The Canadian government has expressed concern about the recent restrictions issued on non-governmental organisations by Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary Deepak Obhrai urged Sri Lanka to “respect the right to freedoms of expression, assembly and association”, in a statement released on Thursday.

“Canada is deeply concerned by reports of efforts to restrict legitimate activities of civil society and non-governmental organizations in Sri Lanka. We urge the Sri Lankan authorities to respect the right to freedoms of expression, assembly and association, and the right to take part in public affairs,” he said.

The body of a man was found floating in the water under Kallady bridge in Batticaloa on Friday, reported Adaderana Tamil.

The body has been identified as Saajahaan, from Kaaththaankudi.

 

All 7 Sri Lankan navy soldiers that were arrested in suspicion of being involved in the rape of an eleven year old Tamil girl in Jaffna have been released after the victim failed to identify her attackers.

The girl was asked to identify her attacker whilst suspected navy personnel were paraded in front of her, reports Global Tamil News.

The girl was admitted to Jaffna hospital after the attack on Wednesday with one suspect initially arrested.

The Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Bernard K Membe, who also chairs the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) will visit Sri Lanka next week, reports news.lk.

Memba will meet with the Sri Lanka Minister of External Affair, GL Peiris, to form agreements on the Establishment of a Joint Commission on Cooperation and on Bilateral Political Consultations that will reportedly be signed by the two Ministers.

A four day anti-Christian campaign was launched Tuesday, by a Buddhist group in Sri Lanka, reports the Barnabus Fund.

Reports suggest that the Ravana Balaya General Secretary announced a 4 day campaign against ‘Christian fundamentalism’ and advised Christians to halt their activities.

Amnesty International today, called on the Australian government to return 153 Tamil asylum seekers, detained in in a patrol boat at see, to Australian shores to have their claims processed, reports the Guardian.

Australian court documents revealed that the asylum seekers were begin held in windowless rooms, with no access to translators whilst being split up from their family groups.

The United Nations refugee agency, Wednesday, warned that Australia may have breached an international refugee convention by returning a group of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka after intercepting their boat at sea, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The body of a man was found near the Mayilliddi army camp in Point Pedro, on Wednesday morning, the Uthayan reported.

It has been identified as Balasingham Sathasivam, a 40 year old man from from  Azhiyavalai, Thalaiyadi, on the Jaffna peninsula.

Point Pedro police said they are carrying out investigations into the death.