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Sri Lanka
From Debatepedia
Sri Lanka Country Brief
General Information
- Full name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Population: 19.3 million (UN, 2007)
- Capital: Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura (administrative)
- Largest city: Colombo
- Area: 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq miles)
- Major languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
- Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: Sri Lankan rupee
- Main exports: Clothing and textiles, tea, gems, rubber, coconuts
- GNI per capita: US $1,160 (World Bank, 2006)
Culture/Religion
Buddhism (70%), Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Government
Sri Lankan politics since independence have been strongly democratic. Two major parties, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), have generally alternated rule. Sri Lanka, is a free, independent and sovereign nation with a population of 19.5 million (2004 est). Legislative power is exercised by a Parliament, elected by universal franchise on proportional representation basis. A President, who is also elected by the people, exercises executive power including defense. Sri Lanka enjoys a multi party system, and the people vote to elect a new government every six years.
Membership Status in Multinational Organizations
The Commonwealth of Nations, United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, the Colombo Plan, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Controversial Issues
Domestic Issues
Civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE), commonly referred to as the Tamil Tigers, have been embroiled in a civil war that has claimed around 70,000 lives since it began in 1983. The Tigers claim the right to an independent state in the north and eastern parts of the island, while the government's relative military might has been deployed to end to what it describes as widespread terrorist activity. 2 In addition, on January 3rd, 2008 the 3 year cease fire was broken and hostilities resumed.
Cell phone usage tightened under new policy
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) yesterday (12/07/2008) publishing a new guidelines tightened the usage of mobile telephones, issuing and using of new connections, and usage of CDMA telephones. According to the new regulation no person shall by way of trade, manufacture, import, sell offer for sale, deal, transfer, hire, lease, demonstrate, maintain or repair any telecommunication apparatus, except under the authority of a license issued by the TRC. 3 The government has taken these steps to avert irregularities and illegal activities while minimizing threats to national security created by the irresponsible use of telephones.6
Indian Navy will operate Unmnned Aerial Vehicles along Tamil Southern Coast
The Indian Navy plans to operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the Naval Air Station at Uchipuli in Tamil Nadu as an "imperative" step in the context of the prolonged war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This is expected to enhance the Navy's surveillance capability along the coast off Tamil Nadu from Tuticorin to Chennai and the sea around southern peninsula, The Hindu reported. At least two Israeli-built UAVs based at the Indian Naval Air Squadron at Kochi might be operated from the Naval Air Station at Uchipuli, to be upgraded as a regular commissioned air station. Its 3,000-foot runway will be expanded to 6,000 ft, keeping in mind future requirements. It has been proposed to acquire 343 acres in the nearby areas to facilitate the expansion.
International Issues
Potential links between the PKK and LTTE5
PKK/Kongra-Gel, the separatist organisation fighting for a separate state for the Kurds in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq and Iran was running guns to LTTE, said the Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. The PKK has been designated an international terrorist outfit by the US State Department.
Regulations to ban genetically modified food suspended indefinitely.
The regulations on Genetically Modified (GM) food which were supposed to come to in operation on 1st September 2001 were postponed indefinitely by the Minister of Health on 30th August 2001. These Regulations were originally to be implemented from 1st May 2001, but this action was postponed by three months to abide by the conditions of the World Trade Organization. The new date was set as 1st September 2001 according to the Gazette no 1190/5 of June 26th 2001.This regulation was widely criticized by the GM food importers ie. the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce led by Millers Ltd which is the importer of Kraft cheese and many other GM products including anumber of Kellogg's products.
Sri Lanka ends Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.
Following the abrogating of the ceasefire agreement in January 2008, the SLMM announced on 3 January 2008 that it would finally terminate its remaining operational activities in Sri Lanka with effect from 16 January 2008.
The SLMM’s mandate, was articulated in the cease-fire agreement, is to “enquire into any instance of violation of the terms and conditions of [the cease-fire agreement],” with the undertaking by both parties to “fully cooperate and rectify any matter of conflict caused by their respective sides.” The SLMM was further directed to “take immediate action on complaints…and to enquire into and assist the Parties in the settlement of any dispute.” Significantly, the SLMM was also authorized to monitor the violation of international law by the government and the LTTE, and in particular to monitor that the two sides abstain from acts “against the civilian population, including such acts as torture, intimidation, abduction, extortion and harassment.” The SLMM was criticized for neglecting the latter part of its mandate, and Human Rights Watch’s interviews and analysis confirm this criticism.
Works Cited
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1168427.stm
- http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/world/features/view-from-abroad/sri-lanka-civil-war-$1203290.htm
- http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/July13141856JR.html
- http://www.infoplease.com/country/profiles/sri-lanka.html
- http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200807/20080709turkish_military_chief.htm
- http://www.gov.lk/info/index.asp?mi=19&xp=0&xi=52&o=0&t=
- http://www.organicconsumers.org/gefood/srilanka090501.cfm
- http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/14.htm
- http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200807/20080708indian_navy_operate_unmanned_aerial_vehicles.htm
