• Rajapaksa objects to police investigation into parliament brawl

    Sri Lanka’s opposition has objected to police investigating into the brawls which took place in the country’s parliament during its political crisis, claiming violations of parliamentary privilege and taking issue with ‘outsider’ intervention into the incidents.

  • Father hacked to death in Kilinochchi

    A father of one was found hacked to death near the Dharmapuram reservoir, Kilinochchi. 

  • Batticaloa residents condemn PTA and CTA

    Locals in Batticaloa yesterday held a demonstration condemning Sri Lanka's current anti-terror legislation, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the proposed Counter Terrorism Act (CTA). 

  • India to help build tech park in Jaffna

    India has agreed to provide a grant of around $1.4 million USD to build an information technology park in Jaffna.

  • Demilitarisation crucial for development says ITAK leader

    Demilitarisation is crucial for economic development in the Northern Province, a senior Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP has said.

    Speaking at a Sri Lankan finance ministry forum on economic development in the North, TNA MP and ITAK leader Mavai Senathirajah called for releasing military-occupied land to help revive agriculture and create jobs.

  • Amnesty urges SL president to halt executions

    Amnesty International have urged the Sri Lankan president to halt plans to execute at least 13 people for drug-related crimes.

    In an open letter published on Friday, Amnesty’s Secretary General Kumi Naidoo warned President Maithripala Sirisena against pursuing a path similar to that in the Philippines stating that there has been “a horrific wave of extrajudicial executions of suspected drug offenders over the past three years [in the Philippines]”.

  • Former Sri Lankan commanders deny war crimes and slam arrests of soldiers

    A group of former Sri Lankan commanders denied that the military committed war crimes and slammed the government for reportedly arresting soldiers whenever the island is discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

  • Sri Lankan ministers visit jailed extremist monk

    Sri Lankan government ministers paid a trip to a prison in Colombo this week, where they called on the jailed leader of the extremist Sinhala hate group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).

  • Tamils continue to be tortured in Sri Lanka, finds new report

    A report by the London-based charity Freedom From Torture has found Tamils continue to be tortured by Sri Lankan security forces despite assurances from Colombo that the practice would be halted, stating that the government “continues to flout its own promises”.

  • Sub Inspector arrested over abduction and murder of businessmen

    A Sub Inspector of the Sri Lankan police was arrested today over the abduction and murder of two businessmen in Rathgama. 

  • Navy sailor arrested over abduction and murder of Tamil youths

    A Sri Lankan navy sailor from the Kankesanthurai base was arrested today by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for his involvement in the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youths between 2008 and 2009. 

  • Sri Lanka goes noose shopping
    <p>The Sri Lankan government announced it was looking to purchase a new hangman’s noose, after the president declared he would reinstate capital punishment on the island.</p> <p>Though Sri Lanka has not executed the death penalty since 1976, Maithripala Sirisena has re-affirmed his commitment to bringing back hanging criminals. This was despite outcry from human rights organisations and governments from around the world.</p>
  • TELO leader draws on LTTE legacy and claims TNA cannot be ‘broken’

    Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan spoke on the LTTE’s participation in forming the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) during a speech in Mannar last week, stating the alliance “was formed for the purpose of liberation of our people”.

  • Sri Lankan navy arrests 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen

    The Sri Lankan navy overnight arrested 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen on board three separate fishing boats. 

  • Officer released on bail over journalist attack in Kokkuvil

    The acting Officer in Charge of Koppay police was arrested and shortly afterwards released over the assault of a Tamil journalist in Kokkuvil on Tuesday. 

    Gunaratne was released on a surety bail of Rs. 50,000 after being produced in the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. A hearing date was set for March 26.

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