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Sri Lanka
Statement:2014
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Date
Incidents
January - 8 
The United States (US) Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp on January 8 said that the US will move a third resolution against Sri Lanka at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Ge
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The United States (US) Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp on January 8 said that the US will move a third resolution against Sri Lanka at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva in March calling for an international probe into the war crimes allegations during the final phase of the war. He has assured Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that US will seek an international probe into alleged rights abuses. Rapp, who arrived in Sri Lanka on January 6 on a fact finding mission met the TNA legislators Sumanthiran and Mavai Senathirajah in Colombo before visiting the Northern Province on January 8. During his visit to the North the Ambassador met the Governor of Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri, Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran, Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph and several other political and civil society leaders.
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January - 9 
India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on January 9 said that the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be respected, reports Daily Mirror. Kurshid said “Our concern is that the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be re
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India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on January 9 said that the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be respected, reports Daily Mirror. Kurshid said “Our concern is that the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be respected. The Sri Lankan Government sought our help, and, in response to that, we were promised that there would be devolution of power from the centre to states - like it is in India. Sri Lanka is a sovereign state. It is for them to decide about their country. We were assured that the 13th amendment would give Sri Lankans, Tamils and other ethnicities the right to live with dignity and honour.”
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January - 10 
The Sri Lankan Government on January 10 said it will question the United States (US) Embassy in Colombo over the allegations made by US diplomats in social media that army shelling killed hundreds of families in the North during the final stage of the war, report Colombo Page. Secretary to the Exter
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The Sri Lankan Government on January 10 said it will question the United States (US) Embassy in Colombo over the allegations made by US diplomats in social media that army shelling killed hundreds of families in the North during the final stage of the war, report Colombo Page. Secretary to the External Affairs Ministry Karunatilaka Amunugama said that an inquiry would be made regarding the photographs posted on the social media site Twitter by the US Embassy in an official capacity. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo on January 9 in its official Twitter account posted a photo of the Ambassador Michele Sison and the visiting Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp standing at the site and captioned the photo as "St Antony's Ground - site of January 2009 killing of hundreds of families by army shelling".
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January - 12 
The United States (US) on January 12 pressed Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses by its Army through independent and credible investigations after a top American diplomat recorded eyewitness accounts of serious "abuses" during the final stages of the civil war with the LTTE, reports Times of In
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The United States (US) on January 12 pressed Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses by its Army through independent and credible investigations after a top American diplomat recorded eyewitness accounts of serious "abuses" during the final stages of the civil war with the LTTE, reports Times of India. The US ambassador at large at the office of global criminal justice, Stephen J Rapp, after concluding his week-long visit to Sri Lanka said "The Government of the US encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to seek the truth through independent and credible investigations, and where relevant, have prosecutions."
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January - 13 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says the Government is not properly collecting data on the material and human losses incurred in the Northern Province during the period of the war, reports Colombo Page on January 14. TNA Spokesperson Suresh Premachandran told a news conference convened in Jaffna Distr
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says the Government is not properly collecting data on the material and human losses incurred in the Northern Province during the period of the war, reports Colombo Page on January 14. TNA Spokesperson Suresh Premachandran told a news conference convened in Jaffna District that the census initiated by the Government to gather information of the material and human losses during the war was not being carried out properly. He observed that the Government was in fact gathering false information to prepare a report on the losses in order to be submitted during the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva this March.
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January - 14 
Reacting to the possibility of being sent to a Government—run rehabilitation camp meant for LTTE detainees, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) woman councillor of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) said she would resist the move, reports The Hindu on January 15. Ananthi Saseetharan said that putting
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Reacting to the possibility of being sent to a Government—run rehabilitation camp meant for LTTE detainees, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) woman councillor of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) said she would resist the move, reports The Hindu on January 15. Ananthi Saseetharan said that putting her under rehabilitation would require her arrest and any attempt to do so would have international repercussions for the Government. Saseetharan said she was never a member of the LTTE but wanted justice for her husband and several others who had disappeared during the three-decade ethnic conflict. Defence Ministry was seriously considering accommodating Saseetharan, the wife of a former senior LTTE member, at a rehabilitation facility to prevent her from propagating separatist sentiments.
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January - 15 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 15 said the Government is dedicated to implement justice to everyone in the country and everyone should live with equal rights, reports Colombo Page. The President further said that everyone should dedicate themselves to protect the nation and future generation
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 15 said the Government is dedicated to implement justice to everyone in the country and everyone should live with equal rights, reports Colombo Page. The President further said that everyone should dedicate themselves to protect the nation and future generation and it is the responsibility of everyone to build a country free of ill wills and drug menace. He also asked the international community to review their past acts before making allegations against Sri Lanka regarding human rights and women's rights.
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January - 16 
In another incident, forensic experts said a mass grave found in North-eastern, the scene of pitched battles between Government forces and LTTE in 2009, is said to contain several layers of bodies, reports Times of India on January 17. A team of forensic experts led by Judicial Medical Officer Dhana
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In another incident, forensic experts said a mass grave found in North-eastern, the scene of pitched battles between Government forces and LTTE in 2009, is said to contain several layers of bodies, reports Times of India on January 17. A team of forensic experts led by Judicial Medical Officer Dhananjaya Waidyaratne has so far found skeletal remains of at least 36 individuals in the grave. "It was possible that the victims might be those abducted and killed by the LTTE during their violent separatist campaign," Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said. This was the first mass grave found in the former conflict zone since the war ended over four years ago.
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January - 16 
Murugesu Chandrakumar, a parliamentarian of governing party ally, Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), has said at an event in Jaffna District that the Government is trying to expedite the resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the North in their original homes, reports Colombo Pag
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Murugesu Chandrakumar, a parliamentarian of governing party ally, Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), has said at an event in Jaffna District that the Government is trying to expedite the resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the North in their original homes, reports Colombo Page on January 17. He said that as many as 22,000 IDPs were living in the Valikamam North area, and had been housed in welfare centers under difficult conditions, while there were others who had been living with their relatives. "After four years of war, the Northern Province has achieved massive growth. Some are attempting to create tension among the people, and this could lead to an unpleasant situation in the region, once again," the MP added.
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January - 17 
President's Special Envoy for Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in Kandy city on January 17 said the Government will face all the challenges it may encounter at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva in March, reports Colombo Page. He said the data collec
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President's Special Envoy for Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in Kandy city on January 17 said the Government will face all the challenges it may encounter at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva in March, reports Colombo Page. He said the data collected by the Department of Census and Statistics on the deaths and missing persons in the Northern Province will be presented before the UNHRC at the March session. He added that the data will prove the claims of over 40,000 civilians were killed during the final stages of the war were false. The 25th session of the UNHRC is scheduled to begin on March 3.
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January - 18 
Mahinda Samarasinghe, Plantation Minister and the country's Human Rights envoy, on January 18 said the country was ready to face another resolution against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over alleged war crimes during decades long civil war against the Liberation Tigers
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Mahinda Samarasinghe, Plantation Minister and the country's Human Rights envoy, on January 18 said the country was ready to face another resolution against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over alleged war crimes during decades long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Times of India. He said, "We have a big challenge in March. We are ready to face any challenge."
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January - 21 
Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris on January 21 said that repeated resolutions in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva are counterproductive because of their polarizing effect and exert excessive pressure on the country, reports Colombo Page. The Minister made thes
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Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris on January 21 said that repeated resolutions in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva are counterproductive because of their polarizing effect and exert excessive pressure on the country, reports Colombo Page. The Minister made these remarks when a delegation of Asia Foundation, a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in the United States, called on the Minister for an informal discussion.
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January - 21 
President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on January 21 told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka has made a remarkable transformation since the end of the conflict, reports Colombo Page. The President of Iceland made the comments during a bilateral discussion that took place at t
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President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on January 21 told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka has made a remarkable transformation since the end of the conflict, reports Colombo Page. The President of Iceland made the comments during a bilateral discussion that took place at the Emirates Palace Hotel with President Rajapaksa who was in Abu Dhabi for a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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January - 21 
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga on January 21 said that the Government has done all that was "humanly possible" to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), since its approval by the Cabinet of Ministers i
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Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga on January 21 said that the Government has done all that was "humanly possible" to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), since its approval by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2012, reports Colombo Page. Weeratunga, who chairs the task force monitoring the NAP, briefing the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in Geneva described the state of the country at the end of the three-decade long war in May 2009 that defeated the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the efforts that went into restoring normalcy to the lives of those affected due to the conflict. He informed his audience of the action taken by the Government over the past eighteen months to give effect to the recommendations of the LLRC in the areas of International Humanitarian Law Issues, Human Rights, Land Return & Resettlement, Restitution/Compensatory Relief and Reconciliation.
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January - 22 
National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara on January 22 said that both the Sinhala and Tamil languages should be given equal status, reports Colombo Page. He said that a majority of the people in the country speaks either Sinhala or Tamil and the two languages should t
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National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara on January 22 said that both the Sinhala and Tamil languages should be given equal status, reports Colombo Page. He said that a majority of the people in the country speaks either Sinhala or Tamil and the two languages should therefore be given equal status in every aspect. Observing that there was hardly any difference between the people in the North and the South, the Minister explained that equal status for both languages would help the smooth functioning of the civil administration and also would lead to greater understanding between the two communities.
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January - 23 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Simmonds said on January 23 that anticipating a tough time at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in March, 2014 and mounting a diplomatic offensive to against another reso
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Simmonds said on January 23 that anticipating a tough time at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in March, 2014 and mounting a diplomatic offensive to against another resolution sponsored by the United State (US), the United Kingdom (UK) is working hard to garner support to move the US resolution against Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Simmonds told UK Parliament during the debate that the UK is facing an "uphill struggle" to secure the passage of the US resolution and they are working hard to get the necessary majority.
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January - 25 
Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said on January 25 that a lot of military camps that were in North during the war have been removed now and only the ones essential to national security remain at strategic locations, reports Colombo Page. "A lot of military camps have been withdrawn, and the on
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Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said on January 25 that a lot of military camps that were in North during the war have been removed now and only the ones essential to national security remain at strategic locations, reports Colombo Page. "A lot of military camps have been withdrawn, and the only ones that remain are those that in strategic locations essential to national security," Defense Secretary said. The Defense Secretary further explained that maintenance of law and order in the North is handled entirely by the Police and new Police stations have been opened throughout the North and East obtaining the service of Tamil speaking Policemen.
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January - 27 
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga in Washington (United States) said on January 27 that an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka would bring "chaos," and the Government's national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work, reports Daily Mirror. He said S
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Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga in Washington (United States) said on January 27 that an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka would bring "chaos," and the Government's national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work, reports Daily Mirror. He said Sri Lanka needed at least five years from the July 2012 date the Government regards as the start of its reconciliation process for the effort to take root. The final few months of Sri Lanka's long civil war in 2009 were by far the bloodiest, and both the Government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels blame each other for the deaths of tens of thousands of mainly Tamil civilians during that period.
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January - 27 
The Army while claiming that within the last two weeks an important step was taken to further reduce the military presence in Jaffna District by relocating 214 static guard positions occupied by troops within the peninsula on January 27 rejected claims that the Army had stepped up monitoring patrols
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The Army while claiming that within the last two weeks an important step was taken to further reduce the military presence in Jaffna District by relocating 214 static guard positions occupied by troops within the peninsula on January 27 rejected claims that the Army had stepped up monitoring patrols in Jaffna District, reports Daily Mirror. “It has been alleged by certain political activists in Jaffna that the Sri Lanka Army had stepped up monitoring patrols in Jaffna. This allegation is completely baseless and represents the opposite of the actual situation,” military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said in a statement.
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January - 28 
Ministry of Defense on January 28 dismissed the media reports which alleged the Security Forces (SFs) of using unconventional weapons in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. Issuing a statement the Ministry said, "In spite of the fact that the LTTE conti
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Ministry of Defense on January 28 dismissed the media reports which alleged the Security Forces (SFs) of using unconventional weapons in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. Issuing a statement the Ministry said, "In spite of the fact that the LTTE continually resorted to numerous unconventional means against military as well as civilians in Sri Lanka, the Armed Forces used only proportionally required minimum conventional means during military operations against the LTTE terrorists throughout the history of counter terrorist operations."
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January - 29 
Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.C.A. Gunawardena said that the report of the census on human death and property damages during the three-decade long conflict would be released next month, reports Colombo Page on January 30. Gunawardena told that the field work had been
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Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.C.A. Gunawardena said that the report of the census on human death and property damages during the three-decade long conflict would be released next month, reports Colombo Page on January 30. Gunawardena told that the field work had been completed and the data were being processed at the moment. The nationwide survey commenced in December 2013 was a key recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). The Department has deployed about 17,000 officials for the survey to collect detailed information on the deaths, missing persons, injured and/or disabled persons, and damages to the property. The census covered the he conflict period from 1983 up to the end of war in May 2009.
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January - 29 
The British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire on January 29 said in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament in London that Sri Lanka's domestic Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed to address the reconciliation and accountability issues doe
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The British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire on January 29 said in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament in London that Sri Lanka's domestic Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed to address the reconciliation and accountability issues does not meet international standards, reports Colombo Page. "We have also highlighted that any domestic process should be credible, independent and transparent to be accepted by the international community. We do not believe that any of the processes established to date by the Sri Lankan Government- such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission - meet these standards," Swire said.
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January - 30 
Ally of governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on January 30 called on the Government to dissolve the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) over the resolution the NPC adopted recently to seek an international probe on alleged war crimes, reports Colombo Page. JHU member and former Western Prov
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Ally of governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on January 30 called on the Government to dissolve the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) over the resolution the NPC adopted recently to seek an international probe on alleged war crimes, reports Colombo Page. JHU member and former Western Province Councilor Udaya Gammanpila said the NPC is working against the national interests and the Governor of the Northern Province should dissolve the Council for adopting the illegal resolution.
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January - 30 
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) on January 30 charged that the NPC has overstepped its constitutional mandate by passing a resolution that called for an international investigation on Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The resolution passed by the NPC calling for an international probe
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The main opposition United National Party (UNP) on January 30 charged that the NPC has overstepped its constitutional mandate by passing a resolution that called for an international investigation on Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The resolution passed by the NPC calling for an international probe on the war in Sri Lanka is illegal as a provincial council has no power over international affairs, UNP Member of Parliament (MP) Wijedasa Rajapaksa said. He told that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution does not provide provisions to pass resolutions calling for an international probe.
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January - 31 
Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on January 31 lashed out at British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire for making a statement in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament that Sri Lanka's domestic mechanism for reconciliation, Lessons Learnt and
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Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on January 31 lashed out at British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Hugo Swire for making a statement in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament that Sri Lanka's domestic mechanism for reconciliation, Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) was not according to international standards, reports Colombo Page. Minister Yapa pointed out that the Swire's statement is a devaluation of the Government's efforts to safeguard human rights and reach reconciliation.
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January - 31 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony held in Kalutara District on January 31 said that Sri Lanka is no longer a dominated nation and it will not cave to external pressure and betray its independence, reports Colombo Page. Referring to the upcoming resolution at the UNHRC seeking a probe
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony held in Kalutara District on January 31 said that Sri Lanka is no longer a dominated nation and it will not cave to external pressure and betray its independence, reports Colombo Page. Referring to the upcoming resolution at the UNHRC seeking a probe into alleged war crimes, the President said the UN is being exploited by some countries to change the Government. "There is no country in the world that has developed within a short period of four years since ending terrorism. Despite all these developments, queries are being made as to what happened during the last three days of the humanitarian operation," he said.
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February - 2 
Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris on February 2 said remarks by Nisha Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, at the end of a two-day visit suggested that she wanted to believe the worst of the regime in Colombo, reports Daily Mirror. “Her observations are indicative of a min
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Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris on February 2 said remarks by Nisha Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, at the end of a two-day visit suggested that she wanted to believe the worst of the regime in Colombo, reports Daily Mirror. “Her observations are indicative of a mindset that solely wants to believe the worst and enthusiastically leaps to conclusions based on tendentious claims,” a foreign ministry official quoted Peiris as saying.
