The Jaffna High Court judge Ilancheliyan was fired at on Saturday evening, in a suspected assassination attempt which the judge believes to be linked to his overseeing of dangerous criminal cases.
The Premier of Ontario said the Black July pogrom of 1983 serves as a reminder of the need to “remain ever-vigilant against all forms of bigotry and intolerance,” in a message of commemoration this week. “History is a great teacher — for those who are open to its lessons,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne. “That is why today, you pause to remember the victims of violent acts against Tamils. We also remember the lives lost and displaced in the Sri Lankan Civil War that followed.” “Reports of hate crimes in North America and around the world serve to remind us that we must remain ever-vigilant...
The Leader of the Opposition in Britain Jeremy Corbyn has called for a focus on accountability in Sri Lanka and an audit of British funding for the training of Sri Lankan police, as he expressed deep concern over reports of the ongoing torture of Tamils. Responding to a report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) which documented continued human rights violations by Sri Lankan security forces, Mr Corbyn said he was “deeply concerned… about the ongoing torture of Tamils”. “It is the lack of accountability for the crimes of the past that has enabled these horrific violations to...
The Sri Lankan navy have arrested eight more Tamil Nadu fishermen on Friday, for allegedly crossing into Sri Lankan waters. The fishermen, who were detained off the coast of Point Pedro, have been transferred to Kankesanthurai navy camp for further investigation. This the latest in a series of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy. See here and here .
Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ordered the Northern Provincial Council member, M. K. Shivajilingam to the CID headquarters in Colombo for questioning, it emerged this week, over comments he had made about Mullivaikkal commemorations at a press conference at Jaffna Press Club in May Mr Shivajilingam however has refused to travel, informing the CID that he is unable to travel to Colombo, a minimum 8 hour journey from Valvettithurai, where he is based. If the CID wish to take a statement from him, they should come to Valvettithurai police station, Mr Shivajilingam said. Last...
Vavuniya citizens have expressed fear and anxiety about the ongoing Sinhalisation and colonisation of the traditionally Tamil district through Sinhalese settlements. The chairperson of the Vavuniya Citizen Committee, K. Thevarajah, said Tamil political leaders and parliamentarians must act to stop the Sinhalisation of Vavuniya and protect the district’s Tamil heritage and population. Mr Thevarajah said that multiple Sinhalese settlements have meant that Sinhalese now make up 32% of registered voters in Vavuniya North, with the concentration growing.
Sri Lanka's police officers dressed in plain clothes on Thursday attempted to abduct a student known for his anti-government views, however, were stopped by fellow students, local news sources reported. Condemning what he described as the "white van abduction", the finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera said, "I spoke with the Inspector General of Police and he said he will take disciplinary action against those responsible." "We condemn this action of the police," he was quoted by AFP as saying. His criticism came as the finance ministry was accused of being involved in the abduction however...
The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena said the country should be developed through supporting the agriculture sector, recalling what he described as the island's historic prosperity. "When we consider about the historic foundation and the prosperous eras of this country, Sri Lanka can be built through an economy based on agriculture. To do it, we should help farmers to build up a better economic condition," he was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. "We should produce many import items within our country. The current government is giving priority for that," he added. Sri Lanka is...
Sri Lanka's new Inland Revenue Act will be tabled next month, the country's finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera was quoted by Colombo Page as saying. "The main objective of the new Inland Revenue Act is to reduce the indirect taxes levied from the people from 80% to 60% and increase the direct taxes from 20% to 40% within three years," Mr Samaraweera was quoted as saying at a press conference on Friday. Earlier this year, IMF officials indicated the release of the third tranche of the IMF loan would be "contingent on the gazetting of the new Inland Revenue Act bill", Moody's said in a...
The government of Japan has provided US $611,000 for demining activates in the North of Sri Lanka, reports Colombo Page. The grant aims to accelerate the Sri Lankan government’s program to provide livelihood assistance to the resettled people in the North. Japan has provided US $30 million over the past 3 years for demining projects in the North and East.