Canada/Sri Lanka/Security: Ottawa concerned about migrant ship

Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews stated on Monday that Ottawa is concerned that MV Sun Sea, a Thai ship heading to British Columbia with migrants on board, may be carrying some members of the Sri Lanka's vanquished terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Toews said the authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but declined to elaborate on the steps the government would take.

It is worth mentioning that earlier this month the Canadian Defence Ministry said it is prepared to intercept the ship, reportedly carrying about 200 asylum seekers including women and children from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka/ Civil Unrest: Armed men attack private TV station
 
Media reported on Friday that a group of unidentified armed men barged into the premises of Voice of Asia Network in Colombo and set ablaze the offices of the privately owned Siyatha Television and Radio Stations.

Reportedly, the men were carrying assault rifles and had also assaulted a security guard and an employee.
 
A spokesman of the company said the station's control room, studio and library were damaged and therefore the TV station had to be shut down.
 
As Siyatha mainly focused on entertainment and education, the reason for the attack could not be explained based on the content of its programs. However, it is worth mentioning that the company's owners supported in the presidential election earlier this year Sarath Fonseka, the main opposition candidate and former Army Chief, who now faces a court-martial for allegedly planning his political career while in the army, while many of his supporters were arrested.

Sri Lanka/Terrorism: Grenade blast injures nine in Colombo

Media reported that at least nine people have been wounded in an explosion which occurred when a suspected hand grenade was thrown to a group of people in Sri Lankan capital Colombo's Pettah area on Thursday morning. The investigation is underway.

Police officials said there is no terrorist link with the explosion. The Department of Government Information also ruled out any terrorist link with the explosion.

Reportedly, it was the first blast in the centre of the city since government forces defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in May of last year.

 

Sri Lanka: pro-opposition TV network attacked ahead of elections

Hundreds of people on Monday attacked the head office of Maharaja Broadcasting and Television Network (MBC/MTV), Sri Lanka's largest private and pro-opposition broadcaster, in Colombo.

According to media reports, around 200 people threw rocks at the building, smashed windows and vandalised cars parked nearby. MBC/MTV, which runs three TV and four radio stations, added that four of its employees had been injured by rocks.

Although a police spokesman said he was not aware of the incident, local witnesses said that some of the attackers had been detained by police.

This is already the second attack against MBC/MTV. In January last year, unknown gunmen attacked a MBC/MTV studio and transmission compound, throwing hand grenades and shooting at the compound.

Sri Lanka/Security: General Fonseka appears before military court

On Tuesday, the former Sri Lankan Army General and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka appeared before the Court Martial with his lawyers to face three charges related to his involvement in political activities during his military career, including "committing military offences".

Fonseka was arrested on February 8 for an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government while serving as army commander and assassinate incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Opposition members claim that Fonseka's detention was illegal and demanded his release.

Reportedly, Fonseka will be tried by a three-member tribunal comprising of Major Generals appointed by President Rajapaksa under the leadership of Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya. Fonseka will face charges as the special court is set up at the Navy Headquarters. The Next Court Martial Trial on the charges against General Fonseka is scheduled to be held on April 6.

Somalia/Piracy: pirates seized Saudi tanker

The Al Nisr Al Saudi, an oil tanker from Saudi Arabia, has been hijacked by the Somali pirates, said the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) on Wednesday. Spokesman of the NAVFOR  said the vessel was empty, but had 14 crew members onboard when it was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

He also declared that the 5,136-ton vessel was not registered with the maritime authorities and was ferrying on the route not patrolled by naval warships. It has been reported that the tanker, with one Greek captain and 13 Sri Lankan crew, was on its way from Japan to Jeddah.

Meanwhile, pirates have claimed to have hijacked another fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. No further information was available regarding the claim. In recent months, there has been a substantial increased in pirate attacks on vessels. Official record accounts for six ships and 132 sailors held captive by the pirates.

 

Sri Lanka/Civil unrest: Buddhist monks urge Fonseka's release as protests continue in Colombo

For the fifth consecutive day, hundreds of supporters of defeated presidential candidate Sanath Fonseka took to the streets in Colombo on Sunday, demanding the immediate release of the former army chief.

According to police officials three police personnel were injured when protesters clashed with them. "Police had to baton charge to disburse the crowd," police spokesman Prasanth Jayakody said.

Also on Sunday, senior Buddhist clergymen condemned the arrest of Foneska and urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to release Fonseka, who was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander. "We wish to stress that we do not under any circumstance approve of the arrest of … Fonseka who risked his life for the country's unity", the Buddhist monks wrote in a letter to President Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the independent Lawyers for Democracy criticized the government on Monday of illegally suppressing protests. "We were shocked to witness that protesters were first attacked by hooligans and thugs who were provided protection by the police. Subsequently the same peaceful protesters were beaten by the police," the lawyers said.

Sri Lanka/Civil unrest: court to hear Fonseka’s challenge, security measures strengthened

Security measures have been strengthened up in Colombo on Friday as the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a suit challenging the arrest of defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka.

