President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the CHOGM said that “we must first focus on eradicating common -poverty, prior to focusing on the common- wealth”.

Speaking further he said that the Commonwealth should respond sensitively to the needs of the people.

“We must not let it turn into a punitive or judgmental body” he said.

“Members of the Commonwealth must collectively guard against bilateral agendas being introduced into the Organisation, distorting Commonwealth traditions and consensus.

The strength of the Organisation lies in keeping the member countries together, helping one another in a spirit of partnership and making the Commonwealth truly unique, President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” said.“If the Commonwealth is to remain relevant to its member countries the Association must respond sensitively, to the needs of its peoples and not let it turn into a punitive or judgmental body.”

In his inaugural address at the CHOGM 2013 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the President said hosting the CHOGM was a historic occasion for Sri Lanka.

“Faced with tough challenges we in the Commonwealth need to ask ourselves, a few questions. First, can we realistically say that the need for basic facilities, healthcare, education, productive employment, access to food and safe drinking water, eradication of poverty and hunger, are of lesser importance than political concerns,” he asked. “We in Sri Lanka are stepping into a new era of peace, stability and renewed economic opportunities that have been long denied to my people, due to the menace of terrorism that existed for nearly three decades. In ending terrorism in 2009, we asserted the greatest human right, the right to life. I am happy to state that in the past four years, there has not been a single terrorist related incident, anywhere in Sri Lanka.”

The President said as a matter of priority the Commonwealth member countries should focus on development challenges, confronting a majority of them.
“I see a compelling need for those who guide the destiny of the Commonwealth to give serious thought to practical modalities, focusing on social and economic issues. This will greatly enhance the relevance and value of the Commonwealth,” the President said.

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma said it was very good to see CHOGM back in Asia, home to three-quarters of the people of the Commonwealth as the first-ever CHOGM took place in Singapore in 1971.

“But it is almost a quarter of a century since a CHOGM was last held in the Asia region — that was in Kuala Lumpur in 1989,” he said.

“Wisdom and discovering where we can add to the global good, is our continuing Commonwealth gift to the world. Ideas and action flowing from meetings of Commonwealth leaders are remarkable in particular for the distinctive way in which they are right for the moment; and they change the moment. We recall the visionary yet applied understanding of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, and its essential message to undo what divides us and to do what unites, to see each other not through a reductionist lens, but through a prism in which our unique individual identities with their full richness and complexity can be valued and respected and celebrated. It remains a Commonwealth message and balm for all our societies, in their diversity, and to the world,” Mr. Sharma noted.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

(BBC) A Commonwealth summit is set to open in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, amid continuing scrutiny of the government’s human rights record.

On Thursday Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected criticism of his government’s actions during the campaign which defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.

Mr Rajapaksa is due to chair the Commonwealth for the next two years.

The leaders of India, Mauritius and Canada have boycotted the summit.

Prince Charles will open the summit, for the first time representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of the Commonwealth.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24951296

Source: BBC UK

External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris said the Indian Prime Minister has expressed his inability to participate in CHOGM.

“The Indian Premier does not need to give reasons for not participating at CHOGM,” the Minister said responding to a question by a journalist at a media briefing at the CHOGM media centre at the BMICH premises.

Minister Peiris added that at previous CHOGMs too, all those expected to participate did not do so.

“There will be no impact whatsoever on the outcome of the CHOGM by the absence of a few participants,” he said.

When a scribe questioned about the absence of the Prime Minister of Mauritius at the CHOGM,

Minister of Foreign Affairs Regional Integration and Internal Trade of Mauritius Dr. Arvin Boolell said that “he has come to represent his Prime Minister at the CHOGM.” He added that Mauritius has close ties with Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States was held at the Hilton Hotel to discuss the issues faced by small states which comprise 32 out of the 53 Commonwealth countries. They discussed finding a practical solution for growth of equity in a spirit of inclusiveness guaranteeing that no state is being left behind.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados Ms. Maxine Pamela Ometa Maclean also spoke at the press conference.

Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that Sri Lanka has nothing to hide. “We are very open, we have nothing to hide,” the President said.

Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM), the President also expressed satisfaction over External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid attending the Commonwealth summit.

When asked whether he was satisfied with the level of Indian participation at the CHOGM, the President said, “The Foreign Minister is here. I am satisfied.”

When an Indian reporter stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has skipped the conference in deference to public sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Rajapaksa shot back, “But he has not said this to me”.

The President noted that the Indian Prime Minister had not attended a previous summit in Perth two years ago.

Ignoring demands from political parties in Tamil Nadu for a total boycott, Khurshid yesterday arrived in Colombo for the summit, making it clear that India’s participation is not in any way dilution of its stand on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

In what appeared to be a consolidation of the charm that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is renowned for, while dismissing questions posed by Channel-4 journalist when he was about to board the car after the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum, invited them “for a cup of tea”.

During a brief rendezvous with the journalist who is currently in Sri Lanka to cover the CHOGM, Rajapaksa said that he was not concerned about alleged war crimes in the country.

“No we are not,” the President responded loudly among the gathering of a host of journalists, security personal and his usually large entourage.

When asked by the Channel 4 Journalist Jonathan Miller, if they could meet the President responded affirmatively.

“Why not? Let’s meet for tea,” he said.

Earlier Miller raised his voice and identified himself as a journalist from Channel-4 just as the President was walking out in an apparent bid to sway the security personnel guarding the head of state.

The President then extended his hand to Miller who walked up to him.

“We will meet again,” he told Miller while walking together with him.

The journalist thereafter thanked the President for the assurance of the meeting, after which he shouted out his second question regarding the boycott by Indian Premier Manmohan Singh, while Rajapaksa was getting in to his vehicle.

Rajapaksa did not respond but was heard saying that he intended on meeting the journalists.

Watch video : http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/38584-mr-invites-c4-men-for-a-cuppa.html

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

A five-day protest campaign gets underway in Jaffna today (12) ahead of UK Premier David Cameron’s visit to the peninsula.

The British delegation is scheduled to visit Jaffna on Friday (15), on the first day of the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The delegation is scheduled to fly there and return on the same day.

Authoritative sources told The Island that some members of the newly elected Northern Provincial Council had been involved in the protest campaign, which was likely to be the biggest in the Jaffna peninsula since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. The Jaffna peninsula, however, was brought under government control in early 1996.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) won the Sept. 21 Northern Provincial Council polls.

Asked whether the government intended to block the campaign, sources said that security top brass had directed the military and the police, deployed in the Jaffna peninsula, to be extremely cautious in dealing with those engaged in the protest.

TNA sources told The Island that the government couldn’t challenge the right of the masses to protest to highlight the grievances and difficulties experienced by the northern population due to heavy military presence, particularly in the Jaffna peninsula.

Army headquarters emphasised that the strength of the army deployed in the Jaffna peninsula had come down to 14,000 from 45,000.

A protest campaign was scheduled to be held in Colombo on the day of the CHOGM inauguration at Nelum Pokuna Theatre. “We are aware of ongoing efforts to move a group of people from the Northern Province to Colombo ahead of Friday’s inauguration,” a senior official said.

In addition to protests in Jaffna and Colombo, some relatives of LTTE cadres killed in combat too, are planning a protest.

Sources said that the international media focus would be on Jaffna due to British Premier Cameron’s visit. They said that the New Zealand delegation, too, would visit Jaffna, while the low level Canadian group at the CHOGM 2013, too, was most likely to visit the peninsula.

Asked whether Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid would visit the peninsula, sources pointed out that he had flown to Jaffna early last month to meet newly elected Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran and, therefore, another visit was unlikely.

Source: The Islands (Sri Lanka)

British patients waiting for organ transplants are being offered surgery using illegally trafficked kidneys at a hospital in Sri Lanka, it has been claimed.

Britain’s ‘The Telegraph’ reported that the organs are on sale for tens of thousands of pounds with promises to arrange surgery at the hospital in Colombo.

A journalist working for the Times newspaper posed as a relative of a Briton seeking a kidney transplant and claims to have been offered an organ originating either from India or the UK.

The agreement took place at a meeting with organ “facilitator”, Antonio Kanickaraj, in Bangalore, India.

