Responding to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Tamil civil society groups have issued a group statement urging all actors to seize this historic opportunity for “real change for an island plagued by decades of ethnic conflict”. “There have been many moments in Sri Lanka’s history when governments have had the opportunity to change course and address the root causes of the island’s conflict, but each time they have fallen short. We […] put forward this statement in good faith, in the hope that this time could be different”. Instead of simply demanding a change of...
As Colombo descends into crisis, British parliament held an urgent debate on the state of Sri Lanka with growing calls for a new pluralist constitution, the recognition of self-determination for Tamils, the ratification of the Rome Statute, the arrest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and justice for the Tamil genocide. In her speech, Siobhain McDonagh reflected on the dire situation in Sri Lanka, noting record levels of inflation, the imposition of a state of emergency and a health system on the brink. She further asked: "That any financial assistance must go hand in hand with democratic and human right...
Sri Lankan protestors overran the offices of the prime minister in Colombo on Wedneday, and demanded the resignation of acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has taken office after Sri Lanka's President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled the country.
Sri Lanka's embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was left stuck on the island, after airport staff blocked his attempts to flee the country in yet another humiliating blow to the accused war criminal. The 73-year-old former defence secretary was reportedly trying to flee the country before he is scheduled to step down on Wednesday, and lose immunity as a head of state that protects him from prosecution for a range of crimes. He reportedly fears being arrested and placed on trial where he could face prosecution for his financial crimes, as well as his genocide of Tamils.
As protests continue to rage in Colombo the exact location of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains unclear. Since fleeing his residence his property has been taken over by protesters demanding his resignation. Speaking to AFP news agency, a defence source stated that the President was escorted to safety ahead of the protests. But questions remain as to whether the besieged president has left the capital or even the island, by plane or sea. Activity at Colombo Port Early this morning, whilst protestors were rummaging through Rajapaksa’s belongings, several suitcases of luggage were...
Sri Lanka's embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the capital, Colombo, as tens of thousands of protesters stormed his official residence this morning, as anti-government demonstrations amidst a crushing economic crisis coming to a head. At the time of writing, protestors are currently still outside the private residence of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who just hours ago agreed to step down as the country’s prime minister. Demonstrators have set the residence alight.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he will be resigning following a turbulent week of politics in London. As he reaches the end of his tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, we look back on his statements on the British Tamil community, as well his record on advancing justice for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka.
21 Black Tiger elite commandos who took part in the raid on a Sri Lankan airbase in Anuradhapura, 2007
Tamil devotees are protesting at Vadduvakal Saptha Kannimar temple this evening after the Sri Lankan army blocked them from performing religious rites at the temple which sits on land currently occupied by the armed forces.
Flights from Jaffna’s Palaly airport to Chennai are set to be resumed next month said Sri Lanka’s prime minister, as reports of restarting a ferry service from the North-East to India also emerged, drawing together closer links between the two Tamil regions.