by the EPDP, had a meeting in this respect. The party is now planning to include the TNA and the TMVP for the future meetings.“This is a forum for Tamil parties to express their views. We need to have a common understanding.  We are still at the initial stage on the issue,” he said. (Read More)

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday asks why the government is afraid of the experts’ panel on Sri Lanka appointed by the UN Secretary-General Ban ki Moon, if the alleged human rights violations were not committed.

When commenting on the expert panel, TNA spokesman and MP of the Jaffna district Suresh Premachandran told Daily Mirror that if the alleged violations did not take place there is no reason to oppose for such a panel. “During the insurgency of the JVP in the late 1980s,  the present President, went to the Geneva Conference for Human Rights to complain about the alleged human rights abuses committed by the forces. If that was not a violation of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, probing the alleged abuses in North too can’t be a violation of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.” he said. (Read More)

United National Party (UNP) front-liner Sajith Premadasa yesterday blamed the United Nations and the European Union for the dispute that had arisen with Sri Lanka, saying it could cause local and international repercussions. He also blamed the government for giving the UN and the EU an opening to intervene in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.  

He commented on the ‘List of Actions’ or conditions laid down by the EU to consider the extension of GSP+ facility beyond August 15.

Mr. Premadasa said the EU had no business laying down conditions and creating a dependency culture as far as relations between Sri Lanka and the EU are concerned. (Read More)

Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakshe says the UPFA should not resort to cheap publicity gimmicks to deceive people.

MP Rajapakshe said that the gathering of President Rajapaksa and his Cabinet of ministers in Kilinochchi would give an opportunity for people to see for themselves the extravagant lifestyles of their elected representatives. (Read More)

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the government had decided not only to decentralize the government’s administration system but also the cabinet activities. He said the first ever cabinet meeting would be held in Kilinochchi on July 14.

The government’s attention has also been drawn towards holding  cabinet meetings in other districts as well, he added.

“This has been possible under the prevailing peaceful situation in the country. Another plus factor is that the attention of ministers and officials will be drawn to the districts where cabinet meetings are held,” Minister Sirisena said. (Read More) 

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) claims that the registration of IDPs who were resettled in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi and the amendments to the Electoral Registry are not been carried out in a proper manner.

Although the revision of the Electoral Registry commenced over three weeks ago, those who reside in IDP camps and many others who have been recently resettled in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi areas have not received the preliminary survey forms and CAFFE has identified Mallavi, Mullaitivu, Paranthan, Weralabadapaththu, Madhu, Vavuniya North and Manthel West Divisional Secretariats as areas that are neglected by the officials.

It is unlikely that those who still live in the IDP camps will be resettled before the Electoral Registration expires. The Elections Department is obliged, CAFFE states, to visit the IDP camps and conduct the necessary activities to ensure the right to vote for these IDPs. (Read More)

The JVP yesterday said that Sri Lanka could have avoided foreign intervention had it adopted tangible measures to improve the human rights situation at least after the conclusion of the war in May last year.

While opposing the appointment of a UN panel to probe war crimes against Sri Lanka, the UNP said yesterday that the situation could have been avoided if the government had permitted democratic institutions to function freely, including the implementation of the 17th Amendment.

"What did the External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris go and discuss with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? The government is vocal internally and on their knees externally. They are trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hound." (Read More)

The UNP and the JVP yesterday criticized the government for the increase in the prices of essential items such as wheat flour and milk powder.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference yesterday that the people were reeling under the soaring cost of living.

Mr. Silva said that the government, in a desperate bid to accumulate its revenue ahead of the budget, had endorsed these price hikes despite their implications on ordinary people.

“The government has given tax concessions to people who lead  luxurious lives in Colombo. Instead, they have burdened ordinary people who are even unable to afford   three meals a day,” he said. (Read More)