A young Tamil fisherman was arrested in Mannar, Siruthoppu, by the Sri Lankan Navy, reports the Uthayan . The fisherman who is originally from Kilinochichi has been taken to Mannar police station for further investigations.
A Tamil youth was arrested in Mannar by the Sri Lankan Navy, reported the Uthayan , as Sri Lanka continued with its increased spate of arrests of Tamils in the North-East. The youth, originally from Kilinochchi was arrested whilst staying in Siruthoppu and is being held at Mannar police station for further investigations. A family in Vavuniya were arrested earlier , following the interrogation of 300 Tamil youths in Vaddukoddai by the Sri Lankan military earlier this week.
Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, today called upon Sri Lankans to unite and deliver a message to the international community by voting for the ruling UPFA in the upcoming Provincial Council elections. Addressing crowds in Kalutra, Rajapaksa said that the people would rally in support of the UPFA and show the international community that they could not interfere with affairs in the country. Photo: Colombo Page
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa will, tomorrow , brief Chief Buddhist prelates from the Maha Sangha, in an attempt to satisfy a request by the Buddhist institution to outline the situation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The Maha Sangha, in a letter addressed to the president last week, drawing upon the Buddhist institution’s long history of assisting rulers of Sri Lanka to combat efforts by western and power-greedy groups to split the country, expressed the need to be fully briefed on happenings in Geneva.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused western countries of being pushed by the Tamil diaspora to take the UNHRC resolution forward, saying that Sri Lanka will not tolerate foreign interference. “Madam (Navi) Pillay (UNHRC chief), U.S., U.K., all are moved against us by the Tamil diaspora,” he said at an election rally in Kaluthara. “We are being punished for ending terrorism. We did not fight Tamils, we only fought terrorism, “We will not tolerate any foreign interference and that will be the message,” he said.
The Sunday Island has quoted a “senior government source” as saying that the British Foreign Secretary William Hague is ignorant of ground realities, after he suggested that an international tribunal should be set up. The official said that any such move would also have to examine India for supporting “terrorism” in the 1980s and the government would raise India’s accountability during the conflict. See more here .
Reiterating its commitment to pursuing a resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council this month, the Unite Stated said it was " concerned by intensifying pressure on Sri Lankan civil society and human rights activists " and that the " detentions and the continued harassment of those who support the quest for reconciliation and accountability send a chilling effect" across Sri Lanka's civil society. In a statement released Friday, the State Department said, "The United States is concerned by intensifying pressure on Sri Lankan civil society and human rights activists. We are especially concerned by the detention of well-known human rights defenders Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan after they made inquiries regarding the arrest of another activist. While it is encouraging that Mr. Fernando and Father Mahesan have since been released, they continue to face harassment by security forces. We are also aware of reports that additional human rights groups are being targeted for investigation by security forces .
Carrying banners and placards, residents of Uthaya Sooriyan village protested in Chavakachcheri against land grabs on Friday morning, reports Uthayan. Carrying placards reading: " we want our land ", " we have waited over 50 years, when will there be justice for us? " and " Government officials come look at our residents ", over 100 residents took part in the protest.
Over 300 Tamil youths in the Vaddukoddai area were rounded up last night and interrogated by Sri Lankan military personnel reports the Uthayan . According to the paper, over 600 troops arrived late on Friday night, and rounded up the Tamil young men and women before taking them to the Vaddukoddai police station for questioning. The military officers claimed the reason for the mass interrogation was that the alleged criminal, Gopi, was now hiding in that area, said residents. All movement of people and vehicle from inside Vaddukoddai to outside was reportedly restricted by the military...
Commenting on a video that emerged earlier this week depicting the maltreatment of female army recruits by male officers, the Sri Lankan Army said that the video had be " stage-managed " in order to " tarnish and discredit the Army ". In a statement issued this weekend the Sri Lankan military said , "Taking a stern view on those trying to tarnish and discredit the Army by producing such stage-managed harassment and uncivilized treatment on woman soldiers under training, Commander of the Army, has assured that soon after SLCMP investigations, all those involved in this incident would be...