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Focus on human rights in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Co-Chairs, a representative body of donors to the nation, has said that it is placing emphasis on the protection of human rights and humanitarian access for civilians caught in the crossfire was important.

In a statement issued at the end of a conference in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Co-Chairs said: “...to care for the needs of those who are displaced and affected by the fighting, where both sides need to make sure that they’re not catching civilians in the crossfire, that they’re letting people go to places where they can be safe, and that humanitarian deliveries can take place for these populations that are affected by the fighting.”

Representatives of the U.S., Norway, EU, and Japan took part in the two-hour meeting. The statement also expressed support to the UN and other aid agencies involved in taking care of those displaced.

Hasan Suroor reports from London:

A leading Buddhist temple in London was vandalised in the early hours of Friday allegedly by suspected LTTE sympathisers. The Abbot of Sri Sadhdhatissa International Buddhist Centre said he suspected that “pro-LTTE elements” targeted the temple because it was visited by Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa last weekend.

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Focus on human rights in Sri Lanka

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