Sri Lanka Timeline - Year 2013

January 2

Sri Lanka Police Department has removed the Police personnel who were deployed in and around the Jaffna University premises following the clash between the university students and SFs on November 27, 2012 when the university students tried to commemorate the LTTE Heroes' Day.

Higher Education Minister of Sri Lanka S.B. Dissanayake said that the Jaffna University would be closed if academic activities are not resumed this week. Jaffna University students and academic staff started to boycott classes demanding the release of four university students who were arrested on charges of supporting terrorist activities following the clash between university students and the SFs on November 27, 2012 when the students tried to commemorate the LTTE Heroes' Day.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said that the party would vote against the amended Divi Neguma Bill (Enhancement of Life) when it is taken up for a vote in Parliament.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), an ally of the Government, also said that it is yet to reach a final decision on the party's stance on the Bill as some SLMC members have expressed concerns over the bill since it interfered with subjects vested with the provincial councils under the 13th Amendment.

Parliament passed the amended Divi Neguma (Enhancement of Life) Bill aimed at poverty alleviation in the country with a majority of 107 votes. 159 voted in favor while 42 voted against.

The Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms has made arrangement to release another batch of former combatants of the defeated terror organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the society. The Ministry will release another 313 rehabilitated cadres in Vavuniya District on January 13 to coincide with the upcoming Hindu harvest festival of Thai Pongal.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka's Security Forces (SFs) fought the separatist terrorists and liberated the country not for their personal gain but for the yet unborn future generation. He told that the Government is not prepared to reverse the massive development programme being implemented as a free and sovereign nation.

The Sri Lankan Government has increased the allocations for rehabilitating the former of LTTE cadres from SLR 300 million to SLR 500 million. Sri Lanka Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera revealed this while releasing a batch of former cadres of LTTE. A group of 313 former LTTE rebels were reintegrated into the society to mark the Hindu cultural festival "Thai Pongal" that falls on January 14.

The official website of Sri Lanka's MCNS has been hacked and defaced by a hacker, known as Game Over. The hacker has not only defaced the site at nationalsecurity.lk, but redirected it to another site and gained access to the server, taking away and leaking hundreds of login information of the site users.

Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka will focus on the need to amend the Constitution to add a 19thAmendment due to the recent conflict raised between the judiciary and legislature. He said there is discussion in several Government circles on the need to amend the Constitution and the Government will have to make a decision. However, the country will be informed before such a decision is taken, the Minister told.

Construction, Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities Minister and NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa said the eradication of LTTE terrorism is the only reason for all foreign interferences in Sri Lanka's internal matters. The Minister said "Though the LTTE was defeated, we still have external and internal enemies. All Sri Lankans should recognize these enemies and support the government to defeat these enemies."

TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that the Government has failed to honor the pledges given to the UN on post war reconciliation. Sampanthan observed that the Government had made several pledges to the UN and the international community on reconciliation in the country, and one was the demilitarization of the Northern Province. He pointed out that there were concerns on the resettlement of the war displaced in their original homes. He also added that the delay in releasing or taking legal action against the Tamil political prisoners was also an issue that the Government has failed to address.

Sri Lanka Parliament passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Bill to extend the detention time for suspects arrested by the Police for 48 hours. The Bill received 110 votes in favor and 33 against and passed by the House with amendments. The main opposition UNP and the Marxist party JVP decided to vote against the bill.

Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya said that the Army will hand over its first report on January 24 in response to observations and recommendations made by the LLRC with regards to the Sri Lanka Army.

Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said no LTTE cadre that surrendered to the Security Forces during the final stage of the humanitarian mission went missing. The Defence Secretary said all allegations are baseless and ever since, LTTE cadres who have surrendered were rehabilitated and reintegrated to society.

A Board appointed by the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya to study the recommendations made by the LLRC asserted the Sri Lankan Government's "absolute "right to maintain its armed forces anywhere in the country. The Board recommended appointing special boards covering the five security forces headquarters in the North and East regions, namely Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Wanni and East Districts, to evaluate the land needs by those units in the region.

TNA requested the three US Assistant Secretaries of State - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vikram Singh, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jane Zimmerman - arrived in Sri Lanka on January 26 on a mission to mainly assess the progress on implementing measures recommended by the country's own LLRC. The TNA delegation led by R. Sampanthan and including parliamentarians M.A. Sumanthiran and S. Sridharan met the US officials at the residence of US Ambassador, Michele Sisson.

External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said that he has briefed India about the progress it has achieved in the areas of post-war reconciliation and the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC report during the eighth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, which was held in Delihi last week.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Department James R. Moore said, "As a measure to force Sri Lanka to expedite the implementation of the pledges given on reconciliation, the United States will sponsor a new resolution against Sri Lanka at the upcoming UNHRC Sessions in Geneva in March. It is a straightforward resolution that will build on the resolution brought in March 2012." He added that the resolution will be to expedite reconciliation and implementation of the LLRC Report.

Two US Senators called for an independent investigation into the potential war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE during the civil war in Sri Lanka. In a letter addressed to the outgoing Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania Bob Casey and Democratic Senator from Vermont Patrick Leahy said an independent investigation is needed because the Sri Lankan Government has not answered the legitimate concerns of the people. "During the years following the end of the war, the Sri Lankan people have waited for the Government to address these concerns, yet no tangible or substantial progress has been made," the Senators wrote.

HRW in its World Report 2013 said the Sri Lankan Government continued its assault on civil society and failed to take meaningful steps towards accountability for war crimes during the country's armed conflict that ended in 2009. There was no fundamental progress on key human rights issues in Sri Lanka over the past year, HRW said. Overly broad detention powers remained in place under various laws and regulations, leaving several thousand people detained without charge. State SFs committed arbitrary arrests and torture, including sexual assault, against ethnic minority Tamils. Repatriated Tamils allegedly linked to the defeated LTTE were at particular risk, HRW research found.

