• Singular opportunity to lay foundations for justice and lasting peace - Human Rights Chief

    Mar 04

    The High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussain said the deferral of the report was a "singular opportunity" for the government of Sri Lanka to lay foundations for justice and lasting peace.

    Speaking during the presentation of his annual report, the high commissioner urged Sri Lanka to consult with victims when designing mechanisms, and not repeat failures of the past.

    Mr Hussain repeated his reason for deferring the OISL report to September, saying it was based on his "assessment of the changing context in Sri Lanka, the broad signals of cooperation I have received from the Government, and the possibility that new information will become available for the report."

  • Countries reaffirm commitment to OISL at UNHRC debate

    Several countries have reaffirmed their commitment to the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lankan and its discussion in September, during the interactive debate on High Commissioner Zeid Al Hussain's annual report on Thursday at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    After Sri Lanka was mentioned by several countries and NGOs, the high commissioner in his concluding remarks explained how the decision to defer the OISL report was only taken after "careful and deep consultation" and reiterated the report would be released in September.

    The US said it hopes to see evidence of the Sri Lankan government's action on human rights, reconciliation and accountability when the UNHRC looks at the OISL report in September.

  • Progress on Tamil issues by new Sri Lankan govt is 'disappointingly slow' says GTF
    The Global Tamil Forum urged the new Sri Lankan government on Thursday to address the concerns of the war-affected Tamil people, stating that "unfortunately, the record of the government to-date, in addressing most pressing Tamil and other minority issues has been somewhat disappointingly slow."

    "A sense of despair is slowly creeping up among sections of the Tamil population, particularly among those who have been displaced from their land, or kept imprisoned for years, or lost loved ones during the war and waiting for justice, or those still searching for their missing relatives," the GTF said in a statement, acknowledging however, what the group described as "the mammoth task the government faces in several fronts and its notable achievements within a two month period."

    "Nevertheless, we are also concerned that any delay in addressing the Tamil problem can only give scope for hard-line attitudes from all sides to re-emerge, and this will make the task of achieving meaningful progress more difficult in the future."

  • Deferral must be used to make report stronger - Pasumai Thaayagam

    Pasumai Thaayagam, an NGO based in India, called on the UN Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussain ensure the months up to September are used to release a stronger and more comprehensive OISL report, while holding Sri Lanka to account to address immediate human rights concerns.

    The NGO urged the Council to place pressure on Sri Lanka to take meaningful action on the release of human rights defenders, highlighting Ms Jayakumari, and demilitarisation of the North-East.

    See full statement below:

    Pasumai Thaayagam congratulates the High Commissioner on his appointment and welcomes his report. We take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude to both Mr Zeid Raad al Hussain, and the former High Commissioner, Madam Navi Pillay, for their important and dedicated work towards the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka.

  • Sri Lanka should repeal PTA and prevent torture - Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Watch called on Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and prevent torture or ill-treatment of detainees, in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council

  • BBS demands probe into British colonial massacres in Sri Lanka

    The General Secretary of Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) demanded an investigation into massacres committed by the British during colonial rule in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror.

  • China defends loans to Sri Lanka and docking of submarines in Colombo

    The Chinese government defended the practise of extending loans to Sri Lanka on Monday, stating that they were granted at the request of the Sri Lankan government.

    China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also said the docking of Chinese submarines in Colombo was “normal and transparent”, noting that Sri Lanka “welcomes the docking of submarines from the friendly countries”.

    The statement comes after Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera concluded a visit to Beijing, where he reportedly raised “concerns” regarding Chinese loans. “The people of Sri Lanka raised many questions, about the interest rates especially, and in certain cases about the manner in which these loans were raised,” said Mr Samaraweera.

    Ms Hua however defended the loan arrangements, telling reporters that "the loans are extended at the request of Sri Lanka and based on consensus through consultations." "The loan arrangements are for the whole nation and people and have played a positive role in the economic and social development of Sri Lanka," added Ms Hua.

  • Flight passengers protesting Tamil asylum seeker deportation banned from airline
    A passenger who, in protest of what was happening, disembarked from a flight set to deport a Tamil asylum seeker from Australia, has been banned from the airline.
  • Tamil mothers storm Jaffna district office demanding Sri Lankan govt returns missing children
    All photographs Tamil Guardian


    Mothers stormed the Jaffna district's office for the secretariat of the governor this morning, demanding the Sri Lankan government takes action over the ongoing detention and disappearance of their children. 

  • Man shot dead in Vavuniya
    A forty-five year old restaurant owner was shot dead last night in Vavuniya.

    The man, identified as Vadivelu, was shot in Maharambaikkulam by unidentified gunmen as he left his restaurant, situated in Vairavapuliyankulam,     at around 10:30pm local time, the Uthayan reported.

    "He did not return to home all night, we were waiting expecting him, but he did not come. Only in the morning we informed that he was shot dead, we are not even sure why he was in Maharambaikkulam," Mr Vadivelu's relatives said.

    Mr Vadivelu previously contested the 2000 parliamentary elections with the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO).

  • Effigies of TNA MP Sumanthiran seen across Jaffna


    Further effigies of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M A Sumanthiran were seen across Jaffna, the local newspaper, Uthayan reported on Wednesday.

    Last month, protesters burnt an effigy of Mr Sumanthiran at a protest, accusing him of having colluded with Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera to defer the publication of the findings of a UN inquiry investigating mass atrocities against the Tamil people.

  • Teenage Tamil girl dies after gang rape in Vavuniya

    A 16 year old girl died after being gang raped by at least 10 men in Vavuniya, reports the Uthayan.

    Members of the Northern Provincial Council and the Tamil National Alliance visited the home of the teenager to pass on their condolences to her family.

  • We will abolish exec presidency only if all parties offer unconditional support - Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka will abolish the executive presidency only if unconditional support is extended by all parties, cabinet spokesperson and health minister, Rajitha Senaratne said.

    Speaking to The Island, the minister said the government would submit its constitutional reform draft to parliament and intends to abolish the executive presidency by April.

    Mr Senaratne said Sri Lanka was committed to the 100-day agenda but that it should not be forgotten that far-reaching constitutional changes cannot be made without the unconditional support of the opposition.

  • Foreign countries trying to 'rule' Sri Lanka - President Sirisena

    Sri Lanka's new President Maithripala Sirisena said some countries are attempting to "rule" the country, through attempts at signing various economic deals, Colombo Gazette reports.

  • Protest continues in Trincomalee

    Photographs: Tamil Guardian

    Protestors gathered for a fourth consecutive day in Trincomalee, rejecting the presidential commission probing disappearances.

    The commission is currently sitting in the town on the eastern coast of the island, but has had very few people participate after the Tamil Civil Society Forum, who organised the protest, and the Welfare Organisation for the Forcibly Disappeared Persons said they would boycott the commission.

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