A fisherman in Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, was assaulted during a visit by Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, Ramalingam Chandrasekaran, as tensions flared during the Minister’s local government election campaign on 24 April.
Chandrasekaran, who was touring the North-East with National People’s Power (NPP) candidates, visited Keppapulavu where he met with representatives of the Keppapulavu Fishermen…
<p>India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has invited senior Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs to New Delhi to discuss Tamil issues, Daily Mirror reports.</p>
<p>TNA leader R Sampanthan and MPs M A Sumanthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan and Mavai Senathirajah are reportedly preparing for the trip.</p>
<p>Among the topics for discussion will be constitutional reform and a political solution, as well as further talks on Indian support for developing Palaly into an international airport.</p>
<p>The human rights situation in Sri Lanka was “mixed” in 2018, a UK government report stated, citing key concerns including increased inter-communal tensions, the slow delivery of key reconciliation commitments, delays in introducing new human rights compliant counter terrorism legislation and a stalled transitional justice process.</p>
<p> The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual report, ‘Human Rights and Democracy in 2018’ said that “throughout the year, human rights defenders in the North and East raised increased concerns of surveillance and harassment.”</p>
Sri Lanka's prime minister, Maithripala Sirisena held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin on Saturday, on strengthening bilateral relations.
Sinhalese people from the South were brought to Mullaitivu in three buses on Sunday to hold another protest against a Tamil temple.
The latest protest outside the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple, due to the removal of a Sinhalese road sign, follows a protest on June 5 calling on the Sri Lankan president to intervene and reprise the temple’s land to the occupying Buddhist monk.
Four Batticaloa residents who took part in a protest against the acquisition of Tamil land for ilmenite mining were arrested on Thursday and released on bail later that day.
Vakarai police said the four had been arrested following complaints from the ilmenite factory’s staff that the protesters had damaged its entrance and had rioted within the premises.
The Sri Lankan army held a Buddhist ceremony in Mullaitivu on Wednesday, where the 68 Division announced it will be constructing its new headquarters as militarisation expands in the Tamil homeland.