Monk attacked again for supporting Muslims

A Buddhist monk who was previously abducted and beaten for supporting Muslims against rioters, was attacked again. He was found, badly beaten, with his arms and legs tied with a saffron robe. See here and here for photographs. He has been admitted to Panadura Hospital for treatment. The monk, Ven. Watareka Vijitha, campaigned against the anti-Muslim riots in the southwest of the island.

Another UNP member crosses over to govt

The United National Party (UNP) member, Ravi Gunawardena, of the Uva Provincial Council is the latest from the opposition to cross over into government ranks. He made his announcement in a special statement during council session on Thursday, the Daily Mirror reports.

Give me a Muslim girl to marry, for the sake of national unity – Minister Mervyn Silva

The Sri Lankan minister Mervyn Silva told media during a local government meeting in Kelaniya that he would marry a Muslim girl, even if his wife was against it, News1st reported. Silva was lamenting that Muslims will not “give us any of theirs in marriage”, although Sinhalese girls are taken by Muslims. He added that if his family reprimanded him, he would be able to “clash” with his Muslim wife, who would have her “face covered”.

Jayalalithaa slams renewed fishermen arrests by Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa condemned the arrest of 46 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday, in another letter to President Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister urged the Indian premier to secure the immediate release of the men and their boats, according to The Hindu . “It deeply pains me to have to write to you yet again, bringing to your notice two separate incidents in which 46 Indian fishermen along with 11 boats from Tamil Nadu have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy”, she wrote.

Hundreds protest in Tamil Nadu against Sinhala mob attack on Muslims

Photographs: Save Tamils Movement Hundreds of protestors demonstrated outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai this week, condemning the attack on Muslims by Sinhala mobs in the southern Sri Lankan town of Aluthgama. Over 400 people were outside the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam, Chennai condemning the attacks and calling on the Indian government to intervene and put and end to repeated attacks by Sinhala nationalists. Leaders from the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham and Thirumavalavan from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi were amongst those that addressed the protestors, who were joined by activists from the Save Tamils Movement.

Over 1,000 Muslim-owned shops close in Colombo to protest attacks

More than 1,000 Muslim-owned businesses were shut for the day in the southern Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, as shop owners protested against the attacks on Muslims by Sinhala mobs on the island. Ibrahim Nisthar Miflal, president of the Muslims Rights Organization, told the Associated Press that the closure was in protest at the lack of response by the government to apprehend those behind the attacks, which saw at least 3 people killed and dozens injured.

DMK calls on Indian government to condemn anti-Muslim attacks

The president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has condmned tha attacls on Muslims by Sinhalese mobs in southern Sri Lanka and called on the Indian government to voice concern over the violence. In a statement issued this week, DMK chief M Karunanidhi said, "After the genocidal attacks on Tamils in Sri Lanka, Muslims are bei ng attacked now and Centre and state government should come forward to voice concern for their safety." See more from the Times of India here .

Muslims in Sri Lanka call on UN to investigate ongoing rights abuses

Muslims in Sri Lanka called on the United Nations to intervene and investigate the ongoing violence in the island after Sinhala mobs attacked Muslim businesses and homes, reports Colombo Page . The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem, yesterday, invited the United Nations special rapporteurs on Minority Issues and Religious Freedom to visit Sri Lanka for an investigation into the deteriorating rights situation in Sri Lanka.

UN official visit to discuss long-term political solution in Sri Lanka

The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs will visit Sri Lanka today to discuss remaining challenges and constructive collaboration in support of a lasting political solution, reports ColomboPage . Oscar Fernandez-Taranco will visit senior government officials, representatives of political parties and civil society groups to discuss post-war achievements, remaining challenges and collaboration towards a lasting political solution to ensure socio-economic development.

Jaffna Uni protest against anti-Muslim violence

The University of Jaffna Teacher's association held a protest condemning the anti-Muslim violence in Aluthgama. The cross-faculty demonstration was attended by students and staff, demanding action to be taken against attacks on Muslims and Muslim businesses by Sinhala Buddhist mobs in Aluthgama. "Then - 1983 - Tamils. Now - 2014 - Muslims"

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