News

The visiting UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour and Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe differed strongly yesterday on the need for the presence of UN monitors in Sri Lanka or the opening of a Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombo.

President ‘directs’ estate wage hike

Plantation companies have conceded to a wage increase for plantation workers and entered into a collective agreement with the unions following a “Presidential directive” to increase salaries--but are complaining that the industry cannot afford the increase.

Clash in Jaffna lagoon, salvage operations on

Three Army personnel were reported missing while three LTTE cadres were killed and three wounded, in a confrontation at sea between the two sides in the Jaffna lagoon yesterday morning. The military said the fighting started when the Army spotted two LTTE boats that had infiltrated the fishing clusters and were attempting to proceed towards Pooneryn.

Arbour skips Bogol’s dinner

Visiting UN Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour opted out of a dinner invitation from Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on Thursday night, citing fatigue.According to those in the know, however, she had even wanted to cancel the official meeting with Minister Bogallagama that evening at 6 at the ministry...