Criticizing the Sri Lankan government for its military action against the LTTE, the EU came out strongly against the government’s strategy. The Sri Lankan foreign ministry on its part charged the LTTE as having influenced EU behaviour. Colombo also noted that it was facing a tough time in persuading the EU to extend the Generalised System of Preferences facility for garments being exported from Sri Lanka1.

The Canadian government issued an order against a non-profit organization for Canadian Tamils, the World Tamil Movement. The office has been shut down due to allegations that it was collecting ‘war taxes’ from Canada’s large ethnic Tamil community2.

Meanwhile, the IIGEP has claimed that the Sri Lankan government lacked ‘political will’ to find the truth about human rights violations, and called for the establishment of a “witness protection scheme” to address human rights issue in an fair manner3.

In domestic political developments, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has expressed concerns over the provincial elections held in the Eastern Province. It stated that divisive politics were employed as a political ploy and therefore did not really reflect the will of the people4.

China announced that it would be providing $455 million for the construction of the Norochcholai coal power plant. Around $20 million were also being provided to build a cultural centre along with $307 million for the Hambantota harbor project5. The US Agency for International Development on the other hand a five year $12 million contract to support the regional governments in the eastern and north central provinces. The aid would specifically be used in areas relating to security, improving local governance structures and for conflict resolution6. India on its part announced that it would go ahead with the setting up a 500 MW coal-based thermal plant in Sampur. The agreement for the plant, to be built by the National Thermal Power Corporation, was initially signed on December 2006, but had not been operationalised7.

• 1. “EU pressuring Sri Lanka to relent on campaign against LTTE,” Newindia Press, April 20, 2008, at http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20080419083510&Title=Top+...
• 2. “Canada investigates LTTE front organization,” Colombo Page, April 15, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April1545701CH.html
• 3. “IIGEP says lack of political will to investigate human rights abuses in Sri Lanka,” Colombo Page, April 15, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April15135423JV.html
• 4. “SLMC chairman says eastern PC polls is not the will of eastern people,” Colombo Page, April 15, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/Aptil1545701CH.html
• 5. “China to fund five projects in Sri Lanka, says Minister,” Colombo Page, April 17, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April17173710JV.html
• 6. “USAID awards a $12 million contract to support regional government in Sri Lanka's eastern and north central provinces,” Colombo Page, April 16, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April1640635CH.html
• 7. “Agreement reached on power plant site in Sri Lanka,” The Hindu, April 20, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042055430800.htm.