Gravestones in a cemetry belonging to Navaly American Ceylon Mission Church have been damaged by unknown persons. 

The incident took place yesterday evening. South West Provincial Council Chairman, Anthonypillai Jebanesan and Manipay police are currently investigating the incident. 

 

<p>During a video conference, Head of Economic and Commercial Wing of India’s High Commission, Ms Suja K. Menon reaffirmed a commitment to support Sri Lanka’s economic revival after the coronavirus pandemic despite ongoing concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record.</p> <p>During this conference, Ms Menon noted the importance of collaboration between industry and government as well as between India and its partners. Sri Lanka, she maintained, was of significance given its geographic proximity to Indian markets and the fact that it comprised part of the supply and global chain for many Indian companies.</p>

At least two Tamil women have been arrested by Sri Lankan police for alleged curfew violations, as they went to go deliver food to a group of women who were attacked by police officers earlier today.

Sri Lankan police officers forced entry into a house in Jaffna earlier today and viciously attacked family members with their guns and bats, leaving three Tamil women hospitalised. The officers also threatened to arrest people on false drug possession charges.

At least one woman was left unconscious by the assault, with three Tamil women in total requiring hospitalisation.

File photograph

Sri Lanka’s militarised response to the coronavirus pandemic “poses grave threats to human rights,” the Adayaalam Center for Policy Research (ACPR) said in their latest brief. 

Tamil women from the North-East who come to work in Sri Lanka’s special trade zones are being subjected to sexual harassment and abuse, found a report by The Diplomat, driving at least one woman to commit suicide.

Updated 1845 GMT

Sri Lankan police officers forced entry into a house in Jaffna and viciously attacked family members with their guns and bats, leaving at least three Tamil women hospitalised.

The three women were rushed to the Base Hospital in Manthikai, Jaffna earlier today, with one of the women unconscious from the violent assault. Children and elderly people living in the house were also ruthlessly assaulted, with officers threatening to arrest people on false drug possession charges.

The Australian government has been ordered to pay over $200,000 in legal fees to Tamil asylum-seeking family as they fight deportation to Sri Lanka. 

Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two Australian born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa, were initially detained in Melbourne in March 2018.

<p>Kamal Gunaratne, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary and accused war criminal has issued a statement claiming that no orders were given to establish quarantine centres in schools for the military.</p> <p>Whilst denying these claims he maintained that additional camps would be provided for the military. Gunaratne further stated that people were making false statements with respects to the virus for their own political gains. He has said that he will be working in cooperation with Sri Lanka’s Ministry for Education.</p> <p>With respects to the military personal he has said:</p> <blockquote><p>

Amnesty International has called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to revoke the presidential pardon issued for Sergeant Sunil Rathnayake who was convicted for the Mirusuvil massacre where eight Tamil civilians were killed including three children.

A 40-year-old Tamil man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two children were found stabbed to death at their east London home on Sunday evening, in an incident that has highlighted issues around mental health in the Tamil community.

The children were identified as 19-month-old Pavinya, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and three-year-old Nigish who died at hospital. The man, reported to be the father of the two children, is currently receiving treatment at a London hospital and remains under police guard.