The General Secretary of the Asgiriya Chapter warned the Sri Lankan government that it had failed to heed the advice given by the chief monks of the island’s three major Buddhist orders, reports The Island . Dr Medagama Dhammananda Nayaka said that a month had passed since Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena met with the chief monks, but “no action had been taken”. In particular he cited the SAITM dispute and Central Bank Bond scams as areas of concern. Last month Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks threatened to launch protests in the street if Tamils are granted more autonomy.
The Sri Lankan Air Force celebrated the 6 th anniversary of establishing bases in Mullaitivu and Iranamadu last week, with a series of events in the Tamil North-East.
Sri Lanka is to review an US$ 205 million Indian investment proposal to operate Sri Lanka’s second international airport in the southern town of Mattala, reports The Hindu. The Sri Lanka government gave clearance to its Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Sri Pala de Silva to set up a committee to study the Indian government’s proposal. India proposes to “operate, manage, maintain and develop” the airport and hold 70% equity for 40 years, in a US $205 million investment. If the proposal is accepted Sri Lanka would contribute USD $88 million and receive 30% equity of the airport.
The building and expansion of two Buddhist shrines in close proximity to Hindu temples in Point Pedro has left locals fearing further Sinhalisation of their area.
India's minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj held a meeting on Friday with Sri Lanka's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vasantha Senanayake in Kathmandu. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiatives for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Mr Senanayake represented Sri Lanka after the country's foreign minister was forced to resign over corruption allegations. According to Colombo Page , "both ministers exchanged views on mutual relations but have not discussed regional issues."
Three Indian nationals were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy and the Special Task Force on Friday for allegedly violating immigration laws. All three people arrested are from Tamil Nadu and aged 27, 36 and 41, Colombo Page reported. They had been harvesting a paddy field in Nindavur where they were arrested, the paper added.
The Eastern University has been ordered to be evacuated as tensions remained high following the attack on security staff by Sinhala students on Tuesday. The order was issused on Saturday by the Eravur Magistrate Court, the Daily Mirror reported. Two security staff, including one female member of staff, were hospitalised following the attack. Sinhalese students, who had been protested demanding accommodation and for academic suspensions to be revoked, blockaded the administration building and attacked the staff, claiming they had been ignored by the administration. Security staff continued to...
Criticising the failure of the Sri Lankan government to make significant progress on implemented the UN Human Rights Council resolution it co-sponsored, the Global Tamil Forum reiterated the need for accountability, stating the "the present coalition government has not lived up to its commitments and yet to take any meaningful steps in this respect." "No efforts have been made by the top Sri Lankan leaders to integrate credible international participation in the local judicial processes as stipulated in the UNHRC resolutions," the organisation said. See full statement here . Extracts...
The Tamil National Alliance met with Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther on Friday. The TNA was represented by its leader, R Sampanthan and TNA spokesperson, M A Sumanthiran.
Tamil preschool children were given a tour of Palaly air base by Sri Lankan soldiers on Friday. The base is inside a high security zone, military-occupied land which is usually inaccessible to locals. 48 children from the Karaveddy Child Jesus Pre-School, along with their parents and 5 members of staff were given the tour.