"After 30 years of war, reconciliation is crucial for lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Canada awaits to see what steps the Government of Sri Lanka will take towards this reconciliation," Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told Sri Lanka's new High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara during a meeting. More...Discuss this story Published: Fri Mar 12 09:52:17 EST 2010

But in an annual report, the State Department also reported some signs of progress since May when Sri Lankan forces defeated the Tigers who had waged a 37-year war for a separate Tamil homeland.

"The government's respect for human rights declined as armed conflict reached its conclusion," the State Department said.

It said that young Tamil men accounted for an "overwhelming majority" of victims of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, even though Tamils only make up some 16 percent of the population. More...Discuss this story Published: Thu Mar 11 21:49:43 EST 2010

Army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe made no mention of the more serious conspiracy and assassination plot charges that some in the ruling party had levelled at Fonseka after his defeat in presidential elections in January. More... Discuss this story Published: Fri Mar 12 09:49:44 EST 2010