August 23, 2009 – TCNR by Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne
The government blamed UN agencies for floods in IDP camps in Vavuniya saying they had taken the responsibility to construct drainage systems and flood preventive measures at the sites. “The UN agencies involved in the IDP camps had taken the responsibility of constructing the drainage systems and flood preventive measures.
August 22, 2009 – Tamilnet
A group of Australian parliamentarians have expressed concern for the plight of thousands of refugees being held in Sri Lankan military run camps at a meeting with members of the Tamil youth at Parliament House on Tuesday. In a free flowing discussion covering conditions faced by displaced civilians and a lack of independent access to refugee facilities, the panel also condemned reports of intimidation directed at the Tamil Diaspora from the Sri Lankan Government, before citing the promised resettlement of the 300,000 refugees within a 6 month period as the basis for future engagement.
August 22, 2009 – Tamilnet
“China has extended its support to the country to stand up despite international pressures on Sri Lanka in recent times. We thank the Government of the China for its unstinted support,” Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapakse, said Thursday addressing a ceremony to mark the successful completion of the first phase of the Nuraichchoalai coal power plant. The ceremony was held according to Chinese traditions.
A statue of Lord Buddha brought from China will adorn the Nuraichchoalai power plant premises.
Mr. Basil Rajapakse said that the government of China had often granted financial support to Sri Lanka to develop roads, the railways, the harbour and other facilities as well.
August 20, 2009 – Tamilnet
The ethnic issue in Sri Lanka must remain at the forefront of the global conscience amid the “very serious prospect of continued breeches of human rights” faced by over 300,000 Tamil IDP’s at the hands of the Sri Lankan Government, said Liberal party Senator Gary Humphries in address at Canberra on Tuesday. Citing allegations of abuse and continued censorship imposed by the Sri Lankan Government throughout military controlled refugee camps to dismiss claims of post war stability, senator Humphries urged the international community “to be vigilant, to watch carefully what is going on, to ask questions about how the Sri Lankan government is treating people” in order to force the Rajapakse regime to address the plight of thousands of Tamil civilians.
August 20, 2009 – Tamilnet
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who was refused admittance by Colombo at the height of the war, chose to accept its invitation as soon as the war was “won”, accuses Norway’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Mona Juul, whose confidential assessment of Ban sent to Norway’s Foreign Ministry, leaked to Afterposten newspaper of Oslo Wednesday. War in Sri Lanka is an example of the weak handling of the Secretary General. He was a passive observer when thousands lost lives and were driven from their homes, the diplomat further said in her mid term assessment of Ban’s tenure. “Even when it was helpless at the gang-up of certain powers, the UN should have upheld its integrity by telling the truth and exposing the culprits to the world. But Ban and his chosen officials not only failed but also shielded them”, said Tamil circles which look at UN as the ‘fence that ate the crop.’
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