Posts Categorized: Human Rights

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child 2002

by Sri Lankan government, November 2002 and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, July 2003, Geneva Report by the Sri Lankan government covers the period 1994-1999. CRC_C_70_Add-17-EN.pdf Committee on the Rights of the Child in its final report responds to contemporary events also. g0342764.pdf

The Hindu: A Sri Lankan Anti-Terror Law That Needs Repeal

The Sri Lankan government must translate its pre-election rhetoric into reality, and end the Prevention of Terrorism Act by The Hindu, Chennai, April 30, 2025 In the many cycles of violence in Sri Lanka’s troubled history, “terror” has been a running theme. While the state — that has repeatedly demonstrated a majoritarian tendency — has… Read more »

ARED: Letter to Sri Lanka Core Group

by Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances, Kilinochchi, May 12, 2025 Letter from Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances to Sri Lanka Core Group May 12 2025 Chairperson and Committee Members Core Group on Sri Lanka United Nations Human Rights Council Geneva Dear Sirs/Madams, We, the relatives of those who were forcibly disappeared… Read more »

SLC: Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day 2025

Memory, Mourning and the Long Struggle for Justice by Sri Lanka Campaign, London, May 16, 2025 Sixteen years after the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, Tamil survivors and families of the disappeared are still fighting for one of the fundamental human rights: the right to mourn. Every May 18, Mullivaikkal Day serves as both… Read more »

What is India’s Long-Awaited Caste Census?

and why has it sparked outcry from Modi’s followers? by Alisha Rahaman Sarkar, The Independent, London, May 2, 2025 The Indian government will collect caste details in its next population census in a policy U-turn that could have sweeping socioeconomic and political ramifications. Information minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday that the census would count the populations… Read more »

May 31-June 4 1981: Five Days Of State Terror In Jaffna

by Santasilan Kadirgamar , Colombo Telegraph, February 3, 2013 Santasilan Kadirgamar Two years after the end of the war in Lanka*, without a political solution in sight, it may be appropriate to look back at events that occurred 30 years ago. 31 May to 4 June 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of days of violence… Read more »

Why Are Journalists’ Murder Investigations Being Avoided?

Media Freedom In Sri Lanka by Amirthanayagam Nixon, Colombo Telegraph, May3, 2024 It is an obvious fact that investigations into the killing of journalists and threats to the media are not being conducted against the backdrop of non-resolution of political rights issues of Tamils and cover-up of corruption and abuse of power by political leaders…. Read more »

Open Letter to Sri Lankan President Anura K. Dissanayake

Since 1948 SL Heads of State have ‘relayed’ on the Ethnic conflict! by S. V. Kirubaharan, General Secretary, TCHR – Tamil Centre for Human Rights, France, May 7, 2025  William Shakespeare: “Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends”. Dear Mr President: First of all, our congratulations to you and the NPP – National People’s Power… Read more »

PM Harini: Govt Committed to Ensuring Justice for Enforced Disappearances

by Adaderana, Colombo, April 10, 2025 Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims affected by the injustices related to enforced disappearances. The Prime Minister made these remarks on Wednesday (09) in Parliament while responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the… Read more »

Selective Justice is Not Justice

Tamil Guardian editorial, London, March 16, 2025 Selective justice is not justice Mar 16, 2025 The aftermath of former Sri Lankan president’s Ranil Wickremesinghe disastrous Al Jazeera interview continued to reverberate across the island this week, after Colombo announced the tabling of the Batalanda Commission Report in Parliament. For decades, the report, which details the use of… Read more »

Ranil Wickremesinghe is Sri Lanka

Malaravan, Tamil Guardian, London, March 13, 2025 The ‘Sly Fox’ who compares himself to the Buddha and who deflects when questioned on accountability, war crimes and corruption. The recent head-to-head interview on Al Jazeera with Mehdi Hassan has brought Ranil Wickremesinghe back into the spotlight. The former Sri Lankan president was described as ‘childish’ and ‘callous’… Read more »

What is the Batalanda Report?

by Tamil Guardian, London, March 11, 2025 Following a disastrous interview with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan by former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Batalanda report and his role in facilitating torture has come into the spotlight. We take a look at the report and at Wickremesinghe’s alleged role. What is the Batalanda Report? Established… Read more »

Al Jazeera: Who is to Blame for Sri Lanka’s Crises?

by Head to Head, Al Jazeera, London, March 6, 2025 When Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country in 2022 – amidst mass protests and an economic crisis– parliament elected veteran politician and six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. As President, Wickremesinghe negotiated the country’s biggest bail-out, but his critics say he is part of… Read more »

TNPF: Letter to Core Group on Sri Lanka

by Tamil National Peoples Front, March 5, 2025 Tamil National People’s Front (All Ceylon Tamil Congress) No: 43, 3rd Cross Street, Jaffna 05 March 2025 Heads of Missions in Geneva of the Core Group on Sri Lanka Your Excellencies, Regarding a new resolution on Sri Lanka at the 58th session of the UNHRC We refer… Read more »

NESoHR Responds to HRW Report ‘Living in Fear’ 2005

by North East Secretariat for Human Rights, Kilinochchi, February 2005 [courtesy TamilNation.org] NESOHR Karadippokudu Junction Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka nesohr /A_T/ hotmail /D_O_T/ com Tel: 021 228 5986 Fax: 021 228 5986 Established 9 July, 2004 This response is dedicated to Mr. A. Chandra Nehru, a fearless defender of human rights. We would like right at the… Read more »

ITJP: Valvettithurai – Testimonies of a Massacre

by International Truth & Justice Project, South Africa, March 2025 ITJP_VVT-report_Digital_Final-March-2025 [Tamil & Sinhalese versions available] This report uses the voices of those who were there to tell the story of the Valvettithurai massacre in 1989, one of the worst atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. From 1987-1990, India… Read more »