He said the transplant operation would take place at a hospital in Sri Lanka, which would charge $40,000 (£25,000) for the surgery, the British newspaper report claimed.

The recipient would then pay an additional $35,000 to the organ donor.

To avoid any legal barriers to surgery, the donor would claim the kidney was being offered for free on humanitarian grounds.

In a secret recording, Kanickaraj, who worked for Mediease, in Bangalore, which provides medical tourism services for international patients, said: “There are some things that you have to keep confidential like the compensation that you will be giving to the donor.

“That’s the one thing that you have to keep [quiet].”

The allegations will fuel concerns about a rising black market trade in human organs in many parts of the world, including South Asia.

There is no suggestion the hospital or other people working for Mediease are guilty of any wrongdoing.

The newspaper report said that Kanickaraj had said he would claim a commission fee for arranging the deal.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට එරෙහිව කිලිං ෆිල්ඩ් ඇතුළු චැනල් ෆො නාලිකාවේ ප්‍රදර්ශනය කෙරුණු චිත්‍රපට අධ්‍යක්‍ෂණය කළ කැලම් මැක්‌රේ ඇතුළු සිවුදෙනකු ඊයේ (11 වැනිදා) දහවල් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට පැමිණි අවස්‌ථාවේ කටුනායක ජාත්‍යන්තර ගුවන්තොටුපළ ඉදිරිපිට පැවති මහජන උද්ඝෝෂණයක්‌ හේතුවෙන් පැය 2 1/2 ක කාලයක්‌ ගුවන්තොටුපළෙන් පිටවිය නොහැකිව එහි විශේෂ අමුත්තන්ගේ පර්යන්තයේ රැඳී සිටීමට සිදුව ඇත.

මැක්‌රේ විසින් චැනල් ෆො චිත්‍රපට ඔස්‌සේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට කළ අපකීර්තියට විරෝධය දක්‌වා විවිධ ජාතීන්ගෙන් සැදුම්ලත් ජාතික සමගිය සඳහා වූ සංසදය නමැති සංවිධානයක්‌ මගින් මෙම උද්ඝෝෂණය සංවිධානය කර තිබිණි.

එහිදී මැක්‌රේ ඇතුළු පිරිසට විරෝධය දක්‌වා විරෝධතා පුවරු රැගත් අතිවිශාල පිරිසක්‌ ගුවන්තොටුපළේ පිටවීමේ පර්යන්තය ඉදිරිපිටට රැස්‌ වී උද්ඝෝෂණය කර ඇත.

කැලම් මැක්‌රේ ඇතුළු පිරිස මෙසේ ගුවන්තොටුපළේ සිරවී සිටියදී ඔහු වෙත ගිය ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ගුවන් මගියෙක්‌ “නුඹ ද්‍රවිඩ ඩයස්‌පෝරාවේ වුවමනාවට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට එරෙහි වූයේ ඇයිදැයි” ප්‍රශ්න කරමින්, මෙරට ප්‍රශ්න ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ට විස¹ ගැනීමට ඉඩ හැර මේ ආකාරයෙන් කටයුතු නොකළා නම් මෙවැනි තත්ත්වයකට මුහුණදීමට සිදු නොවන්නේ යෑයි කියා ඇත.

පසුව ගුවන්තොටුපළ ඉදිරිපිට රැස්‌වී සිටි ජනමාධ්‍යවේදීන් මැක්‌රේගෙන් විවිධ ප්‍රශ්න විමසා ඇති අතර එහිදී “ඔබ එල්. ටී. ටී. ඊ. හිතවාදී විදේශීය ද්‍රවිඩ ඩයස්‌පෝරාවෙන් මුදල් ලබාගෙන ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට එරෙහිව කටයුතු කළා නොවේදැයි” ජනමාධ්‍යවේදියෙක්‌ කළ විමසීමකදී ඊට පිළිතුරු දුන් මැක්‌රේ තමන් ඩයස්‌පෝරාවෙන් මුදල් නොගත් බව පවසා ඇත.

