The third phase of excavation activities at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna was temporarily halted on Saturday, May 9, and is scheduled to resume on June 1.
On May 10, 2009, Catholic Priest Father Francis Joseph wrote to the Pope from inside the No Fire Zone, calling on the Church to break its silence on the massacre of Tamils.
We publish his letter in full below.
Father Joseph disappeared after surrendering to the Sri Lankan Army alongside hundred of LTTE cadres and high ranking LTTE officials in May 2009.
Former parliamentarian and spokesperson for the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, Suresh Premachandran, has called on newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to extend his support towards building a “prosperous Eelam” alongside a prosperous Tamil Nadu.
Joseph Vijay's historic victory in Tamil Nadu is the most significant political development in the state in a generation. But Eelam Tamils should be cautious.
A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and chief prelate of the Anuradhapura Atamasthana, Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, has been remanded until 12 May after being arrested over allegations of abducting and sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.
A major fire that erupted at the medical storage complex of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in the early hours of Saturday has destroyed a large quantity of medicines and caused extensive property damage, with authorities estimating losses worth several million rupees.
Residents and landowners from Myliddy, Valikamam North staged a protest on Friday (May 8) for the third consecutive week in front of the military Commander's bungalow, demanding the release of their lands which continue to remain under military occupation as part of a High Security Zone (HSZ).
Excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna were disrupted by heavy rainfall on Friday as investigators continued uncovering additional skeletal remains, including infants, bringing the total number of remains identified to 260.
Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena was found dead early Friday morning at the residence of former Sri Lankan cricketer Aravinda de Silva in Kollupitiya, according to Sri Lankan police.
Police said Chandrasena’s body was discovered at the house on Pedris Place, owned by de Silva, who is also his brother-in-law. Reports indicate Chandrasena had arrived at the residence on Thursday evening. A magisterial inquiry was subsequently launched at the scene.
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