As the 46^th session of the UN Human Rights Council continues, the Oakland Institute has released a report which highlights Sri Lanka’s continued militarisation and Sinhalisation of the island as the government continues its campaign to “eradicate the history and culture of the Tamil people”.

The International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka (ITJP) released a series of infographics this week, detailing casualty estimates during the final months of Sri Lanka’s 2009 military offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamils.

Examining different sources, including from the United Nations, census figures and World Bank data, ITJP found that the highest estimate of those killed during that final phase could be as large as 169,796.

UN analysis from the final week alone puts the figure at 17,000 killed, though other estimates state the number killed could be as high as 25,000 people.

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Britain’s parliament is to hold a debate on the “UK’s Commitment to Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka,” as a resolution on the issue is due to be voted on at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this month.  

The debate, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tamils, will be held on March 18^th.

In a joint statement by eight human rights ambassadors, including the UK, Germany, and Sweden, denounced the continued detention of Muslim lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah by the Sri Lankan authorities.

Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) has searched a Hindu cemetery in Chemmani, to allegedly uncover  5 kg of ammunition following a Jaffna Magistrate court order.

According to police records, 3 kg 750 mg C4 and rennet ammunition detonators and wires were found within the bag. 

Writing to British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, leader of the UK Liberal Democratic party, Ed Davey, slammed the proposed resolution on Sri Lanka stating it “completely fails to rise to the challenge” and called for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

A United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on accountability in Sri Lanka, will ensure that the country is kept “firmly on the UNHRC agenda” said British Minister of State for South Asia Lord Ahmad, in a letter this week, as the UK continued to decline referring Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Tamil traders have complained about Sri Lankan army officials confiscating their goods at Mannar checkpoints and keeping it to sell for themselves.

Sri Lanka has been accused of officially recognising the military regime in Myanmar which seized power on February 1, after Sri Lankan foreign secretary Dinesh Gunawardena sent a letter to Wunna Maung Lwin, a military-junta appointed foreign secretary, inviting him to a ministerial meeting.

As Ambihai Selvakumar enters her 13th day of hunger-striking, she has garnered international support from politicians across the globe.