Locals in Trincomalee have written to the Divisional Secretariat of Kuchchaveli, calling for an end to an attempt by Sri Lanka’s archaeology department to seize land in the region.
A Sri Lankan military officer accused of involvement in the cover up of the disappearance and murder of 11 Tamil youths has been released on bail.
Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is accused of helping the main suspect accused of conducting the disappearances evade arrest and was held on remand last week.
<p>The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has hit back at global credit agencies for their decision to downgrade Sri Lanka’s ratings amidst a deepening political crisis on the island.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka security forces including police, special task forces (STF) and the army, have ramped up search operations in Batticaloa, creating a climate of fear among local communities.</p>
<p>In an operation by the three different forces in Eravur’s police division, the homes of several former LTTE cadres were searched.</p>
<p>Random stop and searches were also reported by locals in other parts of Batticaloa.</p>
The UK's All Party Parliamentary Group on Tamils (APPGT) today met with the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mark Field, urging him to take action on Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu's MDMK party leader yesterday protested in Chennai, calling for the prompt release of the seven people convicted for their alleged association in the killing of the Indian premier, Rajiv Gandhi.
The MDMK was joined by opposition parties, DMK, CPI and CPI-M.
"The governor should release the seven convicts under Article 161 of the Constitution," MDMK leader, Vaiko said.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) today called for an end to ongoing political crisis in the country.
In a statement that followed today's downgrading of Sri Lanka by Standard and Poor, and Fitch Rating's, AmCham said it "expressed concern of the impasse reached".
Standard and Poor's swiftly became the third credit ratings agency to downgrade Sri Lanka's sovereign rating in recent weeks, as the political crisis in Colombo deepened in recent days.
S&P followed moves by Fitch earlier today, and Moody’s two weeks ago, in downgrading Sri Lanka citing refinancing risks and an uncertain policy outlook.
Sri Lanka’s president has stated that he had deferred dealing with the issue of Tamil political prisoners until the political crisis in the country has resolved, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.
In another blow to Colombo, Fitch Ratings became the second credit agency in two weeks to downgrade Sri Lanka’s long-term debt rating as political upheaval continues on the island.
Fitch announced on Tuesday that Sri Lanka's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating was to be downgraded to ‘B’ from ‘B+’.
<p>Sri Lanka’s President remains adamant that he will not reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, causing parliamentarians to call negotiations between the president and the UNF a failure.</p>
<p>“The talks were a failure,” UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said, according to Economy Next. “The president insisted that he will not make Ranil Wickremesinghe the prime minister even if 225 MPs support him.”</p>
The tax on imported potatoes and onions was halved today by Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry, amid the country's ongoing political turmoil and despite today's court order preventing the functioning of cabinet.
The special commodity level, which was at 40 rupees per kilogram of imported potatoes and onions, was cut to 20 rupees at midnight tonight.
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