“The court said the declaration of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in 2006 was based on “imputations derived from the press and the Internet”, the statement said. The court observed that the “Indian authorities cannot be regarded as a reliable source of information since they have adopted a ‘biased position’ in the conflict between the LTTE and the Government of Sri-Lanka.”
via: http://post.jagran.com/european-union-court-annuls-sanction-on-ltte-1413465793
Cheered by tens of thousands of people, a train decorated with banana trees and colorful flower garlands arrived in Jaffna, the capital of Sri Lanka’s northern Tamil heartland, 24 years after the ‘Queen of Jaffna’ was suspended due to a bloody civil war.
‘Yarl Devi,’ as it is known in Tamil, was once a popular mode of transport between the ethnic Tamil-majority north and the Sinhala-majority south.
It was scaled back in 1990 because of the heightening of the war between the government and the Tamil Tigers, who were fighting to create an independent state for the country’s ethnic minority Tamils.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2790750/the-queen-jaffna-train-rides-24-years-suspended-sri-lankan-civil-war.html#ixzz3G9ZYZfjt
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
“”In the case of the 157 Tamil asylum seekers, customs officials asked no questions about the asylum seekers’ safety in India or reasons for leaving Sri Lanka. They asked only “brief biographical details,” the court heard.
Ron Merkel QC, acting for the asylum seekers, told the court sending the Tamils back to India, where they had no right to be registered as refugees, no work rights, or access to health or education services, was a breach of international law. The asylum seekers also faced the risk of being sent back to Sri Lanka from India.””
the Pali Text Society is pleased to announce the availability of digital editions of the PTS edition of the Pali canon. The files are being made available gradually, text by text, for free download on GRETIL (Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages):
http://gretil.sub.uni-goettingen.de/
These files are based on the digital text input by the Dhammakaya Foundation, Thailand, 1989-1996 and are made available by the Pali Text Society for scholarly purposes only. In principle they represent a digital edition (without revision or correction) of the printed editions of the complete set of Pali canonical texts published by the PTS. While they have been subject to a process of checking, it should not be assumed that there is no divergence from the printed editions and it is strongly recommended that they are checked against the printed editions before quoting.
While the PTS edition of the canon can make no particular claim to authority or accuracy, its text is the one most widely used and quoted in the scholarly literature published over the last 125 years. These digital texts should therefore be a useful scholarly resource. The files include the page numbers and line breaks of the printed edition.
source:
Despite lingering issues, the railroad may well move the country toward greater unity, said Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, an analyst with the independent Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo.
“Let’s hope that politics will follow infrastructure,” he said.
via: http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/can-queen-of-jaffna-train-s-reunite-sri-lanka-1-3570259
below the publisher’s description of the book.
At the heart of this in-depth ethnographic study lie the daily life situations of tsunami survivors in war-torn, eastern Sri Lanka. Each chapter is built around the empirical themes derived from the stories and recollections of Tamil women and their families during their stay in relief camps, anticipating relocation. The specifics of the socio-cultural context are firmly embedded in the discussions. Ten years after the tsunami, this publication offers a timely contribution to a better understanding of what it means to cope with the combined effects of disaster, war, and international aid in this matri-focal region of the island.
Katharina Thurnheer (PhD) is an associate researcher at the Institute for Social Anthropology, University of Bern. Her research interests focus on war, disaster, international aid, and gender.
“Mr. G. Thevaraja, the President of the Vavuniya Citizens Committee (VCC) was attacked around 5.30-6pm this evening (8th Oct), whilst he was riding his motorbike back home from his shop in Nedunkerny. He had gone to his shop soon after Chairing an afternoon meeting with the VCC to discuss the #FreeJeyakumary campaign protest to be held on Friday, Oct 10th, 2014, in Vavuniya. He was assaulted by 4 persons in civil, who rode two motorbikes and attacked him with iron rods. His head was saved due to him having worn a helmet, but even his helmet was damaged in the attack. Whilst beating him, his attackers also threatened him using broken Tamil (non-native speaker),“You are going to organize a campaign for Jeyakumary. If You do not stop that, we will kill you!” The attack took place between the Nedunkerny army camp and police station. The attackers were allegedly non-Tamil speaking. He was rushed to the Nedunkerny hospital and has been since transferred to the Vavuniya hospital to receive treatment. His condition is not believed to be critical at the moment.”
Other related articles;
– Vikalpa
The Vavuniya Citizens Committee (VCC) will hold a #FreeJeyakumary Public Protest, calling for her release and all those held in detention without charges, on Friday, Oct 10th, at 10am, opposite the Court House building, Vavuniya.
Particularly in light of last night’s (8th) attack on the President of the VCC, in yet another attempt by the State to intimidate and silence dissent in Sri Lanka, we must stand together in solidarity for the truth, justice and accountability.
source: http://freejeyakumary.wordpress.com/
This week, the UN Human Rights Committee will review Sri Lanka’s fifth periodic report on how it is implementing the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This post offers a preview of the issues likely to be raised by the committee at its session in Geneva.
via: http://justsecurity.org/16005/sri-lanka-human-rights-committee-week/
The iconic Yal Devi Express from Colombo to Jaffna will resume its run on October 13, some 25 years after the link was suspended during the height of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Two Sri Lankan sportsmen were missing from their Asian Games village and are believed to have run away looking for jobs in the host nation South Korea, official sources said on Monday.
via: http://www.supersport.com/xtra/xtra/news/141006/Two_Sri_Lankan_athletes_missing_in_Korea
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), revealing details of its policy framework, said today the name Sri Lanka should be changed to ‘Sinhale’ and the state flag should be the one used prior to 1815.
via: http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/53426-bbs-wants-sri-lanka-named-sinhale.html
“Staff from the Centre for Policy Alternatives have been at the inquiry hearings and say there are serious problems. The organisation claims that military and intelligence officers have been intimidating witnesses by questioning and photographing them as they arrived to give evidence.”
via: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4100312.htm
“One of the UK’s most prominent living sculptors has spoken about the influence that the rock-carved sculptures of the Ellora and Ajanta caves in India and the huge 12th century Buddhas carved out of rock in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka had on his work.”
via: http://asiahouse.org/sri-lankan-buddhas-ancient-indian-caves-inspired-turner-prize-winner/
“Gazing out over the parched earth of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, one might think these farmlands have not seen water in years. In fact, this is not too far from the truth.”
via: http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/10/thirsty-land-hungry-people/
“The iconic Yal Devi Express from Colombo to Jaffna will resume its run on October 13, some 25 years after the link was suspended during the height of the Sri Lankan civil war.”
via: http://colombogazette.com/2014/10/07/jaffna-train-service-is-ready-to-resume/