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February - 3 
The Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram on February 3 said that India assisted housing project to construct 50,000 houses for Sri Lanka's Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has completed 10,250 houses in 2013, reports Colombo Page. According to the information received from the India’s Ministr
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The Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram on February 3 said that India assisted housing project to construct 50,000 houses for Sri Lanka's Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has completed 10,250 houses in 2013, reports Colombo Page. According to the information received from the India’s Ministry of External Affairs 10,250 houses were completed by December 31, 2013 and another 27,750 houses will be constructed under the same scheme.
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February - 4 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 4 condemned the attempts to bring another resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva next month, reports Colombo Page. The President said "I see the attempts level charges of war crimes against us in Genev
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 4 condemned the attempts to bring another resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva next month, reports Colombo Page. The President said "I see the attempts level charges of war crimes against us in Geneva today as the triumph of those who are not in favour of peace. This seeks to drive fear into people and nations committed to peace and working to safeguard a country's independence and freedom. These are not founded on peace, fair play or justice."
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February - 10 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 10 said that international conspiracies against the Government and the country are being formed in Geneva to build negative views among the people in the country and urged the public not to allow themselves to be misled by those conspiracies, reports Colombo P
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 10 said that international conspiracies against the Government and the country are being formed in Geneva to build negative views among the people in the country and urged the public not to allow themselves to be misled by those conspiracies, reports Colombo Page. The President said the Government will discharge the duties and responsibilities on behalf of the country and the people diligently in future, just as they were fulfilled in the past and present.
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February - 12 
China on February 12 strongly criticized the countries that are pressuring Sri Lanka on the human rights issue saying that people in Sri Lanka have the wisdom and capacity to manage their internal affairs, reports Colombo Page. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said "We believe that
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China on February 12 strongly criticized the countries that are pressuring Sri Lanka on the human rights issue saying that people in Sri Lanka have the wisdom and capacity to manage their internal affairs, reports Colombo Page. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said "We believe that people in Sri Lanka have the wisdom and capacity to manage their internal affairs and oppose some countries' interference in Sri Lanka's domestic affairs under the pretext of the human rights issue."
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February - 13 
Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on February 13 said that the Government has implemented 75 percent of the recommendations in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the Government's reconciliation programme is constantly moving forward, reports Colombo Page. H
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Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on February 13 said that the Government has implemented 75 percent of the recommendations in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the Government's reconciliation programme is constantly moving forward, reports Colombo Page. He said the Government is satisfied with the progress of implementing LLRC recommendations and there are many factors that affect the reconciliation.
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February - 13 
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran on February 13 stressed the need to give 'dual nationality' to members of the Diaspora so that they could return to Sri Lanka and participates in post-war rebuilding work, reports Daily Mirror. He said “The Diaspora is a competitive resource we need
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Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran on February 13 stressed the need to give 'dual nationality' to members of the Diaspora so that they could return to Sri Lanka and participates in post-war rebuilding work, reports Daily Mirror. He said “The Diaspora is a competitive resource we need to capitalise on. They have the technical knowhow and the resources to contribute towards post-war rebuilding. They have the socio-cultural links with their motherland and also genuine interest, which are important ingredients to foster the transfer of knowledge and technical know-how.”
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February - 13 
UNP in a statement on February 13 demanded the Government to conduct a domestic investigation into war crimes allegations arising from the quarter-century civil war, reports The Hindu. The statement says the Government’s long inaction has placed the nation “on a razor’s edge of devastating internati
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UNP in a statement on February 13 demanded the Government to conduct a domestic investigation into war crimes allegations arising from the quarter-century civil war, reports The Hindu. The statement says the Government’s long inaction has placed the nation “on a razor’s edge of devastating international action.” The statement also offered its support for such an inquiry. Both the Government and the defeated LTTE have been accused of serious human right violations, mainly in the final months of the war that ended in 2009.
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February - 14 
Main opposition party, United National Party (UNP) Member of Parliament (MP) and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kiriella on February 14 said the media teams who covered the final phase of war should be held responsible for leaked images and video footage with regard to the allege
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Main opposition party, United National Party (UNP) Member of Parliament (MP) and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kiriella on February 14 said the media teams who covered the final phase of war should be held responsible for leaked images and video footage with regard to the alleged war crimes, reports Colombo Page. Kiriella further said that it was an "erroneous" belief that soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army leaked such images and video footage to international media. He accused that some Sri Lankan electronic media journalists allegedly sold images and video footage to international media at exorbitant process.
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February - 19 
Civil Aviation Minister Pryankara Jayaratne on February 19 said that the resolution of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) asking the Governments of Sri Lanka and India to take steps to introduce direct flights from Jaffna District and Trincomalee District to India for the benefit of Tamils living
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Civil Aviation Minister Pryankara Jayaratne on February 19 said that the resolution of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) asking the Governments of Sri Lanka and India to take steps to introduce direct flights from Jaffna District and Trincomalee District to India for the benefit of Tamils living in the north and east of the island nation was “ridiculous”, reports The Hindu. The NPC passed the resolution at the council’s sixth session held in Jaffna District on February 18. The resolution was tabled by NPC member M.K. Shivajilingam of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who had earlier tabled a resolution backing a call for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in the country.
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February - 20 
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin following an official visit to Jaffna District on February 20 said that Britain does not want to see the return of the terrorism unleashed in Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) again, reports Colombo Page. Rankin, accompanied
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British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin following an official visit to Jaffna District on February 20 said that Britain does not want to see the return of the terrorism unleashed in Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) again, reports Colombo Page. Rankin, accompanied by a senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London and colleagues from the British High Commission in Colombo, paid an official visit to Jaffna District from February 19-20. "Nobody to whom I spoke wished a return of LTTE terrorism. And nor, emphatically, do we want to see that happen again," Rankin said in a statement.
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February - 21 
Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya announced that 150 young women would be recruited to Sri Lanka Army from Tamil dominated Northern Province and multi-ethnic Eastern Province, reports Colombo Page on February 22. 100 young women are to be recruited from Kilinochchi District and the rest ar
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Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya announced that 150 young women would be recruited to Sri Lanka Army from Tamil dominated Northern Province and multi-ethnic Eastern Province, reports Colombo Page on February 22. 100 young women are to be recruited from Kilinochchi District and the rest are to be recruited from the Eastern Province. The recruits will be enlisted in Sri Lanka Army Women's Volunteer Corps. After the training they will be deployed for duty in their home areas.
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February - 24 
Amnesty International said that the international community must act on a robust new United Nations (UN) report calling for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka, reports Times of India on February 25. "It's utterly shameful that five years a
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Amnesty International said that the international community must act on a robust new United Nations (UN) report calling for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka, reports Times of India on February 25. "It's utterly shameful that five years after Sri Lanka's armed conflict ended the victims and family members have yet to see justice. Navi Pillay's latest report is another urgent and poignant reminder that an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes cannot wait," said G. Ananthapadmanabhan, Chief Executive, Amnesty International India.
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February - 24 
Speaking at the debate in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament in London on February 24, the British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Hugo Swire said Britain does not believe that the domestic processes set up by the Sri Lankan Government are adequate to address the huma
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Speaking at the debate in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament in London on February 24, the British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Hugo Swire said Britain does not believe that the domestic processes set up by the Sri Lankan Government are adequate to address the humanitarian law violations and accountability issues, reports Colombo Page. He said Britain had made it clear to Sri Lanka that if a credible domestic process has not begun properly by March 2014, the UK will use its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to call for an international investigation.
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February - 24 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said the report submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanetham Pillai is a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the serious human rights issues in the country, reports Colombo Page on February 25. The TNA in a statement said a numb
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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said the report submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanetham Pillai is a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the serious human rights issues in the country, reports Colombo Page on February 25. The TNA in a statement said a number of serious concerns High Commissioner raised in her Report to the 25th session of the UNHRC on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka pertain to the entire country. Among the serious concerns are the treatment of former combatants and detainees, attacks on religious minorities, the attack on dissent and the freedom of expression, the Government's dismal record in implementing LLRC recommendations and the Government's disinterest in making progress on accountability.
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February - 27 
The United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry releasing the 2013 Annual Country Report Human Rights on February 27 said that the Sri Lankan Government's failure to answer the basic demands for accountability and reconciliation has led the US to sponsor another resolution at the United Nations
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The United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry releasing the 2013 Annual Country Report Human Rights on February 27 said that the Sri Lankan Government's failure to answer the basic demands for accountability and reconciliation has led the US to sponsor another resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, reports Colombo Page. Kerry said the Government still has not answered basic demands for accountability and reconciliation and attacks on civil society activists, journalists, and religious minorities, still continue. The report accused that the Sri Lankan security forces committed human rights abuses during the last stages of the war. The report also said there was no significant progress made with regard to the thousands of disappearances from past years.
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February - 28 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 28 denounced Washington’s plan to move a United Nations (UN) human rights resolution against Sri Lanka, comparing the United States (US) move over alleged war crimes to a professional boxer taking on a schoolboy, reports Daily Mirror. Meanwhile, expressing
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 28 denounced Washington’s plan to move a United Nations (UN) human rights resolution against Sri Lanka, comparing the United States (US) move over alleged war crimes to a professional boxer taking on a schoolboy, reports Daily Mirror. Meanwhile, expressing Sri Lanka’s discomfort with the US-sponsored resolution to come up in Geneva in a month, President on February 28 said “We are uncomfortable with the whole resolution. There is no evidence [of rights abuse or war crimes] at the moment… if there is any, we will look into it,” reports The Hindu. He indicated that the Government of Sri Lanka would not feel bogged down, even as an apparently strong resolution makes its way to Geneva.
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February - 28 
welcoming the report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka, the British Government on February 28 said that it supports the High Commissioner's call for an international investigation into Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. In response to the publication of the report, Foreign Of
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welcoming the report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka, the British Government on February 28 said that it supports the High Commissioner's call for an international investigation into Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. In response to the publication of the report, Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire in a statement said that the British Government shares her concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and the lack of progress on accountability.
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March - 4 
Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh met President Mahinda Rajapakse on March 4, after a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) condemning Sri Lanka's human record during its war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports The Hindu. India’s External Affair
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Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh met President Mahinda Rajapakse on March 4, after a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) condemning Sri Lanka's human record during its war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports The Hindu. India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Singh had used the meeting to underline the case of de-militarisation in the Jaffna Peninsula. Sri Lanka says it has already scaled back troops from a war-time peak of 175,000, and promised that a further drawdown will take place as de-mining and reconstruction operations are completed.
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March - 5 
Delivering the national statement at the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva and rejecting a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the country's post-war progress as "fundamentally flawed" in its entirety, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris on March 5 said ju
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Delivering the national statement at the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva and rejecting a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the country's post-war progress as "fundamentally flawed" in its entirety, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris on March 5 said judging the country by the initiatives of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is a "travesty of justice", reports Colombo Page. Peiris said the initiatives of the report as well as the Resolution 22/1 disregard the substantial progress made by the Government during the five years since ending the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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March - 6 
External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris on March 6 told the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the negative attention placed on Sri Lanka makes achieving reconciliation among ethnic communities’ even harder, reports Colombo Page. Minister Peiris made the remark when he
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External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris on March 6 told the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the negative attention placed on Sri Lanka makes achieving reconciliation among ethnic communities’ even harder, reports Colombo Page. Minister Peiris made the remark when he met with the High Commissioner and briefed her in Geneva on the continuing efforts on reconciliation and development in the country. He said "The highly prejudiced actions taken by a few countries and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to give disproportionate negative attention to Sri Lanka, has made the separatist Tamil elements in Sri Lanka and abroad more intransigent making the intensely difficult task of reconciliation in Sri Lanka, even harder."
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March - 6 
The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on March 6 reiterated her call for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to establish its own international inquiry mechanism into Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Presenting her final annual report as High Commissioner for Human
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The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on March 6 reiterated her call for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to establish its own international inquiry mechanism into Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Presenting her final annual report as High Commissioner for Human Rights to the 25th session of UNHRC in Geneva, Pillay said the nearly five years after the end of the conflict, the Sri Lankan Government has failed to satisfy the Council's call for a credible and independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations. "I therefore recommend that the time has come for the Council to establish its own international inquiry mechanism which I believe can play a positive role where domestic mechanisms have failed," she said.
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March - 9 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a rally held in Gampaha District on March 9 said that Sri Lanka has strength to face any international challenge and will never give into imperialists or their followers in reference to the resolution tabled by the US at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports Colombo Pag
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a rally held in Gampaha District on March 9 said that Sri Lanka has strength to face any international challenge and will never give into imperialists or their followers in reference to the resolution tabled by the US at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports Colombo Page. The President further said that only the citizens of the country have the power to change the Government and no outside force at the UN can oust the Government without public support. "We are prepared to bow our heads to the people. We will not do so to imperialists or their henchmen betraying the hard won peace and freedom. We believe in the judgment of the people," the President said addressing the massive audience.
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March - 9 
Welcoming the draft of the US-sponsored resolution that seeks an international probe led by the UNHRC, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on March 9 said it looked forward to a resolution with stronger scope after revisions ahead of the voting day at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports The Hindu. “We look f
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Welcoming the draft of the US-sponsored resolution that seeks an international probe led by the UNHRC, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on March 9 said it looked forward to a resolution with stronger scope after revisions ahead of the voting day at the UNHRC in Geneva, reports The Hindu. “We look forward to the co-sponsors effecting revisions to the draft over the following weeks that will clarify and strengthen the scope of the forthcoming investigation,” the TNA said in a statement signed by its leader R. Sampanthan and Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. The statement went on to say “We will remain engaged with the international community to this end, and also to ensure that the outcome of the resolution will be overwhelmingly positive for all Sri Lankans, particularly for victims of grave abuses committed during and after the war.”
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March - 13 
Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe in Geneva on March 13 said that Sri Lanka's decision to fight the resolution moved by the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and a few other countries was a fight on a matter of principle
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Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe in Geneva on March 13 said that Sri Lanka's decision to fight the resolution moved by the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and a few other countries was a fight on a matter of principle and that Sri Lanka would not compromise on it, reports Colombo Page. Mahinda further said what is happening to Sri Lanka today, could happen to any other NAM country tomorrow and called upon all NAM member states to continue to show solidarity with Sri Lanka.
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March - 13 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on March 12, "The war was not against the Tamils. We only fought a brutal terrorist outfit that was the LTTE", reports Times of India. "If our war was against Tamils how could the Tamils live happily and peacefully among the Sinhalese in the south of the country," Ra
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on March 12, "The war was not against the Tamils. We only fought a brutal terrorist outfit that was the LTTE", reports Times of India. "If our war was against Tamils how could the Tamils live happily and peacefully among the Sinhalese in the south of the country," Rajapaksa added. He further stressed "I am aware that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with foreign help are trying to show there is religious disharmony."
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March - 13 
TNA leader R. Sampanthan dismissed the Government’s stance blaming it for the stalled direct negotiations to hammer out a political settlement to the island’s ethnic conflict, reports The Hindu on March 14. Mr. Sampanthan said that the Tamil party had made several overtures but the Government had re
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TNA leader R. Sampanthan dismissed the Government’s stance blaming it for the stalled direct negotiations to hammer out a political settlement to the island’s ethnic conflict, reports The Hindu on March 14. Mr. Sampanthan said that the Tamil party had made several overtures but the Government had repeatedly reneged on agreements reached at the direct talks with TNA. He also asserted that the 2011 talks with the Government failed as the Government ignored action required to implement agreements reached between the two parties.
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March - 13 
TNA Parliamentarian Sivashakthi Anandan said that help from the international community is needed to address grievances of the people in the North and East as the real grievances of the Tamil people have not been addressed, reports Colombo Page on March 14. He explained that the nonviolent struggle
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TNA Parliamentarian Sivashakthi Anandan said that help from the international community is needed to address grievances of the people in the North and East as the real grievances of the Tamil people have not been addressed, reports Colombo Page on March 14. He explained that the nonviolent struggle of the Tamil people converted to an armed struggle due to the failure in addressing the issues faced by the Tamil community. Even after the arm struggle was defeated, the grievances have not been addressed, the Parliamentarian noted.
