Tamils all over the world pay homage to those who were killed in the brutal, final stage of Eelam War IV in 2009, the Tamil nation marked 16 years since the massacre of tens of thousands at the end of the armed conflict on May 18th 2009. IN 2009 OVER 40,000 KILLED 146,679 TAMILS UNACCOUNTED
IN 2009 OVER 40,000 KILLED
146,679 TAMILS UNACCOUNTED FOR
25,000 CHILDREN ORPHANED
80,000 TAMIL WIDOWED UP TO END OF WAR
Freedom is our birth right and Autonomy is our demand
A high-level Chinese delegation will attend the Sri Lanka-China Trade and Investment Forum to be held in Colombo on May 30, hosted by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Commerce of Sri Lanka.
Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China Wang Wentao will head the 115-member business delegation representing 77 Chinese companies, to engage with potential Sri Lankan business and investment partners, at the forum organized by the chamber’s Sri Lanka–China Business Council and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.
The Forum will offer “a platform to strengthen bilateral commercial ties, facilitate business matchmaking, and identify new trade and investment avenues, in a diverse range of sectors,” the chamber said.
“The visiting delegates will represent four major chambers in China: the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (CFNA), the China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector (CICCPS), and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles.
“The delegation has expressed interest in imports from Sri Lanka including black tea, spices such as nutmeg and cloves, seafood including crab, fruits like papaya, pineapple, guava, and mango, as well as other food and agricultural products.
“Chinese businesses are looking to introduce garlic, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, various agricultural products, nuts, potatoes, vegetable items, textiles, and home textile products into the Sri Lankan market.
The services sector will also be a key focus, with potential collaboration in areas such as water treatment, clean energy, environmental protection technologies, engineering, and construction, CCC said.
Investment discussions are expected to focus on the automotive industry chain and tea plantation, and tea enterprise development.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Management has decided to launch a training course for newly elected members following the local government elections.
The Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance stated that the training will begin after the Election Commission gazettes the names of the new members.
Separate training sessions will be held for members of Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, and Provincial Councils, depending on the current legal framework.
The course will cover topics such as legal powers, fund management, participation in council activities, and interaction with government institutions and the public.
A four-member committee has been appointed by the Attorney General to review the Batalanda Commission Report.
The committee is headed by Senior Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya. The other members include Deputy Solicitor General Dilip Peiris, Senior State Counsel Jayani Wegodapola, and State Counsel Shakthi Jagoda Arachchi.
The committee has been tasked with studying whether the evidence contained in the Batalanda Commission Report is sufficient to initiate criminal prosecutions.
The report was recently forwarded to the Attorney General by the Presidential Secretariat, following instructions from the President.
Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody has reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to expanding the energy partnership with China, describing China as a “close friend” and outlining ambitious plans for collaboration across petroleum and renewable energy projects.
In an interview with Xinhua, Minister Jayakody emphasized Sri Lanka’s eagerness to accelerate key energy projects in cooperation with Chinese partners. “We have a refinery project in Hambantota, and we are in a hurry to start this project,” he said.
“Not only in petroleum, but we also want to start some projects in the electricity sector, especially in using solar and wind power. We are very likely to call for the support of China in these sectors,” Minister Jayakody noted.
The Energy Minister has also highlighted that Sri Lanka is particularly interested in leveraging China’s advancements in battery storage technology to improve the reliability and sustainability of its electricity sector.
“We like to have those partnerships to develop these areas,” he said, pointing to a broader vision of modernizing the nation’s energy infrastructure with Chinese expertise.
The minister’s remarks came as Chinese state-owned energy giant Sinopec marked its first “Clean Sri Lanka” Open Day at a newly upgraded filling station. The event was attended by senior government officials, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and community leaders.
Source: Xinhua
A total of 15.1% of Sri Lankans lost their jobs due to the impact of the economic crisis in 2023, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
The data from the Department also indicated a higher percentage of males lost either their main and/or secondary jobs due to the economic crisis compared to females.
Meanwhile, the Census Department highlighted that during this period, 60.5% of households in the country experienced a decrease in their monthly income.
These findings were revealed in the final report of the Household Survey conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics regarding the impact of the 2023 economic crisis.
According to the report, 91.1% of households experienced an increase in their average monthly expenses while 5.3% of households’ expenditures remained unchanged.
Due to the economic crisis, 22% of the households in the country fell into debt, and 7% of the population did not receive proper healthcare treatment, the report by the Department of Census and Statistics revealed further.
