The All Ceylon Farmers' Federation warned it would be “forced to take drastic action” if the Sri Lankan government fails to pay subsidies as has been pledged, reports the Sunday Leader . Namal Karunaratne, National Organiser of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation, said farmers had been promised subsidies of Rs. 2,800 to help them buy seed paddy, but over 75% of them had not yet been paid. “The previous government paid some of the farmers this compensation,” said Mr Karunaratne. “We have also held several demonstrations in protest of the government’s indifference toward our farming communities...
The International Federation of Journalists said in its latest report on press freedom that journalists in the North-East of the island continue to face threats and harassment. The detailed report on press freedom in South Asia, focused on attacks in the North-East and impunity for the killings of journalists who were murdered over the past few decades. "Even six years after the end of the war, the media in the Northern and Eastern Province of the island continue to face attacks and harassment," the report said.
The Bodu Bala Sena invited Sri Lanka’s former Defence Secretary Gotobaya Rajapaksa to join its new political party on Friday. The group’s national organiser, Witharandeniye Nanda Thera, said that Mr Rajapaksa had expressed his desire to enter politics and was yet to make a final decision. The party would be fielding candidates in the upcoming general elections he added. Buddhist monks to ‘guide’ new political party (05 May 2015)
The Sri Lankan government is engaged in talks with the Asian Development Bank, seeking to double its annual funding to $1.2bn. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said the funds would be utilised by the government for development initiatives, budgetary allocations, capacity development and debt relief, LBO reported. “We used to get $300 – 350mn annually as funds,” Mr Karunanayake told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. “Now we are in talks with them to get it increased to $1.200mn,” he said. However in a recent press conference, ADB said Sri Lanka’s gross domestic growth would slow...
The Australian government praised Sri Lanka for initiatives that have prevented asylum seekers from fleeing the island and entering Australia. Australia’s immigration and border protection Minister Peter Dutton told a media briefing in Colombo that his government hopes to continue working with the Sri Lankan police, navy and intelligence unit in preventing illegal immigrants from reaching Australian shores. Mr Dutton went on to urge those on the island to stay in Sri Lanka instead of attempting to flee to Australia, reported Sri Lanka's President Media Unit .
Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were asked by the chief magistrate to arrest those seen to be holding a "distorted version" of the Sri Lankan flag during recent protest, reports the Daily Mirror . The protest took place opposite the bribery commission on April 20, whilst the former secretary of defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was recording his statement. The magistrate, Gihan Pilapitiya, ordered the CID to ensure the suspects were produced before court on July 13.
Sri Lanka's prime minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe reiterated on Friday that the government had ensured "due respect" had been given to the security forces, criticising the previous government for allowing an international inquiry to be launched into the armed forces, reports Colombo Page . Speaking at a gathering of retired army generals at the United National Party headquarters, Mr Wickremasinghe said that the previous government's "pledge to the Human Rights Commission that inquiries will be carried out with respect to the Sri Lankan forces" had made the forces "insecure".
Updated 07 May 2015 01:00 BST As the UK general election 2015 approaches this Thursday, parliamentary candidates outlined their positions on key concerns of British Tamil voters, with many pledging their ongoing support for international accountability and justice mechanism, carrying out an investigation to establish whether a genocide occurred, as well as endorsing the Tamil nation's right to self-determination. Candidates from the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, in London and key constituencies across the UK, were asked by the Tamil Guardian to detail their views on accountability and justice for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, the deportation of Tamil asylum seekers from Britain, steps that should be taken if Sri Lanka fails to ensure justice for the victims by September, an investigation into genocide and the Tamil nation's right to self-determination. To see the final survey report with full responses from candidates, sorted by constituency, please see the UK General Election 2015 Candidate Survey on Tamil Issues .
Tamil devotees in Vasavilan were blocked from accessing temples which were within the compounds of an occupying military camp, reports the Uthayan . The devotees, who were blocked from accessing the temple by army personnel, preformed rituals outside the army camp. The rituals were part of a festival which is historically held at the Varaivar temple every year.
Canadian Member of Parliament Patrick Brown rose in the House of Commons on Wednesday to mark the sixth anniversary since the “the final stages of the Sri Lankan genocide”. Marking six years since the battle of Mullivaikkal, Mr Brown said that he stands “with the thousands of Tamils who lost family members in the final stages of the Sri Lankan genocide”. “Today, the Sri Lankan government has still failed to show progress toward ensuring justice for the victims of these terrible human rights crimes,” continued the MP.