A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidate for the upcoming local government elections filed a complaint with the Election Commission today alleging he was threatened by EPDP supporters. Mr M Uthayasiri told the Commision he was stopped by 10 supporters of the paramilitary group whilst he was riding his motorbike in Jaffna, before he was forced into a building and threatened. He was rescued by police officers who were called to the scene. Mr Uthayasiri was critical of the police however, highlighting their failure to arrest those who abducted him.
Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan navy personnel on Wednesday for allegedly poaching in the island's waters. The men were brought to the navy base in Kankesanthurai before being handed over to the assistant fisheries director of Jaffna. Their fishing trawlers were taken to the navy base in Karainagar.
Residents in Kayts protesting on Thursday against the ongoing occupation of private land by the Sri Lankan navy were threatened by the navy's intelligence officers warning them to stop the protest.
An ITAK local government candidate was arrested on Wednesday for slandering the Northern Province’s women’s affairs minister on Facebook. Arutkumar John Jabrigo who is running for the Manippay divisional council (prathesiya sabai) with ITAK was arrested by Manippay police for publishing libellous posts about the women’s minister, Ananthy Sasitharan.
The Prime Minister of Singapore met with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance and discussed proposals for a new constitution as well as the possibility of Singaporean investments in the North-East.
The European Commission this month called on the Sri Lankan government to deliver on important reforms, expressing concerns over the failure to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, ongoing reports of routine torture, impunity, hate speech, military occupation of land and the difficulties faced by minorities. "The Government has to urgently deliver on a number of important reforms that are of direct relevance for the effective implementation of the human rights conventions listed in the GSP+ Regulation," the European Commission concluded in its report entitled 'The EU Special Incentive...
A nine year old girl was killed in Pungudutivu this week by a Sri Lankan navy vehicle following a collision near the local school. The victim, Kesana Thirulangam was killed at the scene. Her uncle, whose motorcycle she was travelling on to school, has been admitted to hospital with serious injuries. The military vehicle involved in the accident was carrying food to the nearby navy base. Police officers have been deployed to the area after residents expressed anger at the navy's presence in the region.
The Women Action Network on Wednesday condemned the physical attacks and verbal harassment of female candidates in the run up to Sri Lanka's local government elections. "A woman candidate in Puthukkudiyiruppu area of Mullaitivu District has been physically assaulted, kept locked in a house, and threatened to withdraw the complaint she made to the Police. Women candidates in Puttalam and other districts have been verbally humiliated by religious leaders and their families and have been subjected to revolting comments. Vulgar comments on women candidates and disgusting opinions on their race...
An elderly Tamil woman was found dead in her home in Jaffna with several assault wounds on Sunday. The victim whose body was found at the home in Aanaikottai, Jaffna has been identified as 72-year-old Jeganathan Sathiyabama. Mrs Sathiyabama who was immobile spent most of her time home alone and was cared for in the evenings by a relative, neighbours said. Her body was discovered by the relative when he went to her in the evening on Sunday. The jewellery she usually wore was missing, relatives said. Police are investigating.
Two Special Task Force intelligence officers accused of murdering a Tamil man in Jaffna last year have had their remand extended by the Jaffna magistrate. The case of the Ariyalai murder of 24-year-old Don Bosco Rikman was taken up at Jaffna magistrates court on Tuesday. Judge S. Satheeskaran denied the two intelligence officer’s request for bail, stating that the investigation is still ongoing. They have been remanded until February 6.