Buddhist clergy back Sirisena's rejection of foreign judges

Sri Lanka's powerful Buddhist clergy backed the president's rejection of foreign judges within a war crimes inquiry. The chief secretary of the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter, Dr Medagama Dhammananda said "there was no need for the Government to succumb to international pressure concerning the matter." “There is no necessity at all to have international judges in an investigation into alleged war crimes. What we explained to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is that during a conflict it is normal for both parties to the conflict to engage in inducing harm and problematic...

UN tourism conference criticised for ignoring human rights

The UN World Tourism Organisation has been criticised for organising a conference in an Eastern resort notorious for human rights violations and the displacement of locals. The UNWTO conference entitled "Tourism: a Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation" held in Passikudah was dubbed a 'farce' by Sri Lanka Campaign. The Society for Threatened Peoples recently detailed in a report that tourism development in war-affected parts of the East result in human rights violations. “The local communities don’t benefit from tourism and they even suffer from its aftermath” Yves Bowie,...

TNA shocked by Jaffna uni violence

The Tamil National Alliance said it was "deeply shocked to learn of the clashes that took place at the University of Jaffna on Saturday 16.07.2015". Clashes erupted between Tamil and Sinhala students at Jaffna University last week, after arguments over an attempt by Sinhala students to push for a Kandyan dance act to be leading the university event for new students. "We regret that several students have sustained injuries and that the Sinhala students had to be evacuated from the University and Jaffna as a precautionary measure," the TNA said in a statement on Sunday. "The TNA appeals to all students not to permit any recurrence of such incidents or anything that will hinder genuine reconciliation amongst communities in our country."

Jaffna uni closes faculties after student clashes

Officials at the University of Jaffna announced it was closing all faculties until further notice after violent clashes between Tamil and Sinhala students last week.

Sinhalese students have ‘lost equality’ after Jaffna University clash claims JHU

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) National Organiser Nishantha Warnasinghe warned that the clashes at Jaffna University between Sinhalese and Tamil students on Saturday were a sign that Sinhalese students have “lost their equality in rights”. Speaking to reporters Mr Warnasinghe said the incident, which revolved around the issue of a Sinhalese Kandyan dance performance at a welcome ceremony for students at the university, had “had aroused separatism and racism once again,” reports the Daily Mirror . “Sinhala students had never opposed the functions of any other religion or community,” declared Mr...

Special police team appointed to investigate Jaffna University clash

Sri Lankan police officials have appointed a “special police team” to investigate clashes that took place between Sinhalese and Tamil students at Jaffna University on Saturday as it looks towards making prosecutions, reports Daily News . The police also announced that there would be an increased security presence across the campus, once it has been re-opened. The university is currently closed until further notice. Jaffna’s Range Deputy Inspector General Sanjeewa Dharmaratne has appointed a special team, which includes Jaffna Division SSP G. B. Stanislaus, ASP P. M. R. Ambepitiya, the Jaffna...

Sri Lankan minister warns of ‘new Prabhakarans’ after Jaffna University clash

Sri Lankan government minister Champika Ranawaka warned that clashes at Jaffna University on the weekend may lead to “new Prabhakarans” as he called for prosecutions against those involved. Colombo Telegraph quoted the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development as stating that Tamil students faced no discrimination across the island, whilst Sinhala students were under threat in Jaffna. Clashes erupted on Saturday over attempts by Sinhala students to include a Sinhalese Kandyan dance performance for the first time at a traditional welcome event. “There is a deeper meaning to this incident,” said the minister. “This is not just an assault on students, this is outright racism.” Warning that “space must not be given for new Prabhakaran’s to be born,” the minister went on to call for prosecutions against those involved. “We must nip this at the bud, we must defeat these elements. The law must apply to each and every culprit who were behind the assault,” he added. “These racist and fascist elements must be defeated,” he added, stating that “if they want it to be an all Tamil university, then it should be shut down.”

In military fatigues, Sri Lankan troops involve themselves in Tamil Hindu festival

Sri Lankan soldiers were seen at the Ulavikkulam pillaryaar Kovil festival at Achuveli in Jaffna, where they involved themselves in religious festivities that were underway. Dressed in full military fatigues, the soldiers were seen alongside Tamil civilian devotees as they pulled a chariot carrying a Saivite deity. Another section of troops meanwhile watched over the proceedings.

Sinhalese and Tamil students clash at Jaffna University

Updated 1230 GMT A Sinhalese student brandishes a log towards a group of Tamil students as violence broke out at Jaffna University on Saturday. Sinhalese students at the Jaffna University clashed with Tamil students earlier on Saturday, as violence erupted over the use of a Kandyan dance from the south of the island at a traditional orientation programme.

India to develop Palaly airport

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is carrying out a feasibility study of the airport in Palaly, on the Jaffna peninsula, in order for it to be developed as a regional airport, The Sunday Times reported . India has previously supported development of the air base, including the reconstruction of the runway. Currently the facility is operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force and used for military and civilian in-country flights.

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