ඒ සමඟම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට එරෙහිව කටයුතු කර මෙරටට පැමිණියේ කුමකටදැයි මාධ්‍යවේදීන් නැවතත් ප්‍රශ්න කර ඇති අතර එහිදී ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සාමය පැහැදිලිවම ස්‌ථාපිත වී තිබෙන බැවින් මෙහි ඒමට තීරණය කළ බව පවසා ඇති මැක්‌රේ මෙරටට පැමිණියේ ගැටලු මතු කිරීමට නොවන බව ද සඳහන් කර ඇත.

මේ අන්දමින් පැය 2 1/2 ක පමණ කාලයක්‌ මැක්‌රේ ඇතුළු කණ්‌ඩායම ගුවන්තොටුපළේ සිරවී සිටියදී උද්ඝෝෂණයට සහභාගි වූවන් විරෝධතා නැවැත්වීම නිසා මැක්‌රේ ඇතුළු පිරිස පස්‌වරු 2 ට පමණ ගුවන්තොටුපළෙන් පිටව ගොස්‌ තිබේ.

මෙහිදී මැක්‌රේ සමඟ පැමිණි වීඩියෝ කැමරා ශිල්පියකු ගුවන්තොටුපළ තුළ සිදු වූ සියලු දේ වීඩියෝගත කළ බව එහි සිටි ප්‍රකාශකයෙක්‌ සඳහන් කළේය.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he has watched the latest Channel-4 video on alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka and said that Sri Lanka has “serious questions” to answer about war crimes allegedly committed during its civil war, the BBC reported.

Mr Cameron’s comments came as he prepared to attend a Commonwealth summit on the island.

The prime minister said he would urge President Rajapaksa to hold an inquiry into the final months of the Sri Lankan civil war when they meet next week.

However, the prime minister has rejected calls to boycott the meeting.

Critics say any engagement with the Sri Lankan government at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) amounts to “collaboration”.

But the prime minister insisted that his attendance will help “shine a spotlight” on human rights concerns.

He spoke out after watching a documentary commissioned by Channel 4 about the events of 2009, which features footage of alleged war crimes by government forces.

Mr Cameron said the documentary, called No Fire Zone, was “one of the most chilling documentaries” he had watched.

“It brings home the brutal end to the civil war and the immense suffering of thousands of innocent civilians who kept hoping that they would reach safety, but tragically many did not,” he said.

“Many of the images are truly shocking.”

He said no-one could regret the end of the terrorist campaign waged by the Tamil Tigers who were responsible for “terrible crimes”.

“But that wrong does not change the fact that this documentary raises very serious questions that the Sri Lankan government must answer about what it did to protect innocent civilians – questions that strengthen the case for an independent investigation, questions that need answers if Sri Lanka is to build the truly peaceful and inclusive future its people deserve.”

Mr Cameron said “positive steps” such as provincial elections and a commission to investigate the disappearances of tens of thousands of people fell well short of what was required.

“I will raise my concerns when I see President Rajapaksa next week in Colombo,” he said.

“And I will tell him that if Sri Lanka doesn’t deliver an independent investigation, the world will need to ensure an international investigation is carried out instead.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he would boycott the meeting in protest against alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

But Downing Street denied any move to downgrade the UK’s delegation – which will also include Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

UK’s Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire has held talks with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London, Dr. Chris Nonis on Wednesday on the recent murder of a Sri Lankan student Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, in Sheffield last Sunday.

Speaking at British Parliament on Wednesday Swire said

“I am sure the whole House will join me in expressing condolences to the family of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, a Sri Lankan national who was murdered in Sheffield last Sunday. Two people have been remanded in custody on suspicion of murder. I have discussed this case and travel arrangements for the family, with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner this afternoon.”

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

(Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday he will demand that Sri Lanka investigates allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses when he visits the country for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders next week.

Cameron said he wanted to “shine the international spotlight on the lack of progress” in the Indian Ocean island since the end of a long civil war in 2009.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/uk-britain-srilanka-idUKBRE9A611520131108

Source: Reuters (UK)

Sri Lanka’s High Commission in London, on Tuesday (05) issued entry visas to the British Channel 4 media team, to cover the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka.

