• Jaya urges Modi to secure release of fishermen detained in Sri Lanka

    Jan 31
    The Tamil Nadu chief minister, Jayalalithaa on Monday urged the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, to ensure the release of 15 fishermen currently detained by the Sri Lankan navy, including 9 fishermen arrested at the weekend.

    In her latest letter to Mr Modi on the ongoing issue of the Sri Lankan navy detaining fishermen, Ms Jayalalithaa urged him to direct the ministry of external affairs to discuss the matter urgently with Sri Lankan officials.

    "I am constrained to write to you yet again to bring to your notice the repeated instances of apprehension of innocent Indian fishermen belonging to the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy," she wrote.

  • Sri Lanka’s joint opposition to boycott Independence Day
    The Sri Lankan joint opposition will boycott Independence Day celebrations this week due to the ongoing suppression of democracy on the island, said a member of parliament on Monday.

    MP Dinesh Gunawardena told reporters that the current government was acting against the principles of good governance and democracy, and as an act of protest members of the opposition would be boycotting the event later this week.

    Military style parades are set to feature at the celebrations this year, with rehearsals currently taking place at Galle Face Green in Colombo.
  • More Sri Lankan state buses carry racist 'Sinhale' sticker
    Photograph Groundviews

    More of Sri Lanka's state owned buses have been seen to be carrying the racist 'Sinhale' sticker under the lion symbol.

    Last month, the word 'Sinhale' (lion's blood in Sinhala) was found spray-painted over Muslim homes in Nugegoda.

  • Families of murdered Tamil journalists still awaiting justice

    There has been no progress in investigations into murdered Tamil journalists, despite the Sri Lankan government’s pledges, said the Federation of Eastern Journalists.

    Speaking to ucanews.com, Thev Athiran, president of Federation of Eastern Journalists, said that there had been little government support, despite Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe telling parliament in December that the government would pay compensation to the families of 44 journalists.

    He went on to state that there had not been any progress in the investigations of murdered Tamil jouranlists.

    "Most of the families of killed Tamil journalists have left the country due to fear," said Mr Athiran. He highlighted the killing of Subramaniyam Sugitharajah, who was murdered on January 24 2006, shortly after he took photos of the bodies of five Tamil students who were executed by Sri Lanka’s security forces.

  • Attorney General blocks arrest of Army commander over case of missing journalist
    Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest an army commander over the case of disappeared journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, reports The Sunday Leader.

    Army Commander Lieutenant General A. W. J. C. De Silva is himself accused of blocking investigations into the case of the missing journalist, who went missing in 2010.

    A CID officer told the Sunday Leader that an “informal message” had been sent to their department, stating that any legal action against the commander must be delayed.

    Sources also said that during high level security meeting it was stated if the commander was arrested “certain factions would capitalize on the situation and instigate the masses”.
  • Sri Lanka constitution committee consults chief Buddhist monks
    The Committee of Public Representations on the Constitution (CPRC) appointed by Prime minster Ranil Wickremsinghe met with a chief Buddhist monk to seek proposals and suggestions for constitutional reforms.

    The chairman of the CPRC Lal Wikenayake told media that the committee had brief discussions over the need for a new constitution in the country, reports Colombo Page.
  • British warship docks in Colombo as part of 'closer defence relations'

    The Royal Navy warship HMS Defender visited Sri Lanka, becoming the first British warship to do so in four years.

  • UNP considers fielding former Army commander Fonseka
    The United National Party, led by the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, is considering fielding the former army commander, Sarath Fonseka, at the local government elections later this year.

    General Fonseka was the army commander during the end of the armed conflict in 2009 where tens of thousands of Tamils were killed, raped and tortured by Sri Lankan state forces.
  • Sri Lanka hosts regional Commonwealth human rights seminar for parliamentarians
    Sri Lanka will host a three-day Commonwealth regional seminar on Monday to improve the capabilities of parliamentarians to promote and protect human rights in Asia,
  • Sri Lankan navy arrest 9 Tamil Nadu fishermen
    The Sri Lankan navy arrested at least nine Tamil Nadu fishermen on Sunday for allegedly poaching and detained two fishing trawlers.

    The arrest comes days after fishermen in Tamil Nadu held a strike, protesting over the Sri Lankan government's refusal to hand back detained fishing boats.

  • UN Human Rights Chief to visit North
    The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein will be visiting the Tamil region of the North, during his visit to Sri Lanka on February 6, reported the Sunday Leader.

    Mr Zeid is expected to speak directly to Tamil victims and families affected by the armed conflict.
  • Tamil People’s Council calls for recognition of right to self determination

     

    The Tamil People’s Council called for the recognition that “Tamils constitute a distinct people with the inalienable right to self-determination” in a draft set of proposals, calling for a political agreement prior to a constitutional enactment in Sri Lanka.

  • Buddhist monks shave heads and sign petition to free BBS leader
    A signature campaign was launched in Kandy on Saturday calling for the release of recently detained Bodu bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara.
  • Rajapaksa sheds tears as son is remanded

  • Progress on Sri Lanka's UN commitments essential for GSP+ says EU
    Sri Lanka has “an awful lot to do” in terms of transforming the commitments it has made said the Ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation.

    Highlighting serious allegations of war crimes at the end of Sri Lanka’s war against the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr Daly said,

    “Accountability is essential and mechanisms to ensure that are needed, and those mechanisms themselves should be credible.”
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