Reuters – People for Equality and Relief in Lanka

U.N. rights chief calls for Sri Lanka investigation

By pearlaction | May 26, 2009 |

[ Reuters ] The United Nations’ refugee chief called on Tuesday for an international investigation to determine if Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil rebels had committed war crimes. Ensuring accountability for abuses committed in the recent fighting was important for the island nation’s national reconciliation, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said.…

Fitch cuts Sri Lanka’s rating outlook to negative

By pearlaction | February 27, 2009 |

[Reuters] Fitch Ratings changed the outlook on Sri Lanka to negative from stable on Friday, expressing worries about its external financial position reflected in the sharp fall in its foreign exchange reserves. “Without a sharp contraction in domestic demand to curtail imports, or a significant depreciation of the exchange rate to otherwise correct the trade…

Up to 85,000 people to flee Sri Lanka war: UNHCR

By pearlaction | February 27, 2009 |

[Reuters] Up to 85,000 civilians trapped in northeastern Sri Lanka could flee the war zone in coming weeks as the army closes in on rebel-held territory, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday. The Sri Lankan government has allocated 300 acres of land where the UNHCR can receive up to 42,000 people by the…

UN’s Ban urges suspension of Sri Lanka fighting

By pearlaction | February 23, 2009 |

[Reuters] U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Monday for a “suspension in fighting” between the Sri Lanka government and Tamil Tiger separatists to allow civilians to escape. “There is an urgent need to bring this conflict to an end without any further unnecessary loss of civilian life and destruction of Sri Lankan society,” Ban told…

Tamils set for Geneva mass march over Sri Lanka-UN

By pearlaction | February 19, 2009 |

[Reuters] About 20,000 Tamils from across Europe are expected to protest in Geneva on Friday at Sri Lanka’s military offensive against Tamil rebels, the United Nations said on Thursday. Police in the Swiss city, which is home to the U.N. European headquarters and to many Tamil immigrants, said 200 buses from across Europe were expected…