Sri Lanka-US joint air force exercise in Jaffna

The Sri Lankan Air Force and the United States Pacific Air Force are currently holding joint exercise codenamed “Exercise Pacific Angel” in the Jaffna peninsula. The program is aimed at enhancing disaster responses, according to ColomboPage . Both militaries will also host a Health Services Outreach and Engineering Civil Programme on the peninsula. Engineers from both forces will renovate three schools in the Jaffna district, which “will provide benefits to the local population, while allowing both multinational responders and Sri Lankans to practice providing emergency medical assistance and...

Army must not investigate itself - Amnesty Int

Amnesty International criticised the decision to allow the army to police the demonstrations at Weliweriya and has said hat the army should not be allowed to investigate itself. Amnesty International’s Asia Director, Polly Truscott said: “The Sri Lankan army should have never been policing unarmed demonstrators in the first place, and having them investigate their own alleged abuses is simply ridiculous,” “Sri Lankan authorities must urgently initiate an effective investigation into this tragic incident. The investigation must be independent, impartial and conducted with the professionalism,...

Karunanidhi calls for CHOGM boycott

The DMK leader M Karunanidhi has called for the Indian government to boycott the forthcoming Commonwealth heads of government Meeting in Colombo. "Our party chief M Karunanidhi has asked the government to boycott the November conference of CHOGM. We cannot have normal relations with a government that is insensitive to the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils," DMK spokesman and MP TKS Elangovan told the Economic Times .

Court orders investigation into disappearances

A Colombo magistrate has reportedly ordered the investigation of over 2500 disappearances in the Northeast. While UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay begins her visit to Sri Lanka, the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) was ordered to launch a 'broad' investigation into the disappearances of 2550 people in the Northeast, a list of which has been confidentially submitted to the court.

Unequal in death

The shooting of unarmed protesters by a state’s military, as took place in Weliweriya this week , is horrific. The profound perversity of a state turning its military apparatus on the people it purports to protect is universally felt. The Tiananmen Square massacre, Bloody Sunday and even Egypt today, are cases in point. The insurmountable inequity of force and the ensuing bloodshed of the unarmed protesters form a chilling reminder of a state’s simmering potential to abuse its monopoly on violence. The outrage and shock that has reverberated through Sri Lanka’s south following the Weliweriya incident is thus well placed. Yet as with the killings of other dissenting individuals, this tragedy highlights the intractable fallacy of an equal or inclusive ‘Sri Lankan identity’. In Sri Lanka, even death is no equaliser. The killing of a dissenter is defined by ethno-political identity, both that of the individual and their demands.

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport to become repair centre

The failed Mattale Rajapakse International Airport will become a Maintenance and Repair Centre, reported The Sunday Leader . Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, Prasanna J. Wickramasuriya, claimed that the centre was needed in order to make Sri Lanka a regional aviation hub. “If we have a MRO center in the country we can repair and maintain not only our own Sri Lankan and Mihin Air aircraft but also could provide the service to the other regional airlines, which is a money spinning industry,” said Wickramasuriya. However unnamed sources told The Sunday Leader that...

RSF condemns military attacks on journalists at Weliweriya

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Sri Lankan military's attack against journalists covering the incident at Weliweriya . In a statement published on Monday, the press freedom group, said: “We are very disturbed by the repeated use of violence against journalists in Sri Lanka,” “At best, the police take no action when journalists report that they have been the targets of violence. At worst, the army itself, equipped with lethal weapons, organizes and executes these attacks , as it did in Weliweriya.” “These unacceptable incidents show that, although the civil war is now over in Sri Lanka, violence by the armed forces is still far from being brought to an end and that freedom of information is still in great danger .”

20 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by SL Navy

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 20 fishermen off the coast of Thalai Mannar on Saturday, reports The Hindu . The Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson, Commander Kosala Warnakulasooriya accused the fishermen of trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. Sixty-five Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested last week by the Sri Lankan Navy. Related articles from this year: SL Navy arrests 21 Indian fishermen (07 Jul 2013) Navy denies arresting Indian fishermen (15 Apr 2013)

SL teachers join lawyers in Weriweliya condemnation

The Teacher-Principal Trade Unions Joint Committee condemned the Weriweliya incident , and said that the government should take responsibility for it. The committee's swift public condemnation, in line with legal bodies, criticised the military's attack on 'unarmed civilians who were protesting for a basic human need'. Condemnation from the Sinhala polity, professional bodies and public has been swift. See more: Legal profession speaks out on civilian killings Usual suspects: Tamil diaspora provoked Weliweriya protesters says SL media Next day delivery.. See also our editorial on the incident...

Northern Provincial Council candidate found dead

An independent candidate who was contesting the Northern Provincial Council election was found dead on Friday afternoon reports the SundayTimes.lk. The body of V. Ramachandran was found inside a temple in Chunnaaham and was taken to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for a post mortem.

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