The long-awaited $ 3.7 billion mega-scale oil refinery project in Hambantota, led by Chinese energy giant Sinopec, is facing further delays as an agreement on tax concessions between the Government and Sinopec is yet to be finalised.
Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala, confirming the delay of the project, said: “The Government called for Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and only four were received. Ultimately, only Sinopec was retained and the rest were rejected.”
“Sinopec submitted its proposal under the Board of Investment (BOI) law, which limits foreign market equity to 20%. However, it is now asking for a greater stake and more tax concessions. We are currently in negotiations, but we have made it clear we cannot violate the original RFP,” he told The Sunday Morning.
While questions remained on the land lease agreement with Sinopec, Prof. Hemapala dismissed the notion as an impediment to the future of the project.
The requested land allocation of over 500 hectares has been agreed to in principle under the BOI framework, but no formal lease has been signed.
“It has requested more land and we have agreed to this in compliance with the BOI law. We cannot lease the land until everything is finalised. However, this is not a problem,” Prof. Hemapala stressed.
Environmental compliance also remains a critical barrier. Prof. Hemapala confirmed that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would only become a concern once the project received the green light to proceed.
However, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), when contacted, could not provide details on the matter immediately.
“There is an RFP, which includes conditions in compliance with the BOI law. We have communicated this requirement to Sinopec and it is aware, but it is negotiating for more. In any case, we plan to submit a report to the Cabinet within two to three weeks,” he added.
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage also acknowledged that discussions with Sinopec were ongoing, particularly concerning local supply chain integration.
“Sinopec wanted to fight for its part as a supply chain, but this is still under negotiation,” he said. “It submitted a revised proposal after a meeting last Friday and it is also exploring alternative solutions, including the possibility of engaging in other refinery projects.”
While Dr. Neththikumarage stopped short of making any claims, he suggested that it was possible that Sinopec was preparing a new Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Sapugaskanda refinery.
“While a proposal was finalised earlier based on the EOI, Sinopec is now seeking further commitments, particularly in terms of operational logistics and local partnerships,” he added.
He also clarified that the originally proposed investment amount of $ 3.7 billion remained unchanged: “There has been no indication from Sinopec about altering the investment figure. Perhaps if they introduce a new EOI, it may indicate something. Their focus is possibly on structuring local operations and developing a broader refinery strategy.”
Interestingly, the 500-hectare land allocation has not been a prominent issue in the latest rounds of negotiation, according to Dr. Neththikumarage.
If the negotiations are annulled owing to disagreements, Prof. Hemapala indicated that fresh agreements may be initiated based on a new RFP and the search for new investment partners.
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister has expressed the country’s objection to the construction of a Tamil genocide monument in Canada at a meeting with High Commissioner Eric Walsh.
“The strong objections of the GoSL to the unfounded genocide allegations and the approval for constructing such a monument, was conveyed to the Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka today, at the Foreign Ministry,” foreign minister Vijitha Herath said.
“Such actions would hinder and complicate the government’s ongoing efforts to promote national unity, reconciliation, and lasting peace among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities.”
Former minister M U M Ali Sabry also criticized the monument.
“The truth is, all communities suffered in this conflict. The Tamils bore unimaginable hardship, both from the war that raged through their lands and from appalling riots like in 1983.
“The Muslims and Sinhalese too suffered displacement and loss.
“But to falsely label Sri Lanka with the gravest of crimes, genocide, is not just wrong, it is divisive, dangerous, and deeply irresponsible.”
The Canadian government should know better, he said, but are blinded by vote-bank politics which threatens reconciliation.
“We must stand for truth, for all communities, and for a future rooted not in falsehood and foreign posturing, but in justice, unity, and dignity for every Sri Lankan.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ full statement is reproduced below:
Government of Sri Lanka strongly rejects unfounded genocide allegations and protests construction of misleading monument in Canada
The Government of Sri Lanka maintains that the allegation of genocide during the final phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka is unsubstantiated by any credible authority, either nationally or internationally, and is based on misleading information. Sri Lanka firmly rejects this false narrative and believes it has been propagated primarily for electoral gains within Canada.
It is worth highlighting that in April 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development of Canada officially confirmed that the Government of Canada has not made any finding of genocide in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Canada designated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization in 2006 and reaffirmed this designation in June 2024.
The Government of Sri Lanka has repeatedly expressed its strong objections to the construction of a so-called Tamil Genocide Monument at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Canada. It has consistently urged the Federal Government of Canada to intervene and prevent this regrettable initiative by the Brampton City Council.
