The Sri Lankan government indicated plans to introduce a 19th Amendment to the Constitution aimed at addressing the current issue of power devolution to the north-east, reported Colombo Page . The government is preparing the draft of the 19th amendment as an alternative to the 13th Amendment, which has been facing calls of abolishment. The draft amendment, which claims to offer a solution to the current ethnic issue, will be shown to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). Amidst strong calls for the 13th amendment to be repealed, President Mahinda Rajapaska outlined that a change to the...
Photograph TamilNet Tamil diaspora organisations have been voicing shock at the death of French TCC (Tamil Coordination Committee) co-ordinator and ex-LTTE commander, Colonel Parithi, who was shot dead in Paris on Thursday night. 50-year-old Nadarajah Mathinthiran, more commonly known by his noms de guerre Reagan and later Parithi, left the LTTE in the early 90s and took responsibility for mobilising the French Tamil diaspora in the early 2000s. Mathinthiran had been targeted in police crackdowns on LTTE fundraising activities in 2007 and had served a three year prison term until 2010.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for changes to the country’s 13th Amendment, calling for a mechanism that will unify the country further. Delivering his budget speech in Parliament, Rajapaksa stated the devolution should not lead to separation, saying , "Instead it should be a one that unifies all of us". Following his comments, a Sinhala nationalist party and ruling coalition member, the National Freedom Front, announced that they are set to file a case in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court against the 13th Amendment. The NFF leader government Minister Wimal Weerawamsa also met with...
As key Tamil figures from the North-East came to London this Wednesday and Thursday to engage in the international World Tamil Conference to discuss ways of pushing the call for an international, independent investigation into the crimes of genocide against the Tamil nation, where was the leader of the TNA - Sampanthan? Having tea with the president of course... Addressing parliament earlier in the day, Mahinda Rajapaksa said : "That will be an effort which ensures greater self-respect than having to lobby foreign countries to interfere in our national problems. The Leader of the Opposition,...
The riots in Welikada prison ended in a bloodbath, with 27 people dead and dozens injured. Most of the dead were prisoners who were killed by armed police and army soldiers. At least three prisoners were killed when they attempted to flee in an auto-rickshaw, which was shot at by security forces. Clashes between prisoners and police erupted on Friday after a search operation was mounted. At least one prison guard was killed and several policemen and soldiers were injured during the violence. Welikada prison has a history of violence against inmates, with clashes earlier this year leaving one...
14:57 GMT In breaking news, riots have broken out between inmates at the Welikada prison and the Sri Lankan security forces. Reports coming through state that on Friday afternoon, Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) and prison intelligence unit conducted a search operation on inmates in the L and Chappell units of the prison, citing authorisation by the minister of prisons and reforms. As inmates protested, STF personnel fired tear gas at the protesters. The situation continued to escalate, with several inmates climbing onto the roof of the prison in protest, and news coming through of serious injuries and fatalities.
15:02 GMT The STF personnel have withdrawn from the Welikada prison riot, allowing troops and snipers from the Sri Lankan military to move in, reports Sunday Times. Armoured vehicles have been situated at the gates of the prison, preventing inmates from leaving. See: Riots at Welikada prison after STF tries to search inmates (09 Nov 2012) Video news report by a Sinhala news channel. Gunshots audible from 00:02:54
23:58 GMT The director of the hospital dealing with casualties from the Welikada prison violence has told AFP that 13 people, of whom at least 11 were inmates, had died. Anil Jasinghe said that a further 32 injured were also brought to the hospital. The BBC reported that it isn’t yet clear how many may have died inside the jail. The army moved in when police lost control of parts of the prison after an attempted search operation. See: STF withdraws, SL army moves in with snipers - Welikada (09 Nov 2012) Riots at Welikada prison after STF tries to search inmates (09 Nov 2012)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed concern at Australia’s new policy of that allows for immediate deportation of Sri Lankan refugees seeking asylum. Speaking at a Democracy forum in Indonesia, Pillay outlined why so many Tamil were leaving Sri Lanka and voiced her concerns about the Australian deportation policy. She said that Sri Lanka was still volatile, despite the end of the armed conflict. “Now that was a conflict area, matters have not stabilised as yet. All the reports reaching me ar that people are concerned over control being imposed over...
The Sri Lankan Army has announced the launch of a brand that will create resorts across the country, as they opened yet another holiday resort on the island. Speaking to reporters, Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya proudly announced the launch of the “Laya” brand hotels, stating , "Our vision is to make the 'Laya' brand one of the most sought-after resort hotels in Sri Lanka". The Army chief went on to comment that the security forces had taken up this task because of necessity, explaining, "We're not going to challenge the private sector but trying to help meet the room requirement for the anticipated tourist arrivals and maintain the best standards." He went on to anticipate a bigger role for hotel resort industry on the island, and possibly the armed forces, telling reporters, "This depends on the rapid build up of room capacity…The government has set a target room capacity of 30,000 by 2015". Earlier this year the Sri Lankan Army opened their second holiday resort in the Jaffna peninsula alone. See below: Army opens yet another holiday resort in Jaffna (11 Jan 2012)