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March - 14 
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa, addressing an election rally in Colombo on March 14 said that despite the military defeat of the LTTE, members of the LTTE Diaspora were still trying to establish an Eelam, reports Colombo Page. He noted that although peace has been us
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Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa, addressing an election rally in Colombo on March 14 said that despite the military defeat of the LTTE, members of the LTTE Diaspora were still trying to establish an Eelam, reports Colombo Page. He noted that although peace has been ushered into the country following the defeat of the LTTE, the activities of the LTTE affiliated Tamil Diaspora against the Government are being guided and assisted by International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs) and imperialist camps which hold ulterior motives of dividing the country.
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March - 18 
Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera on March 18 said that the Government and the Defense Forces would not allow the re-emergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants, reports Daily Mirror. He said “Defence forces are on alert about several groups who are trying to destroy peace in the Nor
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Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera on March 18 said that the Government and the Defense Forces would not allow the re-emergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants, reports Daily Mirror. He said “Defence forces are on alert about several groups who are trying to destroy peace in the Northern Province, including Jaffna. The Sri Lankan Army is willing provide the maximum support according to the requirements of Government officials, civil community and the Government forces.”
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March - 18 
The Government on March 18 explained to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) the investigations that led to the arrest and detention of three activists suspected of supporting subversive activities in violation of the PTA in the conflict-affected North, reports Colombo Page. The Governmen
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The Government on March 18 explained to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) the investigations that led to the arrest and detention of three activists suspected of supporting subversive activities in violation of the PTA in the conflict-affected North, reports Colombo Page. The Government said Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari was placed under arrest [on March 13] on suspicion of aiding and abetting K.P. Selvanayagam aka 'Gobi' who is believed to be leading the revival of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, while Fernando and Praveen have been detained as it has been revealed that they have been in Kilinochchi engaging with persons connected to Gobi.
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March - 18 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which controls the Northern Province, said they were not averse to reviving talks if no pre-conditions were attached, reports The Hindu on March 19. The Northern Province has unanimously agreed to revive the stalled direct talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to
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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which controls the Northern Province, said they were not averse to reviving talks if no pre-conditions were attached, reports The Hindu on March 19. The Northern Province has unanimously agreed to revive the stalled direct talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to find a political solution to the problems of the ethnic Tamils. The direct talks between TNA leader Rajavayothi Sampanthan and Mr. Rajapaksa which began in January 2011 abruptly came to an end in February 2012 when the President convened an All Party Committee (APC) to find a solution to the demand of political autonomy to the Northern Province.
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March - 19 
External Affairs Minister G L Peiris on March 19 claimed that most of the 47 member countries of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are under pressure to back a tough US-sponsored resolution that has called for an international probe into alleged rights abuses during the country's war w
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External Affairs Minister G L Peiris on March 19 claimed that most of the 47 member countries of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) are under pressure to back a tough US-sponsored resolution that has called for an international probe into alleged rights abuses during the country's war with LTTE. He said "Countries have told us they do not want to pursue Sri Lanka's case. But they want to be seen with the US. Some of them have defense pacts with the US and wider trade links."
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March - 21 
The Government expressing displeasure over the statements made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Councilor Ananthi Sasitharan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on March 21 has requested the Minister of External Affairs to take immediate steps to counter the fa
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The Government expressing displeasure over the statements made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Councilor Ananthi Sasitharan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on March 21 has requested the Minister of External Affairs to take immediate steps to counter the false allegations, reports Colombo Page. On March 14, while addressing the UNHRC in Geneva, Ananthi said “The children affected in any war spend a lifetime to recover from the impact. But, the Eelam Tamil children face a continued war with genocidal intent. Concrete actions are needed to safeguard our children from becoming permanent victims to the genocide.”
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March - 23 
British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he had secured the ‘full backing of the European Union’ for the United Kingdom (UK) co-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka next week at the UNHRC session, reports Daily Mirror. The Premier in a statement said “Countries will vote on that resolution next w
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British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he had secured the ‘full backing of the European Union’ for the United Kingdom (UK) co-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka next week at the UNHRC session, reports Daily Mirror. The Premier in a statement said “Countries will vote on that resolution next week, and today I secured the full backing of all of the European Union for that approach. I also raised the situation in Sri Lanka. As you know, this is an issue I care deeply about. I want to see reconciliation in the country and that means properly addressing issues of the past. President Rajapaksa has failed to do this, so now we need an international, independent investigation into alleged war crimes. The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner has called for this, and that is what a UK co-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC supports.”
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March - 24 
Chief Minister of Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran in a statement issued in Mannar District expressed concern over the possibility of increasing the military presence in the North due to search operations in the area, reports Colombo Page on March 24. The Chief Minister said that he had been info
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Chief Minister of Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran in a statement issued in Mannar District expressed concern over the possibility of increasing the military presence in the North due to search operations in the area, reports Colombo Page on March 24. The Chief Minister said that he had been informed by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General Udaya Perera that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was attempting to regroup in the North and as a preventive measure, the Security Forces have been put on alert and search operations have been intensified.
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March - 24 
The Sri Lankan Army has heightened security in the Northern Province through a host of measures, including vehicle checks, reports The Hindu on March 25. Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Udaya Perera said the move was aimed at preventing a possible regrouping of LTTE sympathisers. “We hear that sec
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The Sri Lankan Army has heightened security in the Northern Province through a host of measures, including vehicle checks, reports The Hindu on March 25. Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Udaya Perera said the move was aimed at preventing a possible regrouping of LTTE sympathisers. “We hear that sections of the diaspora are funding some of those elements here,” he said. The “precaution,” he said, was also necessary to nab a suspect still at large, after a recent incident of firing on a Policeman in Kilinochchi District.
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March - 25 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian P. Selvaraja has said that lands in the North and East are being grabbed by chauvinist forces, reports Colombo Page on March 26. He said that the Tamil speaking people have undergone immense difficulties in trying to safeguard their original homes and mo
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian P. Selvaraja has said that lands in the North and East are being grabbed by chauvinist forces, reports Colombo Page on March 26. He said that the Tamil speaking people have undergone immense difficulties in trying to safeguard their original homes and most often the lands are being grabbed under the guise of development purposes. According to Selvaraja, private lands that belong to the Tamil people in the East, especially in the Batticaloa District are being taken over by the Government with the assistance of chauvinist monks and the Sri Lanka Army.
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March - 26 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay presenting the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka to the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay presenting the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka to the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on March 26 said that none of the various state mechanisms the Sri Lankan Government established during the five years after the end of the war had the independence to be effective or inspire confidence among victims and witnesses of human rights violations, reports Colombo Page.
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March - 27 
The US on March 27 welcomed the passage of resolution and said it sends a “clear message” to the Rajapaksa Government that the international community is committed to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the country, reports The Hindu. Caitlin Hayden, Spokesperson of the National Security Cou
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The US on March 27 welcomed the passage of resolution and said it sends a “clear message” to the Rajapaksa Government that the international community is committed to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the country, reports The Hindu. Caitlin Hayden, Spokesperson of the National Security Council said “Today’s vote sends a clear message that the international community is committed to working with the Government of Sri Lanka to promote greater peace, stability, and prosperity for all of the people of Sri Lanka.” US Secretary of State John Kerry also said “Today’s vote in the UNHRC sends a clear message: the time to pursue lasting peace and prosperity is now; justice and accountability cannot wait.”
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April - 1 
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran delivering a speech in Colombo expressed his disappointment over the Government's delay in addressing political issues and solving humanitarian problems in the North, reports Colombo Page on April 2. The Chief Minister said that the Government was in
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Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran delivering a speech in Colombo expressed his disappointment over the Government's delay in addressing political issues and solving humanitarian problems in the North, reports Colombo Page on April 2. The Chief Minister said that the Government was interested only in finding a unilateral solution, facilitated by the military and had no interest in finding a bilateral or multilateral solution to the Tamil question. He further said that despite the overwhelming mandate of the people against the Government in electing the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), the Government has taken steps to stymie the progress of the Council undermining the already insufficient 13th Amendment even further.
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April - 2 
Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya on April 2 said that more than 1 million land mines had been unearthed so far in the de-mining process and the lands with landmines in the North had been reduced to 82 square kilometers from 2,064 square kilometers because of the successful efforts of Army
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Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya on April 2 said that more than 1 million land mines had been unearthed so far in the de-mining process and the lands with landmines in the North had been reduced to 82 square kilometers from 2,064 square kilometers because of the successful efforts of Army and the assistance of local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), reports Daily Mirror. He further said “We have cleared 60-70 percent of landmines in north and those lands are ready for resettlement. Army and nine local and international NGOs are engage in the de-mining process. Most of these lands that had been cleared are the homelands of the internally displaced and farming lands. The rest, yet to be cleared are mainly forest areas.”
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April - 2 
Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Sri Lankan Government to constructively engage and cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the implementation of the resolution adopted on March 27 by the Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reports Dai
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Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Sri Lankan Government to constructively engage and cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the implementation of the resolution adopted on March 27 by the Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reports Daily Mirror on April 2 (today). Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq on April 1 told “The Secretary-General has consistently underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Sri Lanka. He welcomes the determination by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to advance accountability and promote lasting peace and reconciliation in the country.”
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April - 4 
Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association in Colombo on April 4 said “Early progress on devolution and political settlement crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure”, reports Colombo Page. Sinha further said that New Delhi had conve
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Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association in Colombo on April 4 said “Early progress on devolution and political settlement crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure”, reports Colombo Page. Sinha further said that New Delhi had conveyed to Colombo on a number of occasions the need for expeditious steps towards genuine national reconciliation, including investigations into allegations of human rights violations, restoration of normalcy in affected areas, reduction of 'high security zones', satisfactorily addressing the issue of missing persons and the redressal of humanitarian concerns of the affected families. "It is our hope that the Government of Sri Lanka, recognizing the critical importance of genuine reconciliation, acts with vision and sagacity. We will remain engaged and offer our support in a spirit of partnership and cooperation," the High Commissioner noted.
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April - 7 
Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris on April 7 said that Sri Lanka will not participate in any investigation carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), reports The Hindu. Mr. Peiris told “Nobody can come here without the cooperation of the Sri Lankan Government. The countr
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Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris on April 7 said that Sri Lanka will not participate in any investigation carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), reports The Hindu. Mr. Peiris told “Nobody can come here without the cooperation of the Sri Lankan Government. The country would however continue with its national process and remain engaged with the United Nations (UN).
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April - 7 
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on April 7 said that the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country’s Tamil minority, reports Daily Mirror. “The Sri Lankan Government i
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) on April 7 said that the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country’s Tamil minority, reports Daily Mirror. “The Sri Lankan Government is using vague counterterrorism regulations to tie the major Diaspora Tamil groups to the ruthless but defunct LTTE. This broad-brush sanction could then be used to punish local Tamil activists and politicians with international ties,” said Brad Adams, Asia director, HRW.
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April - 9 
Military Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya on April 9 said foreign terrorist groups and several overseas organizations banned over suspicion that they were LTTE supporters could go to Courts and get their name cleared, reports Daily Mirror. “This is not a proscription. They have been listed as banned org
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Military Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya on April 9 said foreign terrorist groups and several overseas organizations banned over suspicion that they were LTTE supporters could go to Courts and get their name cleared, reports Daily Mirror. “This is not a proscription. They have been listed as banned organizations. If they want to they can go to Courts under the prevailing law and get themselves cleared by providing evidence against the ban,” he said.
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April - 9 
Police media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that Police arrested 65 persons in the past month (March) under suspicion of attempting to resuscitate Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page on April 10. Rohana said that five of them have been rel
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Police media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that Police arrested 65 persons in the past month (March) under suspicion of attempting to resuscitate Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page on April 10. Rohana said that five of them have been released since there was no evidence against them. He further said that 10 of the suspects were women. Eight of them have been detained in Boossa (Galle District) while two are detained in Vavuniya (Vavuniya). Investigations are underway to arrest several local leaders of the LTTE who clandestinely work to reorganize the terror movement.
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April - 10 
Army spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi, a former LTTE intelligence cadre, was among the three LTTE leaders who were killed by the Army during a clash at Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, reports Daily Mirror on April 11. The shootout occurred whe
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Army spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi, a former LTTE intelligence cadre, was among the three LTTE leaders who were killed by the Army during a clash at Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, reports Daily Mirror on April 11. The shootout occurred when a group of soldiers encircled a house in Nadunkarni on a tip off that the suspects were staying there. The three suspects were identified as Gobi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.
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April - 10 
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of United Kingdom (UK), William Hague on April 10 said that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will soon begin the process of establishing an investigation on Sri Lanka's alleged violations of human rights and asse
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The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of United Kingdom (UK), William Hague on April 10 said that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will soon begin the process of establishing an investigation on Sri Lanka's alleged violations of human rights and assessing the evidence, reports Colombo Page. He said the investigation will draw on expertise from a range of fields and examine a broad range of information and evidence. He further said that the British Government fully supports the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the OHCHR in the investigation.
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April - 11 
One day after three key operatives of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in a major military operation in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, the Government on April 11 justified maintaining troops in the former war zones, reports The Hindu. President Ma
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One day after three key operatives of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were killed in a major military operation in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, the Government on April 11 justified maintaining troops in the former war zones, reports The Hindu. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s special envoy on human rights and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said “We were asked and criticized about the presence of the military in the north and the need to scale down its presence by the international governments at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. We explained to them the need to keep the military going as it was a decision for a sovereign Government to take in view of the national security needs.”
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April - 11 
Senior Police and Military officials denied that a soldier had also been killed in the clash between Security Forces (SFs) and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, reports Sri Lanka Guardian on April 11. They said the soldier died in friendly f
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Senior Police and Military officials denied that a soldier had also been killed in the clash between Security Forces (SFs) and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10, reports Sri Lanka Guardian on April 11. They said the soldier died in friendly fire during a military exercise on the same evening.
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April - 12 
Police media spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohan has said law enforcement authorities will seek Interpol's assistance to arrest LTTE leaders operating from foreign countries to revive the defunct terrorist outfit in the island, reports Colombo Page on April 13. Investigation
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Police media spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohan has said law enforcement authorities will seek Interpol's assistance to arrest LTTE leaders operating from foreign countries to revive the defunct terrorist outfit in the island, reports Colombo Page on April 13. Investigations have revealed that the three LTTE operatives, who were recently killed in a clash with the Army in the North, were functioning under the instructions of Europe-based LTTE leaders Nediyawan and Vinayagam who were preparing the ground for another armed struggle. An Interpol red notice has already been issued to arrest Vinayagam and an arrest warrant would also be obtained from courts for Nediyawan.
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April - 14 
Canada on April 14 decided to suspend voluntary funding to the Commonwealth while the chair of the secretariat is occupied by Sri Lanka because of human rights concerns, reports Daily Mirror. Canada will instead direct its planned contribution toward other Commonwealth programmes. Canadian Foreign A
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Canada on April 14 decided to suspend voluntary funding to the Commonwealth while the chair of the secretariat is occupied by Sri Lanka because of human rights concerns, reports Daily Mirror. Canada will instead direct its planned contribution toward other Commonwealth programmes. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told "Canada remains deeply concerned about the absence of accountability for alleged serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka. We will reallocate the funds to assist in combating the practice of child, early and forced marriage, and help Commonwealth civil society advance the promotion of human rights."
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April - 15 
Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government is open for discussion with the organizations that were recently proscribed for allegedly having links with the LTTE, reports Colombo Page on April 16. The Minister told "If they want, we are open for discussions. We hav
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Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government is open for discussion with the organizations that were recently proscribed for allegedly having links with the LTTE, reports Colombo Page on April 16. The Minister told "If they want, we are open for discussions. We haven't called them. It's their call. They can request for talks and explain their position.” He explained that banning or proscribing the organizations did not mean the government is taking revenge on them. Such a move in fact leads to a dialogue.
