Eight, except Hirunika admit to Dematagoda abduction

Civil society concerned over Bill on hate speech

Local civil society, have in a joint statement, expressed deep concerns about two Bills tabled in Parliament on Friday ostensibly to criminalize hate speech and the instigation of communal violence and disharmony. One such Bill tabled is an amendment to the Penal Code which creates the new offence of ?causing of or instigating acts of violence, hostility?? which is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years. The other Bill is an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure which provides for

16 Dec, 2015

Opposition questions US interest on Sri Lanka

The opposition today questioned the keen interest the United States is having on Sri Lanka with several top US officials already having visited the country this year. Opposition Parliamentarian?Dullas Alahaperuma said that while the Government says it is following a middle line in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, the reality does not seem to be the case. Alahaperuma said that over the past four months top US officials including Nisha Biswal, Samantha Power and?Thomas Shannon visited Sri Lanka and h

16 Dec, 2015

Refugees returning to Sri Lanka allowed to carry more

In a move that would benefit Sri Lankan refugees living in camps across the Tamil State who intend to return to the island-nation voluntarily, the UNHCR has assisted the Sri Lankan Government in increasing the flight baggage allowance for repatriating refugees by 20 kg. Now, the total entitlement is 60 kg per person. ?Following the UNHCR?s discussion with the Government of Sri Lanka on the need for increase in baggage allowance, the government has raised the limit for baggage for Sri Lankan ref

16 Dec, 2015