Sri Lanka Army facilitated a group of IDP of Sampur town in the Trincomalee District of the Eastern Province to revisit their village. The 224 brigade of Sri Lanka Army provided facilities to the villagers to revisit their homes in the High Security Zone and 138 families of the Navarathnapuram village visited their old houses which were in dilapidated conditions. Sampur town, located in close vicinity to the Trincomalee harbor was under the control of the LTTE until the Army recaptured the area in September 2006.

TNA called for further action by the UNHRC against the Sri Lanka Government. The party in a statement said that appropriate action at the UNHRC is absolutely necessary to persuade the Sri Lankan Government to adhere to the UN resolution adapted by the UNHRC and to discontinue with what it called 'harmful agenda' against the Tamil People of Sri Lanka. TNA accused the Government of refusing to consider the proposals offered by the TNA while the Government has repeatedly asked the TNA to join the PCS appointed to work out a solution for the ethnic issue.

TNA parliamentarian, S. Sritharan said that thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka's North will launch a hunger strike to protest against the lack of access to their lands. Over 20,000 civilians in the North are to participate in the hunger strike scheduled to be held at the Tellippalali Durga Devi temple premises on February 15. The protestors will demand the withdrawal of the SFs from lands owned by the civilians prior to the end of the war and will continue until the authorities address the civilians' demands.

Ruling out granting minority Tamils of the North any political autonomy as a solution to the three-decades-long ethnic conflict, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said "It is not practical for this country to have different administrations based on ethnicity. The solution is to live together in this country with equal rights for all communities." The President said this in his address to the nation on the occasion of the Sri Lankan Independence Day from the eastern port town of Trincomalee the administrative capital of Eastern Province. Mr. Rajapaksa claimed that though nearly four years had passed since the LTTE were routed, Sri Lanka "had to face continued challenges to protect the freedom and independence of our motherland. For this very reason we have now come to a very strong situation. Similarly, facing up to these challenges have increased our desire to be committed to our freedom".

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for South Asia Alistair Burt confirmed that the British Government will support a United Nations resolution on Sri Lanka sponsored by the United States at the upcoming 22nd UNHRC session in Geneva later this month. Burt said UK will continue to urge the Sri Lankan Government and the major Tamil party, TNA to make serious progress towards a political settlement in the country.

Sri Lanka Parliament moved a draft revision bill to revise legislation on terrorist financing as the country needs a complete legal framework in order to suppress the financing of terrorism. The draft bill to amend the Convention on Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act No 25 of 2005 was presented to Parliament by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silval. The Sri Lankan Government, as a response to the threat from the LTTE, which is still active overseas, has launched legislative efforts focused on limiting financial support for the remnants of LTTE.

Parliament approved the draft bill to amend the Convention on Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act No 25 of 2005 without a vote after its Third Reading in Parliament.

Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa while delivering a keynote address in Colombo said "The international pressure brought to bear on Sri Lanka especially by the Western nations misled by LTTE sympathizers can cause international investors and even tourists to stay away from the country." He further said the Government will not compromise when it comes to providing security to the nation as a part of LTTE remains active outside the country.

The report by human rights experts, which was submitted to the UNHRC, said that Sri Lanka has failed to honor promises to investigate serious rights abuses and allegations that thousands of civilians were killed in the final stages of its ethnic war. The document said grave human rights violations, including the killing of 17 aid workers of a French charity in August 2006 had not been probed despite Government promises swiftly to bring perpetrators to justice.

Speaking at the Special Development Committee meeting at Tilco City Hotel in Jaffna District, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said all countrymen have a responsibility to ensure no room is left for the re-emergence of terrorism which brought suffering to the people of all communities for over three decades.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said TNA leaders are following in the footsteps of the LTTE in spreading falsehoods about the country. The minister said LTTE leaders were also in the habit of traveling in many countries and cities including Oslo and propagating falsehoods.

The Court of Inquiry appointed by Sri Lanka Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya investigating into the controversial instances of shelling referred to the LLRC Report said that instances of shelling mentioned in the LLRC report were not caused by the Sri Lanka Army and the civilian casualties might have occurred due to unlawful acts by the LTTE.

The Government has decided to acquire the land that is now being used as High Security Zones permanently. The acquisition is to be done under the Land Acquisition Act and the Ministry of Defense had already made a request in this regard from the Ministry of Lands and Land Development. The Government is to acquire an extent of over 2000 acres of land.

A TNA spokesman said that they had received complaints from the family members of three rehabilitated cadres of the former rebel group LTTE in Batticaloa District of Eastern Province that they have been arrested by the Police again.

Sri Lanka Ministry of Land and Land Development said that it will resolve the dispute arisen due to the occupation of civilian lands for military establishments immediately. The Ministry has started a study on the land in the HSZ of Northern and Eastern Provinces. The civilians who resided in the lands now taken under HSZ have been asked to submit their proof to the ownership of lands to the Divisional Secretaries of the area. The Ministry said that the land that is needed to be retained will be acquired and the owners will be compensated.

International terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said that all three pro-LTTE factions have started lobbying ahead of the UNHCR sessions in Geneva in March. Gunaratna said the three factions are the Tamil Eelam People's Assembly led by Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan in Norway, the Global Tamil Forum led by Father S J Emmanuel in London and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam led by V Rudrakumaran in New York.

The EU decided to support the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the forthcoming UNHCR in Geneva. The document reads that, "the EU will also support efforts aimed at keeping the issues of accountability and reconciliation as well as the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka on the agenda of the Human Rights Council."

Fresh questions have been raised over Sri Lanka's armed forces conduct during the final stages of the operation against the LTTE rebels after new photographs emerged claiming that the 12-year-old Balachandran Prabhakaran son of the LTTE's leader Villupillai Prabhakaran was summarily executed.

Sri Lanka flatly rejected the latest documentary by a British channel that is featuring a new set of images of LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's 12-year-old son in the final battle.

