RIYADH, 21 November 2022, (TON): Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received the newly appointed ambassador of Denmark to Saudi Arabia, Liselotte Plesner, in the Saudi capital.

In a separate meeting, Riyadh Deputy Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman also met the Danish ambassador.

During the meetings, the officials discussed issues of common interest.

Last week, Plesner and the ambassadors of Scandinavian countries including Finland, Sweden and Norway, met the president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri.

RIYADH, 21 November 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed on Sunday all government ministries and agencies to provide any additional support or facilities required by Qatar to host the World Cup.

Saudi Press Agency reported “the crown prince arrived in the World Cup host country earlier in the day at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar.”

Saudi Arabia is among the countries competing in the global event in Qatar. It is lumped with Argentina, Mexico and Poland in Group C.

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 November 2022, (TON): Malaysia is facing a hung parliament for the first time in its history, with the nation’s king calling for political leaders to propose a coalition government after a tightly contested general election failed to produce a clear winner.

Three main coalitions competed in Malaysia’s 15th general election on Saturday, which saw around 14.7 million Malaysians, almost 74 percent of the 21 million eligible voters, casting their votes.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s reformist alliance, Pakatan Harapan, topped the race with 82 out of 222 parliamentary seats, but fell far short of the 112 needed for a majority.

The Malay-centric Perikatan Nasional, led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, had an unexpectedly strong showing with 73 seats.

KABUL, 21 November 2022, (TON): Second Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said “security is now ensured in Afghanistan and that the country is ready for transit between South and Central Asia.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 6th China-South Asia Exposition, Baradar urged foreign investors to put funds into Afghanistan.

He said “I say to South Asian countries that Afghanistan is ready for any type of cooperation for the transit of their commodities.”

Baradar also said that the situation is good for the implementation of major development projects in Afghanistan.

 DHAKA, 21 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has urged Bahrain to work towards easing the process of applying as well as obtaining Bahraini visas for Bangladeshi nationals.

Bangladesh also requested Bahrain to approve the re-entry of its 207 stranded workers and 150 stranded families whose visas expired during the pandemic time.

The issues were discussed at the long-awaited first round of the Foreign Office Consultation between Bangladesh and Bahrain in Manama.

Bahrain assured Bangladesh of solving the issues at the earliest.

DHAKA, 21 November 2022, (TON): British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has reiterated his government's commitment to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

A foreign ministry press release said “he made the assurance while holding a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen on the sidelines of the 18th IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on the second day.”

The British Foreign Secretary expressed deep appreciation to Bangladesh for continuing to provide all necessary means of support to the displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed a number of issues of mutual interest, including climate change, human rights, social justice, democracy and the Russo-Ukraine war.

By F.F Mushfika

Most popularly called as the “Garden University”, the University of Peradeniya stands to be placed among the universities that are ranked from 501-600, by the latest release of “World University Rankings, 2023.” This is a public university which recommends quality education and initiates part time jobs for the students for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka. The university is recognized for its beauty and culture and is widespread famous for its unique natural beauty. The university also identifies itself as the “fist unitary Arts and Research university of the nation.”

In fact, back to the golden past days, University of Peradeniya was established in the name of “University of Ceylon”, in its early 1942. Along the run, it was inaugurated by the late Queen Elizabeth II and by Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip in 1952. This university was started under the Parliament Act no 16 of 1978-as a campus funded by the University Grants Commission which is commonly referred as UGC. Today the university is providing its free education to its nine faculties respectively, which includes 73 departments. In fact, apart from its internal degree programs the university also hosts several external degrees as well. There are also four postgraduate institutes that gladly offer degrees in respect to masters and doctoral degrees.

In addition to that, the University of Peradeniya attracts the eyes of any random person who is passing by. The location of the campus is located in the most adventurous space of Central Hills, Kandy. We have the most favorite spot for the hikers which is the Hanthana Mountain Range which consists of seven peaks closer by the campus. Most of the students organize field trips as badge mates to see the scenic and breathtaking views on top as the mountain remains bordering to the premises of the university.