Police Spokesman Prashanth Jayakody confirmed that anti-riot police squads were put on alert in and around the capital. Security forces have set up barricades along the main access roads to the court.

The Supreme Court accepted a petition by the retired army chief's wife requesting that his arrest be ruled illegal, and ordered the state to allow him family visits and medicines. The court was scheduled on February 23.

Tensions escalated on the island since former Army Commander Fonseka was arrested on Monday for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander. Earlier on Wednesday, at least eight people were wounded when opposition activists clashed with government supporters outside the Court Complex. Police used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

According to government and military officials Fonseka had been arrested on charges of "committing military offences" and faces a court-martial for getting involved in politics before his retirement. However, opposition said Fonseka's detention was illegal and demanded immediate release of the former army chief.

Sri Lanka/Political unrest: police crackdown on opposition protest in Colombo, Foneska appeal for calm

Since Wednesday on the streets of Colombo city demonstrators are protesting against the arrest of losing presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander.

Meanwhile, defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka appealed his supporters to remain calm. "He wanted me to convey to the people and especially the troops to remain calm and not to be provoked by his illegal arrest," said Mrs Fonseka, who met with her detained husband late Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, at least eight people were wounded when opposition activists clashed with government supporters outside the Sri Lankan Supreme Court Complex. Police used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

According to government and military officials Fonseka had been arrested on charges of "committing military offences" and faces a court-martial for getting involved in politics before his retirement. However, opposition said Fonseka's detention was illegal and demanded immediate release of the former army chief.

The United Nations stated on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed Fonseka's arrest with Rajapaksa in a telephone call and expressed concern about events in the Asian nation. The statement also said that Mr. Ban also agreed with Rajapaksa that Lynn Pascoe, head of the UN political department, should visit the island soon after the presidential inauguration this month.

Sri Lanka/Political unrest: government supporters clash with opposition members in Colombo

Sri Lankan police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of pro-  and anti-government protestors who pelted stones and organised clashes in the capital Colombo on Wednesday.

Clashes came a day after newly re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved the parliament and paved the way for new legislative elections two months ahead of schedule.

Reportedly, pro-government protesters staged a counter-rally outside the country's Supreme Court, where the opposition had planned a gathering to protest the arrest of its losing presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka, who was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander.

According to government and military officials Fonseka had been arrested on charges of "committing military offences" and faces a court-martial for getting involved in politics before his retirement. However, opposition said Fonseka's detention was illegal and demanded immediate release of the former army chief.

Sri Lanka/Civil unrest: 37 arrested over plot to assassinate president

Sri Lankan state media reported on Wednesday that 37 people, mainly army officials, have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Daily News, a state-run newspaper, said those being held included a brigadier, a colonel, several army deserters and four civilians. The newspapers added that most of them were arrested in a raid on the office of the defeated presidential contender, General Sarath Fonseka.

The opposition however, denied there was any plot and said the government has launched a witch hunt after Rajapaksa won the presidential election a week ago. Jayalath Jayawardena, an opposition politician, said it were “false, malicious and fabricated” accusations.

Meanwhile, thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in Colombo on Wednesday, to demonstrate against the results of the recent presidential elections, which they say was rigged. Later on they assembled in a field in central Colombo to listen to speeches from opposition politicians. One of those politicians, Anura Dissanayake, called them to reject the “corrupt election”.

According to official results of the January 26 poll, President Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated his rival Fonseka with a 17 percentage point margin.

Sri Lanka/Insurgency: grenade kills 2 in Gampola as president is re-elected

At least two people have been killed and four others wounded when unknown assailants lobbed a grenade into a Buddhist temple in the town of Gampola in central Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

According to the reports, a priest and a civilian were among those killed, while four others suffered minor injuries. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara stated that is was too early to comment on the fact whether the attack was related to the outcome of the elections.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan state television reported that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won the presidential election, beating his rival General Sarath Fonseka. According to the first results, Rajapaksa obtained more than half of the total votes and can thus prepare to serve his second term. However, the final results are yet to be declared officially.

Sri Lanka/Insurgency: explosions rock Jaffna peninsula ahead of poll, none injured

Election officials reported a series at least four explosions hours prior to the start of the historic presidential polls in Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula on Tuesday.

The election monitoring group Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said at least two bombs went off outside the home of Subramaniam Sharma, a ruling party activist for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in the Jaffna peninsula, but there were no reports of casualties.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara has said that a petrol bomb was thrown at a location in Jaffna but it did not cause any damage or casualties.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in all the sensitive areas where voting is being held. President Mahinda Rajapaksa (SLFP) is facing a close contest against his former army chief, General Sarath Fonseka, who resigned his post of as chief of defence staff in November over differences with the President, who accused him of attempting to seize power after defeating the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels last May.

Sri Lanka/Insurgency: explosion hits opposition activist 's home in Colombo

Unknown assailants exploded a bomb at the residence of an opposition activist in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Friday.