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April - 15 
H.W Gunadasa, Secretary to the Presidential Commission inquiring into cases of alleged disappearances in the North and Eastern Provinces on April 15 said that Commission will provide counseling to the kin of those disappeared, reports Daily Mirror. Gunadasa said "We have learnt from the Commission's
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H.W Gunadasa, Secretary to the Presidential Commission inquiring into cases of alleged disappearances in the North and Eastern Provinces on April 15 said that Commission will provide counseling to the kin of those disappeared, reports Daily Mirror. Gunadasa said "We have learnt from the Commission's sittings held in North and East that some families had suffered multiple disappearances. They have as a result suffered much mental stress. The Commission therefore decided to have a strategy to tackle the issue." The panel appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year received some 18,000 complaints of disappearances, including 5,000 from the Government troops.
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April - 15 
The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Police has launched an investigation on the people who had links with former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan, killed on April
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The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Police has launched an investigation on the people who had links with former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan, killed on April 10, reports Colombo Page on April 16. Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that a special squad of officers had been deployed for the investigations. The sleuths are focusing on the telephone conversations carried out by Gopi and his assistants during the past several months. According to a Police source, investigations have revealed that Gopi and Appan had clandestine telephone conversations with a Tamil politician in the North.
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April - 16 
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking at the 14th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference held in Puthrajaya (Malaysia) on April 16 said that though there was no more terrorism in Sri Lanka, the LTTE’s global network continued to function largely unhindered and that some nations see
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Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking at the 14th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference held in Puthrajaya (Malaysia) on April 16 said that though there was no more terrorism in Sri Lanka, the LTTE’s global network continued to function largely unhindered and that some nations seemed to have chosen to turn a blind eye to these front organizations. He said “The network continues to sustain an international propaganda campaign against Sri Lanka through front organizations that have now put on a democratic face. Some nations seem to have chosen to turn a blind eye to these front organizations and their activities because they claim to support political activism or humanitarian relief.”
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April - 17 
Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on April 17 said that the Interpol is reported to have issued 40 ‘Red Notices’ against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) operatives living abroad, reports Daily Mirror. He said “We obtain a warrant against anyone who has not se
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Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on April 17 said that the Interpol is reported to have issued 40 ‘Red Notices’ against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) operatives living abroad, reports Daily Mirror. He said “We obtain a warrant against anyone who has not served his or her jail sentence for more than two years. We also inform Interpol with the relevant detail. Red Notices have also been issued to 56 non-LTTE operatives as well.”
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April - 18 
Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said reconciliation in Sri Lanka after a three-decade long war cannot be achieved overnight, reports Colombo Page on April 18. Brigadier Wanigasuriya made this remark in response to media queries on a statement made by the United States (US) Assistant
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Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said reconciliation in Sri Lanka after a three-decade long war cannot be achieved overnight, reports Colombo Page on April 18. Brigadier Wanigasuriya made this remark in response to media queries on a statement made by the United States (US) Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal that US will resume "more comprehensive" military relationship with Sri Lanka once the Government makes progress towards reconciliation and accountability. Brigadier Wanigasooriya also said that the Government has prepared the background for reconciliation now and doubted that the US was aware of all the reconstruction that has taken place since the end of the war. He further said the US official had not been made aware of the Government rehabilitating 12,000 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres, who surrendered to the Security Forces (SFs) at the end of the war and reintegrating them into society.
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April - 20 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 20 said that there is no room for any community to suppress another community on the grounds of religion or ethnicity and assured that no injustice will be done to any ethnicity, reports Colombo Page. President said certain foreign elements were trying to create
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 20 said that there is no room for any community to suppress another community on the grounds of religion or ethnicity and assured that no injustice will be done to any ethnicity, reports Colombo Page. President said certain foreign elements were trying to create problems between communities and religions and destroy national harmony by spreading false rumors. He further said that no race has the right to suppress another and it is the responsibility of everyone to work towards the betterment of the country.
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April - 22 
Addressing a press conference in Colombo on April 22, the secretary of the BBS, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero said BBS that BBS had no plans to topple the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page. The vociferous monk further said that the BBS could topple Governments or c
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Addressing a press conference in Colombo on April 22, the secretary of the BBS, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero said BBS that BBS had no plans to topple the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page. The vociferous monk further said that the BBS could topple Governments or create Governments in Sri Lanka if it wanted. BBS is under fire from certain Government Ministers and on April 21 leftist Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara urged the Government to ban the BBS.
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April - 24 
Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris on April 24 briefed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka with the assistance of representative of the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development Major General K.H.G. Hendawitharana, reports Colombo Page. The principal purpose of the
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Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris on April 24 briefed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka with the assistance of representative of the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development Major General K.H.G. Hendawitharana, reports Colombo Page. The principal purpose of the briefing was to give the diplomatic community authentic information regarding action taken by the Government against 16 organizations that have links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism. He told the diplomatic community that there is compelling evidence regarding the remittance of substantial sums of money from overseas for planned terrorist activity. "The Government has every confidence of eradicating at the very inception, any attempt to revive terrorism in any form in any part of the country," the Minister asserted.
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April - 26 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) senior leader R. Sampanthan on April 26 said that the Government decided to ban select Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals to thwart a free and transparent international probe into the 2009 Civil War, reports The Hindu. He said the Government’s current actions
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) senior leader R. Sampanthan on April 26 said that the Government decided to ban select Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals to thwart a free and transparent international probe into the 2009 Civil War, reports The Hindu. He said the Government’s current actions sought to intimidate and silence the Tamil civilian population who could furnish vital evidence in the investigation. In reference to the Government’s claim that the LTTE was trying to regroup in the predominantly Tamil-speaking parts of the country’s north, he said “The Tamil people have overwhelmingly demonstrated that they are totally opposed to any return to violence and that they are firmly committed to the evolution of a reasonable acceptable political solution within the framework of a united, undivided country.”
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April - 30 
The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development on April 30 denied that Intelligence Officers being sent to other countries to educate officials of those countries as part of an international operation, reports News.lk. Earlier, a Sinhala daily newspaper quoting the Secretary to the Ministry of Defenc
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The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development on April 30 denied that Intelligence Officers being sent to other countries to educate officials of those countries as part of an international operation, reports News.lk. Earlier, a Sinhala daily newspaper quoting the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development had reported that 18 Intelligence Officers had been sent to 18 countries as part of an international operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rump organizations. The Defence Ministry added that the officials of the Ministry of Defence visited relevant countries on official duties and diplomats of the Ministry of External Affairs have educated relevant authorities in respective countries about the threats posed by those organizations and persons listed in recent gazette notification that listed the organizations.
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May - 1 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 1 said that almost all of the United Nations (UN) agencies praise Sri Lanka’s achievements on all fronts since the war victory, reports Daily Mirror. He added that the changes brought about in Sri Lanka since the launching of the Mahinda Chintana (Mahinda Vision) P
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on May 1 said that almost all of the United Nations (UN) agencies praise Sri Lanka’s achievements on all fronts since the war victory, reports Daily Mirror. He added that the changes brought about in Sri Lanka since the launching of the Mahinda Chintana (Mahinda Vision) Policy framework some nine years ago and following the eradication of separatist terrorism from the soil of Sri Lanka were clearly visible to anybody and could be experienced by anyone. He also criticized those who brought human rights violation charges against Sri Lanka by saying that they were conspicuous in their silence on these accomplishments.
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May - 5 
The Resettlement Ministry Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa on May 5 said that the Government will revise the list of remaining Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) in the country by adding another 400 long term IDP families, reports Colombo Page. He further added that there are 7,094 families comprising
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The Resettlement Ministry Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa on May 5 said that the Government will revise the list of remaining Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) in the country by adding another 400 long term IDP families, reports Colombo Page. He further added that there are 7,094 families comprising 23,568 persons yet to be resettled. According to the Ministry, these IDPs are currently residing in 32 welfare centers in the Jaffna District and at three in the Muttur Divisional Secretariat area in Trincomalee District.
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May - 6 
The outgoing Consul General of India, Venkadasalam Mahalingam during his farewell speech in Jaffna District on May 6 said that India was instrumental in creating the Provincial Councils (PCs) in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. He further said that nobody can deny India’s instrumental role in creat
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The outgoing Consul General of India, Venkadasalam Mahalingam during his farewell speech in Jaffna District on May 6 said that India was instrumental in creating the Provincial Councils (PCs) in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. He further said that nobody can deny India’s instrumental role in creating the Northern Province (NP) in the country which has an elected Chief Minister and other Ministers holding different portfolios.
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May - 7 
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Army, Navy and the Police have launched an extensive search in the general area of Ichchilampattai in Trincomalee District after the recovery of a T56 weapon with several rounds of ammunition in a bag at Lanka Patuna beach near a Naval detac
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Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Army, Navy and the Police have launched an extensive search in the general area of Ichchilampattai in Trincomalee District after the recovery of a T56 weapon with several rounds of ammunition in a bag at Lanka Patuna beach near a Naval detachment on May 5, reports Colombo Page. He further added that a joint Army, Navy and Police investigation and search is underway and so far no arrests have been made. The Military authorities also said that there is a renewed attempt to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the North and investigations into the activities of former LTTE operatives have resulted in several arrests which in turn have led to recovery of arms, ammunitions, explosives and other material that were in their possession.
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May - 8 
Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella on May 8 said that there is no change in Government’s stance on achieving a sustainable final solution to the ethnic problem through the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) despite Tamil National Alliance (TNA)’s refusal to participate i
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Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella on May 8 said that there is no change in Government’s stance on achieving a sustainable final solution to the ethnic problem through the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) despite Tamil National Alliance (TNA)’s refusal to participate in the PSC, reports Colombo Page. He added that in the end any solution to the ethnic issue has to be approved through the Parliament and so it would be better to go through the negotiations forward in the Parliament from the beginning.
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May - 8 
Meanwhile, Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on May 8 said that organized events of any form to commemorate Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist killed in battle in the Northern Province or any other part of the country will not be allowed as it is illegal since LTTE i
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Meanwhile, Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on May 8 said that organized events of any form to commemorate Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist killed in battle in the Northern Province or any other part of the country will not be allowed as it is illegal since LTTE is a banned organization reports Colombo Page. He further said that display of flags or any other insignia of the LTTE or any other organization proscribed in the recent gazette notification as organizations espousing terrorism is illegal, and therefore, will not be allowed.
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May - 12 
British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire on May 12 said in the UK parliament that the proscription of diaspora Tamil organizations that are suspected of having links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Sri Lankan Government is not conducive to a s
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British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire on May 12 said in the UK parliament that the proscription of diaspora Tamil organizations that are suspected of having links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Sri Lankan Government is not conducive to a successful reconciliation process in the island nation, reports Colombo Page. He further said Sri Lankan Government should not use proscription to suppress freedom of speech, especially when Sri Lanka's human rights record is under international scrutiny. He also added that the UK has raised concerns with the Government regarding the arrests of Ms. Jeyakumari Balendran and others, in particular on the lack of clarity around the evidence against the suspects and the charges brought.
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May - 18 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while addressing the nation at the fifth anniversary Victory Day celebrations in the southern town of Matara District, Southern Province on May 18, said that Sri Lanka today is not celebrating the victory of war, but a victory of peace achieved through sacrifice of lives
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while addressing the nation at the fifth anniversary Victory Day celebrations in the southern town of Matara District, Southern Province on May 18, said that Sri Lanka today is not celebrating the victory of war, but a victory of peace achieved through sacrifice of lives, reports Colombo Page. He said that Sri Lanka is not ready to stop celebrating the day the peace was brought to the country after 30 years of war due to external pressure. He noted that terrorism by the Tamil Tiger terrorists in Sri Lanka eliminated not only Sinhala leaders, but well respected Tamil political leaders as well but nobody wants to remember them. Speaking in Tamil briefly, the President asked the Tamil people not to be misled by the false propaganda. He said trying to uplift terrorism again is the biggest injustice to the Tamil people.
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May - 18 
The Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Rathnayaka said that Sri Lanka Army is ready to face any threat against the country and its national security with the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page on May 19. He added that intelligent units of Securi
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The Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Rathnayaka said that Sri Lanka Army is ready to face any threat against the country and its national security with the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page on May 19. He added that intelligent units of Security Forces (SFs) were strengthened under the guidance of the Defense Secretary and they can defeat the attempts to revive terrorism. He noted that Sri Lanka rehabilitated and socialized a large number of ex-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres and pointed out that the concept implemented by Sri Lanka against the terrorism and the rehabilitation process is an example for the whole world.
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May - 20 
Mohamed Muzammil, the media spokesman of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a coalition party of the Sri Lankan Government on May 20 urged the Government to take stern action against the legislators of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for commemorating the deaths of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eela
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Mohamed Muzammil, the media spokesman of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a coalition party of the Sri Lankan Government on May 20 urged the Government to take stern action against the legislators of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for commemorating the deaths of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres last week, reports Colombo Page. He said media had reported that several Member of Parliaments (MPs) of the TNA and some members of the TNA-controlled Northern Provincial Council (NPC) had organized several events to commemorate the dead terrorists at several places including, Mannar, Mullivaikkal, Jaffna and Vavuniya on May 18. He named the TNA legislators Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Pon Selvarasa, P. Ariyanethran, S. Yoheswaran, Shivasakthi Anandan and the Fisheries Minister of the NPC, B. Deniswaran as the chief guests of the events. He also criticized the Government for taking a sleepy attitude towards the Tamil MPs who are involved in anti-Sri Lankan activities.
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May - 22 
Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, has declined the invitation extended by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to accompany him to the swearing in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister (PM)- elect Narendra Modi, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He sa
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Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, has declined the invitation extended by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to accompany him to the swearing in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister (PM)- elect Narendra Modi, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He said that he cannot accept the invitation primarily because an acceptance would indicate that the relations between the Government and the Northern Province are harmonious. Earlier, Rajapaksa extended the invitation to the Chief Minister to join the Presidential delegation to attend the swearing-in ceremony on May 26 in New Delhi, India.
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May - 22 
Further, Suresh Premachandran, a Member of Parliament (MP) of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said that around 84,000 families in the North and East had lost their breadwinners during the war, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He claimed that the TNA has continuously requested the Government to provide
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Further, Suresh Premachandran, a Member of Parliament (MP) of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said that around 84,000 families in the North and East had lost their breadwinners during the war, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He claimed that the TNA has continuously requested the Government to provide adequate livelihood assistance to the war victims in the North and East, but the Government is more concerned about building houses for army personnel and is focused on their welfare.
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May - 22 
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister, Champika Ranawaka, in a letter to Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo has demanded Norway to immediately hand over Oslo-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Perinbanayagam Siwaparan alias Nediyavan to Sri Lankan authorities, repo
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Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and Minister, Champika Ranawaka, in a letter to Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo has demanded Norway to immediately hand over Oslo-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Perinbanayagam Siwaparan alias Nediyavan to Sri Lankan authorities, reports Colombo Page on May 23. The Minister said that Nediyavan who is believed to have financed the terrorist activities of LTTE, lives freely in Oslo despite the Interpol arrest warrant against him.
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May - 22 
Meanwhile, Wigneswaran, at a farewell function to departing Indian Consul General V. Mahalingam criticized the Sri Lankan Government that Government was ignoring the verdict of the Northerners and acting on its own in militarizing the Province, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He has charged that the
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Meanwhile, Wigneswaran, at a farewell function to departing Indian Consul General V. Mahalingam criticized the Sri Lankan Government that Government was ignoring the verdict of the Northerners and acting on its own in militarizing the Province, reports Colombo Page on May 23. He has charged that the Government was "doing everything" to grab People's lands in the North and East with the support of the Security Forces (SFs) and planning to change the demography in the North and East.
