In her oral update during the 48^th session of the UN Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet warned that Sri Lanka’s current “social, economic and governance challenges” were indicative of the “corrosive impact that militarisation and the lack of accountability continue to have on fundamental rights, civic space, democratic institutions, social cohesion and sustainable development."

In its latest assessment of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, the global watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted the deterioration of civil liberties and the growing oppression of minorities in the island. South Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly said, “No one should be in any doubt that Sri Lanka’s human rights situation is deeply alarming and getting worse.”

Despite ongoing criticism of their involvement in civilian affairs in the North-East, the Sri Lankan state continues the expansion of the state owned large retail chain, Sathosa with the opening of a store in Batticaloa.

Under the guidance of the Minister of Trade, Bandula Gunawardena, the state aims to set up Sathosa outlets that are “easily accessible to the public” and deliver “cheaper and higher quality products to consumers” with government intervention “during the current emergency situation in the country,” according to the Colombo page.

File Photograph: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin

The Tamil Nadu assembly and its current chief minister M.K Stalin, have passed a resolution calling on the Union government to repeal the citizenship amendment act (CAA) because it 'does not accord a warm support to the refugees, considering their plight, but discriminates against them on the basis of their religion and country of origin', referencing the plight of Eelam Tamil refugees amongst others.

^{Hashem Asjazadeh (pictured left) and G.L. Periris (pictured right)}

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris met with the ambassador of the Iran, Hashem Asjazadeh where discussions surrounding greater economic cooperation were held.

Freedom Now, a rights organisation dedicated to the fight against arbitrary detention and associated human rights abuses, has filed a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning Muslim poet, Ahnaf Jazeem. He has been under arrest for over 480 days under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without charges.

In a letter written by the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances (ARED) to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, ahead of the 48th UNHRC session, the families expressed their anguish regarding the failure of international action to bring them justice. The Association criticised the ineffectiveness of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) and urged the High Commissioner to “mete out justice before we die.” 

Last month, British Tamils participated in various sports events organised by the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC). The sports competitions commenced following tribute to the fallen freedom fighters and the hoisting of the Tamil National Flag. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, condoned the “vague” terrorism charges under which Sri Lankan Muslim human rights lawyer, Hejaaz Hizbullah, has been arbitrarily detained under. 

Photo of Ambassador Teplitz meeting with families of the disappeared

Speaking to reporters, outgoing United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B Teplitz stressed that the US will remain “full engaged” with Sri Lanka on the issue of reconciliation.