A vigil was held in Jaffna on Sunday marking 10 years since the Sencholai massacre, where 53 schoolgirls and 3 teachers were killed by a Sri Lankan air force bombing raid.
Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena has pointed fingers at the former regime for the current economic crisis that the government is facing. Colombo is facing a spiralling balance of payments crisis, with reported figures revealing over 95% of all government revenue is spent on repaying existing loans. “The members of the former government are now walking on the roads by telling fairy tales,” said Mr Sirisena. “But the people are suffering due to the economic debacle caused by them.” Mr Sirisena was referring to a massive rally staged by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier this...
Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena stated that security at Jaffna University would be maintained, as he met with staff and the parents of those involved in a clash between Sinhalese and Tamil students in Colombo on earlier this month. The President's Media Division said Mr Sirisena had told those present that the Sri Lankan government “is fully responsible for the security and safety of the students”. Telling the participants that students could “engage in studies without any fear and suspicion as the security and safety of the university has been assured,” Mr Sirisena went on to add...
The acquittal of 24 Sri Lankan army corporals over the rape and murder of Tamil civilians in 1996 has been criticised by the US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) as “entrenching impunity” on the island. "This acquittal revalidates Tamils' loss of faith in the Sri Lankan judicial system to deliver justice," said USTPAC president Dr Karunyan Arulanantham. "This trial not only took an unconscionable 20 years, but also demonstrates the lack of will by the judicial system to treat mass atrocity crimes against Tamils – particularly those by the security forces– in a fair manner, entrenching...
Former Tamil refugees who were saved by a local Canadian fishing boat 30 years ago, returned to the site of their dramatic rescue this week, as they remembered their perilous journey fleeing Sri Lanka.
Destroyed memorials of Tamils who were killed during their liberation struggle against Sri Lanka's government must be rebuilt said members of the Tamil public at a zonal hearing of the government’s public Consultation Task Force on reconciliation in Vadamarachi, Jaffna. Adding that “all memorials built to honour the Tamils who fought and sacrificed their lives in their struggle for freedom had been demolished” the members of the group said that “the building of Sri Lankan army camps over the demolished tombs of Tamil freedom fighters” added further pain to the Tamil people. “How can one talk...
Tamils around the world today remember the 10th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls by the Sri Lankan air force. On August 14th, 2006 four Sri Lankan air force jets flew over the Vanni and dropped sixteen bombs were dropped over the Sencholai children's home for orphans, killing 53 school girls and 3 teachers.
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg concluded a two day visit to Sri Lanka this week, where she met with government officials and Tamil politicians, as part of moves to strengthen ties with the Sri Lankan government.
US Ambasador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap writes on his country's deep connections with Jaffna, ahead of the US Air Force’s Operation Pacific Angel visit to the the region. The first American missionaries arrived in Jaffna in 1813, when the Rev. Samuel Newell founded the first American schools in Thellipalai. Those schools were the first of hundreds of schools and medical centers that provided for the people of northern Sri Lanka. Continuing this deep connection between our two nations, this week Jaffna is welcoming the U.S. Air Force’s Operation Pacific Angel, which will renovate schools and provide medical services for nearby communities.
Photograph: Daily News Sri Lankan parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera called for the pardon of a Sri Lankan soldier convicted for massacring 8 Tamils, 16 years ago.