Shutdown observed in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province
5 years, 10 months ago

Shutdown observed in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province

The Hindu  

Families of forcefully disappeared persons in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province observed a hartal on Monday, demanding justice for war-time human rights abuses. Thousands took to the streets, holding placards with messages such as “Where is my son?”, “UN, do not give additional time for Sri Lanka for war crime investigations”, and photographs of their missing relatives. According to human rights activist Ruki Fernando, the demand that the UN not give Sri Lanka an extension has stemmed from people’s disappointment over the government’s failure to give them convincing answers in the last three-and-a-half years. “Further, their anger with PM Wickremesinghe over his insensitive comments, disappointment with the courts where many cases are pending for decades, and the lack of confidence and hope in state institutions such as OMP have heightened their frustration.” In his view, if the Attorney General filed prosecutions for at least some cases to start with, and if the OMP reported progress on finding the whereabouts of missing persons to their families, it might give the people some reason for hope.

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History of this topic

Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka: In pursuit of an elusive justice for over a decade
1 month ago

Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka: In pursuit of an elusive justice for over a decade

New Indian Express  

JAFFNA/ MULLAITIVU/ COLOMBO: There is a sameness to the manner in which families affected by enforced disappearances in northern Sri Lanka narrate their stories: names, dates, documents. The homogeneity arises not just from the similarity of their experiences but also from the countless times they've had to tell their stories over the past decade -- to journalists, human rights activists, …

Watch | 15 years on, justice and economic progress elude Sri Lanka’s Tamils
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Watch | 15 years on, justice and economic progress elude Sri Lanka’s Tamils

The Hindu  

The recent gathering of Sri Lankan Tamils in Mullaivaikkal, brought back traumatic memories of the devastating May 2009 civil war. However, despite the Sri Lankan government declaring it a ‘No Fire Zone’, the military carried out indiscriminate shelling, killing tens of thousands of Tamils. Sri Lanka’s armed forces faced serious allegations of violations of human rights and international law. Fifteen …

‘Grim reminder’: Sri Lanka’s Tamils mark 15 years since end of civil war
7 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Grim reminder’: Sri Lanka’s Tamils mark 15 years since end of civil war

Al Jazeera  

Ceremony held at memorial site in Mullivaikkal village despite reports of heavy surveillance and allegations of intimidation. Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil community is marking 15 years since the end of the island nation’s civil war in an emotional ceremony that proceeded despite fears that authorities could prevent its staging. Over the years, Sri Lankan authorities have repeatedly disrupted similar memorials …

Sri Lanka Tamils Mark 15 Years Since End Of Civil War
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Sri Lanka Tamils Mark 15 Years Since End Of Civil War

News 18  

Sri Lanka’s minority Tamil community marked 15 years since the end of the island nation’s civil war on Saturday in an emotional ceremony that proceeded despite fears authorities would attempt to prevent its staging. Sri Lankan authorities have repeatedly disrupted similar memorials in the island’s former war zones over the years and arrested participants, but Saturday’s ceremony went ahead without …

Sri Lanka’s Tamils face arrest as they remember the dead
8 months ago

Sri Lanka’s Tamils face arrest as they remember the dead

The Hindu  

The recent arrest of four Tamils in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province — when they commemorated their loved ones killed in the final phases of the civil war in 2009 — has put Tamils’ right to memorialise in sharp focus yet again. The police said the arrests were based on magistrate court orders that ruled against holding such commemorative events, citing …

In Sri Lanka, Tamil mothers of disappeared mark 2,000 days of struggle
2 years, 5 months ago

In Sri Lanka, Tamil mothers of disappeared mark 2,000 days of struggle

The Hindu  

Hundreds of Tamil mothers on August 12 took out a rally in Sri Lanka’s northern Kilinochchi district to mark 2,000 days of their relentless struggle, seeking truth and justice for their loved ones forcibly disappeared during and after the civil war. Ground Zero: In Sri Lanka’s north, a search for livelihoods and loved ones Enforced disappearances have been among the …

Ally of political family blamed for Sri Lanka’s economic collapse is named prime minister
2 years, 5 months ago

Ally of political family blamed for Sri Lanka’s economic collapse is named prime minister

LA Times  

Army soldiers keep watch near a barricade after an eviction of protesters from the presidential secretariat premise in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday. An ally of the Rajapaksa political family was appointed Friday as Sri Lanka’s prime minister, hours after security forces cleared the main protest site occupied for months by demonstrators angry at the Rajapaksas over the country’s economic …

Protesters retreat as Sri Lankan president sends resignation
2 years, 6 months ago

Protesters retreat as Sri Lankan president sends resignation

Associated Press  

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Protesters retreated from government buildings Thursday in Sri Lanka, restoring a tenuous calm to the economically crippled country, and the embattled president at last emailed the resignation that demonstrators have sought for months. “We’ve shown what power of the people can do, but it doesn’t mean we have to occupy these places.” Devinda Kodagode, another protest …

Sri Lanka crisis: How do you fix a broken country?
2 years, 6 months ago

Sri Lanka crisis: How do you fix a broken country?

