• Toronto Tamils and Muslims protest anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka

    Jun 22

    Tamils and Muslims living in Toronto protested together on Monday against anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka.

    The demonstration against attacks on Muslims by Sinhala Buddhist mobs was held in Scarborough and organised jointly by Tamil and Muslim Tamil community organisations.

  • Police allow BBS event to go ahead

    Sri Lanka’s police allowed an event by the Bodu Bala Sena to go ahead earlier today (Monday), reports The Island, whilst a protest by Muslims against the violence, also scheduled for today, was called off after police warned that this could further inflame religious tension.

    Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said on Sunday that the BBS event would not be stopped as it was a "religious event", but that action would be taken if racism was incited.

  • BBS secretary denies involvement in anti-Muslim violence
    The Secretary of the Buddhist monk group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), denied that BBS was responsible for the recent anti-Muslim violence in Aluthgama, reports Colombo Page.

    In a press conference held on Saturday, Galadodaaththe Gnanasero, warned Sinhala Buddhist "not to be misled by rumours since the clashes only benefited the elements that are against the nation."

    Denying any association with the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Gnanasero reportedly said, "the BBS had not carried out anybody's contracts" and claimed that the controversial rally that preceded the violence was not organised by BBS, but the Sasanarakshaka Balamandala.

  • True war criminals in UK not Sri Lanka says WPC Minister
    The UK "had no right to force its will upon Sri Lanka" said the Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila, slamming a
  • Rajapaksa: foreign forces destabilising country
    The Sri Lankan President warned that "international forces are engaged in concerted efforts to destabilise the country” urging people “like we sing in our national anthem, let us join hands like the children of one mother”, reports the Sunday Times.

    “I respectfully request all brotherly citizens of this country to understand this grave situation and work towards building friendship and co-existence among communities,” he said in a pre-recorded address, which was broadcast following a meeting with Muslim ministers in Badulla regarding the anti-Muslim violence, on Saturday.

  • Attacked monk had ‘self-inflicted’ injuries claim police

    A Buddhist monk who was found tied up and beaten last week had ‘self-inflicted’ injuries, claimed the Sri Lankan police.

    Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told a media briefing that Watareka Vijitha Thera, who has found badly beaten with his hands and legs tied with saffron robes, had staged the attack.

    Rohana went on to add that the monk had inflicted the wounds on himself using keys and blades, and that the police would be taking legal action against him.

  • Tamil Nadu Marine Police file legal case against Sri Lankan Navy

    Marine Police in Tamil Nadu have filed an attempted murder case against the Sri Lankan Navy earlier this week, for the sinking of an Indian boat which forced five fishermen to jump into the sea.

    The police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the Sri Lankan Navy, charging them with damaging the fishermen’s property and with attempted murder.

  • BBS wants JHU's Ranawaka as next president

    The Buddhist monk group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and several other Sinhala-Buddhist organisations are engaging in social media campaigns promoting Minister Champika Ranawaka as the next President of Sri Lanka.

    Ranawaka is a member of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), the monk-led Sinhala nationalist and influential political party.

    According to Asian Mirror, BBS backed social media pages stated the need for a "Sinhalese President" to rescue Sri Lanka.

  • Flagship store of Muslim-owned clothing chain torched

    A Muslim-owned clothing store has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack on Saturday morning with reports of further attacks on mosques and Muslim businesses across the island.

  • Unidentified attackers damage Jaffna mosque

    A group of unidentified persons carried out an attack on a mosque in Jaffna in the early hours of Saturday morning, in a spate of attacks carried out on Muslims places of worship and businesses across the island.

  • 7 more Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy

    The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 7 more Indian fishermen on Friday, just days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the continued arrests.

    The arrested men, from a coastal village in Nagappattinam district, were held for allegedly crossing the international maritime boundary lane (IMBL). The arrests on Friday follow the earlier 46 Indian fishermen on Wednesday, bringing the total arrested to 53.

  • British High Commission urges Sri Lanka to cooperate with UN investigation
    The British High Commission in Colombo, Thursday, called on Sri Lanka to cooperate with the UN war crimes probe, reports Colombo Page.

    Sri Lanka and the UK as Commonwealth Members have committed to values set out in the Commonwealth Charter such as democracy, respect for human rights and rule of law, said the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin.
    "It is in context of such commitments, both in the Commonwealth and in the United Nations, that we continue to call on Sri Lanka to cooperate with the international investigation mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March, and to fully implement the specific recommendations in your own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission report, including on accountability and ensuring justice for victims of all sides during the conflict," he added.
  • Tamil asylum-seeker self immolates in fear of deportation
    Another Tamil asylum-seeker in Australia was rushed to hospital after, amidst increasing fears of deportation, attempting to self-immolate in Melbourne, reports The Guardian.

    The asylum-seeker, a 40 year old man, came by boat to Australia in 2012, after being beaten and breaking his leg at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces, said the Tamil Refugee Council.

  • Screening of Sri Lankan film in Chennai cancelled amidst criticism and threats
    The screening of a Sri Lankan film, ‘With You Without You’ was cancelled in Chennai on Saturday, after receiving threat calls from Tamil groups who claimed the film was ‘anti-Tamil,’ reports Dailymirror.lk.
  • Sri Lankan state to take over private resort

    The Sri Lankan government is set to take over a private resort worth over Rs. 500 million rupees, according to Lanka Business Online.

    Dunamis Capital Plc, the company that has a 76 percent stake in the land, said the property in Nuwara Eliya was valued at Rs. 536 million.

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