• Sinhala Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan police threaten Tamil fishermen

    Jul 19

    Sinhala Buddhist monks, accompanied by Sri Lankan police and Sinhalese fishermen, threatened a group of Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu on Tuesday, as tensions continued to flare in the region between the two groups.

    The Tamil fishermen, who were setting up to dry their daily catch in Kokkilai, were approached by a group of Sinhalese fishermen on Tuesday. Accompanied by a local Buddhist monk and Sri Lankan police officers, the Sinhalese group proceeded to threaten the Tamils and destroying their equipment they said.

  • Jaffna prison inmates launch hunger strike
    Inmates at Jaffna prison have launched a hunger strike this morning, according to latest reports.

    At least 18 inmates are reported to have joined the hunger strike, with reports that an even larger number had commenced the protest this morning.
  • Tamil IDPs postpone protest after reassurances from TNA leader

    Displaced Tamil villagers in Mullaitivu have postponed a planned hunger strike after assurances from Tamil National Alliance leader R Sampanthan that they would soon be returned to their rightful land.

    A hunger strike was initially planned by IDPs in Keppapilavu for Tuesday, to protest against the Sri Lankan military grab of hundreds acres of land belonging to Tamil villagers.

    Approximately 524 acres of land has been occupied by the Sri Lankan military since 2009, leaving villagers stranded in temporary resettlement.

  • Jaffna University to begin reopening as officials start inquiry into clashes

    Jaffna University vice chancellor Prof Vasanthi Arasaratnam said that teaching is set to resume at the university on Wednesday, after she announced the appointment of a committee to investigate clashes between Sinhala and Tamil students on the weekend.

  • Buddhist clergy back Sirisena's rejection of foreign judges
    Sri Lanka's powerful Buddhist clergy backed the president's rejection of foreign judges within a war crimes inquiry.

    The chief secretary of the Asgiriya Buddhist chapter, Dr Medagama Dhammananda said "there was no need for the Government to succumb to international pressure concerning the matter."
  • UN tourism conference criticised for ignoring human rights

    The UN World Tourism Organisation has been criticised for organising a conference in an Eastern resort notorious for human rights violations and the displacement of locals.

    The UNWTO conference entitled "Tourism: a Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation" held in Passikudah was dubbed a 'farce' by Sri Lanka Campaign.

  • TNA shocked by Jaffna uni violence
    The Tamil National Alliance said it was "deeply shocked to learn of the clashes that took place at the University of Jaffna on Saturday 16.07.2015".

    Clashes erupted between Tamil and Sinhala students at Jaffna University last week, after arguments over an attempt by Sinhala students to push for a Kandyan dance act to be leading the university event for new students.

    "We regret that several students have sustained injuries and that the Sinhala students had to be evacuated from the University and Jaffna as a precautionary measure," the TNA said in a statement on Sunday.

    "The TNA appeals to all students not to permit any recurrence of such incidents or anything that will hinder genuine reconciliation amongst communities in our country."

  • Jaffna uni closes faculties after student clashes

    Officials at the University of Jaffna announced it was closing all faculties until further notice after violent clashes between Tamil and Sinhala students last week.

  • Sinhalese students have ‘lost equality’ after Jaffna University clash claims JHU
    Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) National Organiser Nishantha Warnasinghe warned that the clashes at Jaffna University between Sinhalese and Tamil students on Saturday were a sign that Sinhalese students have “lost their equality in rights”.
  • Special police team appointed to investigate Jaffna University clash
    Sri Lankan police officials have appointed a “special police team” to investigate clashes that took place between Sinhalese and Tamil students at Jaffna University on Saturday as it looks towards making prosecutions, reports Daily News.
  • Sri Lankan minister warns of ‘new Prabhakarans’ after Jaffna University clash

    Sri Lankan government minister Champika Ranawaka warned that clashes at Jaffna University on the weekend may lead to “new Prabhakarans” as he called for prosecutions against those involved.

    Colombo Telegraph quoted the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development as stating that Tamil students faced no discrimination across the island, whilst Sinhala students were under threat in Jaffna. Clashes erupted on Saturday over attempts by Sinhala students to include a Sinhalese Kandyan dance performance for the first time at a traditional welcome event.

    “There is a deeper meaning to this incident,” said the minister. “This is not just an assault on students, this is outright racism.”

    Warning that “space must not be given for new Prabhakaran’s to be born,” the minister went on to call for prosecutions against those involved. “We must nip this at the bud, we must defeat these elements. The law must apply to each and every culprit who were behind the assault,” he added.

    “These racist and fascist elements must be defeated,” he added, stating that “if they want it to be an all Tamil university, then it should be shut down.”

  • In military fatigues, Sri Lankan troops involve themselves in Tamil Hindu festival

  • Sinhalese and Tamil students clash at Jaffna University

    Updated 1230 GMT

    A Sinhalese student brandishes a log towards a group of Tamil students as violence broke out at Jaffna University on Saturday.

    Sinhalese students at the Jaffna University clashed with Tamil students earlier on Saturday, as violence erupted over the use of a Kandyan dance from the south of the island at a traditional orientation programme.

  • India to develop Palaly airport

    The Airport Authority of India (AAI)  is carrying out a feasibility study of the airport in Palaly, on the Jaffna peninsula, in order for it to be developed as a regional airport, The Sunday Times reported.

    India has previously supported development of the air base, including the reconstruction of the runway.

    Currently the facility is operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force and used for military and civilian in-country flights.

  • Tamils in North-East demand federal constitution says government consultation official
    Ninety five percent of Tamils in the North-East have asked for a federal constitution in Sri Lanka, said a member of the government’s Public Representations Committee (PRC).

    The PRC chairman Lal Wijenayake, initially said that most Tamils did not want a federal solution. Refuting the claims made by the chairman, S Thavarasa, a member of the PRC committee, said he could produce documentary proof to show Tamils in the North-East demanded federalism.
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