A group of Tamil and Sri Lankan torture victims who launched a court case against current Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for torture damages have decided to withdraw their cases, in order to prevent him from asserting immunity.

This move has been made to ensure that Rajapaksa is held accountable and allows the victims to retain their right to resubmit their cases once he leaves office. 

Street art murals have begun appearing in Sri Lanka pushing Sinhala nationalist rhetoric and honouring Sri Lankan soldiers, including an infamous brigadier who currently faces a court case in Britain after he motioned death threats to Tamils last year.

The murals, in the city of Kandy and other places on the island, have been emblazoned with Sinhala nationalist slogans and imagery, including the words “one nation”, murals of lions, Sri Lankan troops and ancient Sinhala fighters in battle scenes.

The Sri Lankan government has reacted angrily to the release of the Conservative Party manifesto in Britain last month, with several Sri Lankan politicians and Colombo’s High Commissioner stating the party’s pledges are “unacceptable” and calling for the manifesto to be “amended”.

Since the Sri Lankan civil war ending ten years ago, “there has been little progress in tracing those who disappeared during and after the violent end to the war,” the BBC reports. 

In a video report, the BBC states that around 20,000 Tamils are estimated to still be missing. 

“Many believe their relatives are alive and in the hands of the security forces - a view rejected by the government. These families meet and hold daily vigils to protest and to keep their relatives’ memories alive.”

Ten Tamil families are facing a new land-grab by the Sri Lankan navy in Punguduthivu.

According to a notice issued on November 22, the navy is to appropriate over 14 acres of land belonging to ten different owners in the coastal village of Vallan on the islet of Punguduthivu.

The land is being seized for the establishment of a base for the Sri Lanka navy ship Gotaimbara. The Sri Lankan navy already occupy large swathes of the islet.

CID officials have announced a new investigation into comments made by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who held a media conference prior to the elections with someone who alleged to be involved in ‘white van’ abductions.

The killing of 32 Tamils in Othiyamalai, Mullaitivu by the Sri Lankan army in 1984 was commemorated on Monday, thirty-five years after the massacre.

A Sinhalese diaspora group have gathered outside the Labour Party Headquarters today, as they protested against the party’s commitment to the Tamil people.

A few dozen protestors are currently outside the party headquarters at Victoria Street in London, with Sri Lankan flags, cricket shirts and placards denouncing the Labour Party.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister lashed out at Switzerland on Tuesday, as Colombo denied permission for a Swiss embassy employee who had been abducted and assaulted to fly out of the country for medical treatment.

Tamil refugees who fled from Sri Lanka to Australia following the civil war in 2009, have spoken to SBS News about their experiences of being deported back to the island.

After displacement, loss of family and safety fears at the end of the civil war, many Tamils boarded on boats to reach Australia in hopes of rebuilding their lives. Many of these asylum seekers took our arduous loans just to board these boats. Whilst on board, they can go days without proper food and water whilst enduring tough conditions with many other asylum seekers. Those who do finally reach Australia face many struggles to be granted asylum with many being sent back to Sri Lanka despite fears for their safety. 

See testimonies from the SBS News piece below. See the full piece here.

Canada’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka met with accused war criminal and newly appointed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week, despite continued concerns over human rights abuses under his tenure.

High Commissioner David McKinnon described his visit to Rajapaksa as “a useful first meeting”.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has announced a travel ban against the Swiss embassy employee who was abducted and assaulted in the southern capital last week, officially barring here from leaving Sri Lanka.

The announcement comes after reports emerged on Monday that Colombo’s international airport has been alerted by Sri Lankan authorities, that the victim may try and flee the island. 

Following a decision to the head of law at Jaffna University Dr Kumaravadivel Guruparan from engaging in private legal practice, Sri Lanka’s University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that all academic staff members can no longer practise as attorneys.