A Sri Lankan government minister has accused the United States and the United Kingdom of attempting to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka and said that the leaders were pandering to the wishes of “LTTE supporters” in their countries. Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said at an event on Monday that both President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron secured votes from supporters of the LTTE, according to the Colombo Gazette . “There are some legislators who were elected in those countries through LTTE votes,” she claimed.
A network of Tamil civil society groups from the North-East called on the Pope to ensure his upcoming trip to the island includes a visit to the North-East in a letter on Sunday, urging the Pope to call on the Sri Lankan government to stop colonising Tamil land, account for the war-dead and disappeared, and ensure a political solution for the Tamil people. Extracts from the letter by representatives of the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) are reproduced below. See full letter here . “In the post-war context the Government of Sri Lanka, despite invoking the rhetoric of ‘reconciliation’ has been engaged in acts that are designed to weaken the Tamil Nation. The heavy presence of the military in Tamil areas, appropriation of lands belonging to the Tamil people for use by the Sri Lankan Army, the settlement of Sinhalese in what are historically the traditional homeland of the Tamil people (the North & East of the island), the all perverse use of torture and violence in the everyday lives of the Tamil people, the denial of livelihood support for the war affected population are some examples of the real face of ‘reconciliation’ underway.” “The recent incidents of violence against the Muslim community are an extension of this larger project to consolidate the Sinhala Buddhist nature of the Sri Lankan state. Both the GoSL’s conduct of the war and their handling of the post- war context, the Tamil people believe amounts to a structural genocide of the Tamil Nation.”
The Sri Lankan navy surveyed private Tamil land once again, despite owners protesting forced appropriation, reports the Uthayan . Tamil land owners protested outside a Sri Lankan navy base in Keerimalai after the navy announced further 183 acres of land was to be surveyed for acquisition. The land to be acquired belongs to 35 separate owners and a burial ground.
Academics from universities around the world condemned the Australian government’s treatment of refugees in a joint letter last week. Over 130 academics from nations including New Zealand Canada, Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong, co-signed a letter that condemned Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers, reports Newmatilda.com . “As academics working in the Humanities and Social Sciences, we are dismayed to hear our Prime Minister deny the ethical responsibility of this nation to adhere to the tenets and conventions on asylum seekers that are founded on moral bases, and which we as a nation have signed” read the letter.
Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister GL Peiris has urged the Muslim community in Sri Lanka to desist from internationalising the issue, during a meeting with the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka. Speaking on behalf of the government, the minister is said that the Aluthgama violence was unfortunate and “vested interests” are attempting to blow it out of proportion, Colombo Gazette reported. “He stressed the need to work together as Sri Lankans while explaining the danger of internationalizing the incident that could have similar repercussions as that of the Tamil people and TNA who sought to...
Australia, the UK and the US have updated their travel advisories on Sri Lanka following the violence against Muslims which hit Aluthgama last month. Australia called on tourists to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the “unpredictable security environment” and warned that demonstrations and public gatherings may turn violent or become a target for politically-motivated violence. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office recommended tourists to avoid demonstrations and highlighted Aluthgama’s proximity to tourist resorts.
Two of Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan’s family members were beaten and taken to Vaddukoddai police station on Sunday, Tamil Guardian has learnt. Speaking to Tamil Guardian Sasitharan said that the two relatives were waiting outside her office when they were approached by a group of police men in civilian attire. Following an exchange of words, the two were beaten with iron rods and taken to the police station to be arrested. No reason for the arrest was provided reiterated Sasitharan. Sasitharan further added that unknown people were asking questions about her in the...
Journalists who went to report on the preemptive surveying of private Tamil land that was in a land appropriation dispute in court, were threatened by the Sri Lankan navy on Friday. Threats were made to the journalists as they attempted to photograph and document the Sri Lankan navy surveying private Tamil land that the government was in the process of appropriating, reports Uthayan . "This is our region, you cannot take photographs within this," warned navy personnel, whilst taking photographs of the journalists.
The former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, is to re-enter politics, reports asianmirror.lk . Chandrika, with the support of several foreign diplomatic missions in Colombo, has discussed her policy framework with several key cabinet ministers who are dissatisfied with the present administration, reports suggest.
The body of a man was found Saturday morning, near Navali South J.136 by the Kallundai Vairavar temple, reports Uthayan . The body, identified as that of Nagarasa Kugatheepan from Kodikaamam was found with lacerations to the neck. Maanippai police are reportedly carrying out an investigation into the death.