The British government has spoken out against an attack on a church in North West Sri Lanka by a group of Buddhists headed by a monk last month. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Alok Sharma said the UK condemns “all violence against religious minorities, including the attack on a church”. Though over 200 witnesses had named the Buddhist monk and 12 others responsible for the attack, Sri Lankan police released all the accused on bail. “The freedom to practise, change or share your faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a...
Tamil university students in Kilinochchi joined the ongoing protest by families of the disappeared in a solidarity demonstration on Sunday. The families' protest demanding information and accountability for their missing loved ones has been ongoing for seven days.
The displaced people of Valikamam North carried out a demonstration on Sunday morning in solidarity with the protesting people of Pilavu and Puthukudiyiruppu.
The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday reiterated there would be no foreign judges in any domestic war crimes probe. Speaking at an event in his home town of Polonnaruwa Mr Sirisena was quoted by Colombo Page as saying "the government was able to bring an end to the issue of international judges called for judicial investigations to be carried out on the alleged war crimes." Mr Sirisena reportedly added that "he informed all foreign heads of states who visited Sri Lanka as well as the UN Secretary General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and leaders of other...
The Sri Lankan police said the shooting of the Batticaloa Land Reform Commissioner, Nesakumar Vimalaraj on Wednesday was a contract job over Mr Vimalaraj's opposition to land in Eravur being illegally aquired by politicians, the Daily Mirror reported. According to the paper, police have instructed two teams to investigate the shooting. Mr Vimalaraj was shot after he was called outside by two unidentified motorcyclists, whose faces were covered by helmets. Mr Vimalraj was immediately taken to Kaluvanchikudy Hospital, and later transferred to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for further care.
Muslim organisations in Batticaloa held a rally in support of protestors in Keppapilavu on Friday, demanding the release of military occupied land. The rally, held after Friday prayers in Kattankudy, saw dozens of protestors take to the streets in solidarity with the families of Keppapilavu. Tamil families have continued to protest outside a Sri Lankan Air Force camp in the village, demanding the military return their land.
Sri Lanka slipped this year on Index of Economic Freedom by the US based Heritage Foundation, falling into a rating of 'Mostly Unfree'. "Economic reforms undertaken to improve Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stability and potential for growth include strengthening the management of public finance and structural reforms to foster a more dynamic private sector. However, a weak judiciary continues to undermine property rights, and the perceived level of corruption is debilitating," the Heritage Foundation noted. Sri Lanka scored only 57.1 out of 100, compared with 59.9/100 in 2016. "Secured interests...
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde is set to visit Sri Lanka next month, EconomyNext reported. Sri Lanka missed benchmarks set out by the IMF for December 2016, including benchmarks for introducing a formula to price fuel, as well as automatic market pricing of electricity. In November the IMF announced it had completed its first review of the Extended Fund Facility granted to Sri Lanka, and would approve US $162.6 million disbursement. The three year program was approved in June, allowing US $1.45 billion. "The government’s reform program,...
The leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure lands were returned to the Tamil people in an address to parliament this week. "The Governemnt is very insensitive on the question of land. Lands must be returned to the people. You are cultivating my land with fruits, vegetables, and crops and selling them in the market at competitive prices. How can this go on?" Mr Sampanthan said, expressing his support for the ongoing protests of Tamils in the North-East calling for the return of their homes. "I feel very strongly for the people who...
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress in Sri Lanka at Wednesday’s review meeting in Geneva. The review meeting aimed to assess the status of women’s rights in Sri Lanka – a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Sri Lanka failed to provide adequate responses to questions of transitional justice raised by CEDAW – such as whether findings from the consultation task force reports would be implemented, witness protection and the establishment of the...