Parliament of Sri Lanka on November 23rd passed a motion to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to formulate a political solution to the country's ethnic issue.
The parliament announced that a motion to appoint a Select Committee of Parliament to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation was passed by the House.
The political parties in Parliament are requested to name their representatives to the PSC.
The Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa, Canada and the Consul General’s Office in Toronto in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Tamil Community, for the second time, organised a colourful event to celebrate the Deepavali festival 2011 on Sunday 6th November at the Korean Cultural Centre in Toronto.
Read more: Deepavali Celebrated in Canada amidst attempts to disrupt the event
My country and my people who are experiencing economic revival, peace and tranquility throughout the country after many decades look forward to welcoming all of you to Colombo in 2013 President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
Addressing the concluding session of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth today President Rajapaksa said that CHOGM comes to Asia after 22 years, last being in Malaysia. "I have no doubt that all my Asian colleagues will, in 2013, join me and the people of Sri Lanka in welcoming you to our region, which is home to over two thirds of the population of the Commonwealth, to deliberate on all issues in which we are collectively interested", he said.
Read more: Sri Lanka awaits to welcome you - President tells CHOGM leaders
In Sri Lanka today, Deepavali and its light of hope provide the opportunity for greater understanding among communities, increased harmony among peoples and the shedding of differences that have kept people apart for a long period, says President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Deepavali Message.
“Victory of good over evil, the shedding of light over darkness and the triumph of knowledge over ignorance are the eternal quest of humankind. Deepavali, known as the Festival of Light is the expression of the spiritual richness of people as it marks the progress made in the constant struggle for a better life with all the above achievements, in keeping with the great spiritual values of Hindus”, he further adds.
Sri Lanka, a proud and accomplished nation, has the courage of its convictions, and is prepared to engage with the world in respect of all aspects of its current experience, Professor G.L.Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, said in Paris just before his meeting with Alain Juppé, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the French Republic.
Read more: C'wealth offers to help in SL's reconciliation efforts
The government yesterday(October 06) announced that a new National Action Plan approved by the Cabinet for the protection and promotion of Human Rights would assist to achieve reconciliation among the communities while not allowing the terrorism to resurface.
“Deeply mindful that the battle for peace I every bit as important and difficult as the struggle against terror”
The recent spate of unsubstantiated allegations on the last few days of the conflict levelled at the Government of Sri Lanka, need to be examined in terms of the political agenda behind such propaganda and distinguished from the genuine expressions of concern on humanitarian issues, observed External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris in his keynote address at the launch of the publication by the Ministry of Defence entitled “Humanitarian Operation: Factual Analysis – July 2006-May 2009” on 1st August. Elaborating he stated that the task of analysing where the political agendas end and norms of human rights begin has now become more crucial and this issue deserves to be judged dispassionately, without prejudice and bias. The External Affairs Minister recalled an observation made by the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson on the Goldstone Report on the Gaza issue, that it was guided “not by human rights but by politics”.
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