Sri Lanka’s presidential pardon of a soldier convicted of massacring Tamils is “a slap in the face to the member countries” of the UN Human Rights Council, said the International Council of Eelam Tamils in a statement this week, as they reiterated calls for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court. 

The release of Stag Sgt Sunil Rathnayke, who was convicted for the Mirusuvil massacre, “does not surprise the Tamils who have seen too many Sinhalese criminals walk free,” said the Tamil diaspora group.

Tamils across the North East are finding it increasingly difficult, to cope with the hardships incurred from the curfews, that have been imposed across the country to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

A lack of support from the Sri Lankan government during the curfews has particularly affected Tamils from small villages, the elderly and those from low-income families, prompting the Tamil diaspora and local volunteers to help out instead. 

The Human Rights Commissions of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) expressed “deep concern” over the pardon granted to a soldier who was convicted of massacring Tamil civilians, in a statement released this week.

Staff Sergeant Sunil Rathnayake, who a Sri Lankan court found guilty of the Mirusuvil massacre, was pardoned by Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week.

“We are deeply concerned due both to the serious nature of the charges brought by the Hon. Attorney General against Mr. Ratnayaka, which included the killing of three children, and the strength of the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the conviction,” said the HRCSL.

<p>Sri Lankan police have arrested 1,015 people within the last 24 hours for breaking a police-imposed island-wide curfew which was intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus</p> <p>The Colombo Page reports that 254 vehicles have also been seized.</p> <p>The total number arrested since the initial start of the curfew on 20 March has risen to 9,466 with the police seizing 2,332 vehicles.</p> <p>Read more from the <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/Apr02_1585798098CH.php&nbsp;&nbsp;">Colombo Page.&nbsp;</a></p>

Sri Lankan soldiers attacked Tamil villagers in the North this week, for allegedly breaking a military enforced curfew in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak on the island.

Armed Sri Lankan soldiers were seen patrolling the villages of Tellippalai, Vasavilan and Palaly this week, with reports that troops have attacked Tamils who they accused of breaking the curfew. Some of the Tamil villagers have been farmers, who depend on the agricultural industry for their livelihood, and have been badly impacted by the curfew.

<p>The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided Sri Lanka a grant of $100,000 through which emergency medical equipment has been purchased through the United Nationals Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>The Colombo Page has reported that this has enabled for the purchase of “4 suction machines, 4 suction apparatus, 10 infusion pumps, 12 syringe pumps, 7 multipara monitors, 11 laryngoscopes, and 1 point of care analyser”. Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health has stated that this equipment will be given to 14 COVID-19 isolation units across the island.</p>

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has urged the Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat to publicise the documents pertaining to presidential pardon of Sunil Rathnayake for the Mirusuvil Massacre of Tamils in December 2000.

TISL insisted it was compulsory that the Presidential Secretariat and/or the Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, immediately disclosed the; Report of the Trial Judge, Advice of the Attorney General and the Recommendation of the Justice Minister, in line with the provisions of the constitution and the RTI Act. 

The Hindu said there has been “justified outrage” after a Sri Lankan soldier on death row, who had been convicted over the murder of Tamil civilians, was pardoned by Sri Lanka’s president.

“It hardly needs emphasis that the exercise of the power of pardon is an act of compassion, and not a tool for political or electoral messaging,” said The Hindu.

<p>Former opposition MPs have called on the Sri Lankan government to reconvene Parliament, nearly a month after Parliament was dissolved, The Hindu reports.&nbsp;</p> <p>Former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that, “funds have been allocated for government through the Vote on Account until the 30th of April. From that day onwards until the new Parliament is convened again, the President does not have powers to approve additional expenses.” He highlighted that after this date, the President would not be able to approve funds to tackle the coornavirus outbreak on the island.</p>

Sri Lankan President, and accused war criminal, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has mandated that decision on lockdowns will be made at the highest levels of government and that no regional authority should make this decision.