Category: Politics
UN rights chief regrets Sri Lanka withdrawal from resolution
Feb 28, 2020 (LBO) – The United Nations’ human rights chief expressed regret on Sri Lankan government’s decision to withdraw its co-sponsorship of a 2015 resolution backing an investigation into alleged human rights violations during the island’s civil war, Thursday. Michelle Bachelet addresssing the U.N. Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva said that the decision […]
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka bids farewell
Feb 27, 2020 (LBO) – Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan will be leaving Sri Lanka to take up his new promotion. PMD Statement It was an honor to work as the Ambassador to Sri Lanka, said Chinese Ambassador Cheng Xueyuan when he came to the Presidential Secretariat today (27) to bid farewell to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. […]
Commission of Inquiry to be appointed to review previous COI reports: FM at UNHRC
Feb 26, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka declares its commitment to achieve sustainable peace through an inclusive, domestically designed and executed reconciliation and accountability process, including through the appropriate adaptation of existing mechanisms, in line with the Government’s policy framework, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. Addressing the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council the […]
FM will formally inform decision of govt. to withdraw co-sponsorship of resolution
Feb 26, 2020 (LBO) – Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena who leads the Sri Lanka delegation to the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to address the High Level Segment of the Human Rights Council (HRC), Wednesday. He will formally inform the Council Members of the […]
Cabinet suspends Gazette issued to establish Sainthamaruthu UC
Feb 20, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has decided to suspend the decision to establish the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council. Accordingly, the extraordinary gazette notification issued on 15 February 2020 to dissolve the Kalmunai Municipal Council in order to establish the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council has been suspended. Co-cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardhana said that […]
Bipartisan US Congressional Delegation holds discussions in Sri Lanka
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met yesterday the visiting US Congressional delegation, comprising Ami Bera, MD, Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-Proliferation and Representative George E.B. Holding, Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Budget Committee and Ethics Committee and two members of the Congressional Committee Staff. Minister Gunawardena welcomed […]
Preliminary report on MCC presented to President; final report within 4 months
Feb 17, 2020 (LBO) – The preliminary report of the 4- member committee appointed to review the proposed Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC) was handed over to President today. Following a Cabinet decision taken on December 18, 2019, the Committee was appointed with effect from January 01st, 2020. Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan of the University of […]
Travel ban on Shavendra unnecessarily complicates US-SL relationship: FM
Feb 17, 2020 (LBO) – Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has formally conveyed to the US Ambassador Alaina Teplitz, Sri Lanka’s strong objection on the imposition of travel restrictions on Lt. Gen.Shavendra Silva as well as his immediate family. Earlier on Friday, the Foreign Ministry had issued the Government of Sri Lanka’s immediate reaction following […]
“Timelines evolved externally would hinder process of reconciliation”: SL tells UN Security Council
Feb 17, 2020 (LBO) – “Timelines evolved externally in achieving stated objectives would only seek to hinder the process of reconciliation since they would be bereft of ground realities” emphasized Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne. She was speaking at a one day debate at the UN Security Council titled […]
Sri Lanka takes strong objection to US travel ban on Lt. Gen. Silva & family
Feb 15, 2020 (LBO) – The Government of Sri Lanka takes strong objection to the imposition of travel restrictions on Lt. Gen. Silva and his immediate family members by the Government of the United States, based on independently unverified information. The Government reiterates that Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva was appointed as the Commander of the […]
US State Secretary designates Shavendra Silva for alleged HR violations
Feb 14, 2020 (LBO) – The US State Department has designated Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Acting Chief of Defense Staff for alleged violations of human rights during the final phase of Sri Lanka’s Civil War in 2009. Issuing a press statement, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo […]
Proposals for a new constitution presented to President
Feb 14, 2020 (LBO) – A set of proposals containing facts that should be taking into account when formulating a new Constitution was presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The proposals on new Constitution compiled by the Yuthukama organisation under the theme ‘proposals to formulate a new Constitution for a strong state ‘ was presented to […]