Author Roy Ratnavel visited London for the launch of his novel ‘Prisoner #1056.’ Ratnavel’s book, a bestseller in Canada, details an introspective journey, recounting his idyllic upbringing in Point Pedro before turning to the horrors of imprisonment during the armed struggle, leading to his resettlement in Canada.
Freedom House has deemed internet freedom in Sri Lanka as only “partly free” in its annual report, highlighting attempts to censor the Tamil Guardian and the detention of Tamils over social media posts. In their annual report, Freedom House said that the current Sri Lankan government “implemented emergency regulations to bar purportedly false information, continued the brutal crackdown on online activists and journalists reporting on the Aragalaya movement, and introduced draft laws that could encroach on online expression and user privacy”. The report went on to highlight how “Instagram...
Clearing has begun at the Visuvamadu Theravil Thuyilum Illam in preparation of Maaveerar Naal which is marked on November 27. Thuyilum Illams – Resting Places – were constructed by the LTTE for their fighters. Thuyilum Illams across the Tamil homeland were destroyed both during the armed conflict and later bulldozed over by the Sri Lankan state following the Tamil genocide in 2009. Tamil MP Charles Nirmalanthan who was also present, said: "Even though our heroes couldn't live to achieve their dreams, it is our duty to remember them and their bravery every year. The parents of LTTE cadres...
In a historic event that echoed the resilience and spirit of the Tamil nation, the 'Yaazh Gaanam' concert, headlined by the acclaimed Tamil music maestro Santhosh Narayanan, unfolded on the evening of October 21st at the Muttraveli ground in Jaffna. This gathering marked not only a celebration of music but also a poignant tribute to Tamil heritage, a moment of reflection on the liberation struggle, and a resounding call to action using the power of music.
The Sri Lankan government announced the so-called ‘presidential palace’ in Jaffna, which was constructed by the military in 2012 on land that it had seized from local Tamils, will now be leased out to a private university.
The Sri Lankan government has announced that it will distribute air rifles to farmers to fight of an expanding population of monkeys and other animals that are destroying crops. Speaking to reporters Sri Lanka’s Agricultural Minister Mahinda Amaraweera lashed out at environmental groups protecting the toque macaques monkeys and maintained that “if the crisis becomes worse standard rifles will have to be given”. Yesterday, the government provided 268 air rifles to Sinhala farmers in Angunakolapelessa in the Southern province of Hambantota. Concerns have been raised over the disruption of...
The Colombo Magistrate Court has finally released former MP Vijayakala Maheshwaran from a case filed against her more than five years ago after she made remarks calling for a resurgence of the LTTE to curb high crime rates in North-East. Maheswaran faced criticism from cross-party Sinhala politicians for calling for a resurgence of the LTTE in order to curb rising crime rates in North-East and was forced to resign from her ministerial post. Speaking at a rally in Jaffna in June 2018, the former MP highlighted the marked lack of violence against women and girls in the de facto state of Tamil...
TNA parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan told reporters that Sri Lankan military and police intelligence services had intimidated small business owners in order to try and prevent them from joining a hartal, protesting against the intimidation of a Tamil judge who was forced to resign and flee the island last month. Adaikkalanathan, a Tamil National Alliance MP from the Vanni District, said he received reports that there have been military and police intelligence have been intimidating small business owners such as vegetable vendors, warning them not to join the hartal. He has been informed...
Former Tamil parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran expressed his scepticism regarding the credibility of a Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) report which claimed that a Tamil judge who resigned from his posts and fled the island due to death threats, did not face any issues. Premachandran emphasized that the death threats received by Judge Saravanarajah, which ultimately led to his resignation and departure from the country, cannot be viewed as ordinary threats to life. The threats and pressure against Saravanarajah stem principally from his involvement in the contentious...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached an agreement with Sri Lankan authorities to unlock the second tranche of bail-out funds worth approximately US$330 million after they were initially withheld by the global body. Previously the IMF had withheld the second tranche of funds due to a shortfall of about 15% in revenue , a contraction of 3.1% of Sri Lanka’s real GDP, and subdued growth momentum. Though a deal was struck earlier this year, the IMF decided not to release the second $333mn tranche of a $3bn bail-out fund following a two-week visit to the island last month, stating...