Sri Lanka views this development as offensive to the broader Sri Lankan and Canadian communities. It strongly believes that the propagation of such unfounded allegations and the construction of monuments based on fabrications not only mislead the public but also hinder Sri Lanka’s genuine efforts toward reconciliation, national unity, and lasting peace among all communities.
In this regard, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with the Canadian High Commissioner today to reiterate the Government of Sri Lanka’s strong objections regarding the unfounded genocide allegations and the approval of constructing such a monument, which complicates and undermines the government’s efforts toward reconciliation and national unity.
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has submitted a dossier to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office calling for targeted sanctions against retired Sri Lankan General Kamal Gunaratne, citing his direct involvement in war crimes, torture, and systemic human rights abuses.
The submission, dated 8 May 2025, outlines a detailed case for the designation of Gunaratne under the UK’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020. It presents extensive evidence of his alleged command responsibility in serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict in 2009 and in the post-war period.
Role in major atrocities
Gunaratne served in numerous high-ranking military and civil positions over four decades, including as Commander of the 53 Division during the 2009 genocide, and later as Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni and Competent Authority for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. He was most recently the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence from November 2019 to September 2024.
The ITJP documents Gunaratne’s involvement in a wide range of abuses, including:
• Deliberate shelling of civilians and hospitals in government-designated ‘No Fire Zones’ during 2009, killing tens of thousands of Tamil civilians.
• Extrajudicial executions of surrendered LTTE fighters, including high-profile cases such as Isaipriya, a Tamil broadcaster.
• Arbitrary detention and torture, including sexual violence, at notorious detention centres such as Joseph Camp.
• Brutal treatment of civilians in IDP camps, where widespread violations including torture and enforced disappearances occurred under his watch.
According to the submission, Gunaratne issued orders to use indiscriminate weapons like multi-barrel rocket launchers in areas densely packed with civilians, fully aware of their consequences. He also admitted in his own writings that he instructed troops not to accept surrenders from those he labelled “terrorists.”
Command responsibility and failure to act
The ITJP’s submission draws on United Nations reports, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) investigation and the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts, which found compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It argues that Gunaratne had effective control over his troops, maintained direct surveillance of the battlefield through UAVs, and was aware of the humanitarian situation on the ground. Despite this, he failed to prevent or punish violations, making him liable under international legal standards of command responsibility.
Calls for urgent UK action
The ITJP contends that sanctioning Gunaratne would meet the UK’s policy objectives of deterring torture and conflict-related sexual violence. It would also align with the UK’s March 2025 sanctions on other Sri Lankan military officials implicated in similar crimes.
“Sanctioning Kamal Gunaratne will send a clear message to the Sri Lankan government that egregious human rights violations in the name of national security will not be tolerated,” the report states, adding that such action is necessary given the complete lack of domestic accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.
The submission also emphasises the relevance of the case to the UK Tamil diaspora, many of whom are victims or relatives of those affected by the violations. It follows growing international momentum, including the installation of Tamil genocide memorials abroad and increasing calls for criminal accountability from the Tamils and human rights advocates.
Background
Gunaratne is best known for commanding the 53 Division during the closing months of the war, including operations in Mullivaikkal, where mass atrocities occurred. He has previously written extensively about his role in the war, often defending the military campaign and denying wrongdoing.
The ITJP’s recommendation includes corroborating witness statements, UN documentation, and analysis of military command structures, arguing that Gunaratne is an “involved person” under the UK’s Global Human Rights Sanctions framework.
If adopted by the UK, sanctions could include asset freezes and travel bans.
Sri Lanka has formalised a series of debt restructuring deals with the Export-Import Bank of India, covering credit lines and buyer’s credit facilities worth approximately US$ 930.8 million, the Finance Ministry said yesterday.
The Bilateral Amendatory Agreements is part of Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to address its external debt obligations. The agreements were signed on 25 March and 3 April, according to the ministry.
The restructuring covers seven Lines of Credit and four Buyer’s Credit Agreements extended by the Indian government.
“The conclusion of the bilateral Amendment Agreements will certainly pave the way to developing further the deep and longstanding bilateral relationships between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
Sri Lanka’s Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana signed the agreements on behalf of the government, while EXIM Bank of India General Manager Nirmit Ved and Deputy General Manager Amith Kumar represented the lender in signing the Line of Credit and Buyer’s Credit agreements respectively.
India has played a pivotal role in steering Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process, the ministry acknowledged.
“The leadership, commitment, and constructive engagement of the Government of India with the support of needy emergency assistance during the peak of the crisis was instrumental for Sri Lanka to navigate the challenges of economic recovery and also to make a remarkable progress towards the restoring of debt sustainability,” the ministry said.
