ƒ”š‚ Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor The Telegraph, Calcutta, India Dear Sir: It is a sign of India’s bullying and aggressive policy towards it’s neighbours that people like “Karuna” constantly make statements such as this and the Indian Government reacts to internal politics by harassing it’s neighbours. It is a fact of Indian history […]

Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor The Hindu New Delhi, India Dear Sir: Reference this news item, could you clarifyƒ”š‚ what right India has, as represented by the Indian delegation, to attempt to decide what Sri Lanka can do or not do regarding it’s internal laws and policies? India seems to believe, as does Mr. […]

ƒ”š‚ I. de Silva London, Canada The Editor Hindustan Times New Delhi, India Dear Sir: Reference the news item regarding the statement by Karunanidhi that a “separate Tamil Eelam rings in the ears of Tamils living all over the world as a liberation song”, considering that Tamil Nadu has sixty million Tamils, is the homeland of […]

Ira de Silva London, Canada The reported abduction of Gunaratnam indicates that Australia in particular and other western countries such as Canada, Britain, U.S and the countries of the European Union are well aware of the activities of their new citizens, the fact that they are living under false names/identities and that they are still […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario, Canada Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India South Block, Raisina Hill New Delhi, India-110 011ƒ”š‚ ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir:ƒ”š‚ ƒ”š‚  I refer toƒ”š‚ the statement made by your representative in Geneva on behalf of the Government of India and news reports that claim that India did Sri Lanka a favour by voting for […]

Ira de Silva Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is correct that the anti-Sri Lanka campaign is over in Geneva but those who carried out the campaign have got a taste for the “badgers” blood and it will be an impetus to go for a kill. While it […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario.Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Sir: It is not only Blake that does “doublespeak”. What about the spokespersons of the U.K., Canada, EU and Australia? No doubt as seen at the UN in Geneva at the present sessions, it is the U.S. that has spearheaded the resolution,ƒ”š‚ which […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canada To;Ambassador Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan Ambassadoe Henry Anyidolo of Ghana Ambassador Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz of Brazil Ambassador Abulkalam Abdul Momen of Bangladesh Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt Ambassador Hardeep Sing Puri of India Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon of Pakistan Ambassador Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor of Nigeria […]

Ira de Silva London, Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It has been reported that Maj. General l Silva who was nominated by the Asia Group to be a member of a UN committee was snubbed when he attended the first meeting, was ostracised and not allowed to participate […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario, Canada Theƒ”š‚ Editor Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is interesting to note that these Tamils went by ship to India first. It is logical as Tamil Nadu, India is their homeland. There areƒ”š‚ sixty oneƒ”š‚ million Tamils living there, the State Government is all Tamil, regularly lectures Sri Lanka […]

Ira de Silva London,ƒ”š‚  Canada Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, Canada ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir:ƒ”š‚  ƒ”š‚  ƒ”š‚ I refer to the biased, factually incorrect comments you made in London at the Royal Commonwealth Society meeting on Jan.23,2012. I read them in the Colombo Telegraph today. ƒ”š‚  It is stated that you […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario,Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka Dear Sir: I refer to the response of the U.S. as stated by Ms. Vctoria Nuland. If ever there needs to be an example of expecting others to follow concepts of transparency and accountability while violating and disregarding these concepts in their own […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canadaƒ”š‚  The Editor Owen Sound Times Owen Sound, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  I have just read this news report. Incidentally it is carried in a newspaper in Sri Lanka – the Daily Mirror. ƒ”š‚  Mr. Baird in keeping with the current government’s policy formulated this year is “talking tough”. […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canada The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  Reference the newsƒ”š‚ report in your paper of November 27,2011, if as reported, the Government is concernedƒ”š‚ about the interference of the U.S. in domestic political affairs,ƒ”š‚ why does the government not take appropriate action? Ms. Butenis has a history of […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canada Mr. Scott-Reid, M.P. Chair, Canadian House of Commons Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing committee of Foreign Affairs & International Development Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  Listening to the recording of the presentations made on November 17, 2011ƒ”š‚ to your committee by Amnesty Canada’s A. Neve and J. Argue, the impression […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Mr. Scott-Reid, M.P. Chair, Canadian House of Commons Sub-Committee on Human Rights of the Standing committee of Foreign Affairs & International Development ƒ”š‚  Re: Presentation by Ms. Elaine Pearson, Deputy Director, Asia Division of Human Rights Watch on Sri Lankan Human Rights – Nov. 18,2011 ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  I […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontarioƒ”š‚ ƒ”š‚  The Editor Embassy Magazine Ottawa, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is not what Mr. Harper said after he left the Commonwealth Conference but what he said before he went and the communique that was issued at the meeting that should be highlighted and the question asked whether Canada will […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is reported that Canada had again raised alleged accountability issues in Sri Lanka under any other business at the end of the third session of ministerial-level talks. There is no indication as to what Sri Lanka’s response […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor Toronto Star Toronto, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  This article epitomises the writers lack of any knowledge of the ground realities in Sri Lanka, reliance on unsubstantiated allegations and hoping thatƒ”š‚ repeating falsehoods willƒ”š‚ make themƒ”š‚ facts.ƒ”š‚ It is well known that Mr. Harper’s stand has little to do with rights but […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  Reference your news item by Mark Kennedy that human rights debate could expose divisions at the summit, itƒ”š‚ is a foregone conclusion. It is correct that the countries that adopt a holier than thou attitude on human rights such asƒ”š‚  the […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor Ottawa Citizen Ottawa, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  I refer to the news report on October 23,2011 regarding Mr. John Baird`s statement regarding Canada’s policy on Libya and Canada’s support for the rule of law.ƒ”š‚ I assume that Mr. Baird expresses the attitude of the Canadian Government. Why is […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canada Mr. Salil Shetty Secretary General Amnesty International London, U.K. ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  I am writing to you regarding two news reports about Amnesty this past week,ƒ”š‚  your statement on Sri Lanka after meeting with Mr. Rudd in Australia and the other regarding Amnesty in Canada calling for the […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario Canada The Editor Daily Mirror Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is not a hope that the Canadian Prime Minister will meet President Rajapakse at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, it is a fact. However, it must also be noted, that the supporters […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  Reference the news item that three Tamil politicians are complaining to India that Sinhalese were moving to the north, the question is why,ƒ”š‚ if Sri Lanka is one country,ƒ”š‚ anyƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan can not move to any part of the country.ƒ”š‚  They […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is about time that the GOSL paid attention to the increasing attacks on Sri Lanka being voiced by western politicians at the behest of expatriate Tamilsƒ”š‚ who supported the LTTE and after the elimination of the LTTE hierarchy continue […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario, Canadaƒ”š‚  The Editor Globe & Mail Toronto, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  It is interesting to note that Mr. J. Baird met a group of Tamil-Canadians two weeks ago and took complaints to Sri Lanka’s government. Perhaps this meeting also influenced Mr. Harper in the statements he has made regarding […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario ƒ”š‚ Hon. John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  I wrote to you when the Canadian Ambassador to Sri Lanka spoke of calling for “accountability” from Sri Lanka during the final stages of the terrorist war in Sri Lanka. I have today read […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor The Island Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  The heading of the article is very appropriate. Those who are chomping at the bit to have a war crimes investigation on Sri Lanka are behaving like a dog with a bone.ƒ”š‚ It is ironic that the so-called human rights […]

Ira de Silva London, Ontario The Editor The Island Newspaper Colombo, Sri Lanka ƒ”š‚  Dear Sir: ƒ”š‚  The Canadian Prime Minister is entitled to attend or not attend any conference, Commonwealthƒ”š‚ or other, if he so chooses. However, that he should make such a statement in the form of a “threat”ƒ”š‚  is not acceptable because by […]

Ira de Silva London, Canada ƒ”š‚  Dear Mr. Argue, ƒ”š‚  ƒ”š‚ You stateƒ”š‚ that you keep up-to-date about AI’s concerns in Sri Lanka. Pleaseƒ”š‚  consider my correspondence as a Sri Lankan’s genuine concerns about AI’s duplicity and repeated unfounded, unsubstantiated, biased judgements on Sri Lanka. I know that you are not in a position to make policy […]