Credentials worthy of the SL Cabinet

The Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena, who organised the protests in Anuradhapura during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet which mobbed the Channel 4 news team who were on board a train towards the North , has been appointed a Cabinet Minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, reports the Colombo Telegraph. Photograph Colombo Telegraph Chandrasena was sworn in on Saturday, as the Cabinet Minister responsible for Special Projects.

Poet's arrest part of 'on-going witch hunt' - Jaffna Uni lecturer

Speaking to Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) on the arrest of the Norwegian Tamil poet Jayapalan , a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Jaffna, said that the arrest “ was part of the ongoing campaign of witch-hunt against Tamils journalists, university students and academics ”. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the lecturer added, “ The military and police intelligence operatives are closely monitoring every movement on a daily basis. The level of their activities and interruption in routine life under heavy-military presence in the peninsula are...

Norwegian Tamil poet arrested by SL intelligence in Maankulam

The acclaimed poet and actor, Jeyapalan, was arrested in Maankulam on Friday by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) at taken to the TID office in Vavuniya. Jeyapalan, who resides in Norway having fled the ethnic conflict, had returned to pay his respects at his late mother's grave in Maankulam. According to reports , at approximately 5pm, security forces arrested him stating he had violated visa regulations. He is understood to have entered Sri Lanka on a tourist visa. However, according to PTI, the Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said that Jayapalan had been arrested for holding seminars in Jaffna .

SL military seize 3200 acres in Mullaitheevu district

The Sri Lankan military has seized 3200 acres of land in Odduchuddaan DS division in Mullaitheevu district, reported TamilNet, citing sources in Vanni. See here for more.

Rajapaksa blessed at the Sacred Tooth for assuming Commonwealth Chair post

Photographs News.lk The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa received blessings from the Buddhist clergy at the Scared Tooth relic in Kandy on Friday, for assuming the post of Commonwealth Chair.

Jet Airways cancels daily Chennai-Colombo flights

Jet Airways, India's largest domestic airlines, is due to cancel it's daily service from Chennai to Colombo, reported ColomboPage. The daily service from Chennai is due to be stopped from the 3rd of January 2014, although flights from Mumbai will still serve Colombo.

Cricketer Murali criticised for remarks to Cameron

The Sri Lankan Cricker Muralitharan was criticised by members of the Chaavakachcheri Urban Council on Thursday for his comments to the British Premier David Cameron, asserting that reconciliation was well under way. Passing a resolution, Councillor P Sritharan, said , “Perhaps, Muralitharan was playing cricket overseas when the Tamil people in the North were suffering and scores of young men and women disappeared. He has hurt the feelings of the Tamil people, grieving the loss of their loved ones, by undermining their struggles.” “Hereafter, we will protest if he held cricket training camps...

Jaya slams 'meek and pusillanimous' Indian government

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has slammed the Indian government for failing to respond to repeated attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa said , “The meek and pusillanimous response of the Indian government to these repeated instances of apprehension have emboldened the Lankan Navy to illegally arrest and detain more and more of our fishermen”.

Video emerges of TNA leader facing Tamils protesting against disappearances

A video has emerged from last week, of the TNA leader R Sampanthan facing distressed and angered Tamils, demanding that he get down from the car. The Tamils had been demonstrating against the disappearances of their loved ones outside the Jaffna library during the British Prime Minister's visit to Jaffna, in the hope that they would get a chance to tell him their stories and express their desire for justice.

Ananthy Sasitharan threatened over Jaffna protests

Ananthy Sasitharan, a member of the Northern Provincial Council and prominent human rights activist in the Tamil northeast of Sri Lanka, has been threatened and intimidated since organising a demonstration during British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Jaffna. Ms Sasitharan has filed a petition with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and said others who were protesting with her have also been threatened. She said to the Colombo Gazette that she is in fear for her life and that of her young children, as she is without police protection, despite her house being attacked before...

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