‘No Fire Zone’ film maker Callum Macrae, Newscaster Jon Snow and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Miller, were among those who had received entry visas.

Sri Lanka issued visa to Callum Macrae to travel to Sri Lanka, he was denied a visa by the Indian government to fly to New Delhi to screen his documentary ‘No Fire Zone’.

Last Sunday, ‘No Fire Zone’ was shown on Channel 4 where it showed new footage alleging that Sri Lankan soldiers captured LTTE television presenter Isaipriya and later murdered her. Army headquarters denied the allegation. (By Sujeeva Nivunhella)

Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)

The Commonwealth Secretariat says it is “disturbed” by scenes and testimonies in the ‘No Fire Zone’ video on Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth Secretariat spokesman Richard Uku tweeted saying the controversial video show the ugliness of war.

He said that learing lessons and reconciliation are key for Sri Lanka to go forward.

“According to international standards, truth, accountability and reconciliation all go together,” he added.

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma had yesterday refused to agree to calls for an international investigation on Sri Lanka over alleged human rights abuses.

When asked in an interview on the BBC about UN calls for an international investigation, Sharma said the Commonwealth does not have a position on something which he says is “not practical”.

Despite concerns raised ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka this month, Sharma said that the level of participation expected this year is no different to past summits.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya today denied allegations that he had betrayed party members.

“People are at liberty to hold their own opinions on this appointment. The Chairmanship of the Council was given to me like all the previous posts. I did not ask for it,” he told a news conference today.

He said if he wanted to betray the party he would not have contested Mr. Wickremesinghe to the party leadership.

The Leadership Council members said the council has been granted powers over 19 party matters including that of appointing members to the UNP working committee.

Leadership council member and General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that members to the next Working Committee would be appointed by the Leadership Council.

He said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would be appointed the party’s National Leader and would continue to function as the Opposition Leader.

“He will be in charge of parliamentary affairs and have the power to negotiate with other political parties as well,” Mr. Attanayake said.

He said UNP front-liner Sajith Premadasa, who refused to be a member of the Council, would be brought back through negotiations. (YP & LSP)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

CHENNAI: India has denied a visa to Callum Macrae, the director of a documentary that exposed war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Macrae, whose team was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year, made news again last Thursday when UK’s Channel 4 telecast footage acquired from him showing LTTE TV anchor-actor Isai Priya’s capture during the last phase of the Lankan war. Priya was found dead on May 18, 2009, with visible marks of torture. The video was telecast worldwide and caused an uproar that cast a shadow on the Colombo Commonwealth summit mid-November.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-Indian-visa-for-Sri-Lanka-war-documentary-maker/articleshow/25235282.cms

Source: The Times of India

The National Transport Commission (NTC) will deploy nine super luxury private buses on the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (E03) shortly.

NTC Chairman Roshan Gunawardene said the fare on the super luxury bus will be Rs.180 from Colombo Fort to Katunayake and on the luxury bus, Rs. 125 from Colombo Fort to Katunayake.

He said all buses will be deployed for passenger transport following a call for tenders. Route permits will be given only to super luxury and luxury private bus owners who will be selected through a tender with Cabinet approval.

“We consider high standards of the buses when we award tenders with concern for passenger safety.

“Well experienced drivers and luxury coaches are a must to operate transport services on the Expressway and we will train drivers in this regard,” he said.

He said that more buses will be deployed on the Expressway depending on the demand from passengers.

Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris’ mum and dad said he was the most loving son a parent could wish for…

The family of a Domino’s pizza worker murdered on his last ever delivery have paid tribute to him as “the most caring and loving son a parent could have”.

Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, 25, was stabbed to death on Sunday night as he was delivering a take-away in Sheffield .

The order was supposed to be his last delivery before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, Thavisha’s father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: “We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.”

Mr Peiris and Mrs Narangoda added: “We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son’s tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone. (By Jessica Best)

Continue reading at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dominos-delivery-driver-thavisha-lakindu-2660184#ixzz2jMDZR8g3

Source: Daily Mirror (UK)

The British government says it will press the Sri Lankan Government to investigate all human rights abuses, including the shocking allegations of acts of sexual violence committed during and after the conflict.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague says he and Prime Minister David Cameron will urge the government to allow free expression and to stop intimidation of journalists and also bring about reconciliation and political reform.

