Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) leader C.V. Wigneswaran has slammed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran for engaging in discussions with the Sri Lankan government, maintaining that “no satisfactory settlement can be reached so long as an Unitary Constitution is in place in Sri Lanka and as long as the Executive Presidency is in place”.

21 Eelam Tamil refugees have been reported to have committed suicide in a special camp in Trichy Central Jail following the rejection of their demand for release. A further five remain in critical condition in the Trichy Government Hospital.

Photo of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen

Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother-in-law, who had been detained in relation to the murder of a domestic worker, has been released on bail by Colombo Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala.

The Government of Hong Kong is the latest to place stringent restrictions on inbound Sri Lankan travellers as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with an ongoing surge in COVID cases, with daily deaths exceeding 150.

Already 21 countries have imposed travel restrictions on Sri Lanka whilst Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister has denied that tourists and international travel had contributed to the pandemic.

In an interview, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran said that he welcomes the European Union’s (EU) suspension of GSP+, a set of favourable trading preferences, to Sri Lanka due to human rights concerns.

Expanding on this Sumanthiran explained the position of the TNA.

Responding to Sri Lanka’s expansion of its draconian counter-terrorism legislation in March, a team of UN Special rapporteurs have published a damning report highlighting that the current legislation “risks jeopardizing the rights and liberties of persons who may be detained arbitrarily, especially religious and ethnic minorities, and may curtail political dissent”.

As Sri Lanka grapples with the ongoing COVID pandemic and economic crisis, the government has announced a cabinet reshuffle.

The reshuffle has appointed G.L. Peris to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, whilst former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena has been appointed as Minister of Education. Sri Lanka's former Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, has been appointed as Minister of Transport. Former Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella has been appointed Minister of Health.

File photo: Ali Sabry 

Sri Lankan Justice Minister, Ali Sabry, stated that cases pending and filed prior to 2016 under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be concluded by the end of this year.

“People who are awaiting trial under the PTA should be charged. If there are no charges, they should be released," he stressed.

Responding to the going COVID crisis in Sri Lanka, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M.A. Sumanthiran demanded that “the government take full responsibility” for this “grim situation” and heed the advice of medical experts.

“Due to the urgency of the situation the country must be locked down” Sumanthiran stated.

As the average daily death toll due to COVID surpasses 100, the country’s police have announced that they will begin arresting individuals for not wearing masks in public.

The announcement comes after the release of a damning Human Rights Watch report which highlights how Sri Lanka’s police have exploited the pandemic to excuse abuses which include arbitrary detention, police brutality, and extrajudicial killings.