Sri Lanka's president questions cabinet on decision to allow UN rapporteur to meet detained LTTE suspects

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena reportedly questioned his cabinet on how the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Ben Emmerson was allowed to meet Tamils detained as alleged Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters. The Daily Mirror reported the meeting request was sanctioned by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Mr Emmerson who concluded his visit to Sri Lanka with a damning statement on Friday said Sri Lanka had done “almost nothing” to hold human rights violators in the military to account adding that “the use of torture has been and...

Tamil journalist harassed by Sri Lankan soldiers en route to disappearances protest

A Tamil journalist was harassed by Sri Lankan soldiers in Vadamarachchi while on the way to report on the protest of the families of the disappeared in Maruthankerny. Jaffna-based journalist Uthayarasa Shalin was stopped by two soldiers on a motorcycle on Monday afternoon on the route to Maruthankerny. Having questioned Mr Shalin about his destination, the soldiers told him he could not go on as the mentioned protest had finished. Mr Shalin denied that the protest had ended and insisted that he had to continue, identifying himself with his media accreditation. After checking his media ID, the...

Tamil journalist interrogated for 3 hours by CID and pressured to sign statement in Sinhalese

A Tamil journalist who was summoned to Colombo by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department was today interrogated for three hours in Jaffna and made to sign a statement written in Sinhalese, despite not being able to understand the contents. Jaffna-based broadcast and print journalist T. Pratheepan faced investigation at Achuveli police station this morning over the broadcast of a politician’s press conference. The press conference in question took place at the Jaffna Press Club in May, in which Northern Provincial Councillor M. K. Sivajilingam made brief remarks in Sinhalese about...

Sri Lankan Army and Canadian charity hand out ‘gifts’ to children in Batticaloa and Amparai

The Sri Lankan Army partnered with Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) of Canada to hand out “gifts” to schoolchildren in Batticaloa and Amparai last week, declared an official military website.

UK and EU must help dismantle torture in Sri Lanka - FFT

Freedom From Torture said members of the international community, particularly the United Kingdom and European Union, must do more to dismantle the structures that allow torture to continue in Sri Lanka. Responding to a report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson, FFT said his findings corroborated many of their own reports. Ann Hannah, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom from Torture said “Sri Lanka has continued to be the top country of origin for referrals to Freedom from Torture, despite repeated claims from the Sri Lankan...

Sri Lankan Navy opens new ‘Tactical Room’ at Trincomalee

The Sri Lankan navy declared open a new ‘Tactical Room’ at its Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee last week.

Three Muslim men arrested over Mannar Catholic shrine attack

Three Muslim men were arrested last week following an attack on a Catholic shrine in Mannar. A roadside shrine to Saint Michael Sammanasu (Angel) in Tharavan Kottai, Ezhuthoor was found with its protective glass shattered and the icon of the saint smashed last Sunday morning. The attack took place in the context of a dispute over a plot of land belonging to the Catholic Church in Thoddaveli, an area which has seen demographic change from predominantly Catholic to majority Muslim through purchases and settlements. The Church’s attempts to erect a fence were initially being prevented by local...

Sri Lanka Airlines opens additional flight path to Tamil Nadu

Sri Lankan Airlines launched new services from Colombo to Tamil Nadu’s second largest city on Sunday. The airline will operate four flights per week, from Colombo to Coimbatore. The state supported airline has been under a reform process seeking to expand its network of flights, after it suffered heavy losses whilst previously being a fully nationalised airline. See more here.

Sri Lanka asks Interpol to arrest army officer in Washington

The Sri Lankan government has requested the assistance of Interpol in arresting a Sri Lankan army officer who has gone into hiding after absconding from the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington, reports ColomboPage . The officer, who served as a security advisor at the embassy, reportedly “disappeared” after his tenure ended last year. He was due back in Sri Lanka to report back to the army. His whereabouts are currently unknown and Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has reportedly called on Interpol to assist in arresting the officer. The officer, who remains unnamed, was attached to the...

Singapore Foreign Minister to meet Northern Province Chief Minister in Jaffna during Sri Lanka visit

Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will meet the Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran during his 3 day visit to Sri Lanka. After meeting Mr Wigneswaran in Jaffna, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister will participate in a donation ceremony at Jaffna Library and launch the Lee Foundation-Singhealth Orthopedic Development Programme at the Jaffna University Medical Facility. Singapore’s Foreign Minister is also set to meet Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake on Tuesday for bilateral talks, followed by official statements to the media in...

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