Media freedom can only be assured by prosecuting past crimes against journalists and media workers, the Jaffna Press Club has stressed.
Tribute was paid today to the 41 Tamil journalists killed during the armed conflict and the years succeeding.
Tamil journalists in Batticaloa protested for World Press Freedom Day, demanding justice for their fellow Tamil journalists that have been murdered.
The Sri Lankan Navy reported the detention of 32 people suspected to be Rohingya refugees and two Indian traffickers. The boat entered Sri Lankan waters on Sunday – with 16 children on board, one just 15 days old. Navy Spokesperson, Chaminda Walakuluge, stated that suspects have been handed over to the police for further questioning. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar since the initiation of a military operation last October. A report released by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported, “mass gang-rape, killings, including of babies and young children,...
Tribute was paid yesterday to the two Uthayan employees killed in a gunfire attack at the newspaper’s office in 2006.
Thousands turned up to the Joint Opposition May Day Rally at Galle Face Colombo hosted by Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday. Photographs: Mahinda Rajapaksa Facebook Page Estimates placed the Joint Opposition May Day Rally to have the highest turnout from all the May Day rallies in Colombo, reports Economy Next. Addressing large crowds at the rally Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed the government for potentially allowing the armed forces to be prosecuted through new bills in parliament.
Land protestors at Keppapulavu protested on the main road yesterday for May Day, staging an oppari or lament chorus.
Sri Lanka's latest draft of the Counter Terrorism Act was approved by cabinet last week, despite continuing concerns about serious restrictions to fundamental rights. A widely criticised early draft was amended in another version, however the draft apprived by the cabinet last Tuesday saw some of the controversial sections re-introduced. The draft is thought to have been rushed through in anticipation of a vote at the European Parliament in relation to the granting of GSP+ trade concessions to Sri Lanka. It is unlear which draft was shared with the EU committee responsible for GSP+, however...
Families of the disappeared were joined by Kilinochchi locals and civil society groups for a march on May Day.