Moreover, we also have the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, neighboring the campus which contains of 4000 species of plants. Many tourists visit the locality inspired by the fame of its uniqueness. For these reasons, the campus is frequently visited by foreigners as well. It further is reputed as the Mahaweli river crosses the Akbar bridge within the campus, which is another reputed space for its eye-catching sunrises and sunsets.

University of Peradeniya also serves as a student facilitator for those who are willing to pursue their career in teaching when in their undergraduate positions. Even before the government announced its part time job offer to the students, the departments recruited students who have academic excellence to perform as a tutor inside the university of Peradeniya. These mentors serve as a temporary staff for shorter period on contractual basis. The English and the Psychology departments most prominently referred students to assist junior students in catering to their field and language needs. This was one of the most appreciative initiatives of the University.

However, according to the survey of 2020 of “Times Higher Education World University Rankings”, it was placed as 401-500 band in global ranking. Besides it has remained as the first university of Sri Lanka in academic excellence and performance, until the present. More so, it is crucially important to mention that Peradeniya campus is the only Sri Lankan university that was graded as 1426^th under University Ranking of Academic Performance (URAP) in 2010.

On the flip, the university has been highly criticized for the subculture of ragging within the premises. Regardless of many negative outbursts the university also proudly presents the anti-rag campaign which actively involve students to create awareness of ragging. These students frequently engage in vocalizing against the sub-culture and breaking stereotypical behaviors over the past reminding that the rights of students and the right to be free from torture. There has also been an incredible power of words shared in the social media addressing the impacts of ragging and its brutal mentality. This has ensured public awareness and public speaking in the aspect of Education being a right and not a privilege after all. This counter-argument has brought many individuals who ponder the education in terms of the university sub-culture into profound analysis. Thus, it serves the ultimate motto of the campus which states “Knowledge is the Eye unto All” which is a translation of the Sanskrit version “Sarvasva Locanam Sasthram”.

Furthermore, the known public research university, of Peradeniya can be applauded for its unique nature and practices of education. It caters students in the field of re-learning of all that they have learned so far and enhances critical thinking. The law and ethics which is a subject to every student in their preliminary stage focuses many vital interests. Furthermore, students are proudly graduating to serve the nation in the honor of the campus today.

I, on the other hand with the countless graduates who keep graduating on this prestigious university, believe that University of Peradeniya is more than its natural beauty. No wonder, it has become the leading university of Sri Lanka. However, it also has a long way to go; in order to reach the world. I believe, it certainly will change for best to be ranked even better in the world ranking, in future.

In short, university of Peradeniya is a mandatory place of visit and certainly the best place to be admitted for the higher education in Sri Lanka.

By TON Bangladesh

We are outraged and strongly protest the killings of Bangladeshi citizens by Border Security Force (BSF) of India. As Ain O Shalish Kendra, 39 Bangladeshis were killed by BSF in 2011, while Odhikar puts the number at 3.
A few days back, BSF men cruelly tortured a Bangladeshi citizen in Murshidabad of Pashchimbanga which was revealed in a video footage.
It cannot go on like this; it is unfathomable why our government is incapable to stop these killings.
Seemingly, it has become a favorite pastime for BSF, an opportunity to practice their marksmanship on innocent Bangladeshis. It is the most hateful act and our government must take urgent steps to stop border killings.
We can easily imagine how India would have reacted if an Indian national had been murdered by BGB. Our government must shake off this modest attitude and act promptly to stop killing of our people at the borders by BSF. We should be firm in upholding our rights.

Indian and Bangladeshi nongovernmental organizations have reported that the BSF is continuing to commit abuses, including extrajudicial murders, torture, and ill-treatment of both Indian and Bangladeshi border peoples. Indian border guards, deployed to stop cattle rustling, smuggling, and illegal crossings, say they use force only when they come under attack.


The Indian government has issued public orders to exercise restraint and end illegal killings, and made promises to Bangladesh, including during talks in December 2020. Though, the Bangladeshi group Odhikar alleged that the border forces have murdered at least 334 Bangladeshis since 2011 and committed other instances of severe abuse, including 51 killings in 2020.