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May - 24 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan on May 24 in a statement condemned the Government's measure to designate several Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals as having links to the terrorist group Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. He asked the Governm
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan on May 24 in a statement condemned the Government's measure to designate several Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals as having links to the terrorist group Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. He asked the Government to review its decision to proscribe 16 Tamil organizations and over 400 individuals under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and remove from that list organizations and individuals against whom there is no evidence of engaging in or supporting any 'terrorist acts' under the Act.
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May - 26 
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Spokesperson Yante Ismail on May 26 said that a close and full examination of all facts is needed following the detention of three Sri Lankan men believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) bearing the commission’s car
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The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Spokesperson Yante Ismail on May 26 said that a close and full examination of all facts is needed following the detention of three Sri Lankan men believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) bearing the commission’s cards in Malaysia, reports The Star Online. Yante added that “If there are allegations of crime committed in Malaysia by refugees or asylum-seekers, UNHCR would expect that they be subjected to the full due process under the law like any other person.”
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May - 27 
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), in a statement on May 27 said that wreckage of a helicopter found in northern sea and recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) off Chalai in Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province has been identified as belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force Mi 24 Helicopter CH 614 which
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Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), in a statement on May 27 said that wreckage of a helicopter found in northern sea and recovered by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) off Chalai in Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province has been identified as belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force Mi 24 Helicopter CH 614 which went missing in March 1997, reports Colombo Page. The debris salvaged by the Navy divers was inspected by a specialist nominated by the Commander of the SLAF at Kankasanthurai, Jaffna District, Northern Province. It also said that "the helicopter crashed with all (passengers and crew) on board and was believed to have been shot down by enemy fire. This was later confirmed by Intelligence Sources."
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May - 27 
Sri Lanka Police Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana, on may 27 said that the three most wanted Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders, identified as Sangaliraj Gioshanthan, Mahadevan Kiribakaran and Selvthurai Kiribavan arrested by the Malaysian Police have been b
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Sri Lanka Police Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana, on may 27 said that the three most wanted Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders, identified as Sangaliraj Gioshanthan, Mahadevan Kiribakaran and Selvthurai Kiribavan arrested by the Malaysian Police have been brought to the country and are now in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities, reports Colombo Page. He also added that the three suspects have been placed under the custody of the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) and they are being questioned now. According to the Police spokesman Interpol Red Notices have been issued for two out of the three LTTE members.
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May - 28 
Sri Lankan Irrigation and Water Resource Development Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva while responding to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s request to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment and go beyond, on May 28 said that it was only the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that c
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Sri Lankan Irrigation and Water Resource Development Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva while responding to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s request to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment and go beyond, on May 28 said that it was only the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) that could decide on the matter and Sri Lankan Government would cooperate with India always but no one should interfere with the internal affairs of the country, reports The Island. He said the 13th Amendment to the Constitution had been implemented step by step but there were some sections which needed parliamentary review. Minister said, however, the Sri Lankan Government did not intend to confront India and it wished to sort out all issues through negotiations.
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May - 28 
Sri Lankan senior security official said that an urgent review of United Nations (UN) procedures was necessary in the wake of the recent arrest and deportation of three Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysi
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Sri Lankan senior security official said that an urgent review of United Nations (UN) procedures was necessary in the wake of the recent arrest and deportation of three Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia, reports defence.lk on May 29. The official said that two of the LTTE cadres had received refugee status, while the third was in the process of securing the same and Sri Lankan government had never been consulted as regards the applications made by them, therefore an inquiry was necessary. The UNHCR probe shouldn't be restricted to Malaysia, another official said, calling for urgent measures to prevent members of the LTTE as well as other unscrupulous elements from abusing the UN system.
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May - 29 
Daniel Painter, the head of the political team at the British High Commission in Colombo said that United Kingdom (UK) will continue to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to respect human rights, promote meaningful reconciliation and agree a political settlement with the Tamil and other opposition
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Daniel Painter, the head of the political team at the British High Commission in Colombo said that United Kingdom (UK) will continue to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to respect human rights, promote meaningful reconciliation and agree a political settlement with the Tamil and other opposition parties, reports Colombo Page on May 30. He also said the holding of elections in the North and the convincing victory by the opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA), raised hopes and expectations about the prospects for reconciliation but the developments since then have dented that optimism.
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June - 1 
Jaffna Mayor Yogeswari Pathgunarajah prevented attempts by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to commemorate the death of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran at Mullivaikal in Mullaitivu District, Northern Province, reports Daily News on June 2. The Mayor said, "Tami
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Jaffna Mayor Yogeswari Pathgunarajah prevented attempts by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to commemorate the death of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran at Mullivaikal in Mullaitivu District, Northern Province, reports Daily News on June 2. The Mayor said, "Tamil leaders like Alfred Doraiappa and A. Amirthalingam served the people of the area and they were murdered by the LTTE and TNA should commemorate the deaths of such leaders instead of commemorating the terrorist leader”. According to information, under the pretext of commemorating the dead, plans were being made to rouse the people of Jaffna and create disturbances in Jaffna where peace prevails now.
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June - 4 
External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris on June 4 said that it is not the policy of the Sri Lankan Government to provide Police powers to any provincial council in the country, reports Colombo Page. He said in the Parliament that the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has clearly pointed
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External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris on June 4 said that it is not the policy of the Sri Lankan Government to provide Police powers to any provincial council in the country, reports Colombo Page. He said in the Parliament that the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has clearly pointed out to India during his discussions with the Indian Government that adverse effects will result in the country by devolving such powers. "We made it crystal clear that devolution of police power is not acceptable," Peiris told the Parliament.
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June - 4 
The Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation (BCGR) said it has almost completed the rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who either surrendered or were taken into custody following the end of the civil war in 2009, reports Colombo Page on
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The Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation (BCGR) said it has almost completed the rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who either surrendered or were taken into custody following the end of the civil war in 2009, reports Colombo Page on June 5. According to the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke, there are 132 former LTTE cadres currently undergoing the one-year rehabilitation program that is jointly conducted by the Sri Lanka Army and BCGR at the Poonthottam Rehabilitation Center in Vavuniya District of Northern Province. He said that delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visit the ex-LTTE cadres regularly as do the family members of the participants and from those who have already been rehabilitated and reintegrated back into society; more than 230 have qualified to pursue higher education while 35 are currently studying at universities. Commissioner General also added that in addition to the loan facility to start livelihood programs, the Bureau is also exploring ways to provide the rehabilitated individuals with employment opportunities abroad. Following a recommendation by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), a special committee was also appointed to study the cases of detained LTTE suspects and expedite legal action where necessary.
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June - 5 
The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke said that about 40 former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have successfully undergone rehabilitation under a Government programme, are likely to get employed in a construction firm in Singapore, r
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The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke said that about 40 former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have successfully undergone rehabilitation under a Government programme, are likely to get employed in a construction firm in Singapore, reports The Free Press Journal on June 6. He said that “a construction company in Singapore has expressed its interest in recruiting 40 rehabilitees who have received vocational training.”
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June - 6 
The Chairman of the ‘Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons’, Attorney Maxwell Paranagama on June 6 said that most of the complaints on missing persons from Batticaloa District, Eastern Province held the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) responsible for
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The Chairman of the ‘Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons’, Attorney Maxwell Paranagama on June 6 said that most of the complaints on missing persons from Batticaloa District, Eastern Province held the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) responsible for the disappearances and there were no allegations against Sri Lankan Security Forces (SFs), reports Colombo Page. According to the Chairman, most of the complainants had said that their relatives disappeared while they were visiting Kalmunai or Kattankudy, Eastern Province on business matters. Mr. Paranagama added that “they may been abducted by the LTTE or gone missing while returning from Kalmunai or on the way to the town”. The Commission has received 13,605 complaints on missing civilians and 5,000 complaints on missing Security personnel.
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June - 7 
Former Norwegian Minister and Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, said he is willing to be a witness at any recognized international tribunal on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lanka during the war, reports Colombo page on June 8. Solheim,
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Former Norwegian Minister and Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, said he is willing to be a witness at any recognized international tribunal on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lanka during the war, reports Colombo page on June 8. Solheim, noting that peace in Sri Lanka was won by the war at a tremendous cost, said he still believes peace could have been achieved without the bloodshed. He said that "during the last four months of the war, we called upon Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to accept an 'organized' end to the war, which would have saved the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and thousands of LTTE cadres. Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) can bear witness to this. It is so sad he did not accept the facts." He explained that Prabhakaran's refusal to accept federalism and the constant infighting, between the two main political parties, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) were the two main obstacles to the Norway-brokered peace process.
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June - 7 
The Director General of Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) H.M.C. Nimalsiri said that the debris found recently by the fishermen at Moragolla area in Aluthgama, Kalutara District in the Western Province was not parts of an aircraft as suspected earlier, reports Colombo Page on June 8. The Au
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The Director General of Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) H.M.C. Nimalsiri said that the debris found recently by the fishermen at Moragolla area in Aluthgama, Kalutara District in the Western Province was not parts of an aircraft as suspected earlier, reports Colombo Page on June 8. The Authority now suspects that the debris may be a part removed from a ship.
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June - 10 
Colombo Page on June 11 also reports that a legislator of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP), Wijedasa Rajapakshe said that a vote on a debate on the matter may show to the international community that there is at least a minority of MPs supporting such an international investig
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Colombo Page on June 11 also reports that a legislator of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP), Wijedasa Rajapakshe said that a vote on a debate on the matter may show to the international community that there is at least a minority of MPs supporting such an international investigation since the major Tamil party, TNA may vote in favor of the international probe. The MP also pointed out that a resolution by parliament may not have any effect on the already decided UN probe and the supremacy of Sri Lanka parliament may be further downgraded with the move.
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June - 11 
Defence Ministry Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on June 11 said that those making false accusations from European and North American countries that deported Tamil asylum seekers are subjected to rape and sexual abuse at the hands of Security Forces (SFs) wanted to avoid being deported to Sr
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Defence Ministry Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on June 11 said that those making false accusations from European and North American countries that deported Tamil asylum seekers are subjected to rape and sexual abuse at the hands of Security Forces (SFs) wanted to avoid being deported to Sri Lanka, reports Daily news. He said that illegal migrants seeking asylum or refugee status have become a problem for the countries in these regions and their pleas are getting rejected as authorities in such countries have a clear understanding of what is happening in the country. He stressed that these allegations are part of a massive campaign launched by the asylum seekers along with over 7 per cent of the Tamil Diaspora members who are desperately trying to carve out a separate state in the country.
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June - 12 
Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Chaloka Beyani told the 26th Session of the United Nation Human Right Council (UNHRC) in Geneva (Switzerland) on June 12 that the Sri Lankan Government has undertaken positive efforts to rebuild the infrastructure destroye
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Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Chaloka Beyani told the 26th Session of the United Nation Human Right Council (UNHRC) in Geneva (Switzerland) on June 12 that the Sri Lankan Government has undertaken positive efforts to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed during the conflict and the demining in return areas, post conflict reconstruction and development but still needs to focus on building livelihoods linked to durable solutions for IDPs, reports Colombo Page. He undertook an official mission to Sri Lanka from 2 to 6 December 2013 at the Government's invitation and visited Colombo, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. Beyani urged the Sri Lankan Government to take all necessary steps to address the situation of IDPs living in protracted displacement, as well as those who have returned or settled elsewhere in the North but still live in very precarious conditions and need more durable housing, access to social services, and livelihood opportunities.
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June - 14 
Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) and Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member M.K. Sivajilingam in a letter to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi said that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka cannot expect a political solution from Sri Lankan Governments without the dir
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Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) and Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member M.K. Sivajilingam in a letter to Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi said that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka cannot expect a political solution from Sri Lankan Governments without the direct and active intervention of India, reports Colombo Page on June 15. He sought the PM's help in reaching a solution which can, at the minimum, offer a true federal autonomy to the Tamils in a single merged North-East special region. He also sought help to the medical and educational needs of the Tamil people in the region.
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June - 14 
The Minister of Land and Land Development, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, said that Sri Lanka Government has decided to bring a Prescription (Special Provisions) Act to Parliament for the benefit of the people of the Northern Province displaced due to war, reports Colombo Page on June 15. The Minister sa
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The Minister of Land and Land Development, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, said that Sri Lanka Government has decided to bring a Prescription (Special Provisions) Act to Parliament for the benefit of the people of the Northern Province displaced due to war, reports Colombo Page on June 15. The Minister said the new act will benefit 500,000 people who resided in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the period between May 1, 1983, to May 18, 2009. He added that the cabinet has already approved the bill and it will be tabled in parliament soon.
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June - 15 
Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem said that violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in Kalutara District of Western Province on June 15 has left three people dead and at least another 78 injured, reports Colombo Page. Clashes erupted between the Sinhala and Muslim communiti
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Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem said that violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in Kalutara District of Western Province on June 15 has left three people dead and at least another 78 injured, reports Colombo Page. Clashes erupted between the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the area after the extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) held a demonstration in the town to denounce the attack on a Buddhist monk and his driver by a Muslim youth. Police said that the curfew imposed on June 15 has been extended indefinitely in the two areas.
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June - 15 
Rupert Colville, the Spokesman at the United Nations Office at the High Commission for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) on June 15 said that UN Human Right Council UNHRC mandated international investigation into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka is ready to begin this month (June), reports Colombo Page. Th
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Rupert Colville, the Spokesman at the United Nations Office at the High Commission for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) on June 15 said that UN Human Right Council UNHRC mandated international investigation into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka is ready to begin this month (June), reports Colombo Page. The 12-member team is coordinated by senior UN human rights official Ms. Sandra Beidas and the first meeting of the full team will be held in Geneva in July. The spokesman said initially the team will present the report of the investigation to the UNHRC and the UNHRC has the option to present it to higher bodies for further action.
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June - 16 
The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on June 16 that it had developed extensive methodologies to deal with situations where access had been denied, reports Daily Mirror. OHCHR Spokesman Rupert Colville said that “The investigation will take place either way. It will be bett
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The Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on June 16 that it had developed extensive methodologies to deal with situations where access had been denied, reports Daily Mirror. OHCHR Spokesman Rupert Colville said that “The investigation will take place either way. It will be better to have access, but it is still possible to do a full and thorough investigation without it.”
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June - 17 
Sri Lankan Prime Minister (PM) D.M. Jayaratne has said that Police with the support of Special Task Force (STF) and Army has taken all measures to maintain law and order in the affected towns and stern legal action will be taken against the persons who are responsible for atrocities, Colombo Page re
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Sri Lankan Prime Minister (PM) D.M. Jayaratne has said that Police with the support of Special Task Force (STF) and Army has taken all measures to maintain law and order in the affected towns and stern legal action will be taken against the persons who are responsible for atrocities, Colombo Page reports on June 18.
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June - 18 
Separately, the founding leader of extremist Buddhist movement Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Kirama Vimalajothi Thero said on June 18 that the organization he founded was beyond his control now, reports Colombo page. He said he would not approve the language, BBS secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero used
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Separately, the founding leader of extremist Buddhist movement Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Kirama Vimalajothi Thero said on June 18 that the organization he founded was beyond his control now, reports Colombo page. He said he would not approve the language, BBS secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero used to speak about the President and the other politicians and the hateful words were not suitable for Buddhist monks. Meanwhile, the sources say that Thero who is accused of instigating communal violence against Muslims has gone underground. The organization is on the verge of split and a legal battle regarding the property is expected.
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June - 25 
Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on June 25 said that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ‘Intelligence Unit’ member Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran was arrested on June 17, when he was hiding in Raigamwatte in Horana, Kalutara District of Western Province, reports
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Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on June 25 said that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ‘Intelligence Unit’ member Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran was arrested on June 17, when he was hiding in Raigamwatte in Horana, Kalutara District of Western Province, reports Daily News. He added that he is being detained for questioning. Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran had joined the LTTE in 2002. Also, an LTTE ‘Sea Tiger Force’ member, Thirunagarasu Pradeepan was arrested on June 19 at the Katunayake Airport in Western Province when he was to take a flight to Qatar, said SSP Rohana. Rohana further said, after the reorganization attempts of the LTTE led by Gopi, Appan and Thevian were exposed on March 8, 2014, the Police had arrested 51 suspects in connection with LTTE activities and there had been five females among them. He said as of today (June 25), a total of 110 suspects with LTTE links are in jail.
