There have been allegations of soldiers of the occupying SL Army’s 231 Brigade Headquarters at Kalladi sexually abusing Tamil women for some time. In recent weeks, the issue has become a menace of increasing threat, community leaders in the area complain, on condition of anonymity. The SLA soldiers, who are predominantly Sinhalese, exploit the poverty-stricken families by providing minor jobs and seeking the households. Higher ranking officers and commanders are also involved in the exploitation, and some women are taken to the military quarters and abused by more than two…
Read MoreDay: 4 June 2020
When Arumugan Thondaman Clashed With Mahinda Rajapaksa.
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader and Cabinet minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development, Savumiamoorthy Arumugan Ramanathan Thondaman died of a cardiac arrest on Tuesday May 26th 2020. The 55 year old political leader known as Arumugan and Thonda would have celebrated his 56th birthday on May 29th but fate decreed otherwise. Arumugan Thondaman had an accidental fall while walking inside his house numbered 135 on Kumbukgahawatte Mawatte off Parliament road and lost consciousness. Thondaman was immediately taken to the Thalangama hospital but passed away within a few…
Read MoreUS envoy to Sri Lanka asserts accountability a must over Floyd killing
The Ambassador said that the US Justice Department has announced a full criminal investigation into the circumstances of Floyd’s death. She also noted that since the end of the US civil war more than 150 years ago, the US has confronted a legacy of racism. Nonetheless, she said Americans continue, despite setbacks, to build the “more perfect union” envisioned by the country’s founders and to ensure the laws’ full protection applies to all. (Colombo Gazette)
Read MoreUN human rights chief raises concerns on Sri Lanka
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed alarm at the clampdown on freedom of expression in parts of the Asia-Pacific, including in Sri Lanka, during the COVID-19 crisis, saying any actions taken to stop the spread of false information must be proportionate. She said that in Sri Lanka, the Acting Inspector General of Police threatened to arrest anyone who allegedly criticizes or highlights “minor shortcomings” of officials involved in the coronavirus response or who shares “fake” or “malicious” messages. https://colombogazette.com/2020/06/03/un-human-rights-chief-raises-concerns-on-sri-lanka/
Read MoreSirisena confident of sweeping polls
Says rift between UNP and SBJ will be added advantage Rift with UNP began with bond scam PCOI Says 19A has mixed outcomes, wishes powers of independent commissions were better defined Reiterates 19A creating three leaders made governance more complicated By Nuwan Senarathna Former President Maithripala Sirisena was yesterday optimistic of winning more seats at the upcoming Parliamentary Elections due to a “non-existent” Opposition but stopped short of saying a two-thirds majority may be in the bag for the coalition. Chances of winning more seats at the forthcoming General Election…
Read MoreRanil says SC decision came as no surprise, laughs at SJB
By Saman Indrajith Former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that he knew the Supreme Court would dismiss fundamental rights violation petitions challenging the date of the election and that was the reason why the UNP had not resorted to legal action. Wickremesinghe said that both the TNA and the JVP had been aware of the situation and, therefore, refrained from taking the matter to the Supreme Court. Addressing a group of former Ministers and MPs who called on the UNP leader at his Kollupitiya residence, the…
Read MoreDoctors often chose to treat whites over blacks who needed more attention.
By Minoli Ediriweera – Minoli Ediriweera Have you ever thought about why racism is unhealthy? As a Sri Lankan living in the United States, I found that it was a common topic of discussion in the classroom. We spent hours learning about the Martin Luther King Jr’s famous “I have a dream” speech and studying riots caused by the civil rights movement in the early ’60s. Racism has always been a divisive issue in America, and as a minority I have experienced my fair share of it. But none of it has seemed as…
Read MorePresident appointed Prasanna de Alwis as the new Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, who is another close ally of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also alleged to be complicit in torture.
The Sri Lankan President has promoted to Major General, former military intelligence director, Tuan Suresh Sallay, who allegedly forced a Tamil doctor in custody in 2009 to give false testimony by denying him medical treatment and threatening him. Dr. Thurairajah Varatharajah was a government doctor who served in the war zone in 2009 and was then detained for approximately 100 days at the end of the war. Such prolonged detention without trial constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment or punishment, in violation of the Convention against Torture.
Read MoreGota’s Junta Consolidates After SC Ruling: Task Force For Disciplined Society Ready For Action
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint a presidential task force “to build a secure country, disciplined, virtuous and lawful society” signals a major shift towards authoritarian leadership on June 2, 2020, the very day that a constitutionally mandated deadline lapses for the convening of Parliament, legal and political observers noted. With the Supreme Court decision on June 2, 2020 paving the way for unchecked executive rule, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa looks to be sidelining even the Cabinet of Ministers and establishing control over the whole state machinery with his generals, legal experts said.
Read MoreLet’s get set for elections
We saw the huge crowds that had gathered at his residence to pay their last respects showing scant regard to physical distancing and the wearing of face masks while some of those wearing them having the masks round their necks. We even saw the Prime Minister disregarding the often repeated health guidelines by embracing the late minister’s son prompting many to ask whether the law applies differently to different people — one for ordinary citizens and another for the rich and elite. We highlight this matter not with any ulterior…
Read MoreArumugam Thondaman A struggle left incomplete
This was probably because Thondaman was a politician and not a trade union activist One occasion when Thondaman showed his prowess was when he crushed a rebellion with the congress Thondaman had a bigger role to play than sticking merely with the Tamil Estate labourers’ salary issue The death of Minister Arumugam Thondaman (56) a few days ago is sure to affect the struggle of Tamil estate workers to survive the 30 days of the month. The living conditions in tea estates is appalling to say the least. The late minister was part of…
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