News

No US military training for Lanka

By Chris Kamalendran

The United States has turned down a request by the Defence Ministry to provide advanced training for Sri Lankan military officers, citing human rights concerns.

The Sunday Times learns that three lists containing names of senior officers were submitted to the US State Department for training at US military academies. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Jeff Anderson said facilities for such training programmes required certain assurances including the safeguarding of human rights.

“It is because of concerns in this area that some military cooperation with Sri Lanka has been suspended,” he said. However, Mr. Anderson added that the U.S. and Sri Lanka had a long tradition of partnership, which included cooperation between the two militaries. “That continues even today,” he said.

He pointed out that last month the U.S. military worked alongside the Sri Lanka Navy and the Air Force in providing humanitarian assistance to people in the Trincomalee district.

“Our military is also assisting in the de-mining efforts in the north,” he said. Meanwhile military spokesperson Prasad Samarasinghe declined to comment on the issue saying that he was not aware of such a development.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Second court martial named
No foreign monitors: UNP blames polls chief
Poll card postmen deliver strike note
Norway tries eight youth
NAM drops opposition to UN advisory panel
No US military training for Lanka
Sitting on problems
Talk at the cafe Spectator
Judges accountable above all to society, says Indian legal luminary
NGO bank accounts under government scrutiny
Abducted schoolboy found dead: 3 students arrested
US sees LeT terror network in Lanka
Piano diplomat not present for inquiry
IGP launches inquiry into conduct of officers
From book politics to dot com politics
Sri Lanka names its national butterfly
Gampaha District UPFA lead candidate and UNP’s youth candidate speak to the Sunday Times -- Interviews
Lankan writer and convert to Islam held by Mirihana Police
FM hangs on to hostages’ wages
CWC blamed for attack on UNPers
Gen. Fonseka’s arrest: Case resumes on Tuesday
Candidates : What they have to say
The Sirasa attack: Was Akon just an excuse?
Saying ‘aye’ with a 2/3 majority

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2010 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution