Accused Sri Lankan war criminal Major General Jagath Dias, Commander of the Security Force Headquarters in Mullaitivu left his post this month, with a grand send off from over 2,500 troops and a Buddhist ceremony. 

The commander, who was in command of the Sri Lankan army’s 57th division and is suspected to be directly responsible and hold command responsibility for mass atrocities committed by his troops during the final phase of the armed conflict, is being promoted to the post of Chief of Staff.

The Sri Lankan army reported that in addition to the formal military ceremony, the major general had a religious ceremony conducted by a monk at a Buddhist vihara in the district, “in order to invoke blessings on the outgoing Mullaittivu Commander… with the participation of all officers and other ranks.”

The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) general secretary Douglas Devananda denied allegations that his party was connected to the rape and murder of a school girl in Punkuduthivu.

Rejecting the allegations, Devananda said that his party members were constantly blamed for the murders that were taking place in the North-East, reports Ceylon Today.

“Those political parties who are against us are slinging mud at us to tarnish our political identity. These allegations are levelled against the party by our political opponents to stigmatise our image by connecting the gang rape and brutal murder to us,” said the EPDP general secretary. 

The leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) M Karunanidhi said that the Tamil homeland continues to be occupied by Sri Lankan troops despite the change of government on the island earlier this year.

Quoting a report by US think tank, the Oakland Institute, the DMK chief said it “shows that injustice against Tamils has not reduced despite a new President.” “The rule changed there, but did the scene?" he asked.

Accusing the Sri Lankan government of not “having the will” to meet Tamil demands, Mr Wigneswaran said,

“The central government in Sri Lanka will not do anything towards minorities or the Tamils unless they are forced to do something.”

The Sri Lankan military held two workshops in Kilinochchi this month to teach and “enlighten” both Tamil students and farmers about telecommunications and solar power.

Troops from the 9 Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC) and 7 Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) reportedly took the lead in arranging the entire exhibition” on telecommunications for Kilinochchi schoolchildren, earlier this month.

The Sri Lankan army stated that there were “more than 300 students with the blessings of Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander, SFHQ-KLN.”

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, James Dauris, has made a visit to Jaffna this week.

Tamil Guardian

Mr Dauris met with the chief priest at Nallur Temple and tweeted that they had discussed the “central role of religious leaders in reconciliation.”

“We planned to organise a protest today bur we decided to give one week for the police to find the culprits. We are watching whether the government is purposely postponing the investigation,” said the parliamentarians in a press conference.

Sri Lanka’s former commander of the army denied rape and torture by Sri Lankan security forces had taken place whilst he was in charge, stating he could “clarify” any allegations.

The newly promoted Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka declared “there were no rapes, no torture during my command during the war” but admitted that there have been “a couple of allegations”.

He said in an interview with the Guardian that his “intentions are clear”. “The army as a whole, I can give the assurance that we never committed war crimes,” he added.

The Jaffna District Child Development Committee stated there is a “well planned strategy” in place in the province to turn school children into drug addicts.

Writing to Sri Lanka’s Deputy Inspector General of the police office last month, the committee stated that there was a rising crime rate in Jaffna, with school children involved in violence and crimes.

“There is a well planned strategy in place to make school children drug addicts,” said the letter.