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June - 29 
Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris said in Colombo on June 30 that Sri Lanka’s victory in war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-backed terrorism and the resulting peace and stability benefitted not only the island nation, but also the entire South Asian region and it is only ri
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Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris said in Colombo on June 30 that Sri Lanka’s victory in war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)-backed terrorism and the resulting peace and stability benefitted not only the island nation, but also the entire South Asian region and it is only right and proper the magnitude of these benefits should receive recognition, reports Colombo Page. He pointed out that terrorism is one of the main issues which continue to challenge the economy and wellbeing of many of the countries in the region and therefore, Sri Lanka's success in eradicating terrorism has had a crucial impact on weakening the forces destabilizing the entire region and, especially, reducing the opportunities for collaboration among terrorist groups active in the area.
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June - 30 
Police media Unit said that Sri Lankan authorities have postponed the excavations of a suspected mass grave site in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka till August, 18, 2014, reports Colombo Page on July 1. Excavations of the mass grave site at Kaluwanchikudy in Batticaloa District, believed to be of
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Police media Unit said that Sri Lankan authorities have postponed the excavations of a suspected mass grave site in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka till August, 18, 2014, reports Colombo Page on July 1. Excavations of the mass grave site at Kaluwanchikudy in Batticaloa District, believed to be of Muslims massacred by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorists in the Eastern Province in 1990, was to begin today (July 1). It has been reported that the participation of the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer and the Government Analyst is required when exhuming such mass grave sites and the authorities have not been able to make preparations in time for the officials' presence. Kaluwanchikudy Courts earlier this month ordered the excavation of the grave site near the coast off Kurukkalmadam to begin on July 1 after examining a motion submitted by a resident of Kaluwanchikudy.
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July - 1 
Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on July 1 ruled out any possibility that its soil could be used for terror attacks against India, after the recent discovery of an alleged terrorist plot to attack foreign missions in south India, reports Enewspaper of India. He said "The Indian intel
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Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on July 1 ruled out any possibility that its soil could be used for terror attacks against India, after the recent discovery of an alleged terrorist plot to attack foreign missions in south India, reports Enewspaper of India. He said "The Indian intelligence agencies have told me that there is a possibility of Islamic terrorism being based in Sri Lanka to act against India. However, we investigated these concerns and found that there is no merit in these concerns or claims." Indian authorities recently started investigating an alleged plot by a Pakistan-based terror group to carry out suicide attacks on US and Israeli Consulates in south India. The conspiracy was reportedly planned overseas including in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives. The plot was foiled by effective coordination of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with countries such as Malaysia which tipped off India about the plan being hatched from Sri Lankan soil to attack the consulates in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Bangalore (Karnataka).
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July - 3 
Nations (UN) has expressed "profound concern" about Australia's handling of asylum seekers amid reports that scores of Sri Lankans will be handed over to their country's navy after only a brief assessment by Australian authorities.
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Nations (UN) has expressed "profound concern" about Australia's handling of asylum seekers amid reports that scores of Sri Lankans will be handed over to their country's navy after only a brief assessment by Australian authorities.
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July - 3 
The Sri Lankan Government on July 3 reiterated its stance on the United Nations (UN) investigation that it is not ready to accept an investigation mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reports Colombo Page. Government Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka is re
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The Sri Lankan Government on July 3 reiterated its stance on the United Nations (UN) investigation that it is not ready to accept an investigation mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reports Colombo Page. Government Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka is ready to hold discussions at acceptable conditions but the Government which has been ascended to power by the people is not ready to be made equal with a terrorist organization. The Government has refused to cooperate with the UNHRC mandated international investigation despite the calls from the UN, United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) to do so.Speaking of rehabilitation, the Minister noted that some rehabilitated former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants are now in the main stream politics while some others have also been recruited to the Security Forces (SFs). Her also stressed that the Government is not ready to accept the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as the sole representative of the Tamil community in the country.
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July - 7 
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on July 7 said that it's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Samudura is bringing 41 Australia-bound Sri Lankan illegal immigrants to the Galle Harbor in Southern Province, reports Colombo Page. Australian authorities handed over the 41 asylum seekers to SLNS Samudura on July 6 morning
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Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on July 7 said that it's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Samudura is bringing 41 Australia-bound Sri Lankan illegal immigrants to the Galle Harbor in Southern Province, reports Colombo Page. Australian authorities handed over the 41 asylum seekers to SLNS Samudura on July 6 morning when it was on deep sea patrol in the southern seas of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Navy said it will hand over the group to the law enforcement authorities for further investigations when brought ashore.
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July - 7 
The Australian Government on July 7 confirmed returning a group of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who attempted to arrive illegally by boat to Australia as part of a maritime people smuggling venture, back to Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection, Sc
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The Australian Government on July 7 confirmed returning a group of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who attempted to arrive illegally by boat to Australia as part of a maritime people smuggling venture, back to Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison said the Border Protection Command West of Cocos (Keeling) Islands in late June,2014 intercepted the suspected vessel carrying illegal asylum seekers. The Minister said the 41 Sri Lankans were transferred on July 6 from an Australian Border Protection Command (BPC) vessel to the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) outside the Sri Lankan port of Batticaloa, Eastern Province.
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July - 7 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the deportation of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Australia, reports Daily Mirror on July 8. A further 153 asylum seekers also from Sri Lanka have had their deportation blocked by the Australian High Court. UNHCR
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the deportation of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Australia, reports Daily Mirror on July 8. A further 153 asylum seekers also from Sri Lanka have had their deportation blocked by the Australian High Court. UNHCR said it had been informed by authorities in Australia that enhanced screening procedures had been applied to determine whether those deported raised claims for protection which required further consideration.
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July - 9 
Sri Lanka said many asylum seekers are economic migrants, but human rights groups said Tamils seek asylum to prevent torture, rape and other violence at the hands of the military.
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Sri Lanka said many asylum seekers are economic migrants, but human rights groups said Tamils seek asylum to prevent torture, rape and other violence at the hands of the military.
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July - 11 
Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Rauff Hakeem on July 11 said the arrest of Lankan Muslim Zakir Hussein in a Pakistani-sponsored espionage case in Chennai, India has contributed to the propaganda in Lanka that there are “Islamic terrorists” in the isla
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Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister and leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Rauff Hakeem on July 11 said the arrest of Lankan Muslim Zakir Hussein in a Pakistani-sponsored espionage case in Chennai, India has contributed to the propaganda in Lanka that there are “Islamic terrorists” in the island nation, reports The New Indian Express. He said that “We are acutely aware of the ongoing propaganda in some quarters that there are terrorist elements or extremist groups that exist within the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. We suspect that vested interests are behind such propaganda - interests which are bent on seeing the emergence of terrorism in Sri Lanka, which we abhor by all means, in what we call a self fulfilling prophesy.” Hakeem said that the propaganda is part of a “long term project” of some influential groups among the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka to “annihilate” the Muslim community through a “virtual holocaust”. The minister said the said “project” was initiated during Eelam War IV and it picked up after that with the establishment of extremist Sinhalese Buddhist organizations like the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).
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July - 11 
Sri Lankan Prime Minister (PM) D. M. Jayaratna said in Parliament on July 11 that It is a well known fact that several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have exceeded their remits even to the extent of procuring weapons for terrorists, reports Daily News. He made these observations in Parliament
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Sri Lankan Prime Minister (PM) D. M. Jayaratna said in Parliament on July 11 that It is a well known fact that several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have exceeded their remits even to the extent of procuring weapons for terrorists, reports Daily News. He made these observations in Parliament in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe under Standing Orders querying if the letter dated July 1, 2014 issued by the National Secretariat to NGOs, was to control the NGOs. The PM said the letter issued was not an order but a letter of instruction to request NGOs to act within the agreed boundaries and not to engage in any other action outside the original mandates. However, he said, the government was not intending to control NGOs but merely reminding them to act in accordance with the mandates they are pledged to.
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July - 16 
In a report released on July 16, the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that doing business in Sri Lanka is not without security risks but no threat from terrorism, reports Colombo page. The report highlighted information on key security and political risks which UK busines
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In a report released on July 16, the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that doing business in Sri Lanka is not without security risks but no threat from terrorism, reports Colombo page. The report highlighted information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Sri Lanka. However, there is no threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka for businesses. With the end of military conflict in May 2009, the threat from terrorism has all but disappeared for the short to medium term. The Government forces are strongly in control of the former conflict zones and there is little scope for insurgency, it said.
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July - 16 
Sri Lanka is urging the United States (US) to avoid letting human rights concerns dominate the relationship between the countries five years after the end of a civil war that killed as many as 40,000 civilians, reports Colombo Gazette on July 17. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, a lawmaker and Coordinatin
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Sri Lanka is urging the United States (US) to avoid letting human rights concerns dominate the relationship between the countries five years after the end of a civil war that killed as many as 40,000 civilians, reports Colombo Gazette on July 17. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, a lawmaker and Coordinating Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said in an interview in Washington that reconciliation in Sri Lanka is occurring at a “rapid pace” and the Government is focused on strengthening its economy. Human rights issues shouldn’t hinder closer economic ties with the US. He added that “Since after the war ended we’ve been really one sided on human rights, we are at the crawling stage so far, so let us walk and then run perhaps.”
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July - 17 
An Australian court has given Government lawyers until July 21 to file their defence in the case of the 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, reports Colombo Page on July 18. A government lawyer has told the court that the Commonwealth has no plans to send the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka without giving a t
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An Australian court has given Government lawyers until July 21 to file their defence in the case of the 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, reports Colombo Page on July 18. A government lawyer has told the court that the Commonwealth has no plans to send the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka without giving a three-day written notice. The judge has asked both parties to get on with the procedural issues as the people were in custody. The lawyers for the asylum seekers have also asked the court to order the Australian Government not to return them to Nauru or Papua New Guinea. The 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, who set sail from Pondicherry, India to seek asylum in Australia are being held by Australian authorities on board an Australian Customs ship after they were intercepted by the authorities in mid sea.
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July - 19 
Sri Lanka Controller of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera said that all overstaying foreign nationals including the Pakistan and Afghan nationals who had applied for refugee status would be deported, reports Colombo Page on July 20. Parera said that last week, the government took steps to
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Sri Lanka Controller of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera said that all overstaying foreign nationals including the Pakistan and Afghan nationals who had applied for refugee status would be deported, reports Colombo Page on July 20. Parera said that last week, the government took steps to deport five Afghan nationals who had been overstaying in Sri Lanka. He further stated that there were 1,450 Pakistan nationals and 40 Afghan nationals overstaying. They have applied for refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office of Colombo and their applications are being processed. They expect to migrate into another country after their application for political asylum is accepted. Sri Lanka Police had already arrested some of these Pakistan and Afghan nationals. They are held in Boossa and Mirihana detention centers and interrogated to ascertain whether they have any links with terrorism. Many of these Pakistan nationals belong to Ahmadiyya Muslim sect and they claim that they are under constant threat of the mainstream Sunni Muslims.
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July - 20 
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told visiting Portuguese Prime Minister (PM) Pedro Passos Coelho on July 20, that it will take time to heal the wounds of the 30 year-long war, reports The New Indian Express. Rajapaksa said “It will take time to heal the wounds of war because way many youth di
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Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told visiting Portuguese Prime Minister (PM) Pedro Passos Coelho on July 20, that it will take time to heal the wounds of the 30 year-long war, reports The New Indian Express. Rajapaksa said “It will take time to heal the wounds of war because way many youth died from south and the north”, even as he pledged Lanka’s commitment to the process of reconciliation with the minority Tamils. He added that “The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) destroyed all infrastructure in the north, east and other parts of the country while the people lived in fear.” He said the war devastated north had recorded over 20 per cent growth highlighting the government's development work in rebuilding the infrastructure.
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July - 22 
Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on June 22 announced that no permission would be given in the future to hold religious or ethnic rallies inciting hatred and tension among communities in the country, reports Colombo Page. He said the decision to ban rallies was mad
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Police Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana on June 22 announced that no permission would be given in the future to hold religious or ethnic rallies inciting hatred and tension among communities in the country, reports Colombo Page. He said the decision to ban rallies was made following reports that a Muslim group was planning a demonstration to denounce the alleged arson attack on the Muslim-owned ‘No Limit’ store at Panadura, Kalutara District, Western Province. He noted that the public freedom will not be affected through these precautionary measures.
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July - 23 
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said that it has gradually returned a large extent of land to the original owners after reducing the size of Army camps in Jaffna of Northern Province, reports Colombo Page on July 24. Military Spokesman and Ministry of Defence, Media Center Director Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriy
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Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said that it has gradually returned a large extent of land to the original owners after reducing the size of Army camps in Jaffna of Northern Province, reports Colombo Page on July 24. Military Spokesman and Ministry of Defence, Media Center Director Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the land occupied by the Army now has been reduced to 6,500 acres from the original 26,000 acres. The Spokesman noted that most of the returned land was earlier occupied by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for their military purposes after taking them over from the people by force. However, he said it is necessary for the military to continue to maintain army camps in certain selected areas in the Jaffna Peninsula for national security as security is a matter that cannot be neglected.
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July - 26 
The Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in the North and East said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was responsible for nearly 80 percent of the alleged abductions, of the cases already heard in four Districts except Jaffna, reports Sunday Observer on July
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The Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in the North and East said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was responsible for nearly 80 percent of the alleged abductions, of the cases already heard in four Districts except Jaffna, reports Sunday Observer on July 27. Chairman of the Presidential Commission Justice Maxwell Paranagama said that the Commission has held public sittings in Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Mullaitivu from January to June this year (2014) and heard 831 cases of missing persons. According to the relatives of missing persons 90 percent of the abductions had been committed by the LTTE in Mullaitivu while in the Jaffna District the LTTE was responsible for only 10 percent of cases and 36 percent abductions by unknown persons. The LTTE was blamed for 80 percent and 70 percent of missing persons in the Kilinochchi and Batticaloa Districts by the relatives of the deceased. A total of 19,284 written complaints had been received by the Commission so far.
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July - 27 
Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison says the 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers are economic migrants seeking to illegally enter Australia since they came from India, a safe country, reports Colombo Page on July 28. "These people have come from the safe country
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Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison says the 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers are economic migrants seeking to illegally enter Australia since they came from India, a safe country, reports Colombo Page on July 28. "These people have come from the safe country of India. They haven't come from Sri Lanka, they haven't come from any of those other countries - Afghanistan or anything like that. They have come from India and as a result where they are safe in India, a passage to Australia here is nothing more than an economic migration seeking to illegally enter Australia," Minister Morrison said in an interview. Morrison added that since the group came from India, Indian officials will be determining their identity and residency and the measure was a result of the discussions he had last week with his counterparts in New Delhi. The Minister dismissed the idea that the refugees will be persecuted if returned to India.
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July - 27 
Ministry of Defence said that al Qaeda does not have a base in Sri Lanka nor does any other terrorist organization, reports Colombo Gazette on July 27. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that on several occasions there had been allegations that foreign terrorist groups wer
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Ministry of Defence said that al Qaeda does not have a base in Sri Lanka nor does any other terrorist organization, reports Colombo Gazette on July 27. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that on several occasions there had been allegations that foreign terrorist groups were using Sri Lanka as a base for training. He said that the Sri Lankan authorities have not given any space for such groups to operate inside Sri Lanka. “Terrorism is terrorism no matter what form it is in. Like the way we defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) if Muslim or Islamic groups attempt to engage in terrorism from inside Sri Lanka we will not leave room for such activities,” he said.
