Sri Lankan soldiers are currently fighting a fully-fledged war. However, this time it is thousands of miles from the Tamil homeland. Reports emerged this week that ‘hundreds’ of troops are currently serving with the Russian military, as Moscow continues its deadly offensive into Ukraine. Though some are fighting alongside the Ukrainians, it seems the vast majority are travelling to fight with Russia, lured with promises of earning a stable salary and even foreign citizenship. As Sri Lanka’s economic woes continue, its troops have effectively become a mercenary force. A military accused of war crimes is exporting soldiers to fight alongside another military accused of war crimes.
The London Borough of Hounslow passed a motion declaring January as Tamil Heritage Month, as well as marking January 14 as Thai Pongal in the borough’s calendar. The motion, proposed by Councillor Ron Mushiso and seconded by Councillor Allan Joseph, states that: “London’s Tamil community, originating from Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and elsewhere, makes a strong contribution to the life of our city. Over 3,000 Tamils from around the world have made Hounslow as their home.” In his speech, Joseph noted the rich history and culture of the Tamil people and detailed the...
The Colombo High Court handed down a sentence of four years of rigorous imprisonment to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara and a fine of Rs.100,000 over anti-Muslim remarks he made in 2016 during a press conference. The Colombo High Court judge also instructed that an additional year of imprisonment be added if he fails to pay the imposed fine. The verdict comes weeks after Gnanasara made an apology over his anti-Muslim remarks. He had told courts from the dock that he was remorseful if the remarks had caused distress. However, delivering the verdict High Court...
Current Sri Lankan soldiers are taking leave from their duties to go and serve on the frontlines with the Russian and Ukrainian militaries, joining dozens of former Sri Lankan troops who are already participating in the conflict.
Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre and activist Selvanayagam Aravinthan has been arrested by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) for allegedly supporting the LTTE. Aravinthan was summoned for an investigation on March 12 by the TID over a Facebook account but he allegedly did not report to the TID on this date. Following this, the TID issued another summons ordering him to report to the TID. Summons stating that Aravinthan must report to the TID on March 12 Following the second summons, Aravinthan went to the TID in Colombo yesterday, where he was arrested...
Tamils blocked officials from Sri Lanka's land survey department from attempting to seize 29 acres of land in Jaffna for the purpose of urban development. As the land survey officials arrived, Tamils gathered at the site to protest against the attempted land grab. The land survey department were trying to acquire 29 acres of land in Alwanmalaiyadi, Velarkadu, Punnanputhukadu, Patirayan, Pudukadu, Cholaisenathirayan in Naguleshwaram and Kankesanthurai, all of which fall under Thellipalai Divisional Secretariat. The officials were forced to abandon their attempt to acquire the land after a...
Sri Lanka's former army commander and accused war criminal Shavendra Silva flew to Nairobi, Kenya this week to "enhance bilateral defence relations" despite Sri Lanka's longstanding human rights abuses. Silva accompanied by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya Velupillai Kananathan met with their Kenyan defence counterparts and reportedly discussed matters relating to shared security challenges. This includes defence-related domains, counterterrorism efforts, maritime security, peacekeeping operations and capacity-building initiatives. Silva who now serves as the Chief of Defence Staff...
The Sri Lankan health Ministry has rejected a study published in the British Medical Journal, The Lancet which finds that 410,000 girls in Sri Lanka are underweight and that there has been no detectable change in statistics since 1990. Speaking to Daily Mirror, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Palitha Mahipala said the findings demarcated in the said study "can’t be condoned as they contradict the actual scenario in Sri Lanka". At the same time, Director of the Family Health Bureau Dr. Chithramalee De Silva said they are not satisfied with the data the Lancet used to compile the report...
Sri Lankan soldiers have died fighting for and against the Russian army on the front lines in Ukraine, as “hundreds” of former soldiers have turned mercenaries in the midst of an economic crisis on the island.
Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Tiran Alles instructed the security forces to “stop fondling weapons and use them” just days after he called for the intensification of the military-led operation Yukthiya. While addressing a workshop held in Ratnapura as part of a Community Police Awareness program, Alles told the police that firearms had been issued so they could be used. He told the gathering that he would bring an end to the underworld menace during his tenure as the Minister of Public Security. “I have repeatedly warned the underworld characters to stop their illegal activities,” The...