Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lankan government to “implement their commitments to release hundreds of detainees to ease overcrowding and improve prison conditions” amidst the growing threat of COVID-19 across prisons, and also called for an investigations into a prison fire started by Sri Lankan police officers opening fire, at the end of last month at Mahara Prison Complex.

In their statement, the human rights group stated:

“In the immediate term, there must be a thorough and impartial investigation into this incident and the use of lethal force – including firing live ammunition – by prison authorities.”

Sri Lankan police removed white cloths from the Borella Kanatte crematorium gate in Colombo last night, with the military, intelligence personnel and police also interrogating and taking photographs of those visiting the site.

The cloths were tied on Saturday, as an act of solidarity with the Muslim community.

Today marks 14 years since the passing of the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Anton Balasingham. 

Balasingham, or as he was fondly known among Tamils - Bala Anna, was widely respected and adored by the nation. His charismatic addresses in venues around the world drew tens of thousands, as he provided political analysis with sharp wit. Leading LTTE delegations through numerous negotiations, Bala Anna eloquently and forcefully articulated the rights of the nation. His intellectual prowess and political acumen earned him respect from all sides of the negotiating table.

The Sri Lankan government is in talks with the Chinese government to construct a new maximum-security prison.

The State Minister of Prison Management, Lohan Ratwatte, told parliament that the new prison will be equipped with several facilities and that the Welikada prison will be relocated to this location.

Thousands gathered in Kegalle outside an Ayurvedic centre earlier this month, disregarding COVID-19 regulations, to collect samples of an unapproved tonic that claims to “cure” the virus after several Sri Lankan parliamentarians publicly consumed and endorsed the tonic. 

The tonic, which reportedly contains honey and nutmeg is made by Dhammika Bandara,who is neither a medical professional or registered Ayurvedic practitioner. 

The head of Sri Lanka’s army listed “multinational corporations” and “non-governmental organisations” as unconventional security challenges that the state may face, as he delivered an address to military local and foreign undergraduates at a military academy last week.

Tamil families of the disappeared have demanded international action, as they marked International Human Rights Day with over 1390 days of protest this week.

In a statement by the Association of Relatives of the Disappeared, the groups said the much-lauded Office of Missing Persons “has also come to an end in the same way as earlier Commissions, established by the Sri Lankan Government”.

Tamils families of the disappeared in Batticaloa braved Sri Lankan police intimidation to stage a protest to mark International Human Rights Day last week, even as the security forces attempted to stop their demonstration.

The former leader of the British Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn announced the launch of a new initiative that brings together “academics and researchers, leaders and campaigners, and grassroots people and organisations” to work on a range of issues, including on self-determination, democracy and independence, in places such as Sri Lanka.