• PEARL launches Sinhalization of the North-East info series

    The US-based advocacy group PEARL (People for Equality and Relief in Lanka) have launched “Sinhalization of the North-East”, a series on demographic changes in the Tamil homeland.

    Presenting and analysing data gathered by PEARL researchers, the series examines how Sinhalisation and militarisation is used to deliberately shift the demographics of Tamil and Muslim areas.

  • Ex-navy chief arrives at CID over abduction of 11 youths

    Sri Lanka's former navy commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to make a statement over the abduction of 11 youths in 2008 - 2009. 

  • Wigneswaran's new party opens Kilinochchi office

    The Tamil People's Alliance (Thamil Makkal Koottani TMK) opened a new party office in Kilinochchi yesterday. 

  • US ambassador discusses press freedom with JPC

    The United States ambassador, Alaina Teplitz met with the Jaffna Press Club on Saturday and discussed the importance of free press for democracy. 

  • 1 billion rupees allocated for special military allowances
    <p>Over a billion rupees have been allocated for special military allowances in Sri Lanka’s budget for this year.</p>
  • Militarisation: Tamils taught in Sinhala about social etiquette and western dress code

    In the week when Tamils across the North-East were preparing to condemn Sri Lanka’s failure to progress on accountability and justice, including its failure to demilitarise the Tamil homeland, with widespread protests, the Sri Lankan army held a Sinhala-language workshop on ‘modern social etiquette’, ‘western dress code’, leadership and drug prevention with 300 Tamils in its occupying headquarters in Palaly.

  • Only 12% North's police officers speak Tamil

    A decade after the end of the armed conflict, only 12 percent of police officers in the Northern province speak Tamil, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Roshan Fernando admitted this week. 

  • Sri Lankan government reiterates no foreign judges for war crimes inquiry

    Sri Lanka's Leader of the House, Minister Lakshman Kiriella reassured parliament on Friday that foreign judges would not hear cases within a war crimes inquiry, Colombo papers reported. 

  • UN torture body to visit Sri Lanka next month
    <p>The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture&nbsp;and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT)&nbsp;will visit Sri Lanka next month, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Friday.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The visit to Sri Lanka will take place in early April, and a media advisory announcing the precise dates, as well as further information, will be issued ahead of the visit,” the OHCHR said.&nbsp;</p>
  • Sri Lanka's opposition leader: Geneva and Tamil diaspora in control

    Sri Lanka's opposition leader and former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa warned this week that what "Geneva and the [Tamil] diaspora" wanted was being implemented in Sri Lanka. 

  • Virtually no progress' in Sri Lanka on war crimes investigations says UN human rights chief's office

    Sri Lanka has made "virtually no progress" on the investigation of war crimes, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in its report on Sri Lanka's efforts towards implementing resolution 30/1, which called for accountability and transitional justice through a hybrid mechanism. 

    The report also raised concerns over the on-going reports of abduction, torture and sexual violence, institutional failures within the criminal justice system, ongoing harassment of human rights defenders since 2015 and the military’s continued occupation of civilian land.

  • TNPF honours assassinated Tamil MP 11 years on

    Marking the 11th anniversary of the assassination of the Tamil MP K Sivanesan, Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) held a commemorate event on Wednesday remembering his life. 

  • Trinco families of disappeared mark 2 years of protest

    Families of the disappeared in Trincomalee collected signatures today, marking two years of campaigning for answers. 

  • Batticaloa residents demand removal of army camp

    Tamils in Batticaloa staged a protest yesterday demanding the removal of Murakkoddansenai army camp. 

  • Skeletal remains found in Batticaloa

    Skeletal remains were found in Saththukkondan, Batticaloa on Wednesday as villagers sought to dig a well. 

    Police officers were called and collected the bone fragments, which have been sent to Colombo for further investigation. 

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