Eleven international human rights organisations have cautioned the Sri Lankan government in a statement demanding that they end targeted detention and the intimidations of lawyers, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists in Sri Lanka.

According to the joint statement, signed by organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, and CIVICUS;

‘‘A campaign of fear has intensified since the 2019 presidential election and has cast a shadow over the 2020 parliamentary election campaign’’.

 

Attacks on NGOs

Unknown attackers have smashed the door of the inner sanctuary of Kusalaanamalai Saiva Kumaran temple and destroyed the main deity statue, as vandalism attacks on places of worship have increased across the North-East in recent weeks.

The latest incident in Karadiyanaattukkulam in Batticaloa took place after a Sinhala-Buddhist monk was observed inspecting the temple three weeks prior, reports TamilNet.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaska told an election rally last week that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) “will not be allowed to achieve through the election what the LTTE and its leader Prabhakaran failed to achieve with a gun,” as he continued his campaign of speaking out against devolving powers to the Tamil North-East.

Rajapaksa claims that his SLPP is going to win the general election and has promised that the government will stand against uprisings and political positions that could “divide the country.”

“It is risible to suggest that we (Tamils) must embrace and live at peace with those who butchered our people and destroyed our nation,” said Seeman, chief coordinator of the Naam Tamilar Katchi in a recent interview, where he comments on the upcoming Sri Lankan general election.

“There are still people who deny that a genocide of Tamils took place,” he said. “The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sumanthiran himself have claimed that such an act of ethnic cleansing never happened.”

During an SLFP rally in the city of Kelaniya, in Colombo, Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, vowed to tackle the drug menace whilst preserving the “city’s historical heritage”.

<p>The Proscribed Organisations Appeals Commission (POAC) heard a challenge to the UK ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Appellant's lawyer highlighted that a recent assessment by the MI5's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) noted that the LTTE are no longer operational. The lawyer also noted that an earlier assesment by JTAC in October 2017 found that there is no indication that the LTTE exists as a cohesive organisation with a recognised leadership structure or communications with its members.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Commission has the power to order the Home Secretary to unban the LTTE.&nbsp;</p>

Former Sri Lankan Minister and Colombo district candidate representing Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Champika Ranawaka, rejected the idea of federalism and attacked former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and former President, Maithripala Sirisena, for a “weak, lethargic approach” that allowed for the return of the Rajapaksas, during an interview with the Daily Mirror.

 

Karuna’s connection with the Rajapaksas

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is considering amending the Antiquities Ordinance, an act that is intended to conserve archaeological heritage sites and buildings, as the Buddhist clergy has called for power over land disputes in the North-East connected to Buddhist colonisation be transferred to courts in the South. An all-Sinhala committee has been put together to determine the implementation of these changes.

The move comes as the Sri Lankan president appointed an all-Sinhala committee "comprising Maha Sangha and experts in the field to study how the amendments should take place".

Former Northern Province Chief Minister and leader of the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) C.V. Wigneswaran, expressed his concerns to the Swiss Ambassador about the security of ballot boxes from the military in the North-East during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

<p>The UNP has authorised the expulsion of 115 members following its Working Committee’s decision to terminate the membership of those who sought nominations from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for the upcoming General Elections.</p> <p>According to UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the Working Committee, which convened on Tuesday, decided to strip party membership from 54 persons out of the 102 suspended members following an investigation. He further stated that the Committee would be reconvened to assess the fate of the other suspended members. A further 61 local government ministers have also had their membership revoked.</p>