• Relatives of Ananthi Sasitharan beaten and arrested by plainclothes police officers

    Jul 12
    Two of Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan’s family members were beaten and taken to Vaddukoddai police station on Sunday, Tamil Guardian has learnt.

    Speaking to Tamil Guardian Sasitharan said that the two relatives were waiting outside her office when they were approached by a group of police men in civilian attire.
  • Journalists threatened whilst documenting appropriation of Tamil land
    Journalists who went to report on the preemptive surveying of private Tamil land that was in a land appropriation dispute in court, were threatened by the Sri Lankan navy on Friday.

    Threats were made to the journalists as they attempted to photograph and document the Sri Lankan navy surveying private Tamil land that the government was in the process of appropriating, reports Uthayan.

    "This is our region, you cannot take photographs within this," warned navy personnel, whilst taking photographs of the journalists.

  • Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga to re-enter politics
    The former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, is to re-enter politics, reports asianmirror.lk.
  • Man found dead in Navali

    The body of a man was found Saturday morning, near Navali South J.136 by the Kallundai Vairavar temple, reports Uthayan.

    The body, identified as that of Nagarasa Kugatheepan from Kodikaamam was found with lacerations to the neck.

  • Anti-Muslim riots have tarnished the name of Sinhalese Buddhists says Sri Lanka's opposition leader
    The image of Sinhalese Buddhists has been tarnished by recent anti-Muslim riots said the leader of the opposition UNP party in parliament last week, reports DailyMirror.lk.

    Commenting on the negative impacts of anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickramasinghe said,
  • Sri Lanka External Affairs ministry briefs India on progress in accountability and reconciliation
     The Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Friday, met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj in Hydrabad today, to discuss progress by his government on the issues of accountability and reconciliation, reports The Hindu.
  • BBS leader to attend religious events in Australia
    The head of the Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), which has been linked ot recent anti-Muslim riots, will travel to Australia in August, reports Colombo Page.

    Galagodaathethe Gnanasara Thero, will participate in religious functions in Austrailia.
  • Former military commander reappointed as governor of Northern Province

    The former commander of the Sri Lankan security forces in Jaffna has been reappointed as the governor of the Northern Province, a civilian position, by President Mahinda Rajapkasa.

  • Ruling coalition monk in 'fruitful' discussions with opposition UNP
    A MP of the ruling coalition Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today that fruitful discussions with the opposition party took place today.
  • Report slams British support of Sri Lankan military

    A new report has revealed the extent of British support for Sri Lanka and training of the Sri Lankan military over three decades.

    The report, authored by Phil Miller, a researcher with Corporate Watch, details the closeness of the British government’s relationship with the Sri Lankan state, including the deployment of mercenaries, training by British officers of Sri Lankan forces and the supply of weapons throughout the conflict with the Tamils.

    Miller’s report shows how “British collusion with Sri Lankan security forces throughout the thirty years of genocidal counter-insurgency warfare” resulted in “Sri Lanka’s brazen mass killings of Tamils on the beaches of Mullivaikal in 2009.”

  • NGOs armed LTTE – Sri Lankan Prime Minister

    Prime Minister DM Jayaratna told Sri Lanka’s parliament on Friday that some non-governmental organisations armed and assisted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

    Jayaratna was commenting on the controversy over the Ministry of Defence letter, restricting NGO activities, and insisted that the government was not violating human rights by imposing the restrictions.

    The prime minister claimed that the country’s intelligence services had uncovered evidence that NGOs were threatening national security through their actions.

    “During the 30 year war some NGOs even armed the terrorists,” he said.

  • Tamil activists stop pre-emptive land survey for Sri Lankan navy appropriation in North-East
    The surveying of lands owned by Tamils in the North-East to be handed over to the Sri Lankan navy, was stopped on Friday after several land owners and activists confronted the surveyors reports the Uthayan.

    A case disputing the impending Sri Lankan Navy appropriation of over 183 acres of land in Vali North remains unsettled in court.
  • Australian immigration minister snubs Tamil politicians during Jaffna visit
    The Australian immigration minister Scott Morrison snubbed Tamil politicians and civil society during a visit to Jaffna last night, meeting instead with the retired Sri Lankan army general and Colombo appointed governor, G.A. Chandrasiri.
  • Government to close bank accounts of NGOs not registered with MoD

    The Sri Lankan government has announced that it will enact new laws, requiring all non-profit organisations to register as a non-governmental organisation with the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, with plans to impose sanctions on those that fail to comply.

    The director of the National Secretariat for NGOs Saman Dissanayake said to Ceylon Today that according to the new legislation, organisations that do not register with the defence ministry will not be allowed to receive foreign funds and will have their bank accounts closed.

    The ministry said that non-profit organisations, currently registered under the Sri Lanka Companies Act No. 7 of 2007, are acting like NGOs.

  • Australia funds Sri Lanka’s transition to biometric passports

    The Australian government has funded a project to introduce biometric passports in Sri Lanka, in line with efforts by both countries to tackle the flow of refugees.

    Australia has provided Rs500mn (£2.3mn) for the project, with Sri Lanka contributing another Rs50mn (£230,000).

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