No mandate for federal solution – JVP
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) last Thursday stressed President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not get a mandate from the people to implement a federal solution but rather only to safeguard the unitary status of the country. JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe also slammed India for what he described as ‘its invasive dictatorial foreign policy’ and urged the government to reveal the contents and outcome of talks it held with the high level Indian delegation which visited the country. The JVP said neither the Indian government nor the Sri Lankan government had so far issued even a statement on the outcome of the talks. “During the talks, the Sri Lankan side was confined to the Rajapaksa family because it is now virtually running the entire country by handling everything from defence, economy to foreign affairs. Even though the President has failed to mention what they discussed we have received information from local and Indian sources as to what had transpired during the talks,” he said. Mr. Amarasinghe stressed President Rajapaksa did not get a mandate from the people to implement a federal solution but to safeguard the unitary status of the country. (Daily Mirror)
Court restrains Muslims' resettlement
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court extended the term of a restraining order on last month to prevent members of the Muslim community from being settled in an area the Sinhalese have claimed as a historical religious site in the Eastern Province. The court issued the restraining order in May. On June 19 the court extended the term of the order till mid-September when the case would be taken up for hearing. Some 500 houses have been built in the Deegavapi area of the Eastern Province meant to settle Muslims affected by the December 2004 tsunami devastation. The all Buddhist Monk party Janatha Hela Urumaya (JHU) or the National Heritage Party has petitioned the Supreme Court and sought a restraining order to prevent the Muslim settlement at Deegavapi. The JHU said the area has been identified as a Buddhist religious site of historical importance. (Xinhua)
Pastor attacked by home guards
An evangelical pastor in eastern Sri Lanka was admitted to hospital June 24, a day after he was attacked by militant government forces because of his Christian activities. Reverend Fernando from the Methodist Church in Ampara, a remote city 200 kilometres east of the capital Colombo, was apparently attacked in the area while returning home from a church group meeting in the suburb of Uhana. "He is currently receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital," said Britain based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), a major umbrella group, said in published remarks that the pastor "sensed that the men were trying to lure him into a trap, and asked them to come to the church instead if they wished to discuss Christianity. The men then attacked him, and warned him not to return to the village." The attackers are believed to be members of the Gramarakshaka Niladhari, or 'Home Guards', an auxiliary force established by the government to assist the police and military in security duties. (CSW)
