Switzerland denies supporting Sri Lanka's latest commission on reconciliation

In a recent parliamentary session, Swiss MP Fabian Molina of the Social Democratic Party grilled the Swiss government over its engagement with Sri Lanka regarding human rights violations and the establishment of new mechanisms to address them. In response, the Swiss government stated that it currently has no intention of supporting such a commission. According to the Swiss government, the Swiss embassy in Sri Lanka, along with the South African and Japanese embassies, has presented a list of proposals to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe aimed at building confidence and promoting...

Tamil MPs and civil society mourn the untimely demise of Santhan

The untimely demise of T Suthendraraja alias Santhan (55), one of the seven freed convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has shocked many in the Tamil homeland who were anticipating his return. Tamil members of parliament and civil society shared their condolences and sympathy adding that the yearning of Santhan’s mother who had waited over 30 years to see her son is symbolic of the struggles of many mothers and fathers in the homeland, who are yet to even find out if their loved ones are among the living. The leader of the Tamil National People's Front and member of parliament...

Shivajilingam acquitted by Colombo High Court over Thileepan commemoration

The Colombo High Court has acquitted Tamil politician M.K Shivajilingam who was facing charges for his role in organizing an event in Nallur to mark the 33rd commemoration of Lt. Col Thileepan's hunger strike. The case against Shivajilingam was filed under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act which was used to argue that any commemoration or glorification of fallen LTTE cadres violates the constitution of Sri Lanka. When the case was taken up for hearing earlier in February, the defence raised preliminary objections stating that the Colombo High Court did not have Jurisdiction power to...

Ranil Wickremesinghe is 'architect' of Black July massacre – JVP national organiser

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) National Organizer Bimal Rathnayake said the United National Party (UNP) and current Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe were responsible for the 1983 Black July pogroms that killed thousands of Tamils and claimed ‘that false information’ regarding his party’s involvement was preventing Tamils from joining the JVP. “They are spreading false propaganda among the Tamil people that the Black July riots were carried out with the intervention of JVP,” said Rathnayake. “This is a blatant lie.” “The architects of the riots in Black July were JR Jayawardena...

US steps up defense cooperation thanking Sri Lanka for assistance in Red Sea Ops

Only days after gifting the Sri Lankan Navy, the fourth Coast Guard Cutter, the US is seen making a concentrated effort to enhance its defence corporation by funding a capacity-building project to increase port security, despite concerns of rampant militarisation. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie J. Chung speaking at the Pathfinder Foundation’s Indian Ocean Security Conference  thanked Sri Lanka for broadening its role by sending one of the donated cutters to support Operation Prosperity Guardian, against the Houthis in Yemen. “This is a clear demonstration of Sri Lanka playing an active...

Yuvan Shankar Raja joins hands with SriLankan Airlines

Sri Lanka’s struggling state-owned national carrier announced the launch of a new partnership with Yuvan Shankar Raja, the Indian composer and musician, for his concert in Colombo that took place on Saturday. “SriLankan Airlines is thrilled to announce our partnership with the legendary South Indian music maestro, Yuvan Shankar Raja!” read a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Get ready to soar to new heights of musical bliss with SriLankan Airlines as the official airline partner for this upcoming extravaganza!” The musician performed in Colombo as part of his U1's Long Drive To Colombo...

France proposes maritime security school in militarised Tamil homeland

The French Government has initiated a joint cooperation with the Kotalawala Defence University (KDU) to set up a maritime security school in the heavily militarised region of Trincomalee, in the Tamil homeland, as part of a broader strategy for maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. French ambassador for Indo-Pacific Marc Abensour who was in Colombo last week, told reporters that France was keen to explore a dedicated school that would focus on maritime safety and security. Whilst meeting with the KDU, the French Ambassador mentioned that discussions were underway about the modalities...

Rats and flight cancellations cripple SriLankan Airlines, as minister issues ultimatum

Several SriLankan Airlines flights at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake were delayed while three flights were grounded this week – one due to a reported sighting of a rat onboard – leaving serious questions over the national carrier’s long term future and a government minister issuing a stark ultimatum. The airline is yet to disclose the reasons for the latest cancellations, however, the national carrier has been hit with a spate of technical issues in recent weeks

'Upcountry Tamil issues extend beyond daily wages'

Jeevan Thondaman, the Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development speaking at a media briefing in Colombo told reporters that the challenges encountered by the upcountry Tamil community should extend beyond mere daily wages. He underscored the importance of enhancing their quality of life by addressing various facets such as housing, land, education, health, and infrastructure. During a press conference held at the Presidential Media Center under the theme “Collective path to a stable country,” Thondaman remarked on the unnecessary nature of Memorandums of Understanding (...

Tamil Nadu fishermen protest continues into second week

The ongoing protests by Tamil Nadu fishermen in Rameshwaram, calling on the Central government to intervene and secure the release of their fisherfolk from Sri Lankan custody, has entered into its second week of protest. Earlier today, the Coimbatore Urban District Congress Committee formed a human chain agitation in Pamban in Ramanathapuram to show their displeasure at the inaction of the central government over the fisherfolk issue. The group also intends to display black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits Kulasekarapattinam to lay the foundation for ISRO rocket launch...

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