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), an Indian organization that has explored at least 105 alleged killings by BSF in the border areas in West Bengal state since 2011, said that the real number of killings is most likely higher. MASUM also reported that BSF soldiers have randomly detained and tortured suspects and harassed and threatened Indian residents in the border area. Recent claims of shooting deaths include:

MASUM stated to the National Human Rights Commission of India that on November 18, 2020, BSF soldiers beat and shot to death Samser Pramanik, 16, in Cooch Behar district in West Bengal state for alleged cross-border cattle smuggling. The soldiers allegedly detained Pramanik before he was trying to take cattle across the border, beat him with bamboo sticks and rifle butts till he fell unconscious, and then shot him in the chest and left him at the border fence. The Haldibari police station filed an unnatural death case, however so far has failed to take further action.

On August 9, 2020, a BSF soldier allegedly shot and murdered Sahinur Haque, 23, in Cooch Behar district, MASUM reported. At about 7 p.m., a rubber pellet fired by BSF staffs hit Haque while he was playing games on his cellphone with his brother and cousin in front of his house. A soldier then allegedly beat and shot him. The police filed a case of unnatural death.

The news media reported that on April 19, 2020, a BSF soldier murdered a 16-year-old Bangladeshi boy, Shimon Roy, in Thakurgaon district in Bangladesh. His father, a schoolteacher, said he and his son were building a barrier around their jute field while a BSF soldier entered inside Bangladesh land and told them to leave the place. When they protested, saying they were on their land, the soldier allegedly shot the boy in the abdomen.

On July 4, 2020, BSF soldiers allegedly shot a 50-year-old Bangladeshi man in Chapai Nawabganj district. A local lawmaker said that afterward the man went to the area to cut grass for livestock and unintentionally crossed the border, BSF staffs allegedly killed him and moved his body back into Bangladesh land.

Efforts by local residents and activists to file complaints and secure justice have caused in threats and intimidation. MASUM activists say they face routine harassment from police and the BSF, including random detention and fabricated criminal charges.

The India-Bangladesh border is heavily populated, with big numbers of people moving back and forth to visit relatives, purchase goods, and seek jobs. Some engage in petty and serious cross-border crime. Though, instead of arresting suspects and handing them over to the police for prosecution, BSF soldiers are often implicated in beating and torturing suspects. Some border guards are reportedly also involved in facilitating cattle smuggling or human trafficking, and target people who resist extortion attempts.

Bangladesh has repeatedly protested abuses at the border. In August, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry raised concerns over the border murders, stating, “Bangladesh flagged that this is in violation of all bilateral contracts and that the Indian Border Security Force must be duly urged to exercise maximum restraint.”

Human Rights Watch knows of no cases in which Indian authorities have held BSF soldiers liable for abuses committed along the India-Bangladesh border. This includes the extremely publicized case of 15-year-old Felani Khatun, a Bangladeshi girl who was stuck in wire fencing at the border afterward the BSF shot her in January 2011. Two rounds of trials in special BSF courts, in 2013 and 2015, acquitted the BSF constable accused of shooting her. A plea for a new investigation in the case is now pending in India’s Supreme Court.

The Indian government must comply with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, Human Rights Watch said. The principles only permit the use of lethal force when absolutely essential to protect lives. Given the failure of the BSF’s internal justice system to prosecute its members for human rights abuses, civilian authorities should inspect personnel of all ranks implicated in serious rights abuses and try them in civilian courts.

LONDON, 20 November 2022, (TON): Russia said “it hoped to clinch a prisoner swap with the United States to return convicted Russian weapons trafficker Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death,’ in an exchange that would likely include US basketball star Brittney Griner.”

Amid the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two, Russia and the United States are exploring a deal that could see imprisoned Americans including Griner return to the United States in exchange for Bout.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted “I want to hope that the prospect not only remains but is being strengthened, and that the moment will come when we will get a concrete agreement.”

Ryabkov said “the Americans are showing some external activity, we are working professionally through a special channel designed for this.”

WASHINGTON, 20 November 2022, (TON): The US Justice Department named a former war crimes investigator as a special counsel to oversee criminal probes into Donald Trump, three days after the former president announced a new White House run in 2024.

Trump who claims to be the target of a witch-hunt slammed the dramatic move as “unfair” and “the worst politicization of justice in our country.”

The White House strongly denied any political interference, but the unprecedented special counsel investigation of a former president and current presidential candidate sets the stage for a drawn-out legal battle.