• Human Rights Watch calls on Sri Lanka to protect all communities whilst safeguarding basic rights

    <p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a statement calling on the government to protect refugees and asylum seekers whilst ensuring basic rights are safeguarded.</p> <p>This statement follows local attacks on Muslim minorities in retaliation for the Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people.&nbsp;</p>
  • Bullets and camouflage holster found in Jaffna mosque

    Sri Lankan police reportedly found two rifle bullets and a camouflaged holster following a raid on a mosque in Jaffna, as the security forces continue to carry out raids across the North-East.  

    The ammunition was found along with firecrackers at the Mankumpan Mosque, in Thevagam, Jaffna in a raid on Monday.

  • ‘The stupidest thing to do’ - Muslims react to Sri Lanka’s veil ban

    Sri Lanka’s Muslims have reacted to the the government’s announcement of a ban on full face coverings, which make up part of traditional Muslim attire for some women, calling it “the stupidest thing to do”.

    Hilmy Ahmed, vice-president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, told the BBC that the Muslim community had already been told its women to avoid leaving the house wearing a full face veil.

  • Hundreds attend funeral of Swiss Tamil couple killed in blasts

    Hundreds attended the funeral of a Swiss Tamil couple who were killed in the Easter Sunday blasts in Colombo.

    The funeral of Mr and Mrs Vigneswaranathan, who were killed while eating breakfast at the Kingsbury Hotel, took place in Bern on Monday.

  • Sivaram remembered 14 years on

    The abduction and murder of the Tamil journalist, Sivaram, was remembered today at events in Batticaloa and Jaffna, 14 years on. 

  • Military summon former LTTE cadres to army camp

    Four former LTTE cadre were summoned by Sri Lankan military to attend Gajabahu regiment army camp in Jaffna tomorrow at 4pm local time. 

  • Sri Lanka's president and police chief were warned about impending terror attack
    <p>Sri Lanka’s president was personally warned about imminent terror attacks on three separate occasions, reports the Colombo Telegraph.</p> <p>The Head of State Intelligence Service Senior (SSIS) DIG Nelantha Jayawardane, met Sirisena personally to brief him on the 11th April and 16th April to inform &nbsp;him about imminent terror attacks, and gave him a phone call whilst he was on holiday.</p>
  • Police hunt former Sri Lanka soldier suspected of training suicide bombers

    Sri Lankan police investigating the Easter Sunday attacks are on the hunt for a former soldier who they suspect may have helped trained the bombers that attacked churches and hotels last week.

    The former soldier, named as Bathrudeen Mohammed Mohideen or ‘Army Mohideen’, may have trained the suspects, according to Sri Lankan police.

  • Govt claims attacks planned on Buddhist temples

    The Sri Lankan government announced today that it had received information on planned attacks targetting Buddhist temples using female suicide bombers associated with the National Thawheeth Jamaath group. 

  • Rajapaksa chairs meeting with former defence chiefs

    The former president and current opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday chaired a meeting with previous defence chiefs on Sri Lanka's security situation following the Easter Sunday blasts. 

  • More tributes paid across North-East for Easter Sunday attack victims

    More memorials and vigils were held across the North-East in tribute of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks in Batticaloa and Colombo which killed over 250 people.

  • Increased security presence across North-East as troops conduct search operations

    Military personnel, Special Task Force officers, and police were seen in heightened numbers across the North-East this weekend as more people were arrested for alleged involvement with the Easter Sunday blasts. 

    Residents in Maruthamunai, Amparai described seeing security forces directing all Muslim people in the area to Kariyappar School after a gun battle between troops and Islamists extremists took place. Muslim residents were interrogated and forced to register their details with the military. 

  • India warns citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sri Lanka

    India's Ministry of External Affairs has warned its citizens against all non-essential travel to Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday bombings which left over 250 dead. 

    "In view of the prevailing security situation in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of terror attacks on April 21, 2019, Indian nationals intending to travel to Sri Lanka are advised not to undertake non-essential travel," the advisory said. 

  • Sri Lanka bans burqa, niqab and face coverings

    Full face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, are to be banned from tomorrow in Sri Lanka. 

  • Facial recognition system to be installed at Colombo airport

    A new Facial Recognition System is to be installed at Sri Lanka's main airport in Colombo following the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremist groups. 

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