HRW in a letter to the UNHRC members said that at its March 2013 session, the UNHRC should authorize an independent, international investigation into war crimes committed during the final months of Sri Lanka's armed conflict.

Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said in Colombo that measures will be taken within the next two years to resolve disputes of the conflict in the Northern and Eastern Provinces arising from the requisition of civilian lands for military establishments.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Rodney Perera said the Sri Lankan Government will seek the support of several countries including China to fend off a resolution to be brought against the country by the United States at the upcoming 22nd session of the UNHRC next month.

The ALRC, an independent regional NGO in a written statement suggested the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances to study the situation and conduct inquiries into to the remains of the 200 or more persons found in the grave in Matale town of Jaffna District.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay making the opening statement at the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva said that 'massive' human rights violations have occurred in Sri Lanka during the war that ended in 2009.

Sri Lankan Information Department said that the Government under its NAP to implement the recommendations of LLRC prepares to conduct an island wide census on deaths and injuries to people and on damages to the properties during the three decades of ethnic conflict. The census, to be conducted jointly by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs and the Department of Census and Statistics, will cover the conflict period from 1983 up to the end of war in May 2009.

HRW in a report reveals that Sri Lankan SFs are accused of continuing to use rape and sexual assault nearly four years after the end of the war to torture Tamil detainees suspected of having links with the vanquished terrorist outfit LTTE. According to the HRW report, the military, military intelligence and the police, including specialized units such as the CID and TID took part in the alleged crimes.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya dismissed the HRW report that alleged the country's SFs continued to use sexual violence on suspected LTTEs in detention. Wanigasooriya said that the Army is ready to investigate if there are proper complaints filed.

Plantations Minister and President's Special Envoy on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe addressing the 22nd UNHRC sessions in Geneva said "Undue pressure exerted by external parties on the issue of 'retributive justice and accountability', is not helpful in the resolution of these issues."

Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka's former Army Commander and the leader of unregistered Democratic Party said in a press conference in Colombo that he was ready to answer any alleged war crime charges brought by international investigators.

Patrick Ventrell, acting deputy spokesperson of U.S. Department of State said at the daily press briefing that the Government of Sri Lanka to date has not initiated any kind of investigation into the alleged rights violations yet.

Voice Against Corruption called on the Government to reveal details of the wealth and assets that were seized from the LTTE during the war. Co-convener of Voice Against Corruption Wasantha Samarasinghe said that the Government had taken into custody large stocks of gold, vast amounts of money and ships belonging to the LTTE during the war.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa denied that the Army killed LTTE chief Prabakaran's 12-year-old son Balachandran. He SAID "Had it happened, I would have known it. It is obvious that if somebody from the armed forces had done that, I must take responsibility. We completely deny it. It can't be."

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navi Pillay, addressing the UNHRC general debate on thematic reports by Secretary-General and High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva at the 22nd session of UNHRC, said she remained concerned about the lack of meaningful progress in terms of accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and welcomed the Council's engagement in monitoring domestic processes regarding accountability.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in reply to a question on Sri Lanka during a press briefing said "I recognised the important steps taken by the government of Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict."

A group of about 1,500 representatives of the organization called 'Dead and Missing Persons Front' representing the family members killed by the LTTE handed over a petition to the UN over their loved ones killed in LTTE attacks. The organization holds TNA, the proxy party of LTTE before the end of the war, as equally responsible as the LTTE for the deaths of their family members and injustices claimed to have been committed to them.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration in Colombo said that Sri Lanka will conduct a census on people died and injured during the civil war with the LTTE and the Marxist insurrection in the 80's. The census will cover the period of the terrorist war since 1983 including the unrest prevailed in the country in 1983 and the insurrection of the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in the years of 1988 and 89.

Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing a public meeting in Colombo said the groups supporting LTTE who could not defeat Sri Lanka through war are now trying to attack the country by creating conflicts using international forces. The Minister alleged that international forces envious of Sri Lanka's rapid development process are exerting pressure on Sri Lanka and hatching conspiracies to make a regime change in the country.

Canada reiterated its call for an independent investigation into Sri Lanka's human right violations at the UNHRC sessions at Geneva and urged the Sri Lankan Government to implement without delay the recommendations of the LLRC through its NAP.

Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon said that the Government will vest around 21,000 acres of land in the Jaffna Peninsula, taken over for military purposes during the war, among their original owners. He said all problems related to lands in those areas are to be solved within next two years.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, the convener of the 'Dead and Missing Persons Front' Ananda Perera questioned why the UNHRC is silent about the atrocities committed by the LTTE during the three decades of terror. He further said the UNHRC should also focus its attention on TNA, which was the proxy party of the LTTE during the war and assisted the terrorist organization.

Vavuniya prison authorities said that no LTTE suspects were located in the Vavuniya prison due to security reasons. The Vavuniya prison was opened on March 12 after being refurbished and the relocating of prisoners would be carried out gradually.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona said that Sri Lanka undertook a task never undertaken by any country that faced terrorism, by even rehabilitating suicide bombers of the LTTE and releasing them to the Sri Lankan community. He said, "LTTE suicide bombers struck over 230 times, killing thousands of civilians. They targeted men, women and children indiscriminately and left thousands dead and maimed. They created a massive wave of terror in the country."

The UNHRC adopted the outcome of the UPR on Sri Lanka in Geneva. Sri Lanka's Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights and Minister of Plantation Industries Mahinda Samarasinghe briefed the Council that the Government is actively engaged in removing military involvement in civil administration, demining, and rehabilitation, and had launched national reconciliation and peace-building initiatives. Sri Lanka had accepted 113 out of 204 recommendations received, and had also made 19 voluntary commitments. Sri Lanka was currently evaluating the implementation of the NAP for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Mahinda Samarasinghe answering a question during the sessions at the 22nd Session of the UNHRC also asked the International Community as to why "it keeps silent on the atrocities committed by the LTTE."