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July - 29 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Councilor Dharmalingam Sitharthan on July 29 said that Norway, which facilitated the peace process between the then Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is now giving less emphasis to the peace building process in Sri Lanka, rep
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Northern Provincial Councilor Dharmalingam Sitharthan on July 29 said that Norway, which facilitated the peace process between the then Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is now giving less emphasis to the peace building process in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. Sitharathan, during his European visit, said that “I understand that Norway is less interested in Sri Lanka’s issue. Instead, they have shifted their focus more on the situation in Ukraine which is in their neighbourhood. However, they said they continued to observe the developments in Sri Lanka.” However, he added Switzerland keenly looking at Sri Lanka’s situation.
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August - 19 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 19 said that Sri Lanka will not allow the United Nations (UN) team investigating alleged war crimes committed during the last seven years of the three-decade long armed conflict with Tamil terrorists, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 19 said that Sri Lanka will not allow the United Nations (UN) team investigating alleged war crimes committed during the last seven years of the three-decade long armed conflict with Tamil terrorists, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. He said the team of UN investigators appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will not be allowed into the country. He said that any cases of people missing, or any other allegations of crimes committed during the war had to be investigated through the local panel as he took measures to strengthen the domestic investigation mechanisms. The President however, assured that Sri Lanka will fully cooperate with the other UN agencies.
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August - 25 August - 23
Minister for Small and Medium Industries and a Tamil Member of Parliament (MP) from Jaffna, Douglas Devananda on August 25 said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which rules Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, and whose leaders met Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 23,
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Minister for Small and Medium Industries and a Tamil Member of Parliament (MP) from Jaffna, Douglas Devananda on August 25 said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which rules Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, and whose leaders met Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 23, is not interested in finding a solution to the Lankan Tamil question, reports The New Indian Express. The Tamil leader, who heads the anti-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party (EPDP), predicted that the TNA, which is now demanding the full implementation of the 13th Amendment (13A), will change its demand the moment the government implements it. He accused that TNA will keep shifting their demand with the sole aim of keeping the Tamil issue alive.
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August - 28 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran said on August 28 that TNA was ready to resume talks with the Government in search of a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis based on power devolution within a united Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. He said that, “The Government is
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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran said on August 28 that TNA was ready to resume talks with the Government in search of a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis based on power devolution within a united Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. He said that, “The Government is now saying it cannot hold talks with the TNA because we are representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Government is trying to evade resolving the Tamil issue citing these false claims. We do not have any hidden agenda. We strongly believe a solution to the issue in a united country and we do not want a separate state.” He added that it was the Government that backed away from the discussions and it was surprising to hear that Government was expecting the TNA call for a resumption of talks.
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August - 31 
According to a report by the national news agency, Lankapuvath, Sri Lanka will soon begin a probe on alleged war crime violations parallel to the investigations conducted by the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP), reports Colombo Page on August
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According to a report by the national news agency, Lankapuvath, Sri Lanka will soon begin a probe on alleged war crime violations parallel to the investigations conducted by the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP), reports Colombo Page on August 31. Maxwell Paranagama, the Chairman of the PCICMP said that probe on the war conducted by them will begin soon parallel to the public hearings of the Commission. The inquiries will go hand in hand with the investigations being conducted by the PCICMP. Paranagama added that the Commission is making preparations to commence inquiries under the new mandate it was given.
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August - 31 
The arrest of four human traffickers while trying to transport six Sri Lankans to Australia through the Prakasam coast, Andhra Pradesh in India earlier this week has raised the suspicion among Indian investigators that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) may be trying to revive in Australia,
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The arrest of four human traffickers while trying to transport six Sri Lankans to Australia through the Prakasam coast, Andhra Pradesh in India earlier this week has raised the suspicion among Indian investigators that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) may be trying to revive in Australia, reports Colombo Page on August 31. According to a report in The Hindu, the officials from agencies including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Tamil Nadu Police, conducting the investigations suspect that the LTTE is trying to regroup itself in Australia after lying low for five years since their defeat at the hands of Sri Lankan Security Forces (SFs). According to Police sources, the illegal emigrants to Australia from Sri Lanka were from, among other places, Mullaitivu, Northern Province and Mattakalappu, Eastern Province and are in the age group of 24 to 28 years. The investigation has found that the traffickers have used satellite phones with Global Positioning System (GPS) to keep in touch with their counterparts in the high seas. It has been revealed that they have also illegally transported Sri Lankan Tamils to other countries such as Ireland, United Kingdom (UK) and Canada.
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September - 1 
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), Chris Nonis said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) use its money for lobbying and the international ‘propaganda war’ has to be fought with the same focus and same strategy as the physical war that was fought and finished, repor
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Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), Chris Nonis said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) use its money for lobbying and the international ‘propaganda war’ has to be fought with the same focus and same strategy as the physical war that was fought and finished, reports Daily News on September 1. He said that, “I don’t think it can be laughed off in terms of ‘lack of communication’ or ‘lack of marketing’. It is literally a war, because the funds used by the rump of the LTTE to procure arms are now being diverted to fight this propaganda war, and I think it’s important that we understand the seriousness and gravity of that, and the resources therefore and strategy that needs to be put in to combat it, because it uses social media and other media, and an enormous network of international money laundering and financial transactions.”
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September - 4 
Meanwhile, following al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s announcement of the formation of an Indian branch of his global armed group, Sri Lanka on September 4 said it was taking the al Qaeda threat ‘very seriously’ and would review its visa restrictions to prevent extremists entering the island, rep
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Meanwhile, following al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s announcement of the formation of an Indian branch of his global armed group, Sri Lanka on September 4 said it was taking the al Qaeda threat ‘very seriously’ and would review its visa restrictions to prevent extremists entering the island, reports Daily Mirror.
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September - 4 
Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said that Army camps in the North would not be dismantled just because the Northern Province Chief Minister (CM) C. V. Vigneswaran made such demands, reports The Island on September 4. Minister Rambukwella was responding to the CM’s remarks that the presence of ma
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Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said that Army camps in the North would not be dismantled just because the Northern Province Chief Minister (CM) C. V. Vigneswaran made such demands, reports The Island on September 4. Minister Rambukwella was responding to the CM’s remarks that the presence of many army camps in the Northern Province had resulted in Tamils being unnecessarily questioned and harassed. Rambukwella observed that many areas of the North were yet to be cleared of land mines that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had planted. He added that Military installations had been established in the North in accordance with the security needs of the region.
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September - 5 
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin on September 5 said, “Though Sri Lanka’s Northern region is moving forward from its difficult past, some concerns still remained”, reports Daily Mirror. Mr. Rankin made a three-day visit to the Northern Province including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mulla
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British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin on September 5 said, “Though Sri Lanka’s Northern region is moving forward from its difficult past, some concerns still remained”, reports Daily Mirror. Mr. Rankin made a three-day visit to the Northern Province including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts and met Government and military officials, members of political parties, the Police, the British Council, humanitarian organizations and resettled communities. He urged the Government to continue taking further steps to improve the livelihoods of the people of the Northern Province, address their concerns and allow them to move forward into a brighter future in a stable and peaceful Sri Lanka.
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September - 5 
Military spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said “Only the central Government has the power to make decisions on the country's national security and it is not something that concerns the Local Governments, nor Provincial Councils or its councilors”, reports Colombo Page on September 5. The m
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Military spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said “Only the central Government has the power to make decisions on the country's national security and it is not something that concerns the Local Governments, nor Provincial Councils or its councilors”, reports Colombo Page on September 5. The military spokesperson made this remark in response to a statement made by the Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council C. V. Wigneswaran that the latter should be informed about setting up of Army Camps and land acquisition programs in the Northern Province.
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September - 6 
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan has remarked that he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka led by the OHCHR while urging the Lankan authorities to cooperate with the investigation, reports Daily Mirror on September 6.
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Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan has remarked that he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka led by the OHCHR while urging the Lankan authorities to cooperate with the investigation, reports Daily Mirror on September 6. He has also expressed alarm at the reports on threats that have been leveled against Human Rights Defenders in the country as well as on prospective victims and witnesses.
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September - 6 
The Chief Minister (CM) of Northern Province, C. V. Wigneswaran alleged that the members of Government intelligence services are spying on him, reports Colombo Page on September 6. Wigneswaran said that several persons posing as media men photographed him during a meeting with the German Ambassador
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The Chief Minister (CM) of Northern Province, C. V. Wigneswaran alleged that the members of Government intelligence services are spying on him, reports Colombo Page on September 6. Wigneswaran said that several persons posing as media men photographed him during a meeting with the German Ambassador on September 5 in Jaffna District. Noting that Israel uses new intelligence methods that study the external appearances of a person from photos to gather important information, the CM said that the Government is also possibly using similar techniques using spies to get information on him.
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September - 7 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 7 expressed Government’s willingness to conduct high-level dialogues with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and invited Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to visit Sri Lanka during 2014, reports Daily Mirror. President Raja
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 7 expressed Government’s willingness to conduct high-level dialogues with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and invited Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to visit Sri Lanka during 2014, reports Daily Mirror. President Rajapaksa expressed this during a joint statement which was released to the media soon after the end of bi-lateral talks between visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Rajapaksa in Colombo.
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September - 7 
The Chief Minister (CM) of Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran, speaking at the convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in Vavuniya District on September 7 urged Tamil youth to collect information on the deployment and activities of the Armed Forces in the Province, reports Daily Mirror.
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The Chief Minister (CM) of Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran, speaking at the convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in Vavuniya District on September 7 urged Tamil youth to collect information on the deployment and activities of the Armed Forces in the Province, reports Daily Mirror. Wigneswaran urged party youth to collect information on the deployment of the army in the North, their numbers, location, the amount of land they occupy, and the kind of activities they are involved in. He also called for utilizing women power, and efforts to rehabilitate and put to use former women cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the ITAK’s democratic movement.
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September - 8 
Delivering a statement at the 27th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland on September 8, Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said “Sri Lanka will continue the ongoing domestic processes of accountability, justice, re
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Delivering a statement at the 27th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland on September 8, Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said “Sri Lanka will continue the ongoing domestic processes of accountability, justice, reconciliation, and nation building in the best interest of the Sri Lankan people,” reports Colombo Page. Assuring Sri Lanka's continued support to the High Commissioner and to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in discharging his mandate according to the UN Charter, he said it is looking forward to the meeting with the Human Rights Committee in October 2014 when Sri Lanka's fifth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) will be considered. "It will be an added opportunity to update and inform the International Community on developments in Sri Lanka including efforts of the government to promote and protect human rights," he further said.
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September - 9 
Governor of the Northern Province, G. A. Chandrasiri on September 9 said that the Government has allocated SLR 1.385 billion for the development in the Northern Province this year and will provide another SLR 6 billion next year, reports Colombo Page. The Governor said this during a brief to the med
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Governor of the Northern Province, G. A. Chandrasiri on September 9 said that the Government has allocated SLR 1.385 billion for the development in the Northern Province this year and will provide another SLR 6 billion next year, reports Colombo Page. The Governor said this during a brief to the media on the development of the Province when he handed over new vehicles worth SLR 16 million to the Chief Minister and Health Minister of the Northern Province at the Governor's Secretariat.
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September - 11 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought an international observer's presence at talks with the Government on resolving the national issue, reports Colombo Page on September 12 (today). Responding to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's interview to The Hindu published on September 11 in which the Presiden
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought an international observer's presence at talks with the Government on resolving the national issue, reports Colombo Page on September 12 (today). Responding to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's interview to The Hindu published on September 11 in which the President said his Government was open for talks with the TNA, the leader of the TNA R. Sampanthan said "We are prepared to talk to him anytime, but in the past, this has been without a time frame. As a result, we would very much like an international observer's presence at talks to ensure that the commitments he gives are known to everyone."
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September - 13 
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) expressed grave concern on September 13 about the ‘resumption’ of arrests, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The agency learned that since early June, the Sri Lankan authorities have arrested and d
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United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) expressed grave concern on September 13 about the ‘resumption’ of arrests, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The agency learned that since early June, the Sri Lankan authorities have arrested and detained a total of 328 refugees and asylum-seekers, and deported 183 of them to Pakistan and Afghanistan. UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said, “We believe there are still 102 people of concern to UNHCR in detention, including 38 Pakistanis and 64 Afghans.” According to the UNHCR, the Sri Lankan Government started its special operation on June 9, 2014. It came to a halt on August 15 and resumed on September 3. Meanwhile, Human Right activists in Sri Lanka have filed a petition in the country's apex court against the deportations of the Pakistani and Afghan asylum seekers, reports Colombo Page on September 13. Six human rights defenders have petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the deportations and the court will hear the case on September 29.
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September - 21 
Issuing a statement to mark the 32nd International Day of Peace, British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Laura Davies on September 21 said the Peace in Sri Lanka has brought many additional benefits, including opportunities for economic growth and political participation, reports Colombo Page.
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Issuing a statement to mark the 32nd International Day of Peace, British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Laura Davies on September 21 said the Peace in Sri Lanka has brought many additional benefits, including opportunities for economic growth and political participation, reports Colombo Page. Recalling that today (September 21) is also the first anniversary of the first Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections, the envoy said the " United Kingdom (UK) continues to support Sri Lanka in its quest to further consolidate reconciliation, democracy and human rights in the country."
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September - 22 
The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) has completed investigations into 1,000 complaints concerning missing persons, a commission spokesman said on September 22, reports Daily News. The Commission has received 19,541 complaints and 5,000 among
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The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) has completed investigations into 1,000 complaints concerning missing persons, a commission spokesman said on September 22, reports Daily News. The Commission has received 19,541 complaints and 5,000 among these are about missing service personnel. The rest of the complaints are from the public. Commission Secretary H.W. Gunadasa said that the Commission will hold the next sittings in the Poonagary Divisional Secretariat division of the Killinochchi District, Northern Province, from September 27 to 30, 2014, to investigate 180 complaints.
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September - 27 
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was considering the surrendering of several of its key members to the Security Forces (SFs) during the final stages of the war, Northern Provincial councilor and widow of former LTTE Eastern Political Wing Head, Velayutham Sasitharan alias S. Elilan, Anant
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The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was considering the surrendering of several of its key members to the Security Forces (SFs) during the final stages of the war, Northern Provincial councilor and widow of former LTTE Eastern Political Wing Head, Velayutham Sasitharan alias S. Elilan, Ananthi Sasitharan said, reports The Nation on September 28. Ananthi Sasitharan told The Nation that a few days before the war ended, Elilan had informed her that he would be meeting LTTE’s ‘political wing head’, Balasingham Nadesan with regard to the surrendering of some key members. Ananthi Sasitharan’s statement comes in the wake of claims reportedly made by Sasirekha, the widow of S.P. Tamil Selvan, who was the ‘political wing’ head of LTTE before Balasingham Nadesan, that the ‘White Flag incident’ (May 18, 2009) was fabricated. Sasirekha, who is currently residing in Paris, had reportedly stated that the incident did not happen since the LTTE leader did not allow any of his senior members to surrender to the SFs. Ananthi Sasitharan, however, stated that Sasirekha would not have known the actual situation since she had surrendered to the SFs through a different route, Irattaivaikkal, while the key LTTE members were still at Mullivaikkal, Northern Province.
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October - 2 
Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to the 65th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on October 2 called on the UNHCR and refugee receiving countries to expedite resett
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Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to the 65th Session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on October 2 called on the UNHCR and refugee receiving countries to expedite resettling of refugees and assist Sri Lanka with resources to provide facilities to asylum seekers until they are resettled, reports Colombo Page. Mrs. Samantha said despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Sri Lanka has been accommodating refugees and asylum seekers in the country and the country is burdened with the influx of refugees.
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October - 6 
Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director David Griffiths said that Sri Lanka must stop making empty promises to the international community and the Sri Lankan people on improving the country’s still desperate human rights situation, reports Daily Mirror on October 7. He said “More than a
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Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director David Griffiths said that Sri Lanka must stop making empty promises to the international community and the Sri Lankan people on improving the country’s still desperate human rights situation, reports Daily Mirror on October 7. He said “More than a decade since the last Committee review of Sri Lanka’s record in 2003, it’s disturbing to see how many rights issues raised then still persist in the country and how the Government has ignored promises to address them. Sri Lanka still relies on draconian laws to silence dissent. Torture and enforced disappearances continue unchecked, as do violations of freedom of expression and association.”
