British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field said he reiterated the need for a credible accountability process with international judges and prosecutors during his recent visit to Sri Lanka. Responding to a question tabled by MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting, Mr Field said, “During my visit in early October 2017 to Colombo and Jaffna, I raised with Foreign Minister Marapana the importance of the Sri Lankan government implementing in full its commitments under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 34/1, which rolled over the commitments made under 30/1. Resolution 30/1...
Human Rights Watch called on Sri Lanka to move from promises to action, criticising the government's refrain that it was "making haste slowly". "While the government has made some progress, most of the promises remain unfulfilled. Just ahead of the UPR, the government announced that it was operationalizing the much-delayed Office of Missing Persons, one of four key transitional justice mechanisms, and funds had been budgeted. Tellingly, there was no budgetary allowance for the other three. And, while the UPR team referred to draft legislation on a truth-seeking mechanism and a reparations...
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) this month highlighted the widespread denial by the Sri Lankan government of the ongoing torture and rape of Tamils committed by Sri Lankan security forces. In an interview with Ceylon Today following a report published by Associated Press highlighting the ongoing crimes committed under the present government, ITJP said, "What we witness is the ongoing denial of these crimes not only by the Sri Lankan government but also some Sri Lankans, who refuse to admit that these crimes continue to be perpetrated on this scale. It is easier to blame it...
Postage stamps marking Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) were released in the UK on November 27. The stamps, depicting symbols of Tamil Eelam, including the national flower, bird, tree and animal, were launched at the Maaveerar Naal commemorative event in London.
Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal on Wednesday issued a stay order preventing any action being taken against the former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). The order prevents any action under the Public Property Act until December 6. Mr Rajapaksa had filed a writ petition seeking an interim order to stop police arresting him after reports last week that he was to be arrested over the misappropriation of public funds. According to the FCID Mr Rajapaksa was intending to use the funds to build a museum dedicated to his parent, D A Rajapaksa. See...
Updated 11:50 GMT Clashes between Tamil and Sinhala students took place at Jaffna University on Tuesday after a group of Sinhala students tore down posters commemorating Maaveerar Naal. Posters had been put up around the campus by students last week, as they prepared for Maaveerar Naal on November 27th - a day of national commemoration for Tamils across the world. On Tuesday evening, Sinhala students at the girls’ hostel reportedly began tearing down the posters, which featured LTTE leader V Prabhakaran with his head bowed standing before a lamp, and then befan trampling on them. As Tamil...
Tamils in Toronto gathered to commemorate Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil National Remembrance Day at several events in Canada's largest city throughout the week. The main event at Markham Fairgrounds saw thousands of people stream through the venue all day. The event was held at three separate times on the day, in order to allow as many people as possible to pay their respects.
Tamils in the Washington DC metropolitan area got together on Sunday to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.
Maaveerar Naal commemorations were held in cities across Europe on Monday.
Tamils in Australia and New Zealand marked Tamil National Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) on November 27. In addition to the lighting of candles and laying of flowers, a number of dances and musical recitals in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the Tamil struggle were performed.