In a message marking World Press Freedom Day, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, claimed that under his government media freedom and right to information was always protected but warned journalists to be “unbiased”.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its alliance parties have trounced the coalition of incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to win the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections with a majority of over 150 seats.

The DMK, along with its alliance, has registered victory or is leading in 158 constituencies out of a total 234, relegating AIADMK to 78 seats from its previous 136.  

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) "categorically condemns Sri Lanka's enactment of discriminatory laws under the pretext of 'deradicalization' and 'counter terrorism' prompting arbitrary arrests, torture and banning of [the] Burqa," in a statement released on 29 April 2021. 

The OIC-IPHRC also highlighted that these "discriminatory laws" allow for "grave deprivations of human rights of Muslim minorities and [are] violative of Sri Lanka's international human rights obligations."

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) denounced Sri Lanka’s Cabinet's approval of the proposed burqa ban and called on the country to "categorically reject this discriminatory proposal as a violation of the right to freedom of religion."

Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara proposed the ban on March 13, claiming that it was in the interest of ‘protecting national security’ because burqas are a ‘sign of religious extremism.’

Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, and leader of the pro-government paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda chaired a discussion over illegal fishing in Mullaitivu which was attended by government officials and representatives of the army’s fishery organization.

By Kithsiri Wijesinghe

Colombo magistrate has approved the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) request to continue the detention of 26-year-old Muslim poet, Ahnaf Jazeem, under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

A protest in Mannar yesterday called for the release of the arrested MP and former minister Rishad Bathiudeen. 

Protesters started the agitation at 9.30 AM near the Mannar Bazaar holding placards and raising slogans in condemnation of the arrest of Bathiudeen. 

Hundreds of people took part in the protests including officials and members of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) (the party led by Bathiudeen) and the general public. 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Sri Lanka’s parliament to reject a resolution that seeks to exonerate government and military officials implicated in human rights abuses and to prosecute those pursuing investigations against them.

HRW warns that if the resolution, brought before parliament on 9 April, it would “further undermine the independence of the judiciary and rule of law, which has been severely weakened under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa”.

Commission on Political Victimisation

A Tamil man was assaulted while confronting illegal sand miners on his land, last month.

Bilateral trade discussions were held between China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, and accused war criminal, Kamal Gunaratne, following the passage of a UN resolution which raised concerns over military impunity in Sri Lanka.

In these discussions, Fenghe expressed interest for China  “to enhance practical cooperation and to promote bilateral relations to a greater extent” and highlighted existing military ties between the two countries.

Human Rights