The British High Commission in Colombo has released a statement welcoming the recent release of detainees held under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism and committing to raise concerns over those who remain under detention.

We welcome the release on bail of Hejaaz, Ahnaf, and other detainees held under the PTA in recent months. The UK will continue to raise concerns of those held under the PTA - including those held in pre-trial detention for lengthy periods - and uphold their right to a fair trial.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has described its gazetted reforms to the country’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act as the “most progressive step” towards “securing, advancing and protecting […] fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution” but human rights experts sharply disagree.

“Proposed government changes to the PTA appear aimed to assuage the concerns of the EU and other governments, without ending abuses,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Canada has released a statement decrying the presentation by “certain parties in Canada” of the final phases of the armed conflict as a genocide against Tamils, claiming that it would disrupt the “social harmony” of Sri Lankan Canadians.

The Sri Lankan navy seized trawlers belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu and has arrested eleven of them because of an alleged crossing of the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka. 

The navy was patrolling the sea near Neduntheevu in Jaffna in the late hours of Monday when the incident took place. The navy accused the Tamil Nadu fishermen of “poaching” Sri Lankan waters and forcefully took hold of them and the trawlers they were riding. 

Ontario's recently enacted legislation titled 'Bill 104' is being challenged by two separate groups, arguing the bill is "unconstitutional" and violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

Bill 104, also known as the Tamil Genocide Education week, establishes May 12-18th as a week in which Ontarians "are encouraged to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of, the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history."

Both the "Sri Lankan Canadian Action Coalition (SLCAC)" and "Hewage" are arguing in court that the Province of Ontario acted "ultra vires," meaning that even though the government passed the bill, they acted outside of their powers in doing so.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister concluded a visit to New Delhi to meet with his Indian counterpart this week, and was full of praise for what he termed the “very special relationship” between the two countries, even as Colombo continued to obfuscate the issue of devolving powers to Tamils on the island.

G L Peiris met with S Jaishankar this week, where the two reportedly discussed “economic and investment initiatives that will strengthen Sri Lanka at this time”.

Investors in Sri Lanka are bracing themselves for Colombo to default on bond repayments, reports the Financial Times today, as experts warn that the crisis on the island looks set to worsen.

The FT reports that Sri Lanka owes US$15bn in bonds out of a total of US$45bn long-term debt, with US$7bn due this year in interest and debt repayments.

“They are demonstrating an amazing willingness to pay,” said Richard House, head of emerging market debt at Allianz Global Investors.

Eight people who were arrested in January 2019 based on suspicions that they were in possession of Claymore bombs under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been released on bail. 

The released include five men and three women who were supported legally by the Centre for Human Rights and Development in Sri Lanka (CHRD).

The CHRD filed a petition in the High Court against the violation of the fundamental rights of the arrested and it also appealed to the Defence Ministry and the Office of the Attorney General for their release.

In an unprecedented move, Sri Lankan authorities sold 135 boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen to the highest bidder in an auction that took place earlier today in Jaffna. 

The sale yielded more than five million Sri Lankan rupees to the authorities with 1.6 million paid on the spot. The winner of the auction is supposed to pay the remainder in instalments. 

The legality of the sale is questionable as the boats were confiscated from Tamil Nadu fishermen based on allegations that they crossed the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka whilst fishing.   

Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force (STF) have shot and injured at least two men in Jaffna last night.

The shooting took place in Thenmaradchi, at approximately 19:30 on Sunday evening.

The injured have been admitted to Chavakachcheri Base Hospital.

The STF personnel who opened fire were reportedly arrested this morning and produced before the Chavakachcheri court, before being released on bail.