Reportedly, the explosion targeting Tiran Alles, a supporter of former army chief Sarath Fonseka, comes days ahead of a presidential election in January 26. According to police officials, no one from Tiran's family members was injured in the attack.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a police official who was at the scene stated that the attackers have come in a van and carried out the attack and fled. He added that no arrests had been made so far.

No group or any individual has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Fonseka, resigned his post of as chief of defence staff in November over differences with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who accused him of trying to seize power after defeating the separatist The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels last May.

Sri Lanka/Civil unrest: opposition supporter killed in new pre-poll violence

A supporter of Sri Lanka's opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka has been killed on Monday in a clash between ruling party activists ahead of next week's presidential election. Monday's killing is the third poll-related death occurring ahead of January 26 presidential elections.

A group of supporters of the former army chief was attacked in the north-wesetrn town of Wariyapola while they were displaying election posters. “One man was killed and several others sustained injuries,” a spokesman for the police election secretariat said on condition of anonymity.

Fonseka, resigned his post of as chief of defence staff in November over differences with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who accused him of trying to seize power after defeating the separatist The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels last May.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa has ordered a security crackdown to avoid further violence. “The president is deeply concerned about the violence and has already ordered police to make sure that there is tighter security,” AFP quoted Presidential spokesman Liyanage as saying, adding he was appealing to “all parties to ensure there is no violence.”

Sri Lanka/Insurgency: pre-poll violence leaves one person dead

At least one person was killed on Tuesday when unknown gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at a bus carrying supporters of Sri Lanka's main opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, officials said. "One person was killed instantly, another opposition supporter was hospitalised and several others had minor injuries," a local police officer, who preferred not to be named, told reporters.

Keerthi Thennakoon, a spokesman for the independent Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said that “the first killing was reported from Tangalle.” In the run-up to the presidential elections on January 26, already 251 violent incidents have been reported, but this one is the first one to have deadly consequences. Reportedly, the attack took place near the town of Hungama, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s home town, in the south of the island.

Current President Rajapaksa and his opponent General Fonseka stood side-by-side in May after they defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but have become bitter rivals since the latter became candidate for the presidency.

Sri Lanka/Civil unrest: police fire water cannon at protesters in Colombo

Sri Lankan police fired tear gas and water cannon on Wednesday to disperse unemployed graduate protesters entering a high security area near President Mahinda Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. "The Rajapaksa government's police attacked us with tear gas and water cannons," Dhammika Munasinghe, media spokesman for the Unemployed Graduate Union, told reporters. "We will not move from this place up until we meet the president."

Police said they were forced to use tear gas and water cannon to stop the protest march and defend themselves. “The protestors pushed aside the first barrier and was advancing on the second barrier. Police tried to stop them and when three police officers were injured in their attempt to control the protestors, police were compelled to fire tear gas and use water canon to disperse the unruly demonstrators,” Nimal Mediwake, a police spokesman, said.

A group of unemployed graduates have been staging rolling protests for the past 29 days demanding decent jobs.

Sri Lanka/United Nations/Security: UN urges Colombo to speed up screening of civilians in detention camps

Walter Kaelin, the UN secretary-general's representative for the human rights of internally displaced people, has urged the Sri Lanka government on Tuesday to speed up the screening process and free civilians detained in military-run camps. According to the UN, months of military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had displaced a tremendous number of civilians, of which about 250,000 are at the camps. Kaelin declared he is "very concerned about the very slow pace of releases." There are also other human rights groups and foreign governments pressuring Colombo to free the ethnic Tamils detained in the camps.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka had said that the international organisation should not interfere in the Colombo's internal affairs. The announcement was made at the UN General Assembly. “It is also imperative that the prohibition reflected in the Article 2 (7) of the Charter that the UN should not interfere in the internal affairs of States be respected. The Charter must be our guiding norm since it is the Charter that keeps us together. Non interference in the internal affairs of states must be respected at all times,” he said.

Sri Lanka/Security: UN chief slams Lanka for expelling UNICEF spokesman

A statement released by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office on Wednesday announced that the Secretary-General strongly denounced the Sri Lankan government's decision to expel a UNICEF spokesman. "The Secretary-General strongly regrets the decision of the Sri Lankan government to expel James Elder, a spokesman for UNICEF in Sri Lanka," Ban's office said in a statement.

The Secretary-General will take up this issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the earliest opportunity, the statement said. Ban "expresses his full confidence in the work of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, which includes making public statements when necessary in an effort to save lives and prevent grave humanitarian problems," it said. The UN chief will continue to urge Rajapaksa to implement all the commitments made in the joint statement during his visit to Sri Lanka in May, the statement said. Ban also said that the international body was "working impartially to assist the people of Sri Lanka, and the government should be supporting and cooperating with its efforts."

The Lankan government had announced on Sunday that it had revoked the residency visa of UNICEF chief of communications James Elder, whom Colombo accused of being biased towards the The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which fought for a separate homeland for Tamils for decades.