The trial of detained human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, which was due to take place on Wednesday, has been postponed to February 24, 2021. He has been detained for over six months since being arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in April, and has remained in detention without charges or any credible evidence being submitted before a court.

A campaign group dedicated to the release of the Muslim lawyer, Justice For Hejaaz, tweeted:

As attacks and harrassment of journalists in Sri Lanka ramps up, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka met with Sri Lankan government officials, including Minister of Mass Media and former Sri Lankan government spokesman, Keheliya Rambukwella, to discuss media freedom in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hulton tweeted,

Heavily armed security teams have been deployed in Sampithpura and Mattakkuliya in Colombo under the order of accused war criminal and army head, Shavendra Silva. The measure was taken on the grounds of enforcing safety precautions during the coronavirus pandemic.

The intense army presence has been deployed to Lankapura (North Central province), Bloemendal (Colombo), and East and West Kotahena (Colombo).

Two boys aged 12 and 13 were critically injured in a grenade blast on Sunday in the Iranai Iluppaikkulam area in the Madhu division of Mannar. They were both taken to Vavuniya hospital.

The boys had accompanied their grandmother to the forested area near their home to acquire firewood. They had reportedly been playing under a tree and struck an iron object on the unsuspecting grenade when it exploded.

<p>Sri Lankan Muslim Congress MP, Hafiz Naseer Ahamed, has called for a boycott of French products following French President's statements this month describing Islam as a religion "in crisis".</p> <p>In his statement, the Ahamed condemned France for it's divisive remarks on Islam and it's support of the controversial religious caricatures as freedom of speech. He added that France is suppressing the religious freedom of Muslims and marginalising the community by failing to understand that “Islam is not spread by sword or by plot.”</p>

A video of a Tamil youth alleging that he was excluded from taking part in Navarathri festivities at a Kilinochchi temple has exposed the presence of casteist practices in Hindu temples across the North-East.

 

 

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has condemned Sri Lanka’s 20^th amendment to the constitution, which seeks to centralise power and limit the power of parliament and the courts, as a “blow to the rule of law”.

In their statement the ICJ attacks the amendment, which passed into law on 22 October, paying particular attention to the reintroduction of Parliamentary Council. The measure allows for judicial appointments at the Presidency discretion at has been described as “incompatible with principles of justice”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of China’s “predator” relationship with Sri Lanka as he held high level meetings with Sri Lankan leaders in Colombo today, with trade, accountability for rights abuses and a US travel ban on army commander Shavendra Silva also discussed.

As coronavirus cases continue to spike across the island, Tamils are denied of essential and urgent public health information due to a lack of translators.

The Sunday Times reported that the lack of translators in state offices means that official public communications are only published in Sinhala.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has arrived in Sri Lanka as part of his larger trip which includes stops at India, the Maldives, and Indonesia.