The Sri Lankan government should immediately repudiate statements by the country’s justice minister threatening to disbar a prominent lawyer for speaking out against attacks on religious minorities, said Human Rights Watch.

In a statement released on Monday, Human Rights Watch director Brad Adams said,

“Government inaction in the face of the justice minister’s threat to revoke the license of a prominent rights lawyer for speaking out on behalf of an embattled community will have reverberations beyond Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s friends should be clear they are watching the government’s response clearly.”

The UK’s Department for International Trade has updated its Overseas Business Risk Guidance on Sri Lanka, stating that “doing business in Sri Lanka is not without risks, but lots of companies successfully export to and invest and operate in Sri Lanka.”

Under business and human rights advice, the guidance states that there “is concern for minority rights including those of ethnic groups, LGBT and disabled groups.”

However the guidance makes no reference to internationally recognised  human rights issues which remain unresolved, such as militarisation of the North-East, especially of the economy, and state and military occupation of civilian land.

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance, R Sampanthan confirmed that the no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister of the Northern Province would be withdrawn.

In a letter to Chief Minister CV WIgneswaran, Mr Sampanthan said,

“I have just informed the Hon Governor Northern Province by telephone that the Motion of No _ Confidence will be withdrawn. I am communicating with relevan persons.”

Mr Sampanthan also added that he noted the request of the Chief Minister that northern provincial council ministers under investigation for corruption should not impede in any independent legal inquiry.

Sri Lanka’s cabinet has decided to summon Sri Lankan airlines managerial officials to discuss circumstances leading to a Rs 22bln loss to the company.

During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Sri Lankan ministers accused the airline of not carrying out government instruction that would have strengthened the company’s position.

The government attempted to save the airline provider by entering into a Private Public Partnership agreement to bolster the airline.

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Kilinochchi locals protested at the town's market this morning, against attempts to oust C. V. Wigneswaran from his position as the Northern Province's Chief Minister.

Businesses across the Jaffna district remained shut today, observing a Hartal in protest of the attempts to overthrow Northern Province Chief Minister, C. V. Wigneswaran, from his position.

Thousands in Jaffna rallied in support of Chief Minister Wigneswaran today, while businesses across the district remained shut in observance of hartal called by the Tamil People’s Council.

With shop and office fronts shut for the day, thousands gathered in front of Nallur temple on Friday morning, before proceeding down Temple Road to the Chief Minister’s residence.

Protestors carried placards and shouted slogans in support of C. V. Wigneswaran and condemning the actions of the TNA and ITAK in the party’s attempts to oust the Chief Minister of the Northern Province from his position.

Chief Minister Wigneswaran came out of his home to thunderous applause in order to greet and speak to the crowds and thank them for their support.

21 Northern Provincial Council members wrote to the province’s governor Reginald Cooray on Wednesday night, declaring no-confidence in Justice Wigneswaran’s leadership.

The Women’s Action Network has expressed concern that instead of working to obtain justice for three young children that were sexually assaulted in Trincomalee, politicians are taking advantage of the incident to fulfil their own agendas.

Although three construction workers were initially accused of the assault of three young girls in Mallikaitheevu, Trincomalee, and beaten by locals, the victims did not identify these men as the perpetrators.

The misidentification has caused communal tensions in the area as the victims were Tamil and the beaten construction workers Muslim.

A second arrest warrant against the Bodu Bala Sen (BBS) General Secretary Gnanasara Thero has been issued for failing to appear before court, reports adaderana.lk.

Gnanasara Thero failed to appear before court in response to a case linking him and 7 others to 8 charges related to criminal force and minor assault.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court issued an arrest warrant to Gnanasara Thero earlier this year on allegations of obstructing the police from exercising their duties as well as circulating hate speech.

Families of the disappeared today called on the media, local and international community to place pressure on President Sirisena to fulfil pledges he made to them earlier this week about releasing lists of surrendees, detainees, secret detention centres and political prisoners. In a press conference held today at the Jaffna Press Club, families of disappeared from across the North-East spoke about the results of their meeting with the president on June 12 and their protest which reached 100 days on May 30.