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October - 13 
Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that Ten ex- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who underwent rehabilitation in Boossa and a one month basic training course in heavy vehicle operation including back hoe loaders and excavators successfully co
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Police Media Spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that Ten ex- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who underwent rehabilitation in Boossa and a one month basic training course in heavy vehicle operation including back hoe loaders and excavators successfully completed the course at the Vocational Training Centre in Galle, Southern Province on October 13, reports Daily News. The Government spent LKR 52,000 for each participant for the residential heavy vehicle operation training course. Arrangements will be made to find employment for them here or abroad. The training will continue for the other ex-LTTE cadres as well, SSP Rohana said.
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October - 18 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 18 has charged that the recent decisions taken by the European Union (EU) are a result of the attempts by the opposition parties to oust him, reports Colombo Page. He accused that certain politicians are working with the pro- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (L
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 18 has charged that the recent decisions taken by the European Union (EU) are a result of the attempts by the opposition parties to oust him, reports Colombo Page. He accused that certain politicians are working with the pro- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tamil diaspora to oust him at the much anticipated presidential election. "European Union has lifted the ban on the LTTE. It happened within two weeks of certain opposition leaders having talks with the pro-LTTE diaspora, "the President said. It has been alleged that the opposition United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremasinghe during his recent tour to London earlier this month had met with the representatives of the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora to get them to push the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), to support him at an upcoming Presidential election.
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October - 23 
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya during the weekly media briefing held in Colombo on October 23 said that the lifting of ban of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the European Union (EU) region will only help to increase the operational ability including fund collecting by
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Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya during the weekly media briefing held in Colombo on October 23 said that the lifting of ban of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the European Union (EU) region will only help to increase the operational ability including fund collecting by the terrorist group, reports Colombo Page. In response to media queries, the Spokesman said that the LTTE through its network of 'Sencholai' schools promote their doctrine of separatism and inculcate a negative image of the country, especially in the minds of the children of the Tamil expatriate community.
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October - 24 
Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Subinay Nandy, addressing a function to mark the 69th UN Day in Colombo on October 24 said Sri Lanka has taken commendable steps for the resettlement of displaced persons and to develop property that were damaged due to the terrorism, reports Colombo Page. He added
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Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Subinay Nandy, addressing a function to mark the 69th UN Day in Colombo on October 24 said Sri Lanka has taken commendable steps for the resettlement of displaced persons and to develop property that were damaged due to the terrorism, reports Colombo Page. He added that development in the infrastructure and facilities available in the North and East today is significantly notable.
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October - 27 
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on October 27, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that with the European Union (EU) General Court lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Government may use LTTE assets through the former LTTE leader
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Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on October 27, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that with the European Union (EU) General Court lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Government may use LTTE assets through the former LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) for a presidential election, reports Colombo Page. "According to the Government, LTTE assets and funds are worth over SLR 200 billion. They can say that it couldn't get the funds because of the ban on the LTTE back then. But there is no longer a ban on the LTTE from the EU. Therefore LTTE leaders have access to the funds," Attanayake said.
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October - 29 
The Commonwealth on October 29 encouraged the Government to accelerate its efforts towards sustainable reconciliation and consolidation of its "successful and hard won peace" through continued implementation of the recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), reports Colom
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The Commonwealth on October 29 encouraged the Government to accelerate its efforts towards sustainable reconciliation and consolidation of its "successful and hard won peace" through continued implementation of the recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), reports Colombo Page. Recognizing the significant effort Government has been made to redevelop infrastructure and basic services in the Northern Province, the Secretary General of Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma said these are important developments in peace-building and in creating the conditions for enduring harmony. He hoped that these "public goods" will increasingly add economic value, advance the welfare of the citizens of Northern Province, and nurture development and prosperity.
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November - 8 
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) reassesses the removal of the ban on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger terror group, Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the European Union before 15 January 2015, according to the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jean-Paul Monchau, reports Colombo Page on November 9
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The European Court of Justice (ECJ) reassesses the removal of the ban on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger terror group, Liberations Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the European Union before 15 January 2015, according to the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jean-Paul Monchau, reports Colombo Page on November 9. The French Envoy said that lifting the restrictions on the LTTE is the decision of the ECJ at the moment and the ECJ will review the matter before 15 January.
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November - 11 
Australian Consul-General to South India Sean Kelly said that Australia is verifying the genuineness of the asylum claims of the 157 Sri Lankan Tamils who had left Puducherry in India by boat, reports Daily Mirror on November 12. The boat was intercepted by Australian authorities in June, 2014. The
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Australian Consul-General to South India Sean Kelly said that Australia is verifying the genuineness of the asylum claims of the 157 Sri Lankan Tamils who had left Puducherry in India by boat, reports Daily Mirror on November 12. The boat was intercepted by Australian authorities in June, 2014. The migrants are now lodged in detention centres on Nauru Island in the South Pacific.
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November - 11 
Leader of Sri Lanka's Opposition and the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe on November 11 said that he had asked the European Council to appeal against the ruling given by the General Court of the European Union (EU) favoring the lifting of sanctions against the Liberation Tigers of
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Leader of Sri Lanka's Opposition and the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe on November 11 said that he had asked the European Council to appeal against the ruling given by the General Court of the European Union (EU) favoring the lifting of sanctions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. Wickremesinghe said he has written to the European Union (EU) High Representative Federica Mogherini to file an appeal against the EU General Court's verdict to lift sanctions on the LTTE. He accused that "the Governments of Britain and the Netherlands appeared in court but the Government of Sri Lanka did not."
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November - 12 
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha while addressing a conference in Geneva on November 12 has said that Sri Lanka stands ready to share its experience in comprehensive demining as a 'best practice' with countries which are facing similar c
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Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha while addressing a conference in Geneva on November 12 has said that Sri Lanka stands ready to share its experience in comprehensive demining as a 'best practice' with countries which are facing similar challenges, reports Colombo Page. Ambassador said that the Sri Lanka's continuing progress in demining has been achieved by telescoping, what according to some estimates was to take 15-20 years, into one of 5-7 years duration. According to him, over 1,128,336 explosive devices (1,712- Anti Tank, 615,669- Anti Personal and 510,955 unexploded ordnances [UXOs]) have been recovered as at September 2014. Five years since the ending of the conflict in Sri Lanka, so far this year alone, a total of 55,761 explosive devices, including 78 Anti Tank mines, 28,577 Anti Personnel mines and 27,106 UXOs have been recovered. He added that a large portion, about 75 percent, of the demining work, had been allocated to the Sri Lanka Army. He also said the demining continues to take place as the number of mines and improvised explosive devices (IED) laid by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was extensive and their locations unknown. Ambassador Aryasinha said due to the efficient and effective demining process and also to the infrastructure development in the former conflict affected area, the Government of Sri Lanka was able to resettle a total of 510,710 persons (153,837 families) out of nearly 767,748 Internally Displaced Persons [IDPs] (226,824 families), in the Northern Province and 257,038 persons (72,987 families) in the Eastern Province. He noted that “as per the Joint Study undertaken by the Ministry of Resettlement, the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province (PTF); and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as of August 2014, only a total of 26,056 persons (7,840 families) remain to be resettled, which includes 21,747 persons (6,498 families) from the Northern Province and 4,309 persons (1,342 families) from the Eastern Province."
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November - 15 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 15 accused that Norway has funded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the island's three-decade civil war and demanded an investigation into the involvement of the former Norwegian Government, reports Colombo Page. The President said that "They
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 15 accused that Norway has funded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the island's three-decade civil war and demanded an investigation into the involvement of the former Norwegian Government, reports Colombo Page. The President said that "They (Norway) gave money to the LTTE. The Norwegian Government must investigate. We have evidence on how they funded the terrorists". He charged that the former Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim has supported the LTTE and now the former Norwegian Minister is getting ready to testify against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) led investigation.
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November - 17 
Former Norwegian Minister and facilitator of Sri Lanka's peace process, Erik Solheim, on November 17 rejected President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s allegation that he supported and funded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. He said, “Norway, as the third, facilitating party to
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Former Norwegian Minister and facilitator of Sri Lanka's peace process, Erik Solheim, on November 17 rejected President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s allegation that he supported and funded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. He said, “Norway, as the third, facilitating party to the Sri Lankan peace process financed neither the LTTE in general nor its military operations in particular.” He however, noted that Norway made economic resources available to the LTTE peace secretariat in order to assist them in engaging more fully with the ongoing peace process. He further said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was fully informed of the Norway's role in the peace process and the President was always fully supportive of Norway's peace aims.
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December - 2 
The Council of the European Union (EU) decided to appeal the Judgment of the General Court with regards to the sanctions on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the EU office in Colombo said on December 2 (today), reports Colombo Gazette. The Judgement of the General Court of the European Un
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The Council of the European Union (EU) decided to appeal the Judgment of the General Court with regards to the sanctions on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the EU office in Colombo said on December 2 (today), reports Colombo Gazette. The Judgement of the General Court of the European Union annulled measures taken by the Council of the EU against the LTTE, namely the designation of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and the freezing of LTTE funds. The Court gave the judgement following a case filed in support of the LTTE and against the EU ban on the rebels. “It is important to remember that this legal ruling was clearly based on procedural grounds and it did not imply any assessment by the Court of the substantive issues of designating the LTTE or of freezing LTTE funds,” the EU office in Colombo said.
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December - 2 
The Council of the European Union (EU) has decided to appeal the Judgment of the General Court to annul the EU regulations proscribing the Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the European Union said in a statement on December 2, reports Colombo Page. The
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The Council of the European Union (EU) has decided to appeal the Judgment of the General Court to annul the EU regulations proscribing the Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the European Union said in a statement on December 2, reports Colombo Page. The Judgment of the General Court of the EU on October 16, annulled measures taken by the Council of the EU against the LTTE, namely the designation of the LTTE as a terrorist organization and the freezing of LTTE funds. "It is important to remember that this legal ruling was clearly based on procedural grounds and it did not imply any assessment by the Court of the substantive issues of designating the LTTE or of freezing LTTE funds," the statement said.
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December - 2 
The Sri Lankan Government on December 2 said that it welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union (EU) to appeal the judgment of the General Court of the EU of October 16, 2014, which annulled measures taken by the Council to designate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a t
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The Sri Lankan Government on December 2 said that it welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union (EU) to appeal the judgment of the General Court of the EU of October 16, 2014, which annulled measures taken by the Council to designate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization and the freezing of LTTE funds, reports Colombo Page. Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said "The action taken by the Council of the European Union demonstrates commitment for the fight against terrorism at a time when this threat is increasingly posing a significant challenge to global peace and stability, necessitating a collective and vigorous international effort to counter."
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December - 13 
Election monitoring group, People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) in Sri Lanka, says that following the declaration of Presidential election out of the 175 cases, 48 incidents have been reported as violent incidents, reports Colombo Page on December 14. There were four shooting incide
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Election monitoring group, People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) in Sri Lanka, says that following the declaration of Presidential election out of the 175 cases, 48 incidents have been reported as violent incidents, reports Colombo Page on December 14. There were four shooting incidents and one bombing among the incidents reported. Some 19 persons have been injured and hospitalized, the PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said. Hettiarachchi said such violations of election laws can undermine the legitimacy of the presidential elections and urged all politicians to dedicate themselves to conduct a free and fair poll.
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December - 13 
The United Nations (UN) led international investigation on Sri Lanka will not deliver justice as it is biased and not a proper investigation, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister, G.L Peiris said, reports Colombo Page on December 14. In an interview with The Sunday Leader, Minister Peiris, reiterat
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The United Nations (UN) led international investigation on Sri Lanka will not deliver justice as it is biased and not a proper investigation, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister, G.L Peiris said, reports Colombo Page on December 14. In an interview with The Sunday Leader, Minister Peiris, reiterated that the country will not be subjected to an international investigation. "We know that this is not a proper investigation at all. It is political. It is biased. It is a situation where the conclusion has already arrived at before the investigation is over. An international investigation is not going to deliver justice," Peiris said. The Minister added that the Government is taking measures at various levels to prepare for the next UN Human Rights Council session review in March 2015.
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December - 15 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned that despite the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, the country still faces a threat from the LTTE network overseas, reports Colombo Gazette. Speaking at an election rally in Panadura town in Kalutara District on December 15, the Pr
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa warned that despite the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, the country still faces a threat from the LTTE network overseas, reports Colombo Gazette. Speaking at an election rally in Panadura town in Kalutara District on December 15, the President noted that LTTE supporters living in foreign countries have formed a parliament of their own and are working against Sri Lankan interests. The country needs to be vigilant against the actions of these groups operating overseas and those supporting those groups from within Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa said adding, the government and the people of Sri Lanka need to continue the fight against terrorism to ensure the LTTE does not raise its head in Sri Lanka again. Rajapaksa further urged the public to vote for the betel leaf at the January 8, 2015, election and ensure the victory achieved at the war is maintained following the election.
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December - 18 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing an election campaign rally in Mullaitivu District on December 18 said "After 27 years, we gave you an election. You all elected your members. This election will decide a leader for the country”, reports Colombo Page. Speaking further President Rajapaksa said th
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing an election campaign rally in Mullaitivu District on December 18 said "After 27 years, we gave you an election. You all elected your members. This election will decide a leader for the country”, reports Colombo Page. Speaking further President Rajapaksa said the Government has done a massive amount of work to rebuild the war-torn area and uplift the lives of the people in the North. Among other initiatives to improve their livelihood, the Government has provided self-employment loans for 430 ex-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres of Mullaitivu, he noted.
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December - 23 
Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon still wants Sri Lanka to cooperate with the ongoing human rights investigation on Sri Lanka mandated by the UN Human Rights Council despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa saying he will not back the investigation, reports Colombo Gazette on December 24. The Pr
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Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon still wants Sri Lanka to cooperate with the ongoing human rights investigation on Sri Lanka mandated by the UN Human Rights Council despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa saying he will not back the investigation, reports Colombo Gazette on December 24. The President has said he will let local laws to deal with any human rights violators and not agree to a UN probe. Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary General, said that the Secretary General has always encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to comprehensively address the post-war agenda and the Secretary General has also echoed the calls made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the Government to cooperate with the ongoing human rights investigation. The report on Sri Lanka by the investigations team of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will be taken up for discussion at the UN Human Rights Council on March 25, 2015. The 28th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council will be held from March 2 to March 27 in Geneva and the report on Sri Lanka is part of the agenda.
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December - 27 
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRSCL) has issued a directive to all public officers of Sri Lanka on the 2015 Presidential election, reports Colombo Page on December 28. The main intention of the directive is to ensure that the upcoming presidential election of Sri Lanka 2015 will be free
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The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRSCL) has issued a directive to all public officers of Sri Lanka on the 2015 Presidential election, reports Colombo Page on December 28. The main intention of the directive is to ensure that the upcoming presidential election of Sri Lanka 2015 will be free and fair and a reflection of the view of people of the country without any pressure being brought upon them, the HRCSL said in a statement.
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December - 31 
Ministry of Defense spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on December 31 said that over 14,000 skilled personnel have been added to Security Forces (SFs) since the end of the war in 2009 to carry out the post-war infrastructure development projects, reports Colombo Page. The spokesperson said t
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Ministry of Defense spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya on December 31 said that over 14,000 skilled personnel have been added to Security Forces (SFs) since the end of the war in 2009 to carry out the post-war infrastructure development projects, reports Colombo Page. The spokesperson said that the Army has recruited over 10,000 skilled personnel who are not entitled for uniforms for their day-to-day duties and over 11,000 civil staff members have also been enrolled for these development duties. The Army, in general has enlisted over 35,000 persons for the nation building purpose since 2009. The skilled workforce is guided under the supervision of Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers who were involved in the Humanitarian Operation. These officers of fighting units are only involved in a Management and Leadership role to the skilled workers. The enlistees who are not entitled for military uniforms too are considered as soldiers and facilities entitled for an ordinary solider are also available for them.
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