Colombo (News 1st); The European Union (EU) and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held their 23rd meeting of the Joint Commission on 25 - Get the latest breaking news and top stories from Sri Lanka, the latest political news, sports news, weather updates, exam results, business news, entertainment news, world news and much more from News 1st, Sri Lanka's leading news network.
23rd meeting of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission
Format
The European Union (EU) and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held their 23rd meeting of the Joint Commission on 25 January 2021, via video conference. This was the first Joint Commission under the new leadership in both the European Union and Sri Lanka.
The Joint Commission meeting, was held in a cordial and open atmosphere and the EU and Sri Lanka exchanged views on a wide array of subjects, reaffirming the deep cooperation ties and the willingness to strengthen the relationship between the people of the EU and Sri Lanka further. The EU and Sri Lanka agreed on the importance of enhancing trade ties and continuing to work closely together on human rights and reconciliation issues which were on the agenda of the meeting.
Ex-Prez Sirisena on “Shared Values and Democracy in Asia,”
Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies, and Gentlemen, Good afternoon Let me at the outset congratulate Excellency Suga Yoshihide, the Prime Minister of our cherished friend-Japan. I am extremely happy to address the Symposium on “Shared Values and Democracy in Asia,” following him, and Excellency Shree Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India- our great neighbour and friend.
I am reminded of the San Francisco Conference after the Second World War, where Excellency J R Jayewardene, our then Finance Minister, staunchly stood for Japan. Quoting from Dhammapada, he said, “We extend to Japan a hand of friendship, and trust… her people and ours may march together to enjoy the full dignity of human life in peace and prosperity.” Japan has achieved that wish. I consider the invitation to me echoes that friendship and trust.
South Asia Collective Lambasts Lanka for Violating Minority Rights South Asia Status of Minorities Report 2020
COLOMBO: The South Asia Status of Minorities Report 2020, just released by the Europe-based “South Asia Collective” has lambasted governments in the region for trampling on the rights of the ethnic and religious minorities.
Writing on Sri Lanka, Ambika Satkunanathan, a former member of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, points out that during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime from 2005 to 2014, there was a crackdown on dissent. As a result, the ethno-religious minorities faced numerous threats and obstacles to exercising their rights.
This changed in 2015 when the “Yahapalanaya” or “Good Governance” regime, led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, was ushered in. But civic space began shrinking again during the latter part of the regime due to the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday multiple bomb blasts carried ou
HomeOpinionStruggle for justice against enforced disappearances Struggle for justice against enforced disappearances 11 December 2020 07:55 pm - 0
Family members of the disappeared vow that they will continue their struggle to seek the truth despite a multitude of challenges
Since 1991 various commemorations have been held by civil society organizations together with family members of missing persons (Pics AFP)
This year due to the lockdown of areas amidst the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic, family members of the disappeared engaged in commemorations at their homes
This year’s 30th commemoration, during most difficult times, is a historical milestone in the continuous struggle for truth, justice and guarantees of non-recurrence, and insistence to those in power