Category: Legal

COLOMBO, April 13, 2013 (AFP) – Gunmen opened fire and torched the office of the main Tamil newspaper in northern Sri Lanka on Saturday, the owner said, the latest in a wave of attacks against privately-owned media in the country.Three armed men carried out the pre-dawn arson attack on the Uthayan office and printing press […]

Apr 12, 2013 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan legislator has alleged that a public relations firm hired by Sri Lanka to lobby American politicians and others, has misled the US government in a mandatory disclosure by providing wrong information.Harsha de Silva, an opposition legislator said Thompson Advisory Group of Washington is being paid 100 million […]

Mar 25, 2013 (LBO) – Mob violence in Sri Lanka against Muslims and Christians and emerging attacks and humiliation of Muslim girls for their dress by Buddhist nationalists, was spreading fear among minorities, Friday Forum, a citizens group said.“The failure of the police to act swiftly and effectively in enforcing the law has encouraged individuals […]

Mar 22, 2013 (LBO) – The director general of Sri Lanka’s securities regulator, resigned Friday, becoming the fourth top official to leave the regulatory body in controversial circumstances in the last three years. “Based on my principles, considering the present set up I decided to resign,” Hareendra Dissa Bandara said, closely echoing the words of […]

Mar 08, 2013 (LBO) – The brother of a British tourist murdered while holidaying Sri Lanka in 2011 is calling for justice saying his killers are still free 15 months after he was shot and attacked in full view of witnesses.Khuram Shaikh, a red cross worker was killed in the early of December 25, 2011 […]

COLOMBO, Feb 16, 2013 (AFP) – Gunmen shot and wounded a Sri Lankan journalist near the capital Colombo, police said Saturday, the latest in a string of attacks on the island’s media.Faraz Shauketaly, a reporter with the privately-run Sunday Leader whose editor was shot dead in 2009, was rushed to hospital for surgery following the […]

Feb 02, 2013 (LBO) – The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHARI) said visas for a delegation to visit Sri Lanka had been denied by authorities. IBAHARI said the delegation “has been forced to postpone a planned visit to Sri Lanka to assess the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary due […]

WASHINGTON (AFP) Two US senators on Tuesday renewed calls for an international investigation into potential war crimes in Sri Lanka, accusing Colombo of failing to address legitimate concerns.Senators Patrick Leahy and Bob Casey, prominent voices on foreign policy in President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party, said the island had failed to carry out recommendations from its […]

Jan 28, 2013 (AFP) – The US will bring a fresh resolution to the UN Human Rights Council in a bid to force Sri Lanka to deliver on promises to probe its troops for war crimes, top US diplomats announced Monday after talks with Colombo.“The US has decided to sponsor a procedural resolution (against Sri […]

Jan 17, 2013 (LBO) – The International Commissions of Jurists, an international rights body promoting rule of law has raised concerns about Sri Lanka’s newly appointed chief justice and asked for his controversially sacked predecessor to be re-instated. Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was impeached by parliametn through controversial process which courts declared illegal and unconstitutional. […]

Jan 16, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake said she was leaving her residence and chambers fearing violence, after being unjustly persecuted, vilified and condemned.“Since it now appears that there might be violence if I remain in my official residence or my chambers I am compelled to move out of my […]

Jan 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to appoint a new Chief Justice later Tuesday amid fresh controversy with a group of lawyers said they will seek a court order declaring the appointment illegal. Former Attorney General Mohan Peiris is tipped to be sworn in as Chief Justice. The Lawyers […]