US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said the U.S. is disappointed that Sri Lankan Government rejected all UPR recommendations from States that called upon it to implement the LLRC recommendations and called on the government to expeditiously implement both the UPR and LLRC recommendations.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan accused the Government of changing demographics in north east. He said, "Most regrettably, the time and space that the Government seeks is not to fulfill its commitments and obligations but rather to fulfill its own agenda, which is to change the demographic composition of the North and East Provinces further and dilute and alter the cultural and linguistic identity of those areas."

Tamil activists in Tamil Nadu supporting Sri Lanka's defeated Tamil Tiger terrorist outfit LTTE have assaulted Sri Lankan Buddhist monk identified as Bandara, who was part of a group of Sri Lankan pilgrims at the Central Railway Station in Chennai.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasada Kariyawasam said, "Resolution on Sri Lanka in UN is uncalled for. We don't think there is a need for international community to get involved in Sri Lanka at this point."

United States presented the revised version of its resolution 'Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka' at the 22nd session of the UNHRC in Geneva co-sponsored by 32 countries. The final draft welcomes and acknowledges the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, while noting that considerable work need to be done in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihoods. It welcomed the announcement by the Sri Lankan government to hold elections to the Provincial Council in the Northern Province in September 2013.

In letters addressed to Foreign Ministers of Council member countries, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris rejecting the new resolution wrote "Just as the Government of Sri Lanka did not recognize the last HRC resolution, it rejects the new resolution. Sri Lanka intends to request a vote when the draft resolution is taken up at the Human Rights Council on 21st March 2013."

Sri Lanka expressed 'strongest' reservations on the content of the report prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Navanetham Pillay on Sri Lanka following a technical mission to the country at the 22nd session of the UNHRC in Geneva.

Tens of thousands of Tamils from the North joined a rally in Jaffna city of the Northern Province to condemn a US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva.

UNHRC adopted the resolution sponsored by the United States with 25 votes in favor, 13 against and 8 abstentions. Adopting the resolution, the 47-member UNHRC reiterated its call made in the resolution adopted last year for Sri Lanka to effectively implement the constructive recommendations made in the report of the LLRC and to take all necessary measures to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans.

In a rejection of the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, President's Special Envoy on Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the resolution was clearly unacceptable due to its inherent flaws. The minister pointed out that preambular part of the text is 'intrusive, bears misinterpretations and focuses disproportionately on the negative and eliminates or is dismissive of the positive.'

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the presentation of Presidential Colours to the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment in Boyagane town of Kurunegala District in the North Western Province said that the Government has made the LTTE aspiration of an Eelam state a dream.

Minister for Youth Affairs Dallas Alahapperuma while addressing a media briefing held in at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo said "The UNHRC has become an institution that implements a new 'colonial policy' of ruling by creating divisions in international community.

Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha said that preparations are being made to hold the Northern Provincial Council elections in 2013. He explained that holding elections to the Northern Provincial Council was delayed until the completion of the de-mining and resettlement programs. Elections could now be held in the North since the de-mining of most of the areas has been completed.

Human Rights Commissioner, Prathibha Mahanamahewa said that the resolution passed by the UNHRC could be described as a soft but dangerous one. He said when the text was analysed it was very 'soft' as terms such as "urge", "note", "welcome" and "request" were used, which implied that they were not a must. A dangerous fact is that it urges Sri Lanka to allow an opportunity to the UN rapporteur to make observations in the following areas - the freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary, the independence of the judges, the independence of the lawyers, abductions, disappearances and women's rights.

Secretary of the External Affairs Ministry Karunatilaka Amunugama said that Sri Lankan Government expects to meet the deadline set by the United Nations resolution to implement the remaining recommendations made by the LLRC. He told that most of the recommendations have already been implemented and the rest will be implemented by March 2014.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that elections in the Northern Province could not be held as the Northern Provincial Council was yet to be constituted by the President.

Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the resolutions adopted at the UNHRC in Geneva in 2012 and 2013 are not indicative of an agenda to promote and protect Human Rights.

Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa while delivering a talk in Galle District said "Certain politicians who are slavishly devoted to the service of LTTE terrorists are engaged in a dirty game of creating problems among the Tamil population to cling to power."

Brad Adams, the Asia director at HRW said that Sri Lanka should act on the call by the Deputy Minister V Muralitharan, known as Colonel Karuna, to investigate war crimes by examining his own role in serious abuses. He said " LTTE forces under Karuna''s command was directly involved in some of the worst crimes of Sri Lanka's 26-year-long armed conflict, which ended in May 2009."

Minister of National Language and Social Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that the Government is seeking a ban on nationalist and religious extremist groups disrupting the ethnic harmony in the country. The Minister said his ministry is preparing to submit a Cabinet paper seeking a ban on extremist groups that are creating rifts between the ethnic and religious communities in the island. According to the Minister, the Cabinet paper will seek to bring new laws to crack down on such groups.

TNA Spokesperson and parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran told that the party would continue to push for a UN mechanism to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the island nation. He said "We need an independent international probe to find out what happened. The Government has proved that it cannot handle the matter properly as there is no faith in their own investigations. We cannot expect justice from the Government."

Ahead of the NPC election likely to be held in September 2013, the rift within the TNA has widened, opening up avenues for a possible split in the party in the near future. The TNA is an amalgam of five parties - ITAK, EPRLF, TELO, TULF and PLOTE.

S.B. Divaratne, who heads the Presidential Task Force overseeing resettlement, said that the LTTE is known to have taken over more than 2,000 acres of residential properties belonging to Muslims in the North and given them to its supporters during the war. He said this has resulted in the Government having to find alternative land to resettle the displaced Muslims.

An unidentified gang attacked the office of the Jaffna-based Tamil language newspaper The Uthayan in Kilinochchi District in northern Sri Lanka. At least three people including two paper distributors and the Kilinochchi office manager have received injuries in the attack while the building and a vehicle were damaged.

Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, the secretary of Sri Lanka's ill famous Buddhist extremist organization BBS said that the country's fate would be changed within two months. He further said that BBS will not allow the casinos and other betting businesses to surge in the guise of developing tourism.

Executive director of the PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said election monitors in Sri Lanka have begun their operations in the Northern Province in preparation for the provincial council elections. He said public awareness campaigns have been commenced in the North and programs have been started from Mannar District. The election monitor in collaboration with the Registrations of Persons Department has organized a mobile service for the voters in the North to obtain national identity cards.

A man engaged in de-mining in Muhamalai of Jaffna District was injured accidentally by a land mine and succumbed to the injuries on admission to the hospital. The deceased, identified as K. Murugesu, was an employee of the Halo Trust, a NGO involved in de-mining operations in Muhamalai.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris reaffirmed in Parliament that it did not concur with the US-sponsored resolution adopted at the UNHRC sessions on March 22. He said the resolution seeks to incorporate both the report of the panel of experts, dubbed by Sri Lanka as the Dharusman report and the report by United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay.

Tamil representatives who met the Indian MPs in Jaffna District demanding an interim administration told the Indian delegation that the Provincial Council system under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution are inadequate to solve their problems.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said "Had the then Indian Government acted with responsibility, Sri Lanka wouldn't have experienced a 30-year protracted war with LTTE. He said former Indian Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri had been directly involved in the Indian operation against the then J. R. Jayawardene Government in the run-up to the July 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord.

The first part of the Army's CoI report which was handed over to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya stated "The instances of shellings referred to in the LLRC report were not caused by the Sri Lanka Army and civilian casualties might have occurred due to unlawful acts by LTTE."

TNA dismissed the report by an Army's Col that absolved the Army troops of any civilian deaths during the final phase of the three-decade long war with the LTTE rebels. TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran rejecting the report said that it is a "joke" for the Army Court to conclude that Army had not killed a single civilian during the war. The TNA parliamentarian rejected the facts contained in the report as completely untrue.

An unidentified group set fire to the printing press of The Uthayan Newspaper office of Jaffna District in the Northern Province. The Uthayan is a Jaffna-based Tamil newspaper which has survived for a long time amidst repeated attacks by unidentified groups in the past.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2012 remained of serious concern, with a number of negative developments, including with regard to freedom of expression and media and judicial independence.

A group of BGHH, called Ablaze Ever, hacked and defaced three Sri Lankan Government websites in protest of "disrespect of Islam". The sites are Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms (reprimin.gov.lk), the Chief Government Whip of Parliament (govtwhip.gov.lk), and the Deyata Kirula Exhibition (deyatakirula.gov.lk).

A LTTE cadre who was arrested by the CID in November 2011 and imprisoned after being found guilty of killing 10 persons escaped from Pottuvil Court premises at Pottuvil town of Ampara District in Eastern Province. The escapee is identified as Mahendra Rajah Shashidharan alias Cristy.

Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa opened Toppigala Heritage Park Complex, the former hideout of the LTTE in the Batticaloa District of Eastern Province. The Complex comprises an exhibition center, hiking trails, obstacle course to the rock, souvenir shop, cafeteria and other common amenities for the visitors.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the Government is planning to hold elections to the NPC most likely in September. This will be the first time, provincial council elections will be held in the Northern Province, since the PC system came into existence under the 13th amendment to the Constitution in 1987.

National Mine Action Center established in the Ministry of Economic Development announced that only 96 square kilometers of the land which amounts to only 5 percent of the land remain to be demined in the war-battered Northern Province.

Former spokesman of LTTE Velayutham Dayanithi alias Daya Master said that he would announce his decision to contest the NPC election within the next two weeks. Daya Master is slated to contest under the ruling party United People's Freedom Alliance.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa vehemently rejected the allegations made against the country by the US in its human rights report released on April 19. The 2012 Human Rights Report said although the overall number of extrajudicial killings appeared to have decreased from previous years, killings and assaults on civilians by Government officials continued in 2012.

SFs in Sri Lanka have resumed security checks in Elephant Pass in the North since last week. Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said these were random security checks that were being carried out for the safety of the civilians.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that "the only way to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the world is to understand its true nature and fight it for what it is, instead of giving terrorism various definitions and tags." However, he lamented that when fighting against the LTTE, Sri Lanka had to seek foreign help largely to get weapons.

Tamil People's National Front announced that the party would not contest the NPC election which is scheduled to be held in September. The leader of the party Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said in a press conference that the party would not contest the NPC election since it does not accept the 13th amendment to the constitution as a viable solution for the Tamil's problems.

TNA threatened a continuous protest campaign against the military's acquisition of private lands in the North. TNA says the military has acquired over 6,400 acres of private lands in the North.TNA will commence a protest campaign in Jaffna from April 29 against the military acquisition of lands.

SLFP, the largest ally of the ruling coalition, officials said they will call for applications from prospective candidates soon to contest the elections for the NPC in September. The SLFP-led alliance will handpick 19 candidates for the Jaffna District, eight for the Mannar District, and eight for the Mullaitivu District, nine for the Vavuniya District and seven for the Kilinochchi District.

Sri Lankan Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Major General Shavendra Silva speaking to the national radio said bombs used in the Boston attack of US are similar to the bombs used by the LTTE in Sri Lanka. Highlighting that still arms and ammunitions are being recovered from the former battle fields in the North and East, the UN envoy said placing SFs in those areas is not a matter to be considered in a different perspective.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will table a document comprising the names of 472 people who are known to have disappeared in Mannar District during the war. The document will be tabled in Parliament at the request made by Mannar Bishop the Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph and the Association of Families Searching for Disappeared Relations.

National Mine Action Centre said that 95 percent of the Confirmed Hazardous Area has been cleared of mines and an area of 96 kilometers remains to be cleared at the end of March 2013. A total of 1,968,369,553 square kilometers have been completely cleared of mines in the North, Eastern and North Central Provinces during the last four years.

