The British Tamils Forum expressed serious concern at the recent statements by the Sri Lankan president that refuted alleged war crimes and the need for international participation in an accountability process.

The statement read,

“It is important to recognize that these statements come at a time when Tamil victims and communities continue to have little to no confidence in the Sri Lankan government’s political will due to the government’s failure to address critical on-going human rights issues including the military occupation of the North-East, reports of on-going torture, continued illegal land acquisition, and the detention of political prisoners.  The stance against international involvement espoused by the President and Prime Minister will only serve to further undermine the confidence of Tamil victims and communities, and is completely unacceptable in light of the UNHRC resolution they co-sponsored.”

See full statement below.

There has been no progress in investigations into murdered Tamil journalists, despite the Sri Lankan government’s pledges, said the Federation of Eastern Journalists.

Speaking to ucanews.com, Thev Athiran, president of Federation of Eastern Journalists, said that there had been little government support, despite Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe telling parliament in December that the government would pay compensation to the families of 44 journalists.

He went on to state that there had not been any progress in the investigations of murdered Tamil jouranlists.

"Most of the families of killed Tamil journalists have left the country due to fear," said Mr Athiran. He highlighted the killing of Subramaniyam Sugitharajah, who was murdered on January 24 2006, shortly after he took photos of the bodies of five Tamil students who were executed by Sri Lanka’s security forces.