UK, Australia and Canada caution Tamil citizens over Sri Lanka's terror laws after diaspora bans

Following the Sri Lankan government's proscription of 15 diaspora organisations and over 400 individuals, the UK, Australia and Canada cautioned Tamil citizens travelling to Sri Lanka of the country's terrorism laws. In travel advice updated April 11th, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) stated: "On 21 March 2014, the Sri Lankan government designated 16 organisations and 424 individuals, including the British Tamils Forum and Global Tamil Forum, for purported links to terrorism." Warning its citizens of Sri Lanka's draconian terrorism laws, the FCO's travel advice also states: "The Sri Lankan Prevention of Terrorism Act permits prolonged detention without charge or trial. If you are detained, you should ask the authorities to contact the British High Commission."

Sri Lanka collects details of Tamil diaspora - TNA MP Ariyanenthiran

Sri Lankan intelligence officers are actively collecting the details of the Tamil diaspora from Trincomalee, the TNA MP Ariyanenthiran told the Uthayan this week. Using local government officials, the intelligence officers alongside the army are collecting details of those who fled after the 1983 riots, in order to prepare a new list of individuals to proscribe, said Mr. Ariyanenthiran. Intelligence officers have decided to collect information directly from voter lists after local government officials informed them of the difficulty of obtained such information.

Not soldiers but ‘militarised civilians’ says Army

Writing to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times regarding a photograph published by the paper last week depicting soldiers helping to repair a roof at a Dutch hospital in Colombo, the Sri Lankan Army media spokesperson, said , “Those shown in the photograph, repairing the roof of the Dutch Hospital premises in the Colombo Fort area, with mattresses on their backs to shield themselves from the midday sun, which was directly over Sri Lanka last week, were not ‘soldiers’ as stated in the caption, but ‘militarised civilians’ from the Army’s Engineering Services Regiment .” See also: Dutch NGO sponsors SL...

Spirit of reconciliation at New Year says President... in Sinhala

In an official message marking Sinhala and Tamil new year celebrations Monday, the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, pointed to the spirit of reconciliation of 'Aluth Avurudu' [Sinhala word for New Year, commonly used to refer specifically to 'Sinhala New Year']. The message said, "What is outstanding in the traditions of these festivities are coexistence and reconciliation. The most valued quality of this Avurudu festival is taking the ideal of understanding and cohesion beyond the family, to the village, the city and the entire country. Taking this spirit of reconciliation towards...

Body found in Visvamadu of Tamil woman working for Army

17:29 BST The body of a Tamil woman was found in a well in Visvamadu, local residents told Tamil Guardian this evening. The body, which appeared to have been raped, was recovered by villagers in the presence of police officers at 6.30pm today. The woman, whose name is yet unknown, was employed by the Sri Lankan army in the cultivation of toddy (palm wine) six to seven months ago said locals.

Indian firm proposes $300m ilmenite processing plant in Pulmoddai

An Indian firm, Narayan Titanium Industries Ltd., has proposed a US $300 million project of a titanium ore (ilmenite) processing plant in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee, the Sunday Times reported . The plant would process the raw mineral ilmenite from Pulmoddai and Mullaitivu into the commercially lucrative pigment of Titanium Dioxide.

Discussions with South African envoy 'very fruitful' - TNA

The Tamil National Alliance said in a brief statement Saturday its discussions this week with the South African envoy, Cyril Ramaposa, had been "very fruitful". "We look forward to continued engagement with the Special Envoy especially during his impending visit to Sri Lanka," TNA said. The statement did not elaborate on the content or conclusions of the discussions in South Africa. A delegation, led by R. Sampanthan, included Suresh Premachandran, Selvam Adaikalanathan and M.A. Sumanthiran, took part in discussions which began on April 9th and are due to end today. Speaking to Tamil Guardian...

Arrest, detention and torture of Tamil women by security forces

Reports have emerged of the detention and torture of Tamil women arrested by Sri Lankan security forces who have accused the women of having 'terrorist links'. A report, published in Groundviews said: "Recently there are several females in Boosa. Two of them are above the age of 60. Kanapathipillai Yogarani 61 years of age was arrested in latter part of March. The only allegation against her is that her son residing in a foreign country has been sending her money periodically.

'Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism is unacceptable' - Canada's Liberal party

Condemning the Sri Lankan government's refusal to participate in the upcoming investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Canada's Shadow Foreign Minister, and Liberal MP for Westmount-Ville-Marie, Marc Garneau, said that the " Sri Lankan regime’s attempt to silence legitimate criticism " through the proscription of Tamil diaspora groups who were supportive of the international investigation, was " unacceptable ", urging the Canadian government to consider "additional measures" if Sri Lanka did not lift the proscription. "We also condemn attempts by the Sri Lankan government to silence organizations and individuals pressing for such an investigation – including a number of Tamil-Canadian groups based in Canada – by designating them as terrorists and threatening to freeze their assets and financial resources," said Mr. Garneau in a statement issued on Friday.

Another mother and daughter arrested by TID

A Tamil woman and her teenage daughter were arrested on Wednesday night, reports BBC Tamil. Sasikaran Thavamalar, aged 42, and her 16-year-old daughter Yathurshini of Aasikulam, Vavuniya were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), becoming the most recent in a line of women and girls detained under accusations of terrorism. Reports have recently emerged of the torture and mistreatment of Tamil women detained for having ‘terrorist links’.

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