This weekend marked the 39th birthday of Isaipriya, a famed Tamil newsreader that was executed by the Sri Lankan military in 2009.

In a message marking World Press Freedom Day, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, claimed that under his government media freedom and right to information was always protected but warned journalists to be “unbiased”.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its alliance parties have trounced the coalition of incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to win the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections with a majority of over 150 seats.

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) "categorically condemns Sri Lanka's enactment of discriminatory laws under the pretext of 'deradicalization' and 'counter terrorism' prompting arbitrary arrests, torture and banning of [the] Burqa," in a statement released on 29 April 2021. 

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) denounced Sri Lanka’s Cabinet's approval of the proposed burqa ban and called on the country to "categorically reject this discriminatory proposal as a violation of the right to freedom of religion."

Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara proposed the ban on March 13, claiming that it was in the interest of ‘protecting national security’ because burqas are a ‘sign of religious extremism.’

Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, and leader of the pro-government paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda chaired a discussion over illegal fishing in Mullaitivu which was attended by government officials and representatives of the army’s fishery organization.

By Kithsiri Wijesinghe

Colombo magistrate has approved the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) request to continue the detention of 26-year-old Muslim poet, Ahnaf Jazeem, under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

A protest in Mannar yesterday called for the release of the arrested MP and former minister Rishad Bathiudeen. 

Protesters started the agitation at 9.30 AM near the Mannar Bazaar holding placards and raising slogans in condemnation of the arrest of Bathiudeen. 

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.

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.

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.}