On December 26th, 2004, over 35,000 people perished during the catastrophic tsunami that hit the coasts of the North-East and South of the island of Sri Lanka.
Across the Tamil homeland, Tamil Christians gathered to celebrate Christmas, although there were some reports of surveillance by Sri Lankan police outside of the churches.
Four Sri Lankan police officers assigned to Thirukkovil Police, in the Ampara district, were shot dead when a rogue sergeant opened fire before surrendering to Ethimale Police station with two T-56 assault rifles and 19 rounds of ammunition.
Following a visit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), IMF's mission chief for Sri Lanka Masahiro Nozaki noted that Sri Lanka has not sought financial support from the IMF despite their willingness to discuss options.
Writing in the International Crisis Group (ICG), senior consultant Alan Keenan slams Sri Lanka's "One Country, One Law" Presidential Taskforce as a means by which the Rajapaksa can "divert discontent among the government’s Sinhala Buddhist base toward an embattled minority".
Protests in Valikamam North managed to block Sri Lankan officials from the land survey department from acquiring land for the military last week, in another successful Tamil push back against land grab attempts.
As UN member states are discussing the 2022 budget for the organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged members to "stand firm against Russia and China-led efforts to slash funding".
“Actual steps, including accountability, are needed to address serious crimes and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka,” said the US State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice this week, following a meeting with Sri Lanka’s ambassador in Washington.
Following the visit of China’s ambassador to the Tamil homeland, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has left today for a two-day visit to India.
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Protests in Valikamam North managed to block Sri Lankan officials from the land survey department from acquiring land for the military last week, in another successful Tamil push back against land grab attempts.
