Mangala counters Mahinda: we managed to shift all action to domestic front

Countering a press statement released on Monday by the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa entitled 'Constitutional and legal reforms to destroy the nation' , Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera argued that his government had managed to end the country's scrutiny on an international stage and bring "shift all action to a domestic front". See here for full statement. Extracts reproduced below: "Let me be very clear: the transitional justice mechanisms to be implemented will not benefit one group or community above others, and will certainly not single out and target the armed...

Families of disappeared march in Mannar

Families of the missing and forcibly disappeared held an awareness march in Mannar on Monday, supported by locals and civil society actors.

Mullaitivu DS missing protest on day 8

A continuous protest by the families of the disappeared held outside the Mullaitivu District Secretariat has now reached its 8th day.

Families of missing continue protest in Kilinochchi – Day 24

Relatives of the missing and forcibly disappeared continue to protest in Kilinochchi today, with their demonstration now lasting twenty-five days.

Sri Lankan military building Buddhist vihara on occupied Keppapulavu land

As Tamils protest for the release of their lands in Keppapulavu, the Sri Lankan military have been engaged in building a new Buddhist vihara on their occupied land. Protestors in Mullaitivu have been reporting for months that as they protest, the military personnel in their lands could be seen destroying homes and infrastructure. This week troops were observed decorating a new border wall around Buddhist structures which have been built recently in the army occupied village of Keppapulavu.

Full implementation of resolution 30/1 remains priority - EU/SL joint statement

The European Union and Sri Lanka agreed that the full implementation of UN Human Rights Council resolution 30/1 remained a priority. In talks between the EU delegation to the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Right and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, both sides claim to have reaffirmed their joint commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights which included the full implantation of the October 2015 resolution. The statement also states that discussions took place on maintaining the freedoms of expression and the media, strengthening...

Ten soldiers accused of Siruppiddy murder to be acquitted

Ten Sri Lankan soldiers accused of the Siruppiddy murder – the abduction and murder of two Tamil youths in 1997 – are to be acquitted on the instruction of the Attorney-General. Out of fourteen soldiers remanded, ten were ordered for acquittal, and nine were released with the other having already died. After the murder in November 1997, sixteen soldiers attached to the Siruppiddiy army camp, including a Lieutenant, were arrested in connection. Having laid dormant for almost ten years, the case was reopened in January 2016 and murder charges filed against all sixteen soldiers. Two of these...

Former LTTE cadre arrested in Wellawaya

A former LTTE cadre who had undergone the Sri Lankan government’s “rehabilitation” program was arrested on Monday, with no clear charges laid out against her. The woman, reportedly a Mullaitivu resident, was arrested in Wellawaya, as Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attended a ceremony in the region. Three other people who were with her have also been detained by the police. Officials have said the woman is now being questioned over the purpose of her visit to Wellawaya, but no further details on why she has been held have been released. See more from the Daily Mirror here .

Return land, restore dignity

Land is linked to identity, and identity is important to all communities regardless of whether they are from the North or the South. By Aingkaran Kugathasan, for Tamil Guardian | Colombo Subsequent governments in Sri Lanka have manipulated the issue of land for political and economic gains by; promoting the livelihood and well-being of one Community over another (in this case the ethnic majority), providing lands to transnational corporations (TNCs), acquiring lands for security purposes (High Security Zones: HSZ). Both private and state lands of people who have for generations been settled...

SL commander denies navy shot at Indian fishermen

Sri Lanka's navy commander on Sunday rejected reports that officers had fired shots towards Tamil Nadu fisherman and their vessels over recent weeks. His statement came after Tamil Nadu fishermen said one of their colleagues was shot dead by the Sri Lankan navy on March 6, and many fishermen boycotted the annual Kachchativu feast in protest at the attacks by the navy. “Indian fishermen had boycotted the feast due to an incident where they claimed that the SL Navy had fired at an Indian fishing boat in Sri Lankan waters, which is totally false”. Sri Lanka's navy commander, Vice Admiral...

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