Wither democracy? Growing numbers in Sri Lanka prefer ‘dictatorial government’

A survey conducted by the Center for Policy Alternatives found that a growing number of people on the island agree that “in certain situations, a dictatorial government can be preferable to a democratic one,” reaching levels last beaten in 2018 – shortly before Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as president. The findings from the Colombo-based organisation are part of a social indicator survey titled ‘Survey on Democracy and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’ conducted for the eighth year in January with 1,350 participants. They were reportedly from 25 districts across the island, but no detailed...

Trincomalee protests against Sri Lanka's arrest of Tamils at Vedukkunaari

Representatives of civil society organisations, clergy, and the general public staged a protest in front of the Trincomalee Shiva Temple to demonstrate their anger at the continued detention of the Vedukkunaari devotees by the Sri Lankan state. The protest in Trincomalee mirrored similar demonstrations across the Tamil homeland, including in Batticaloa , Vavuniya and Jaffna . The protest comes after Sri Lanka police unleashed violence at the Vedukkunaari temple earlier this month, deploying riot police and forcibly taking away devotees who were engaged in worship. Member of Parliament...

Sinhala Buddhism unleashed

The Sri Lankan state is on a concerted mission. Following a long history of killings and massacres, it is fervently pursuing a more insidious endeavour across the North-East, attempting to erase Eelam Tamil existence. Buddhist monuments are being purposefully constructed, whilst attempts to seize Tamil-owned land have persevered through the military and government’s archaeology and forestry departments. Whilst members of the international community seem to place more interest in embellishing ties with Colombo, the Tamil homeland remains under threat.

Families of arrested Tamils protest outside HRC office and slam inaction

Local Tamils in Vavuniya staged a sit-down protest outside the Human Rights Commission office in the town, condemning the inaction by officers to investigate Sri Lanka’s arrests of the eight Tamils at the Vedukkunaari temple last week after devotees were assaulted and manhandled. Family members of those detained by Sri Lankan authorities had already complained to the HRC over the arrests, however, they proceeded to try and meet the officials in person after finding out that the health of those engaged in the hunger strike was deteriorating. At the HRC office, none of the officers reportedly...

Hartal halts Nedunkerny as protests against Sri Lanka’s assault of Tamils continue

Shops and stores across Nedunkerny were closed all day on Friday, as a mark of protest over Sri Lanka’s arrests of eight Tamils who took part in Shivarathri observances at the Vedukkunaari Adi Shiva temple in Vavuniya last week. Trading and daily economic activities were brought to a standstill, with shopkeepers and residents vowing to continue their protest, until all those detained are released and charges dropped. Protests were held in Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Jaffna to condemn the violence and arrests by Sri Lankan police that disrupted Shivarathri celebrations at the Vedukkunaari Athi...

Sri Lanka's terrorism police summon another Tamil journalist for interrogation

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has summoned yet another Tamil journalist form Mullaitivu to their headquarters in Colombo for questioning, as Eelam Tamil press workers continue to face intimidation for their work. Thiruchelvam Divakaran, a freelance journalist and media officer at the Government Information Department, was summoned to the TID office at the Butani Capital Towers in Colombo for questioning, hundreds of miles away from his home in Mullativu. Divakaran is asked to meet the Office-in-charge of the Terrorism Investigation Division to make a statement regarding...

'Vedukkunaari Hill is Tamil land!' - Tamils in Vavuniya demand release of 8 detainees

Protesters are rallying through Vavuniya today as they demand the release of the eight Tamil men who were unlawfully arrested at a Shivarathri pooja at Vedukkunaari Hill Athi Sivan temple last week.

TNPF questions Human Rights Commission silence over Vedukkunaari arrests

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Member of Parliament Selvarajah Kajendren who visited the detainees in the Vedukkunaari temple arrest inquired why the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) did not launch an investigation, despite a formal complaint being lodged. He questioned whether HRCSL was supportive of these illegal arrests and accusations. “I went to the prison to enquire about the wellbeing of the 8 devotees, five of them are fasting and today marks the third day of their hunger strike,” he told reporters outside the Vavuniya prison on Thursday. “Their health is deteriorating...

Tamils in Nedunkerny protest against the unlawful arrests of Vedukkunaari devotees

A mass protest was held earlier today in Nedunkerny, Vavuniya, to demand the release of the eight devotees who were arrested on Shivarathri at the Vedukkunaari Athi Sivan temple last week.

Sri Lanka denies rumours of a potential Chinese base on its soil - but receives more military equipment

Responding to a US intelligence report, which maintains that China may seek to establish a military presence on Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's Defence Minister, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon dismissed the claims and told reporters that they have been no discussion "with any foreign government including China for a possible establishment of a military base here in Sri Lanka”. The statement follows reporting that China has considered establishing a radar base on Dondra Bay, in Sri Lanka's southern most tip, to monitor the Indian Navy as well as UK-US installations on Diego Garcia. "The US intelligence...

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