Sri Lanka’s foreign minister accused the previous administration of using its embassies abroad as “safe houses” for murderers accused of perpetrating human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s armed ethnic conflict, reports Agence France Presse.

Speaking in parliament on Friday Mangala Samaraweera said,

“Many of our embassies had become safe houses for criminal s involved in killings as well as grave human rights violations at home. They were rewarded by giving places in our embassies abroad.”

Participants at the Tamil National Peoples’ Front May Day rally this week faced intimidation by Sri Lankan police officers, who photographed attendees as they marched through Jaffna.

The rally, which took place in Chavakachcheri, saw dozens of people march through the town.

The Consulate General of India in Jaffna persistently harangues Tamil media and politicians to downplay Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) atrocities in Sri Lanka, a TNA MP has said.

Speaking at the memorial for the two murdered Uthayan journalists, E. Saranapavan MP who is also the founder of the Uthayan newspaper, said that the Consulate General, R Nadarajan, constantly demands that they refrain from calling the Jaffna hospital massacre as a ‘massacre’ and to stop holding memorials for the victims.

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.

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.