TNA members and supporters of MP Mahendralingam, were attacked by members of Pillayan's TMVP group on Wednesday morning, reported Uthayan. The TNA supporters were gathered at an election campaign event in Selvanakar, Batticoloa district, ready for the Eastern Provincial council elections in September. Last month, TMVP threatened residents Vaakarai and warned them against voting for the TNA in the elections. The attack was allegedly carried out by supporters of TMVP member Prasanthan, who initially began a verbal argument before physically attacking the TNA members.
The body of an elderly Tamil woman was found murdered in her home in Koppai this morning, reported Uthayan. The body, found beaten with open wounds and lacerations, is that of 70-year-old Kumarasami Mangayakarasi. Her jewellery, including earrings and bangles, were missing. Mrs Mangayakarasi lived alone in her home near Naasimar temple, Koppai Old Street. She is reported to have four children, who currently reside abroad.
The Sri Lankan Army has stepped up its random search operations in Mullaitivu reported Uthayan on Tuesday. Residents have complained that the searches have become even more regular than previously, with numerous bicycles, motorcycles and cars being searched. Amidst this heavy army presence, three Tamil men were found murdered in Visuvamadu, Mullaitivu district this week.
The Sri Lankan President inaugurated a development project in the Southern Province of Uva earlier, which the government is funding with the help of a US$540 million loan from Iran. The multi-million dollar project is expected to provide irrigation and hydropower to the south eastern region of the island, as part of a large aid deal announced in 2008. The project is to be constructed by the Hardish Engineering Company of Iran and will take 5 years to complete. See more on Sri Lanka and Iran's relationship here .
The family of a mentally ill Tamil asylum seeker being held at Villa Wood Detention centre in Australia, New South Wales, are calling for an urgent review of his case, reported ABC news. The asylum seeker, Pradeep, fled to Australia by boat, having been aassaulted by the Sri Lankan army. Professionals believe his mental health concerns, including severe psychosis, were as a result of the assault. The asylum seeker’s lawyer, George Newhouse, outlined that his client’s psychological illness was due to the bashing he received in Sri Lanka, which resulted in a 1 month coma. Describing the...
Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the US and Mexico, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, is mapping out plans to draw in 100,000 American tourist to the island by 2016 in part of an attempt to increase tourist traffic flow to Maldives and India. He said , “We are working on an aggressive campaign to attract 100,000 American tourists to the island by 2016.” In 2011, there was a 22 percent increase in tourists from North America to the country to 49,057 travelers compared to the year before. According to the tourism office, first six months of this year has also showed a 20 percent increase to 27,355 compared to...
The Sports Minister of Sri Lanka and captain of the Olympic delegation to the 2012 Games have clashed over the lack of coaches sent to accompany to athletes at the Olympic Games in London. Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that the Olympic Committee went against his advice, commenting, "I told the Olympic Committee to allow Niluka's father to travel to London. I also advised the shooting association to send Mangala Samarakoon's coach but I was told by the OC that it was too late as they have already sent the list." Recently the Sri Lankan opposition party, the UNP, criticised the...
Three Tamil men were found murdered on the same night in Visuvamadu, Mullaitivu district, reported Uthayan on Monday. The body of Vijayakumar, a 33-year-old Tamil man from Visuvamadu itself was found hung from a tree. The body of Sivarasa, a 45-year-old Tamil man and father of five from Pokkanai, was found with its neck severed by an axe, after having been set alight. The body of Arunachalam Ramanathan, a 73-year-old Tamil man, was also found murdered and burnt. TamilNet reports that all three men were colloborating with the Sri Lankan Army in the sexual harrassment of Tamil women. See here .
37 Chinese fishermen, arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Monday , have been handed over to Chinese embassy officials in Trincomalee. The men were arrested after they were caught fishing without permission of the coast of Batticaloa, prompting the Chinese embassy to urge for the immediate release. Two Sri Lankans on the trawlers were also arrested and released on bail. "The fault is not with the (Chinese) crew. The case is against the (Sri Lankan) owner now," Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya told Reuters. "We have handed over the Chinese crew to officials from the Chinese embassy,"
The British Tamil hunger striker, Gobi Sivanthan, 17 days into his fast, protesting against Sri Lanka at the London 2012 Olympics.