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

Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved a proposal to ban the burqa, as discrimination against Muslims continues to rise on the island. 

Last month, Sri Lanka's Minister for Public Security, Sarath Weerasekara, submitted the proposal on the grounds of "national security" and claimed that the burqa us a "sign of religious extremism."

Memorial events were held across the North-East to mark the 16th anniversary of murdered Tamil journalist, Dharmeratnam Sivaram. 

^{The 'reconstructed' monument unveiled last week, missing sculptures of Sri Lankan shells landing on the outstretched arms.}

As authorities at the University of Jaffna unveiled a supposedly reconstructed monument to those massacred at Mullivaikkal last week, there was controversy as key elements of the memorial depicting Sri Lankan military shelling had been entirely removed.

Valvettithurai Police recovered LTTE explosives in Puthuvalavu near Polikandi, early Saturday morning.

^{Accused War Criminal, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias}

Former Air Force Commander, and accused war criminal, Sumanagala Dias has had his placement as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada rejected, as the Canadian government did not agree to his appointment following protests lodged by Tamil Canadians and parliamentarians alike calling to reject the ‘Génocidaire’.

The Sri Lankan police have arrested the chairman and secretary of the Nachimar Temple, Jaffna based on allegations that the celebration of the annual chariot festival that took place on Sunday violated the COVID-19 restrictions in place in the country.        

An explosion near the Vadduvakal bridge in Mullaitivu killed one Tamil teenager and severely injured another young man yesterday. 

Kumarasamy Chandramohan, aged 19, died on the spot while Selvakumar Sayantharoopan, aged 20, wad sent to Jaffna Teaching hospital for intensive care treatment.