In brief
Ruled out
President Chandrika Kumaratunge again ruled out international intervention or mediation in the 12-year civil war telling journalists in Japan in mid-May that "we believe the ethnic problem is entirely a domestic one and we intend to solve it ourselves".Deficit
Economists say the envisaged budget deficit of 7.8% of GDP is likely to exceed 10% by end of 1996 because of increasing defence expenditure and unprecedented drought. The defence expenditure for the current year is expected to reach $800 million.Committee
After President Chandrika appointed a three-member committee into demands of Plantation trade unions in mid-May, the Ceylon Workers Congress decided to withdraw the no-confidence motion in Parliament against Plantations minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.Identified
Local human rights agency Parents and the Family Members of the Disappeared has identified 230 people responsible for disappearances during the last government, including
three former cabinet ministers.Torture
A Presidential Commission heard that former Police Superintendent Douglas Peiris ran an unofficial torture centre at the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Next article.
Back to Sri Lanka Monitor Index page.
Back to The Refugee Council Welcome page.