Police arrested three Police officers for allegedly killing three civilians in Gomarankadawala village in Trincomalee District in 2008. The Police officers included an Inspector, a Sergeant and a Constable. They were arrested from Thambalagamuwa, Serunuwara and Udamaluwa Police Stations of Trincomalee District. Earlier, the Police believed the killings were committed by LTTE militants who were active in the area at the time.

Sri Lanka's Marxist party, JVP Propaganda Secretary and Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said the party has plans to present affidavits to court from family members of individuals who had disappeared from the Matale District during the 1988-1989 period. The Matale mass grave was uncovered last November and 154 skeletal remains have been unearthed from the grave.

TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran said that TNA is planning to file at least 5,000 cases in various courts demanding the lands taken over by the military for security purposes from Northern Province. TNA and other Tamil groups say that 6,000 acres of land are taken over by military for the High Security Zones.

The Sri Lankan Government has allocated Rs. 400 million to pay as compensation to owners of the land in the HSZs in the North. The Government has decided to acquire 6,381 hectares of the land in Jaffna District that is now being used as HSZs permanently and the owners of the land will be paid compensation.

TNA has requested the Elections Commissioner to invite foreign poll observers for the Northern Provincial Council elections. TNA representatives have made this request during a meeting with Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya on an invitation extended by him.

Marxist party JVP says the Government should take steps to repeal the PTA. JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said that the PTA is a draconian piece of law that needs to be repealed.

At least six Army personnel sustained injuries following an accidental explosion in Oddusuddan town of Mullaitivu District. According to the Army spokesman, preliminary investigations have revealed that a stock of detonators hidden by the LTTE had exploded when a soldier dug the ground for the construction work.

The Government ruled out the possibility of repealing the PTA despite requests by opposition political parties. In response to a question by opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne told Parliament that though the LTTE was militarily defeated, there were attempts to revamp the organisation in different parts of the world. The Prime Minister said the provisions of the PTA were required to deal with the discovery of weapon hauls hidden by the LTTE. He said the PTA was needed to take action with regard to LTTE suspects who did not surrender after the war ended in 2009.

Tamil political sources said that several parties in the TNA are planning to register the TNA without the support of the major Tamil party ITAK. ITAK also known as Federal Party says the TNA could not be registered due to legal barriers. However, the other parties in the alliance are mounting pressure on the ITAK to formally establish the alliance.

Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said that several rehabilitated former LTTE cadres have expressed interest to enter politics. He noted that measures would be taken for them to contest in future local Government elections in a democratic manner.

Matale Magistrate and Additional District Judge Chaturika de Silva, after studying 13 affidavits filed by the relatives of missing in the area, ordered the CID of Police to investigate the mass grave discovered in the Matale town of Matale District in Central Province and submit a full report to court by the end of this month. Skeletal remains of 154 people were found during excavations carried out from November 26, 2012 until March 12, 2013.

Gunasundaram Jeyasundaram, a childhood friend and close mate of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, while making a statement before the Colombo Supreme Court deplored the acts of his one time leader and expressed his desire to undergo a rehabilitation programme conducted by the Sri Lanka Army. Jeyasundaram said he was profoundly disturbed by the role of the LTTE and condemned its aggressive and violent methods, urging his onetime fellow sympathisers of the outfit to follow suit. Gunasundaram also asserts that factions of the LTTE scattered across the globe should immediately cease their actions as they continue to inflict more harm on the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

In the wake of the NPC elections likely to be held in September, the Cabinet approval was granted to enact 'Registration of Electors (Special Provision) Bill to enable those who were displaced from the North between May 1, 1983 and May 18, 2009 to vote at the election. The bill, if enacted, will enable 15,000 people who are known to have been displaced between May 1, 1983 and May 18, 2009 to be registered as voters in the North.

Government sources said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has scheduled two crucial meetings with the coalition parties of the ruling UPFA and the TNA to mainly discuss the NPC election. According to sources, the discussion will be focused on the ideological division in the coalition regarding the NPC elections, which is scheduled to be held in September.

Former LTTE arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan also known as KP said that reducing the army presence in the war-hit areas in the country and introducing civil administration would help improve the living conditions of the people there. He also said that in the 1970s, Tamil politicians brainwashed youngsters like him into joining the Tamil cause.

Tamil political parties, both within the fold of the TNA and outside decided to agree to a common policy on the political solution to the national question. The decision was arrived at a meeting convened by northern civil society movements with TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, Tamil People's Liberation Front leader Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam and civil society activist K. Gurubaran.

Vanni Security Forces Commander and Officer-in-Charge of Displaced Persons in the Northern Province Major General Boniface Perera said, "Not a single civilian had gone missing in the Vanni District after the end of the war. If anyone says someone has gone missing after the end of terrorism and if they are ready to give information on who had gone missing etc, and when and where, I am ready to debate with any person at any international forum on behalf of the Government."

TNA provided legal assistance to 1,474 land owners in Jaffna District to file the cases in court challenging the Government's occupation of land for security purposes. The TNA has appealed to people to file at least 5,000 cases in various courts.

Opposing the NPC election, JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, "The provincial council system in the 13th Amendment is not devolution of power it will only extend the power of councils pressuring the people especially in the north if the Provincial Council election was held. Therefore it is essential to establish a new constitution that would treat all ethnic groups equally, safeguarding their rights and culture."

Former LTTE leader Gunasundaram Jeyasundaram who pleaded guilty to the charge of not disclosing the LTTE's international arms deals was sentenced to 15 months rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court. Gunasundaram was arrested on September 5, 2007, on charges of helping the LTTE, has since been arbitrarily detained without charge.

Vanni Commander Major General Boniface Perera while celebrating Victory Day in Vavuniya District said "Any organisation or individual will not be allowed to venerate a terrorist organisation. Anyone participating in a commemoration ceremony for LTTE cadres will be arrested. There is only one military in a country. Any citizen has the right to commemorate their loved ones but no one can commemorate terrorists who were disloyal to the Government."