“It is important that we give that message to them in person,” he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK Foreign Secretary will be visiting Sri Lanka next month for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

“The Prime Minister and I will visit the north of Sri Lanka to see for ourselves what is happening. We will press the Sri Lankan Government to investigate all human rights abuses, including the shocking allegations of acts of sexual violence committed during and after the conflict. We will urge them to allow free expression and to stop intimidation of journalists, and call on them to bring about reconciliation and political reform. It is important that we give that message to them in person,” William Hague said.

The Foreign Secretary said that there have been some steps forward in Sri Lanka, which need to be recognised, including the northern provincial council elections that took place in September.

“They were generally peaceful and well-regarded, but all the issues I listed remain. While there have been some steps forward, many more are needed. There are many serious criticisms, including in our own reports, of the human rights record in Sri Lanka. Of course these are issues that we want to take up in Sri Lanka, but the right hon. Gentleman must recognise that the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will consider matters such as the future of the millennium development goals, expanding international trade and upholding human rights in other parts of the world. We need to be present at those discussions with a quarter of the globe. We also need to recognise that the consequences for the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom not attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting would be very serious and could be long term. That is why it is important, and that is why we decided to be there at the table, as well as raising the concerns so well expressed in this House,” he said.

 Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka is at the threshold of hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the first major international conference hosted by us since the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in 1976.

CHOGM is being held in Asia after nearly three decades, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

The Minister was presiding over the annual Graduation Ceremony of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) on Tuesday.

He stated that for the first time since Independence, the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa had undertaken a major review of its foreign policy. Minister Peiris pointed out that strengthening of relations with countries in the African region and the opening of several new resident Diplomatic Missions in Africa were also a result of this review process.

Minister Peiris highlighted the paramount importance of acquiring diplomatic skills that were required today not only by professional diplomats but also by all those who interact with the international community.

He stated that the courses conducted by the BIDTI for the public have been in high demand and this growing interest was the clearest indication that people in the public and private sectors were aware of the need to acquire such skills.

Minister Peiris said he was pleased that the BIDTI which is the Foreign Service Training Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs was able to provide these training opportunities to the public.

Minister Peiris expressed his particular satisfaction about the collaboration between the BIDTI, the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in providing training to officers who will be posted to Sri Lanka Missions abroad to look after Sri Lanka’s migrant workers, particularly in the Middle East.

He also appreciated the longstanding cooperation between the BIDTI and the Ministry of Defence in providing training to officers of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces on global affairs and strategic studies.

At the Graduation Ceremony, 58 students were awarded the Diploma in Diplomacy and Global Affairs, while 48 students were awarded the Certificate in Diplomacy and World Affairs. In addition, 25 newly recruited officers of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service who have successfully completed the Induction Training Program were also awarded certificates.

Moreover, 22 officers from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Department of Labour who successfully completed the Certificate Course in Labour Migration and Operational Procedures in Diplomatic Missions in Labour Receiving Countries also received their Certificates.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera, External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, Secretary to the Prime Minister S.S. Amarasekara, External Affairs Ministry Secretary K. Amunugama, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry Secretary Nissanka Wijeratne and a representative gathering of Ambassadors and High Commissioners were among the guests who attended the ceremony.

Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)

Mothers in Sheffield have been asked whether their sons could be behind the ‘brutal and shocking’ murder of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, who was stabbed to death while delivering his final pizza before starting a new job.

South Yorkshire Police have made a direct appeal to mothers whether their sons returned home ‘dishevelled, perhaps with bloodstained clothing’ after Sunday’s killing.

Sri Lankan-born Mr Peiris was making his final delivery of the day when he was attacked and left for dead in his silver Toyota Yaris.

The 25-year-old was described as a ‘career-minded, hard-working, bright, articulate and friendly young man’, leaving police with no clue to a possible motive apart from the small amount of cash he could have been carrying.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/30/man-stabbed-to-death-in-sheffield-on-final-pizza-delivery-before-becoming-an-it-consultant-4166578/

Source: Metro London (UK)