CNN  

CNN — For years it had been one of Sri Lanka’s grandest and most heavily guarded buildings, serving as the official residence and state office of the President. “People are tired, hungry and angry … And they are demanding change and accountability because they are sick of seeing the same faces in charge.” ‘We can’t afford to pick or choose’ …

Sri Lanka’s ‘picturesque’ protests
2 years, 7 months ago

Sri Lanka’s ‘picturesque’ protests

Al Jazeera  

Every time there is a crisis in the Global South, Western news organisations parachute their correspondents and photographers in to document the developments. This has largely been the case with the international coverage of Sri Lanka’s ongoing protests demanding that the ruling Rajapaksa family leave office. This is nothing unique to Sri Lanka – we often see similar narratives of …

Sri Lanka crisis: Politicians' homes set afire, shoot-at-sight orders as protests against govt intensify
2 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka crisis: Politicians' homes set afire, shoot-at-sight orders as protests against govt intensify

India Today  

The civil unrest in Sri Lanka has escalated to unprecedented levels over the past few days as the protests against the country’s government over the economic crisis continue. Supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa clashed with the anti-government protesters, who demanded his ouster over Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis that has led to acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines and prolonged …

Sri Lanka Town Under Curfew, Foreign Concern Over Killing
2 years, 8 months ago

Sri Lanka Town Under Curfew, Foreign Concern Over Killing

News 18  

Police kept up a curfew in central Sri Lanka on Wednesday, a day after the killing of an anti-government demonstrator in escalating protests across the island triggered international condemnation. The government promised investigations into allegations that police used excessive force to disperse people protesting high fuel prices and demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation over the worsening economic crisis. Sri Lanka …

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Embassies shut, govt loses majority | Top points
2 years, 9 months ago

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Embassies shut, govt loses majority | Top points

Hindustan Times  

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has escalated into political turmoil, days after the public protested outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house in the capital Colombo. Here are top updates from the Sri Lanka crisis: >In a setback for the Sri Lankan government, finance minister Ali Sabry resigned within 24 hours after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks scheduled with …

Lanka protesters defy curfew after web ban
2 years, 9 months ago

Lanka protesters defy curfew after web ban

Hindustan Times  

COLOMBO: Opposition lawmakers and thousands of people angered by the government’s handling of Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis on Sunday marched to denounce the President’s move to impose a nationwide curfew and state of emergency, as protests over food and fuel shortages swelled. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and finance minister Basil Rajapaksa may step down soon as public …

Ministers quit in Sri Lanka
2 years, 9 months ago

Ministers quit in Sri Lanka

The Hindu  

All Cabinet Ministers in Sri Lanka resigned late on Sunday, amid raging protests by citizens asking the Rajapaksa administration to quit for “failing” the country in its crisis response. Earlier, defying a curfew imposed by the government, Sri Lanka’s Opposition parties, several student groups and citizens took to the streets on Sunday, as public outrage swells over the Rajapaksa administration’s …

Photos: Sri Lanka protesters defy curfew after social media ban
2 years, 9 months ago

Photos: Sri Lanka protesters defy curfew after social media ban

Al Jazeera  

Armed troops in Sri Lanka had a tense confrontation with a crowd protesting a worsening economic crisis on Sunday, April 3 after a social media blackout failed to halt another day of anti-government demonstrations. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka’s main opposition alliance, denounced the social media blackout and said it was time for the government to resign. “They should …

Sri Lanka Tamils march to protest deaths, disappearances
3 years, 11 months ago

Sri Lanka Tamils march to protest deaths, disappearances

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hundreds of ethnic Tamils began …

In Sri Lanka, yet another chance at post-war recovery
4 years, 10 months ago

In Sri Lanka, yet another chance at post-war recovery

The Hindu  

The cellophane wrap is yet to be peeled off. The structure in Madduvil village in Jaffna district in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province is an ‘economic centre’ initiated by the previous Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe government. ‘Development, not devolution’ Following his big election win in November 2019, propelled mostly by the majority Sinhalese community, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s message to the Tamils was …

Sri Lanka civil war: Missing persons are dead, says Gotabaya
4 years, 11 months ago

Sri Lanka civil war: Missing persons are dead, says Gotabaya

The Hindu  

Thousands of persons reported missing since the time of Sri Lanka’s civil war are “actually dead”, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said. After the “necessary investigations”, steps would be taken to issue death certificates of the missing persons, while their families would be supported, the official media release said. As part of its commitments to the UN Human Rights Council, the …

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