Rajiva's letter and Sri Lanka's presidential

(December 25, Colombo - Lanka Polity) The reply of Wijesinghe has caused controversy in government circles as the Minister of Human Rights declined the responsibility of his secretary's letter at a press briefing held on December 23 .

The Minister said that Fonseka's statement put the armed forces in trouble. Wijesinghe had slipped out of the room when a journalist asked about the letter although he was there at the press conference.

'Patriotic brigade' mainly led by National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa was upset with the letter written by Rajiva Wijesinghe. The pro-Rajapaksa 'patriots' were elated with the trump passed by Fonseka to them to canvass for floating Sinhala votes. They whisper that Wijesinghe is under a contract of Sarath Fonseka and his letter benefited the retired General whose slip of the tongue put him in trouble in gaining majority Sinhala votes at the upcoming presidential.

However, political sources say that Rajapaksas themselves directed Rajiva Wijesinghe, a professor of English literature, to write this letter to save them from the war crime allegations.Anyway, Wijesinghe's response looked abrupt and unauthoritative since he had not consulted even his Minister. However, Rajapaksas have remained silent so far.

Hilary Clinton repenting now over a statement on Sri Lanka, says local newspaper

(October 05, Colombo - Lanka Polity) A leading Sinhala nationalist daily in Sri Lanka reported today quoting an unnamed Defense Ministry official that US State Secretary Hilary Clinton had admitted that the statement she made over rape being used as as a weapon of war in Sri Lanka.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, addressing the UN Security Council, on September 30, noted that rape has been used as a weapon of war in the Balkans, Burma, Sri Lanka and elsewhere and that in too many countries and in too many cases, the perpetrators of this violence are not punished, and so this impunity encourages further attacks.


The newspaper, Divaina (sister paper of The Island) said that the person who wrote Clinton's statement had inserted the name of Sri Lanka to deliberately insult the country. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse had told the newspaper that there could be an individual behind this incident.


Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights Rajiva Wijesinha speaking to Sri Lankan television Derana regarding Hillary Clinton's comment that rape was used as a tactic of war in Sri Lankasaid, "To my knowledge, this is not true and I have not come across such an allegation."

Wijesinha mocked Clinton stating that she "tends to make generalized statements, it is clear as she did the same during her campaign for Presidency against Barack Obama and we should take a leaf out of Obama's book and forgive her for this statement".

In a letter addressed to Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, the State Department noted that the US government and international human rights groups over the years had detailed "numerous cases of rape and sexual violence in Sri Lanka, particularly acts committed against women held in detention by the government."

However, the letter signed by Melanne Verveer, ambassador at large for global women's issues at the State Department said that "in the most recent phase of the conflict, from 2006 to 2009 ... we have not received reports that rape and sexual abuse were used as tools of war, as they clearly have in other conflict area around the world."

Sri Lanka's anti-US drive; coalition parties demonstrate before embassy as officials mock Clinton

(October 02, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Sri Lanka government that is rapidly alienating from West to build up close ties with China under President Mahinda Rajapakse, has initiated a new wave of anti-US rhetoric as elections are weeks ahead in President's home province.

The Sinhala Buddhist religion-nationalist National Heritage Party alias Jathika Hela Urumaya staged a radical demonstration before the US embassy in Colombo yesterday. Almost all the leaders of the party sans its political adviser and de facto ideological guru of the regime Patali Champika Ranawaka were present in the agitation.

U.S. officials called for a possible war crimes investigation for the last leg of the government's military operation to crush the decades long fight of the minority Tamils for an independent state in the northern and eastern parts of the island. 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, addressing the UN Security Council, Wednesday, noted that rape has been used as a weapon of war in the Balkans, Burma, Sri Lanka and elsewhere and that in too many countries and in too many cases, the perpetrators of this violence are not punished, and so this impunity encourages further attacks.

Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights Rajiva Wijesinha speaking to Sri Lankan television Derana regarding Hillary Clinton's comment that rape was used as a tactic of war in Sri Lankasaid, "To my knowledge, this is not true and I have not come across such an allegation."

Wijesinha mocked Clinton stating that she "tends to make generalized statements, it is clear as she did the same during her campaign for Presidency against Barack Obama and we should take a leaf out of Obama's book and forgive her for this statement".