Commenting on an article in Udayan newspaper, Dharmapuram Citizen Committee Chairman Wanni Murugesu claimed that the newspaper never spoke of conditions during the LTTE.

The Udayan newspaper recently commenting on conditions related to the Northern Provincial Councils election in its editorial states that holding the Northern Provincial Council Election is not conducive.

US said in a report that Sri Lankan Government generally respected religious freedom in 2012 although in some instances, local authorities were not effective in responding to attacks on members of minority religious groups.

Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa stated that the Government has not taken any decision to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Minister Yapa said the elections to the NPC would be held in September 2013 as decided by the government earlier, and this would not change.

UNP parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said that the party believes that the devolution of power would address the ethnic issue and it was the best method to solve the ethnic issue in the country.

The CID of Sri Lanka Police has commenced a probe on the German NGO Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which is operating in Sri Lanka since 1974, to ascertain whether the NGO has acted within the country beyond its given legal mandate.

The investigation commenced after the organization held a workshop for the opposition UNP parliamentarians. Pro-government media reported that the workshop was a ploy to overthrow the government.

TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has said that the US is looking into the progress made by the Sri Lanka government following the resolution adopted at the UNHRC in March 2013.

Thero's call to abolish the 13th Amendment came in response to the statement by Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa that the Government would not abolish the 13th Amendment. 

Technology Research and Atomic Energy Minister and JHU leader Patali Champika Ranawaka called on the government to initiate a comprehensive programme to wipe out the idea of Eelam from Sri Lanka’s social, economic, intellectual and cultural life. Ranawaka said members of TNA still espouse the notion of Tamil Eelam.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said that Police powers cannot be vested with the provincial councils.

The JHU, a coalition party of ruling UPFA, said it will take measures to mobilize the public to urge the government to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Government stressed that the US embassy as any other foreign mission based in Colombo should get prior approval to engage with local government authorities.

TNA insisted on complete power devolution to the provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since problems over the provincial councils are due to the incomplete devolution of power by successive governments. TNA parliamentarian, Premachandran said the TNA expects nothing less than complete devolution of financial, Police and land powers to the provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya told that only three camps would be kept in the Jaffna peninsula and the rest of the camps would be withdrawn. The lands where the camps are presently established would be returned to the legal owners, the Army Commander said.

TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran observed that the three ministers - Leader of the LSSP and Minister of Technology and Research, Prof. Vitarana, General Secretary of the CP and Minister of Human Resources, D.E.W. Gunasekera, and Leader of the DLF and Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakkara - had said the 13th Amendment should not be weakened and the Northern Provincial Council polls should be conducted in a manner without destabilizing the amendment. The ministers had also said that land and Police powers should not be stripped off the 13th Amendment.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation to the 23rd session of the UNHRC Ravinatha Aryasinha said that the Government has established a mechanism to ensure the right of information to the relatives of LTTE suspects.

Tissa Attanayake, General Secretary of main opposition UNP, criticized Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's statement on the holding of provincial council elections in Northern Province. Attanayake observed that Rajapaksa has breached the role of a public servant by stating that holding the Northern Provincial Council election would pose a threat to national security.

Vanni Security Forces Commander and Officer-in-Charge of Displaced Persons Major General Boniface Perera said that civilians living in the Northern Province do not want the Army to be removed from the Northern Province.

Two ex-cadres of LTTE were indicted before the Anuradhapura Provincial High Court over charges of shooting down a military aircraft on March 30, 2000. The two LTTE cadres are accused of shooting down an Antanov-32 plane firing missiles from Wilpattu Wildlife Park killing 32 military personnel.

TNA said that the Government was covertly backing the move to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. TNA parliamentarian, M. A. Sumanthiran said the move by the JHU to propose the abolition of the provincial council system under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is backed by the Government since the JHU is a constituent member of the Governing party with a member in the Cabinet.

SLMC said the party would not support the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. SLMC Leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem said that the SLMC would not take any action to support the abolition of the 13th Amendment.

A court in Bangalore city acquitted 10 LTTE suspects who were being tried for allegedly possessing explosives and substances used for making bombs. The ten were arrested by Police in the city in 2002. They were in judicial custody and were subsequently granted bail by Supreme Court and Karnataka High Court.

US Country Reports on Terrorism 2012 released by the US State Department said that LTTE's financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2012 and there were multiple reports of increased LTTE involvement in human smuggling out of refugee camps.

TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah said that a power sharing arrangement under a unitary State would not solve national question. He said that power sharing under a unitary system is questionable in today's context of domination by Buddhist extremists and the party is yet to discuss and decide its stance on the draft Constitution presented by the UNP.

Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Colombo commemorated the massacre of 33 Buddhist monks in Aranthalawa area of Ampara District of Eastern Province by the LTTE on June 2, 1987. LTTE brutally hacked to death and shot 33 Buddhist monks, most of them novice monks as young as 8 years old when they were in a bus heading to Kandy city of Central Province.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Badulla District of Uva Province said that recalling atrocities perpetrated by LTTE terrorists in the past was not intended to sow seeds of hatred in society, but to ensure that such a gruesome period will not be repeated in the future. He said "We should tell the younger generation that the country faced such a gruesome period in the past in order to avert such situations in the future through forging closer and amicable ties between communities."

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Chris Nonis, in an interview with BBCs Mishal Husain in London said that the country has made tremendous progress towards reconciliation since the end of conflict in 2009. The High Commissioner said 297,000 people have been rehabilitated and there is a billion dollar programme going into the North and East of the country for the rebuilding.

Colombo High Court sentenced three LTTE cadres suspected of blowing up a train 17 years ago killing 66 people. Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickremasinghe sentenced two of the suspects - Saverimuttu Loganathan and Robert Maxillan to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment while the female suspect, Siththirasenam Thirumagal to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The suspects were accused of placing two bombs in two carriages of a highly crowded train and detonating it while stopped at the Dehiwala station in Colombo on July 24, 1996. The attack killed 66 people and injured over 400 people.

The Government decided to appoint the PSC proposed some time ago to work out political proposals for the resolution of the national question. The decision was taken at a meeting with the leaders of the ruling party's allies.

Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena announced that an urgent bill will be tabled in Parliament for approval on June 5 regarding the NPC election.

Addressing the Foreign Correspondents' Association, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that in regard to the people of the north and east, affected by the war, the Alliance had endeavoured to avoid an attitude of confrontation with the Government and had offered to cooperate. M.A. Sumanthiran, TNA MP, also said that the TNA has offered to work with the Government.

TNA spokesman Suresh Premachandran said the 'majoritarian principle' would augur well for the Government and the Sinhalese majority since the other provinces except the Eastern province is governed by the Sinhalese.

The Government will submit a proposal to the cabinet of ministers today seeking approval to re-amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The proposed amendment reportedly aims to remove the provisions provided for a merger of the adjoining provincial councils which allows bills and acts to get passed by all provincial councils before they are passed in Parliament. The draft bill in this regard has been approved by the party leaders of the ruling UPFA on June 4.

TNA has opposed the Government's move to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said the 13th Amendment which was aimed at solving the national issue and the Government must consult the TNA as a representative of the Tamil people prior to any move to amend the 13th Amendment since it would affect the people of the North and East. However, Premachandran noted that the Government has not yet made any official comment on its stance on the 13th Amendment.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that the Elections Department had begun preparations to hold the NPC elections in September although it was yet to receive an official confirmation regarding the holding of the election. He further said as of now the status quo regarding the registered voters would remain unless there is legislation to effect change to include a new voter list.

TNA said that it would be useless to hold elections to the NPC after amending the 13th Amendment and reducing powers vested with the provinces. TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said, "The current President and the Government are going against this (implementing the 13th Amendment and going beyond)."

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga said that the then Government was so much under pressure that it accepted the 13th Amendment to the Constitution without calling for a referendum in the face of a threat of invasion. He said many countries including the United Kingdom, United States, France, and neighboring India exerted pressure to stop the humanitarian operation launched by the Government to free the country from terrorism.

The Parliamentary Group of SLMC unanimously resolved to express opposition to any moves to make changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The SLMC parliamentary group met at the Colombo residence of party leader and Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem and all eight MPs of the party came to the decision unanimously to oppose any moves that curtail the powers allocated to the Provincial councils.

The Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka in a statement at Catholic Bishops' Conference in Colombo requested the Government not to proceed with amending the 13th Amendment or totally repeal it but to discuss with all relevant parties on drawing up a totally new Constitution which is fair by all communities. The bishops advised the Government to discuss the 13th Amendment through a PSC and consider a totally new Constitution which would guarantee "justice, peace and prosperity for all citizens of the country regardless of their ethnic, religious or social differences."

Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion Faiszer Musthapha and SLFP Batticaloa District organiser Arun Thamabimutthu said that the Provincial Council system was a 'white elephant' and called for the repealing of the land and police powers enshrined in the Constitution if the Government were to proceed with the NPC elections.

Faizer Mustapha, the Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion said that it is dangerous to hold election to the NPC with land and Police powers since TNA still harbors a separatist line. According to Mustapha, if Police powers were granted to the provincial councils it would interfere with the independence of the Police.

Leader of LSSP and Senior Cabinet Minister Tissa Vitarana said that 13th Amendment to the Constitution needs to be changed. The Minister said the shortcomings in the Amendment should not be a reason to postpone the NPC election to be held in September. He maintained, although the 13th Amendment needs change, any modification to it is not a prerequisite to hold elections in the North.

In a letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader and leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremasinghe requested the Government to take measures to ensure a free and fair of the NPC scheduled to be held in September this year. Further, the Opposition leader requested the President to schedule a meeting for a delegation headed by him to discuss the measures he suggested.

Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved the revisions to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and asked the Parliament Speaker to appoint a PSC to study the issues regarding the legislation.

An organization called the National Group announced that it would campaign for the abolition of the Provincial Council system and has called on the Government to remove Police and land powers vested on the Provinces by the 13th Amendment.

The Central Committee of SLFP decided to hold the elections in September for three provincial councils - Northern Provincial Council, Northwestern Provincial Council and the Central Provincial Council. The Central Committee appointed three committees to handle the party organizational work in the three provincial councils. The committee for the Northern Provincial Council is headed by the secretary of the ruling UPFA Minister Susil Prema Jayantha while UPFA Vice Secretary Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva will head the committee for the Central Provincial Council. The committee for the Northwestern Provincial Council is headed by General Secretary of SLFP Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, during his bilateral discussions in Berlin with Dr. Guido Westerwelle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany urged Germany to keep a close watch on the several LTTE front organisations in Germany, breaching the European Union proscription.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rajitha Senaratne addressing a press briefing held in Colombo said that he was ready to sacrifice his cabinet portfolio to stop further reducing the powers devolved to the provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He further said that the Government would be defeated before the international forces unless it fails to stop the moves to further curtail the powers of the provincial councils.

UNP Assistant Leader Joseph Michael Perera said that the confrontation over the scrapping of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in particular would ultimately create a situation where the separatists would achieve their objective overnight.

JVP announced that it would bring a political package to replace the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. JVP proposes solutions to the problems of the Tamil people in their package while proposing to abolish the 13th Amendment completely. JVP package is based on constitutional recognition of state as a multinational state and acceptance of freedom of all nationalities. The package will be launched within two weeks.

SLMC said the party will take legal action if the PSC that will be appointed to revise the 13th Amendment to the Constitution approves the proposals to curtail the powers devolved to the Provincial Councils. National organizer of the SLMC, Rafeek Rajabdeen said the party was against the amendments brought to take away police and land powers from Provincial Councils.