Sri Lanka announced recently that it would launch a domestic probe to investigate war time mass atrocities in time for the release of the UN mandated investigation due in September. The announcement, made in the wake of a high profile visit to the island by the US Secretary of State John Kerry late last month, suggests that Sri Lanka is responding to international demands. However, it is not clear that this new international engagement necessarily translates to real changes on the ground. The government’s behaviour is notably contradictory. While it reassures international audiences that it is taking accountability seriously and is committed to reform and reconciliation, it says quite another to domestic Sinhala Buddhist constituencies. This duplicity is worrying and suggests that the government is intent on continuing with business as normal rather than committing to the deep changes in governance that are needed to secure a just and lasting peace.

Tamil graduates protest outside EPC office in Trincomalee (All photos: Tamil Guardian)

Graduates from the Amparai district complained of discrimination by the Sri Lankan government in providing job opportunities for Tamils.

The graduates started a symbolic hunger strike outside the offices of the Eastern Provincial Council offices in Trincomalee on Wednesday morning.

One graduate, speaking on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal, said the Sri Lankan government deliberately overlooked Tamils for job opportunities.

“Although we achieve the same qualifications as Sinhala and Muslim people do, we are not offered the same jobs. The new government has not delivered any benefits for us yet,” she told the Tamil Guardian.

The former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has prevented his arrest, with the Supreme Court issuing an interim order, staying his arrest until his fundamental rights petition, filed on Monday, is considered.

Mr Rajapaksa said in his petition his arrest would be a violation of his personal liberty.

The Fundamental Rights Petition was considered this morning before a panel of three Supreme Court judges, Justice Eva Wanasundera, Justice Sarath Abrew and Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare.