Uwazi

Sri Lanka police arrested over 45 people Thursday (08) for engaging and demonstrations and protests in violation of a COVID-19 ban on protests and public meetings, police said.

Thirty-one people including Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin Thursday morning over a protest held against the proposed Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) bill at the parliament roundabout in Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

The protest was jointly organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Frontline Socialist Party.

The bill, first presented in 2018 under the previous government, has been controversial, with left-leaning opposition parties including the Jantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) alleging that it paves the way for militarisation of higher education in Sri Lanka.

Police Media Spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Ajith Rohana said that two monks and two females were among the 31 arrested.

Meanwhile, 13 members of the JVP, including two former provincial councillors, were arrested at a protest staged in Akuressa against the fuel price increase and the government’s controversial chemical fertilizer ban.

On Wednesday (07), former JVP provincial councillor Samantha Vidyaratna and national organiser of the All Island Govi Jana Federation (farmers’ collective) Namal Karunaratne and the three others were arrested over a protest against the fertiliser ban.

Four people including Nuwara Eliya district JVP organiser Manjula Suraweera Arachchi was arrested over another protest held in Hatton against the KDU bill on Thurday.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) held a protest near parliament Thursday morning against what it called the government’s suppression of the people’s right to protest.

Sri Lanka banned protests and public meetings until further notice on Tuesday (06) to prevent large gatherings and the further spread of COVID-19.

Director-General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena had written to the Inspector General of Police informing him of the decision, a police statement said.

Police said that the violations of the said decision will be dealt with according to quarantine regulations.

On 24 August 2021, human rights defender Sabharatnam Sivayoganathan, also known as Seelan, was visited by two officers from the Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID) at his residence, who summoned him to the Kallady Kaattukandhor police station for questioning the following day. During the inquiry, he was asked about his social media activities. The interrogation lasted for two hours after which the CTID officers informed him that he may be required to attend another interrogation at the Colombo CTID Headquarters.

Seelan is a longstanding human rights defender in Sri Lanka. During the ethnic conflict and civil war in Sri Lanka, Seelan supported victims of human rights violations in their fight for justice, many of whom are from vulnerable and impoverished communities. Seelan is an active committee member of the Batticaloa district NGO Consortium, a committee member of Transparency International Sri Lanka and the President of Batticaloa district civil society forum. Seelan has been part of several initiatives in relation to peace-building, transitional justice and the reconciliation processes. He has been vocal about the reprisals and intimidation faced by regional journalists, military land grabbing, militarization and the Presentation of Terrorism Act.

On 24 August 2021, two officers from the Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID) arrived at Seelan’s house and handed him an official notice summoning him for questioning at the Kallady Kaattukandhor police station. On 25 August 2021 at 12.30pm, Seelan presented himself along with is national identity card, passport, mobile phone and sim cards, as requested by the officers, to the station. During the interrogation, the officers questioned him about his communications and social media activities, especially on Facebook, WhatsApp and Gmail. The human rights defender is of the opinion that the CTID is using interrogation as a means to threaten and intimidate him against participating in human rights activities.

This is not the first time Seelan has been targeted for his human rights work. On 15 July 2021, Seelan was summoned by the CTID branch of Kaatukanthor, Batticaloa and was subjected to a two hour interrogation during which he was asked about his personal life and previous occupations. He was also questioned in detail about the 700 kilometer protest trek from Pottuvil to Pollikandi (P2P) held in February 2021, including the motivation behind it, the organisers, means of funding and his level of involvement in it.

On 23 May 2021, Seelan was interrogated by CTID at his residence during the nationwide lockdown in Sri Lanka in the wake of COVID-19. On 16 May 2021, the police handed over an order issued by the Batticaloa Magistrate court to the human rights defender, restricting any public participation ahead of the annual memorials for Tamils who were killed during the civil war which takes place on 18 May. In March 2021, Seelan was issued another court order along with 26 others to stop participating in a hunger strike in Maamangam, Batticalao.

Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned by the recent series of reprisals and harrassment faced by human rights defender Seelan, which appear to be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.

Police in Sri Lanka should immediately release journalist Keerthi Ratnayake and halt further investigations into him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Ratnayake, a former army intelligence officer and regular freelance contributor to the London-based, Sri Lanka-focused news website Lanka-e-News, was summoned to the Kollupitiya Police Station in Colombo in western Sri Lanka on August 14 to answer questions about information he had provided to the Indian embassy in Colombo concerning a possible terrorist attack on the embassy, according to Lanka-e-News and news reports.

After reporting to the police station, Ratnayake, who covers defense and politics, was subsequently ordered to be held for 90 days at the station under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, while his home was searched and computers and phones confiscated, according to the reports.

He has not been charged with a crime, according to a person familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal. While in custody, police have pressured Ratnayake to reveal his sources for a warning he gave to the Indian embassy and for stories critical of the government he had written for Lanka-e-News, according to the person. The person did not name specific stories.

Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of Lanka-e-News, told CPJ via messaging app that he believed Ratnayake was arrested and held by the police because of his critical articles for the website given that he has been questioned about his journalistic activities, which have nothing to do with the warning he gave to the Indian embassy.

“Sri Lankan authorities need to release Keerthi Ratnayake from custody, return his electronic devices, and stop trying to force him to reveal sources,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Providing safety information to a foreign mission is hardly a crime, and should not serve as an excuse to investigate the work of a critical journalist, in the process severely undermining press freedom in Sri Lanka.”

Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, individuals may be held initially for up to three months without charge.

Confronted with a series of setbacks in addition to the failure in containing the devastating pandemic outbreak and economic crisis, the Sri Lankan government has launched a chilling crackdown on students and teachers in the Sinhala dominated south protesting militarisation of higher education. The crackdown has met with stiff opposition from academics as well as non-academics who have warned the government of consequences.

A leading activist Dr. Mahim Mendis of the Open University had been threatened over the phone for speaking at FUTA protest on August 3rd: “When I came home, someone called me to say that they don’t like what I said. Since then, I’ve been receiving threats,” he told JDS.

Police have also threatened former leaders of IUSF with death and hostage taking.

“I am receiving calls from the telephone number 072 5167782 saying - we won’t let you live in peace, at some point we will abduct you- and I am afraid to lodge a complaint as the police are also in the lookout for me,” said ex IUSF Convener and Buddhist Monk Rathkarawwe Jinarthana Thero.

The Centre for the Protection of Public Assets and Human Rights, an alliance of more than a dozen trade unions and grassroots activists condemned the government’s repressive action as a death blow to the freedom of expression. In a statement to the press the organisation said that the governments repressive action drives people to street protests notwithstanding the threat posed by the Covid19 pandemic.

Confronted with a series of setbacks in addition to the failure in containing the devastating pandemic outbreak and economic crisis, the Sri Lankan government has launched a chilling crackdown on students and teachers in the Sinhala dominated south protesting militarisation of higher education. The crackdown has met with stiff opposition from academics as well as non-academics who have warned the government of consequences.

On Friday (6), police convinced a court in the capital to detain two university student leaders who were effectively abducted by police the day before. The two are in the forefront of an ongoing protest against the militarising higher education. Scores of union leaders are in hiding as police carry on with unannounced visits to their homes and places they frequent. University dons have resolved to launch a strike action against the crackdown while many workers and professionals’ organisations have expressed solidarity with the teachers and undergraduates who are protesting the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (KDU) Bill aimed at the military having a greater role in education policy and administration.

Arrests & abductions

Two leaders of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF), the largest student body in Sri Lanka, Wasantha Mudalige and Amila Sandeepa produced before court were remanded until August 11 by Kaduwela Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake while two other activists Koshila Hansamali Perera and Chameera Koswatta arrested from their homes were also remanded until August 11. Both orders were later extended until 17.

Mudalige going home after attending a live TV broadcast was manhandled and handcuffed by men in civvies accompanied by uniformed police officers. Sandeepa abducted in broad daylight by men in civies was later declared by the police spokesman to be in their custody. University students and academics were able to foil an attempt to abduct Sri Jayawardenapura university lecturer Aminda Lakmal.

Police are targeting nearly 50 other student and trade union activists for arrest, according to activists.

“We are aware of 48 names on the hit list and police have visited many of their homes. Now they are in hiding,” a student leader told JDS on strict conditions of anonymity.

A group in civilian clothes who tried to abduct Sri Jayawardanapura University Senior Lecturer Aminda Lakmal while travelling, were stopped by colleagues and students. A mobile video streamed live by him went viral on social media platforms.

On Sunday, an Open University undergraduate tending to the father of another IUSF leader Udara Sandaruwan’s father who is undergoing treatment in the Colombo eye hospital has been given a police notice requesting Sndaruwan to present himself at the Peliyagoda police station.

The undergraduate had been warned that ‘someone from the family will be taken’ if the former convener doesn’t come the next day.

On Saturday, a vehicle claimed to be from the Peliyagoda police station in the western province had roamed Rajanganaya in the north central province seeking information about an IUSF activist while police teams had visited the office and residence of Chatura Samarasinghe, president of Ceylon Estate Staff union.

In a blatant anti-democratic attack, Sri Lankan police arrested 40 teachers, including 16 female educators, and four drivers of the vehicles they were travelling in, following a protest for higher wages outside the presidential secretariat in Colombo on Wednesday.

Around 2,000 teachers participated in the demonstration which assembled outside the secretariat after travelling by motorcade from the suburbs of Welisara, Kadawatha, Moratuwa and Pannipitiya. The protest was held in defiance of a court order obtained by the police to ban the event.

The teachers were arrested by Colombo Harbour police who jailed them until the following day when they were brought before a magistrate. Hundreds of teachers mobilised near the court premises in support of their arrested colleagues. They were blocked by baton-wielding riot police.

In court police opposed any release, spuriously arguing that those arrested broke quarantine regulations, participated in an unlawful assembly and violated thoroughfare laws.

The magistrate ruled, however, that the police had failed to justify why they should not be released. The decision was in response to widespread establishment fears that the ongoing incarceration of the educators would provoke mass outrage. Those arrested were released on 100,000 rupees ($US500) personal bail. It is not yet clear whether the police plan to initiate charges.

The Rajapakse government is intensifying repression against anyone protesting its socially-regressive policies.

This week police unleashed a witch-hunt against the organisers of a demonstration near parliament on Tuesday of students and teachers opposing the Kotelawala National Defence University Act (KNDUA). The law is a part of accelerating moves by the government to privatise education and expand the militarisation of government rule.

The “Student and People’s Movement for Schools” protest, which also involved university teachers, was initiated by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), controlled by the pseudo-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). Police used force and iron barricades to block the demonstration.

On Wednesday night, police arrested FSP leader Chameera Koswatta and party member Kaushalya Hansamli who participated in the protest and the following day detained five student leaders, including IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige.

Nearly 250,000 public school teachers and principals are continuing their “online learning” strike which began on July 12.

The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-controlled Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU), the FSP-affiliated United Teachers Service Union and several other unions called Wednesday’s protest in response to the rising anger of teachers over repeated government rejections of their wage demands. Educators are also calling for the withdrawal of the KNDUA.

The teachers’ strike is in defiance of education ministry orders that all principals and teachers should report for work on Monday. This directive is in line with last week’s government circular declaring that all state sector employees working from home must return to their workplaces.

Teachers’ union leaders met with an official from the president’s office on Wednesday during the protest. He told the union leaders that a committee of officials from the state treasury and the national salaries commission has been appointed to look into teachers’ wage demand. The new committee is yet another government manoeuvre.

Addressing Wednesday’s protest, leaders of the teachers’ unions made demagogic speeches in an attempt to keep their members under control. CTU leader Joseph Stalin thundered: “We came to inform you [the government] that if our problem is not solved by next Monday our actions will be stronger.” He called on the cabinet of ministers’ meeting on Monday to provide “a solution.”

CTSU secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe was more vociferous: “If you do not solve the problem we will not only close the gates of the presidential office but will file around the whole secretariat building with hundreds of thousands of heads… the struggle will end victoriously.”

In reality, the union leaders are rapidly moving to end the teachers strike action and impose another betrayal.

On July 28, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse met with teacher union leaders, bluntly declaring that “under the present global situation and the country’s financial predicament, the government is not in a position to rectify the salary issue at this moment.” The union leaders assured the prime minister that they understood the economic crisis facing the country and were not expecting an increase in teachers’ pay. They urged him to simply make a “policy” decision to reduce salary anomalies.

On August 2, President Rajapakse for a second time told his cabinet of ministers that the teachers’ wage demand could not be granted.

According to media reports, he said nothing about a “policy decision” to reduce salary anomalies, as hoped for by the unions as an excuse to end all industrial action. Instead, the president cynically “admitted” that teachers’ wages had to be increased but said that the salary problems of all state employees would be considered in the government’s November budget.

Kapila Fernando, a teacher and a leading member of the Teachers-Students-Parents Safety Committee (TSPSC), attempted to address Wednesday’s protest, following speeches by union leaders. Fernando is also a Socialist Equality Party (SEP) Political Committee member with a long record of struggle among teachers and other sections of the working class. CTU leader Joseph Stalin intervened and prevented him from speaking.

Fernando insisted on his democratic rights as a teacher involved in the struggle, but Stalin stopped him, declaring, “This is a meeting of our unions. You can speak in a meeting organised by you. We have taken this protest to a certain stage, don’t spoil it.”

Speaking with World Socialist Web Site reporters after the event, Fernando said Stalin and the other union leaders stopped him speaking because they feared he would explain the critical political situation facing teachers and the necessity to fight for an alternative program to win their demands.

“Teachers can’t rely on these unions and their leaders,” Fernando stated. “They have consistently betrayed us over the past 24 years. Now they are looking for an excuse to call off our current action. That is why they are urging the government to declare that it will merely accept as a principle that salary anomalies be resolved.

“Like all previous regimes, the Rajapakse government has repeatedly rejected our demands. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the economic crisis. The unions are tied to capitalism and the establishment, and cannot see beyond this, that’s why they support imposing the economic burden on the masses.”

Fernando said teachers had to take control of their struggle by building action committees in every school, turning to other sections of the working class and fighting for the program elaborated in the July 28 TSPSC statement. “Militancy and protest are important,” he said, “but they alone are inadequate. Teachers must base their struggle on socialist and internationalist policies.”

Such a turn is urgent. Educators are continuing to take action in several parts of the country. On Wednesday, teachers began a 100-kilometre march from Kandy in central Sri Lanka, expecting to reach Colombo this coming Monday. Regional protests have been held, including one on Thursday in Anuradhapura.

The teachers’ struggle is part of a series of strikes and protests in Sri Lanka that have erupted this year involving health, postal and electricity workers in the state sector, and plantation workers in the private sector. This growing movement is in response to the skyrocketing cost of living and job losses which the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened.

Batticaloa-based Tamil journalist Selvakumar Nilanthan was interrogated by Sri Lankan’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) today.

Nilanthan, who is also the secretary of the Batticaloa Tamil Journalists Association, was summoned to the Batticaloa TID this morning where his statement were taken following intense interrogation lasting around three hours. He was asked whether he had any links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and was questioned extensively about his work.

“Do you have any connection with the LTTE? Were you a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)? Were any of your relatives in the LTTE? Have you helped the LTTE? Have you got any affiliations or are you in contact with former Batticaloa political head, Thayamohan?”

“Do you run the Battinaatham or Meenagam website? How many years have you been a journalist? Which media outlets do you work for? Which international media outlets are you working for?”

The journalist was also demanded by the TID to disclose his personal and financial details. He was asked a significant amount of questions about his accounts and the passwords and told to give full access to his Facebook account, Whatsapp account, email account, bank account and other personal details.

Nilanthan was also examined extensively about his sourcing of funds:

“Do you get money from abroad? Which money comes from which country? Who is who and who sent you the money? Do you own a charitable trust?”

Following the investigation, the TID told Nilanthan that he may be expected to attend another investigation. Nilanthan, who was shaken and distressed from the investigation stated, “They robbed me of the last bit of freedom I had”.

Selvakumar Nilanthan has previously been interrogated for his coverage across the North-East. Last year, he was probed for reporting on the military-assisted Sinhala settlements on Tamil cattle farmers’ land and was also threatened and arrested for reporting on local government corruption.

Freelance Journalist Malika Abeykoon, who was assaulted and arrested by Sri Lankan police on April 7, has been placed on remand until April 12. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Sri Lankan affiliates, the Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMETU) and the Free Media Movement (FMM) demand his immediate release.

Abeykoon was arrested while he was covering a health workers’ protest rally organised by the United Health Workers Union (UHWU) on April 7. Following his arrest, he was brutally assaulted multiple times inside Maradana Police Station. The journalist was not given any reason for his arrest.

According to FMM Abeykoon was put before the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court on April 8 with a fabricated medical report signed from a judicial medical officer stating that he had not been assaulted. In response, Abeykoon removed his shirt and showed the judge the bruises and scars he received the night before in the Maradana police station. He also revealed that no medical attention was given to him while he was in police custody. The judge then asked Abeykoon to submit a medical report from the prison hospital and placed him on remand until April 12.

Following his arrest, activists protested in front of Maradana police station demanding his immediate release. The protestors accused the government of violating their democratic rights. No protestors were allowed to visit Abeykoon.

A Tamil journalist was assaulted and threatened by a group of unidentified people, when he went to film a protest in Batticaloa on Tuesday (5th January).

Kugarasu Subojan traveled to Eravur, Batticaloa to cover a local protest against the ‘Airtel Tower’ on Tuesday morning when he was approached and threatened by a group of unidentified persons. They surrounded Subojan after identifying him as a journalist and told him to immediately stop filming the demonstrations, before attempting to assault him.

They tried to intimidate Subojan and said to him, “What is a journalist to us?, Oh, so you think you’re some big person?”

They repeatedly shouted at him to “delete the video” and tried to steal Subojan’s video equipment.

Subojan, however, resisted the attempts and was able to flee the scene safely with the help of some other nearby correspondents.

Journalists have demanded that Eravur police immediately locates and arrests the assaulters and submitted a complaint at the local Karadiyanaru police station on Wednesday.

Media repression in the North-East has escalated since the appointment of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka’s president last year, with an increase in incidents of Tamil journalists facing state surveillance and intimidation.

A Tamil journalist was intimidated and harassed by three Sri Lankan Forest Department officials in Mullaitivu on 27th February.

Tamil Guardian correspondent Kanapathipillai Kumanan, who went to report on a Tamil landowner dispute in Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu was threatened and obstructed from doing his job by Forest Department officers, last month.

The officers took photographs and harassed him for his personal information, even though he was only in a nearby road to the land being disputed. Kumanan questioned the officers why he was stopped and subject to the intimidation. “Why is the department asking me for such information? I did not trespass in the forest to collect news?”

Despite identifying himself as a journalist, officials obstructed his work covering a local incident where a Buddhist monk accompanied by local Sri Lankan police, threatened and banned a Tamil villager from clearing his own farmland. The Buddhist monk insisted the land did not actually belong to the Tamil villager and that he must withdraw himself from the land that he claimed as ‘Buddhist land’.

Kumanan highlighted that there has already been similar incidents of hostility when journalists choose to report on issues of illegal logging and land disputes. He was attacked along with a fellow journalist for reporting on illegal logging and timber smugglers, which involved the Forest Department and the case is still being heard in court.

Media repression in the North-East has escalated since the appointment of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka’s president in 2019, with an increase in incidents of Tamil journalists facing state surveillance, intimidation and violence.

Sri Lankan Police have arrested freelance journalist, Sujeewa Gamage, for allegedly making 'false claims that he was abducted, tortured and abandoned on a road in Colombo by armed men on 10 March 2021,

While receiving treatment for burns and injuries in the hospital, Gamage told the press that the attack was to obtain information, containing his news sources and of his affiliations with opposition politicians, that was in his possession at the time of the incident.

On 17 March, police officers of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) detained and investigated the journalist soon after he released from the hospital. According to Attorney-at-law, Namal Rajapaksha, whose representation was retained by Gamage’s relatives, he was denied entry into the custody and was told by a police officer that his client will not be released for putting the government “in a difficult position.”

The CCD is also reportedly going to interrogate former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and former MP Chathura Senaratne in connection with the case. According to Police Media Spokesperson Ajith Rohana, Gamage had visited an office of Chathura Senaratne in Thimbirigasyaya, where he had met with Rajitha Senaratne at the office. The suspect has also admitted that he had made a false complaint through a confession, Rohana added.

On Friday Gamage was granted bail.

Media freedom continues to be under significant threat as an increasing number of attacks against journalists continue to be reported under the Rajapaksa regime. Last month, a Tamil Guardian correspondent, who went to report on a Tamil landowner dispute in Mullaitivu, was threatened and harassed by Forest Department officers.

As the two have not returned for hours, family members have retained the service of attorney at law Namal Rajapaksha. Police have intimidated him and threatened that Gamage will not be released “because a lawyer has come on behalf of the journalist”.

“Relatives of my client told me that he is been interrogated under duress for hours,” lawyer Rajapaksha told JDS.

“Not only I wasn't allowed to provide legal assistance, police threatened me saying that he wont be released as a lawyer coming to the police station on behalf of him is an offence. I was not even allowed to pass the gate although I explained that he is a torture victim who was just discharged from hospital. An Assistant Superintendent of Police named Anuranga told me that my client will not be released as he has put the government in a difficult position.”

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the Mirigama Police are investigating the alleged abduction and torture of Siyarata News website Journalist Sujeewa Gamage, The Morning learnt.

Speaking to The Morning, Police Media Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana said that further investigations have already been commenced by the CCD and the Mirigama Police.

Also speaking to The Morning yesterday (16), Gamage said that he had been conducting investigations on jihad and that this may have convinced the abductors to abduct and question him.

Gamage was allegedly abducted and tortured for information on his sources and political contacts on 10 March.

“I normally take a train from the Mirigama Railway Station to come to Colombo. On 10 March, I was near the Station when a person from a black Montero model jeep asked me to come towards the jeep. When I reached the jeep, they dragged me inside and covered my face with a black garbage bag. After about 40 minutes, the vehicle stopped at a place and they then took me into a room where I was unmasked. There were around four persons in the room wearing denims. They seemed to be like trained members of a VIP security detail. They demanded to know the truth. ‘Don’t lie, we need the truth,’ they said. I then said that I would reveal what I know. Then they threatened me and said that they would kill my wife and child if I did not give information.”

He went on to say that he was questioned about several political and non-political individuals.

“I was questioned about Arun Siddharth, the youth who launched a people’s march on 28 February from Point Dondra in Matara to Jaffna to unify Tamils and Sinhalese to fight against external forces driven by geopolitics and neoliberal strategies, who, according to the abductors, frequented former Parliamentarian Chathura Senaratne’s office in Thimbirigasyaya. I was questioned on whether Senaratne was being funded by the Tamil and Muslim communities. When I said that I didn’t know anything about this, they kept a heated knife on my hand. They also asked about the funding for a particular newspaper and former Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya’s involvement in it. They questioned me about a data storage chip related to an interview about the wife of one of the Easter Sunday suicide bombers, Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sarah Jasmine. The interview was stored in that chip which was kept in my home. I think they might have found it and taken it as after 45 minutes, I heard them receive a call where they said: ‘Okay, we got what we wanted, we can release him.’ I was then brought to Dematagoda with my face covered and dropped close to the Railway Station. I was shocked and at that moment, my only thought was to go to Senaratne’s office. His father, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, came and advised me to get admitted to the National Hospital’s Accident Ward. I suffered several injuries and am still awaiting the final medical report.”

He explained that he had started his career in journalism in the 1980s and that most politicians are known to him.

“Not just Jayasuriya or Senaratne,” he said.

Gamage, who previously worked for newspapers such as Janadina, Janasathiya, Yukthiya, and Aththa said that in his career, he had risked his life to reveal the truth.

Attempts to contact Chathura Senaratne and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne proved futile.

Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva had also raised concerns regarding the alleged abduction via a Tweet.

The families were met by a heavy police presence who claimed to have obtained a court order from the Eravur Magistrate Court to stop the protest from going ahead.

However, the organisers had notified the health department and the police department prior to the planned protest but were still disrupted by the police. This forms part of the ongoing surveillance and attempts to intimidate families and community representatives who are seeking justice for their loved ones.

Families from Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara had travelled to Chenkalady to participate in the protest organised by the North Eastern Missing Person Organisation.

While the families have been campaigning for over a decade, they have been continuously protesting for over 1,250 days, demanding the fate of their relatives to be revealed.

Denying the allegations leveled over a supposedly large-scale hotel built near the Sinharaja Forest, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has sent a letter of demand to environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara through his lawyers seeking a compensation of Rs. 500 million within seven days.

Rajapaksa in his letter cites that Chamikara's statement is false, baseless and insulting.

Chamikara on August 19 told media that a large scale hotel belonging to Yoshitha Rajapaksa was built in the Sinharaja Forest and a road is being developed penetrating the forest canvass to enter the hotel.

Rajapaksa also makes the following demands in his letter;

Acknowledge that there is no truth to this statement and plead apology Inform the relevant media institutions or parties to remove this news item, had it been published on media, and make arrangements to remove the news item Acknowledge before media through a press release that there is no truth to this statement Statement that no baseless allegations will be leveled against Mr. Yoshitha Rajapaksa again Payment of Rs. 500 million as compensation within 07 days

Two journalists who are in hospital after been violently beaten up and threatened with death while investigating an illegal logging racket, fear for their safety as the assailants are roaming free with apparent protection from authorities.

On 12 Monday afternoon, Shanmugam Thavaseelan and Kanapathipillai Kumanan covering illicit felling in the Mullaitivu district were attacked by illegal loggers wielding clubs and an adze. Most of their photographic evidence was destroyed while they managed to save few video footage.

“The leader of the thugs who attacked us is roaming freely even though there are multiple complaints against him and several arrest warrants,” Thavaseelan who lost a couple of his front teeth had told fellow journalists visiting him in the Mullaitivu District Hospital.

“This shows the level of protection he enjoys. He had an adze in his hand which he threatened to use to cut me down to pieces. If some in the gang did not stop him, I would have been dead by now. If they are not arrested our lives are in danger.”

Four men on motorbikes

The two Tamil journalists were investigating a tip-off about an illegal logging operation in the Murippu forest reserve adjoining a cultivated teak range. While the teak was legally felled by a supplier to the State Timber Corporation (STC) the bordering forest reserve was illegally logged by another who was allegedly introduced to the supplier by the Beat Forest Officer (BFO) of the range. Locals are convinced that the illegal logger was running a timber racket in collusion with the licensed supplier and forestry officials under the guise of supplying legitimate timber to STC.

When Thavaseelan and Kumanan visited the nearby Kumulamuani east, they found a two-floor timber construction within a clearing enclosed in a bared wire fence with teak posts. The journalists estimate that at least 200 logs went to build the enclosure.

Four men on motorbikes confronted the journalists who were filming what they saw.

“We told them that we are hearing about illegal logging and what they have to say about it,” said Thavaseelan.

“Then they beat us up. Kumanan was from that village. They accused him of doing harm to the village and banged him heavily on the head. He started bleeding. I was attacked with an adze. I lost my teeth. The leader threatened to kill us.”

Attacked and robbed

The four forced them to the enclosure, their recordings were wiped off and memory cards were removed. Their money was stolen.

Once inside the enclosure, the attackers filmed the two journalists accusing them of illegal entry and theft.

“I told them that they can lodge a complaint with the police if we have committed any offence,” said Thavaseelan.

The assailants released the two journalists later who lodged a complaint at the Mullaitivu police station and were admitted to the Mullaitivu District Hospital.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has rubbished exposures of illegal logging in forest reserves as “fake news campaigns”. In contrast, Defence Secretary Major General Kamal Gunaratne who admitted in public that the ongoing illegal timber racket is a serious threat to the environment, pledged to take action against it with the assistance of the president’s sibling and State Minister for Internal Security Chamal Rajapaksa.

The Free Media Movement strongly condemns the attack carried out on the Derana TV journalist Indunil Wijenayake in Monaragala, while he was there to cover an incident of unauthorized sand mining in the Kumbukkan Oya.

According to reports we have received, journalist Indunil Wijenayake has gone to report an incident of illegal sand mining around the Kumbukkan Oya. At that time, he was attacked by a group of people who obstructed his attempt to report, and as a result of the assault, he had to be admitted to the Monaragala Hospital for treatment. A complaint has been lodged with the Monaragala Police regarding the incident, and it has been reported that the police have commenced investigations into the incident and arrested one suspect.

During the past journalist have reported on unauthorized sand mining in various parts of the country, and recently with the police media spokesperson stating that those reports were instrumental and extremely helpful in the police investigations, it has validated and acknowledged the importance of the role of journalists.

The Government of Sri Lanka has a responsibility to protect the country’s rare natural resources through local environmental regulations as well as through international conventions.

In such a context, in the past journalists who have been engaged in reporting on the environment have been harassed and threatened on several occasions by people suspected of engaging in crimes against the environment. If the law were enforced adequately concerning such incidents, journalists would not often have to fall prey to these environmental criminals. Therefore, the Free Media Movement calls on the authorities to immediately conduct an impartial inquiry into the incident and enforce the law regardless of the status of the suspects.

Last week Jaffna-based lawyer and widely respected academic Dr Kumaravadivel Guruparan handed in his notice of resignation from his post as Senior Lecturer of the Department of Law at the University of Jaffna. As he wrote in a powerful open letter, it was a move made “with utmost pain and sadness”. He has been, and continues to be, subjected to a long-standing process of state-led harassment, which is aimed squarely at silencing voices of dissent. Not only is this a massive loss to academia on the island, but it is a stark and dangerous marker of the road that Sri Lanka is hurtling down.

As Guruparan made painfully clear, this was a move he was compelled to make. His letter comes after a ban was imposed on him by the Council of the University of Jaffna to engage in private legal practice, following pressure from the Sri Lankan military after he took up a public interest habeas corpus case into the 1996 disappearance of more than two dozen Tamil youth. In August last year, Sinhala speaking men dressed in civil uniform photographed the Tamil lawyers in the courtroom, in a brazen act of intimidation. One of the men was then seen getting into a car belonging to the Deputy Solicitor General representing the Sri Lankan army. Shortly after, the Terrorism Investigation Division visited the Jaffna office of the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR), a human rights think tank Guruparan co-founded and was executive director of at the time. Just weeks later, the military sent a letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC) questioning whether Guruparan had permission to engage in private practice. Acting swiftly, the UGC that very same day forwarded the letter to Jaffna University and shortly thereafter, the UGC passed a memo barring Guruparan from private practice.

Though he has courageously attempted to challenge the ban, the drawn-out legal process which has seen bizarre claims made against the Attorney-at-Law, has understandably taken its toll. “I cannot continue my work as a law teacher whilst being barred from this social engagement that I have had with the law,” he wrote, stating it was “something that I consider as being an inseparable part of the profile of an engaged academic”.

The driving forces behind this targeting are clear. As Guruparan noted, this has nothing to do with his academic role and his engagement with legal practice – which had already been clearly marked out before he took on the lecturer role. It is because Guruparan, as a Tamil lawyer, attempted to use the law to hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for grave violations it continues to try and keep buried.

The targeted harassment of Guruparan has happened alongside the Sri Lankan state ramping up its repression of dissenting voices over the past year, particularly from Tamils and Muslims. Lawyers, human rights defenders and activists have come under increasing fire, with some even jailed for their work. Our journalist colleagues and correspondents based in the North-East too have faced an increase in the intimidation that for decades has plagued their profession. Incidents of state violence have increased and as Sinhala nationalist rhetoric grows louder ahead of elections next month, the Tamil homeland remains fearfully braced for further repression.

The capitulation of Jaffna university should also not be overlooked. As Guruparan noted, “the track record of my University in upholding the rule of law, good governance, academic freedom and basic norms of dignity has been bitterly disappointing”. The Sri Lankan government has always viewed the University of Jaffna in particular with contempt and wariness. It has long been seen as a hotbed of Tamil activism, with students continuing to bravely hold protests and memorial events. The government’s response has been to exert its influence on the university, drawing it under the control of paramilitary groups and even resorting to deadly violence. In recent years, students have been locked out of the campus, beaten and even killed. Just last year the Vice-Chancellor was dismissed from his role, with authorities citing baseless “national security” grounds. This latest incident demonstrates how far the subversion of the premier academic institution in the North has gone.

The wielding of violence and intimidation to silence those critical of the state, particularly from the Tamil community, is not a new tactic in Sri Lanka. It is something that successive regimes since independence have employed with deadly results. The current regime under a man accused of overseeing heinous atrocity crimes at the end of the war has predictably shown a willingness to be even more brazen. International actors must act to protect human rights defenders on the island and utilise mechanisms at their disposal to hold the state accountable and prevent further atrocities from occurring. Though Guruparan’s case has drawn widespread and much-needed condemnation, words will not be enough.

Sri Lankan police have released a Tamil lawyer who was arrested as she attempted to enquire into the detention of Black Lives Matter protestors, as clashes broke out in Colombo yesterday.

Swasthika Arulingam was reportedly detained by Sri Lankan police, though it remains unclear as to the grounds on which she was held and if charges are to be pursued.

Clashes broke out in Colombo yesterday as Sri Lankan police tangled with protestors from the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) who attempted to stage a demonstration outside the US Embassy in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sri Lankan police reportedly arrested up to 20 people at the protest, with Arulingam one of the detained. All have reportedly since been released.

On June 9, officials from the Criminal Investigation Department raided Bastians� home in Colombo, the capital, and seized her laptop in connection to an investigation over the alleged abduction of a Swiss embassy staffer in the city in November, she wrote in a statement shared on Twitter.

Bastians, a contributor to the New York Times and former editor of the state-run Sunday Observer newspaper, wrote that the officers had a warrant for the laptop, and that they had twice previously tried to confiscate it without a warrant.

Authorities allege that the embassy staffer�s abduction was staged, and accuse Bastians of communicating with the staffer and being linked to the alleged abduction, according to news reports. Bastians left Sri Lanka in November, and the raid was conducted while her family members were living in her home, according to those reports.

�CPJ strongly objects to the seizure of journalist Dharisha Bastians� laptop and is concerned it could further endanger her sources,� said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJ�s senior Asia researcher. �Sri Lankan authorities should immediately end this intimidation campaign against Bastians, which is clearly retaliation for her critical reporting.�

On June 16, the Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered government analysts to examine whether anything on the laptop had been changed since it was seized, according to those news reports.

In her statement, Bastians said she was concerned about �potential efforts by interested parties to compromise the integrity� of the laptop. She also wrote that Criminal Investigation Department previously obtained her phone records without a warrant and leaked them.

Bastians has reported and written columns on politics, human rights, enforced disappearances, and accountability for journalists who were murdered in Sri Lanka.

In 2018, CPJ reported that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who at the time was in the opposition party and is now the country�s prime minister, publicly named Bastians after she contributed to a New York Times investigation into his failed 2015 presidential campaign.

The Criminal Investigation Department did not respond to CPJ�s emailed request for comment. Mohan Samaranayake, a spokesperson for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, did not respond to a request for comment via messaging app.

Six persons including the main suspect who assaulted an Ada Derana journalist in Atulugama, Bandaragama have been placed under arrest, the police said.

The assault had taken place this morning (24) when the journalist in question had visited the Atulugama area for the coverage of Muslim devotees celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan (Eid-ul-Fitr) while adhering to social distancing guidlines.

The journalist in question, Bimal Shyaman, had initially spoken to and obtained a voice cut from the chairman of the mosque association in Atulugama, Najeed Hajjiar Mohamed Najeed.

He had then proceeded to obtain footage of one of the mosques in the area and as he was set to leave, a group of residents had blocked his vehicle and threatened him. They had also reportedly caused damages to his vehicle.

However, another group of residents had assisted the journalist to leave amidst the tense situation.

The Atulugama mosque association�s chairman also arrived at the location in order to help out the Ada Derana journalist.

Bandaragama Police had launched an investigation into the incident following a complaint lodged by the Ada Derana journalist and six arrests were made subsequently.

On 23 May 2020, a Sri Lankan NGO was harassed by a national media outlet that urged an investigation against it in Sri Lanka.

On 14 May 2020, an unidentified number of students was intimidated by the police while commemorating the final stages of Sri Lankan civil war in Jaffna.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) yesterday called upon the Sri Lankan authorities to respect human rights in the conduct of their investigation of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, including ensuring that investigations into the alleged involvement of Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah are conducted in accordance with due process and fair trial guarantees under international law. Specifically, the authorities must specify the charges against him, grant him full and immediate access to a lawyer, and investigate the circumstances of his arrest for potential rights violations, they said in a statement.

Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police (CID) on 14 April pursuant to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and has since been kept in detention. No reasons were provided at the time of the arrest. During a media briefing, a Police spokesperson stated that he was arrested as a result of the evidence found against him during investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The ICJ understands that no remand or detention orders authorising his continued detention have been served, even after the lapse of 72 hours as required by Sections 7 and 9 of the PTA.

Moreover, Hizbullah was only granted limited access to legal counsel on 15 and 16 April, under the supervision of a CID official, who had insisted that the conversation be in Sinhala, in breach of attorney-client privilege. Legal access has been denied at least since 16 April. �No one questions the Government�s need and obligation to investigate the horrendous Easter Sunday attacks, but these investigations must be conducted in a way that is consistent with international law and the Sri Lankan Constitution,� said ICJ Asia-Pacific Director Frederick Rawski. �Not serving Hizbullah a remand order as required by law and denying him full and confidential access to legal counsel is unacceptable and in violation of international standards on the right to liberty.�

A Habeas Corpus petition was filed by Hizbullah�s father on 17 April, seeking his release from detention, and demanding that he be given access to his attorneys. According to the application, five persons posing as officials of the Ministry of Health entered his home and interrogated him after placing him in handcuffs. They demanded access to two of his case files, recorded a statement from him, and subsequently took him into custody at the Criminal Investigation Department.

�By allowing warrantless entry, search of premises and the arrest of persons, the Prevention of Terrorism Act violates basic due process guarantees under international law,� added Rawski. �This legal provision is one of many problematic provisions of the PTA. The ICJ reiterates it calls for the PTA to be repealed and replaced with a law that conforms with Sri Lanka�s international human rights obligations.�

According to Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, �anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.� Article 14 entitles anyone charged of a criminal offence �to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing�. Similar guarantees are enshrined under Article 13 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers provide that, �Governments shall further ensure that all persons arrested or detained, with or without criminal charge, shall have prompt access to a lawyer, and in any case not later than forty-eight hours from the time of arrest or detention.�

The ICJ has consistently called for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has been used to arbitrarily detain suspects for months and often years without charge or trial, facilitating torture and other abuse. The ICJ reiterated its call for the repeal and replacement of this vague and overbroad anti-terror law in line with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka�s international obligations.

On 2nd April, Ramzy Razeek wrote a post on his Facebook wall about the need for ideological jihad or ideological struggle (?????? ???????? / ?????? ?????)[5]. Jihad is a controversial and often misunderstood word. According to multiple scholars, �jihad� means �struggle�, though it�s often misunderstood to mean armed warfare or terrorism. In his post, Ramzy is specific about the kind of struggle he is talking about � �ideological� � with �pen and keyboard�, through �social and mainstream media�, �on behalf of the county and all its citizens� and �to help people understand the truth� in context of �hate propagated against Muslims�.

When we read some of Ramzy�s past Facebook posts, it becomes clear he has been a consistent advocate against racism and promoting communal harmony, equality and justice. On 1st April, he had criticized the cremation of a Muslim COVID19 victim at a time Health Ministry guidelines allowed burials[6], but referring to reports of subsequently amended government regulations[7], he called on Muslims to accept cremations if it�s proved through health science that burials are bad for health or if the government has made a reasonable decision not to allow burials for public good[8].

On 3rd April, a day after the Facebook post about �ideological struggle�, April, Ramzy announced self-censorship � that he will not make future posts related to politics or national problems in Sinhalese, as he doesn�t want to endanger his children�s life[9]. He explained that some of the responses to his above-mentioned post included death threats and calls for his arrest and that his eldest daughter had been traumatized and fearful after seeing these. That statement of self-censorship is the last visible post on his Facebook wall.

It is reported that the above-mentioned post on 2nd April, had led to his arrest and that he has been remanded till 22nd April[10]. His lawyer said that the Magistrate had asked the police to report on 22nd April whether there is actual grounds to arrest and remand him. According to the lawyer, the police had cited the ICCPR Act[11] and the Cyber Crimes Act. The ICCPR Act gives discretion for the police to arrest and detain a person and Magistrates don�t have discretion in providing bail. Last year, a writer arrested under the ICCPR Act was imprisoned for more than four (4) months until a High Court judge gave him bail[12].

We have not seen any post or comment by Ramzy that would amount to the propagation of war or advocating hatred leading to incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence which is prohibited by Article 3 (1) of the ICCPR Act[13]. When arresting Ramzy, it appears the police has not considered the detailed recommendations by the Human Rights Commission[14] of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) on balancing the ICCPR Act provisions on hate speech with constitutional guarantees for free expression, six-point threshold test and the three-pronged test of legality, proportionality and necessity from Sri Lanka�s fundamental rights jurisprudence.

Ironically, there are comments that are death threats against Ramzy on Facebook, which is still available at the time of writing[15] but we have not seen news of any arrests or police actions in relation to these.

Women Nominees to be candidates of upcoming election: former Human rights commissioner Ambika Satkunarajah and women�s rights activist Nalini Ratnarajah were subjected to derogatory remarks and defamatory reporting by Tamil news website athirvunews. Ratnarajah was mainly targeted for her activism on reproductive rights and women�s rights.

The director of Vavuniya-based Thinapuyal newspaper, Sakthivelpillai Prakash and his wife alongside another editor, were summoned by Sri Lanka�s Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on Monday, following the paper�s coverage of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The latest incident of journalist intimidation comes as the 43rd session of the Council is currently underway, where Sri Lanka has withdrawn co-sponsorship of a resolution on accountability and the UN human rights chief has urged member states to �explore all possible avenues� for justice.

Prakash told reporters that the newspaper was targeted over its coverage of events in Geneva, but expressed confusion over the summoning of his wife.

�This both surprised and amazed me,� he said. �My wife is in no way involved with Thinapuyal.�

Prakash added that another editor at Thinappuyal, S.Sasitharan had also been summoned by the TID to attend earlier today.

He went on to state that journalists for the newspaper had been repeatedly targeted by Sri Lankan security forces in the past, and said that �in this country, independent media is unable to write freely�.

The latest incident comes as the intimidation and harassment of journalists has ramped up since the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president in November last year.

On 27th of February university student activists started a protest in front of the Ministry of Higher Education building in Ward place, Colombo. The students launched a continuous protest against the long-time closure of the University of Ruhuna. Colombo court had issued a court order to remove the protest hut made by the students, and to prevent students from protesting either on the road or on the pavement of the road. They were also prevented them from entering the government office premises. This literally meant according to the order they could no longer continue the protest. The students were told that they will be arrested and charged for contempt of court unless they obeyed. The order was issued against Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) convener Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, Convener of General Students Association of Ruhuna University Weranga Pushpika, Convener of General Students Association of Rajarata University Wasantha Mudalige, Co-conveners of General Students Association of Peradeniya University Mangala Maddumage, and Gihan Weerasekara and other protesters who participated in the protest with them.

Police have allegedly threatened peaceful protestors that they will be arrested unless they move into the designated agitation site. The protestors were mainly women who have taken microfinance loans and caught in a debt trap and human rights activists. Microfinance loans have pushed rural women into debt traps, with high interest rates charged. The protestors marched from Pettah railway station towards the Presidential Secretariat.

Police assaulted protesters, who were former employees of National Housing Authority, and who had blocked the Galle Road near to Presidential Secretariat. As a result of the incident, three female protesters were hospitalized.

Rathugala indigenous Vedda community leader was physically attacked after criticizing sand mining in the local area allegedly by the people engaged in sand mining.

Prasad Purnimal Jayamanne, a journalist based in Wennappuwa in Chilaw was assaulted by group linked to few politicians after he exposed unauthorized filling of a paddy field in Wennappuwa. Mr. Jayamannehas told Free Media Movement that he was assaulted by a group including the son of a former Wayamba Provincial Council member who had taken over the land filling from another former Wayamba Provincial Council member who claims to own the paddy field.

A prominent Tamil disappearances activist and her daughter were attacked and hospitalised in Batticaloa on Sunday evening.

Amala Nayagi, the vice-president of the North East Families of the Disappeared Association and the president of the Batticaloa District Association, and her daughter were deliberately hit and knocked off their motorcycle by an oncoming motorcycle with three men.

The injured Amala Nayagi and her daughter were admitted to Karadiyanaru hospital in Batticaloa. They had been travelling to Batticaloa to attend a funeral when the attack took place.

While the attackers drove off after hitting the two, local youths attempted to chase and apprehend the three men. Although two escaped, one was caught and arrested by Karadiyanaru police.

Amala Nayagi has faced many threats over the years that she has been at the forefront of campaigning with families of the disappeared in Batticaloa. The activist said she was certain today’s attack was intended to intimidate her.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the arrested attacker was linked to a paramilitary group.

We, the undersigned individuals strong condemn the recent threats, harassment and unfair treatment against human rights defender, Kumaravadivel Guruparan, by the Sri Lankan military and University Authorities. Guruparan, is a prominent human rights lawyer and academic based in Jaffna, in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. He is the founder of the Adayalam Center for Policy Research, and is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Law, at the University of Jaffna. He is also a Co-Spokesperson of the Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF). On 09 November, 2019, Guruparan was informed by the Jaffna University Council, that he had been barred from private legal practice as per a decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC). We condemn this decision of the UGC, which was instigated by the military, and is aimed at silencing and suppressing Guruparan’s human rights work and legal advocacy.

Over the past decade or more, Guruparan has been a strong voice for human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka. Despite living and working in a highly militarized and hostile context, he has been consistently vocal against the failure of successive Governments to hold those responsible, especially the military, accountable for crimes against civilians.

The restrictions and harassment meted out against Guruparan are direct reprisals against his human rights work. We are deeply concerned at the conduct of the UGC and the University of Jaffna (UoJ), in their treatment of a senior faculty member. Both the UGC and the UoJ are civilian institutions, responsible at least in part, for moulding and guiding generations of university students in this country. In this instance, they have shown a crippling inability to withstand pressure from the military, a trend which threatens dangerous consequences. On 21August, 2019, the military wrote to the UGC questioning the basis on which Guruparan was permitted to practice law in court. Despite there being clear provisions under the University Establishment code under which a faculty member may be permitted to engage in private practice, and the military having no standing whatsoever to question or interfere in internal university matters, the UGC took the surprising decision on 05 September, that Guruparan should no longer be permitted to practice law. The decision of the UGC was communicated to the University of Jaffna which then in turn on 09 November 2019 has decided to ask Guruparan to act according to the UGC directives.

There has been a pattern of threats, intimidation and harassment against human rights defenders, especially those working in the North and East, in the lead up to the November election. Lawyers and activists working on military accountability have been particularly targeted. The recent threats and restrictions against Guruparan are believed to be linked to his representation of victims in the Navatkuli Habeas Corpus case, which relates to the enforced disappearance of 24 boys from military custody in 1996. Following the hearing of the case on 01 August 2019, Guruparan and other lawyers were photographed by unidentified men within the court premises. On 07 August, three officers from the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) visited the Adayalam Center office and demanded staff details and information about their work. Other lawyers working on the case have also faced similar harassment and intimidation.

We reiterate that the restrictions and harassment against Guruparan are a reprisal against his human rights work. The restrictions on his legal practice is a clear attempt to subvert justice by preventing his cases from being litigated successfully in court. We stand in solidarity with Guruparan and other lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders in the North and East, who face an increasingly tense and restrictive environment.

We also call upon the Judicial Service Commission to take note of the serious implications of such actions by the military, whose members have been named as respondents in the case that Guruparan is representing. Attempts to influence as to who appears on the other side through intimidation and undue influence is a very serious issue affecting the fundamental right to equality before the law and recourse to justice.The Hon. Attorney General who appears for the military must also appropriately advice his clients to desist from such reprehensible behaviour.

In conclusion, we condemn the UGC for aiding the military call on them to rescind the order, and clarify the rights of university legal academics staff to engage in practice.

Former Tamil political activist, Mr Kaviraj Shanmuganathan, was denied entry into Sri Lanka upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport on Monday.

Upon enquiry, he was told he was denied entry as he was listed as someone who worked against the sovereignty and interests of the country.

He was then told that he could voluntarily return a country of his choice or go back to the UK where he could make an application to visit with the permission of Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry. He would need to contact Sri Lanka’s High Commission in London.

Tamilpolity reports that Shanmuganathan has chosen to go to Chennai where he will consider the options available to him. His family, however, have been granted entry into Sri Lanka.

Shanmuganathan was a leader of the protests in London between April to May 2009 which demanded a ceasefire in Sri Lanka and he also lobbied for an international independent investigation into the mass atrocities committed in the last stages of the war.

Shanmuganathan quit politics and engaged in humanitarian activities to support war victims in Tamil areas.

Families of the disappeared decried the surveillance and intimidation they endure at the hands of Sri Lankan security and intelligence forces, while Sri Lankan intelligence officers came out in force to photograph and carry out surveillance of a mass rally in Mullaitivu on Tuesday.

“We the mothers participating in the struggle are also panicked that we may also go missing after realizing past incidents. As a proof to our dangerous situation, the military interference and surveillance have now increased,” the families said in a letter to the United Nations.

“The military intelligence personnel are very often interrogating our participant mothers while following us secretly and monitoring our daily activities. They visit our homes in odd times and carry out interrogation. They wantonly attack our District leaders and vanish. No action by the police even though we make entries at the respective police stations. Intimidation continues.”

Leaders of the protests, many of whom are vulnerable women, have been routinely attacked and threatened by suspected intelligence personnel since the roadside protests started and gained momentum almost three years ago.

Sri Lankan police threatened residents of a Mannar village including the local priest when they protested against Sinhalese people illegally extracting sand from the village.

Residents of Thottaveli have for several years complained of illegal sand mining causing environmental damage to the area and leaving villages prone to flooding and soil erosion.

While local authorities including the divisional and district councils have repeatedly denied giving permission for sand extraction the problem has persisted due to the perpetrators producing ambiguous permits for other purposes, obtained from southern politicians.

In this latest incident on Wednesday, villagers, led by parish priest Father Alexander Benno Silva, confronted the sand miners. Following a verbal exchange, the miners initially agreed to refrain from extracting the sand.

However, a short while later, the extraction vehicles returned, this time with a police escort.

The villagers once again took to the streets and carried out a road-block to prevent the sand mining from taking place.

During a confrontation with police, one officer pushed Father Benno to prevent him from getting on his motorcycle, and continued to verbally threaten him and other residents while filming the women that were protesting.

As tensions were heightening, senior priests from the Mannar diocese and the head of the Mannar police station went to the village and attempted to defuse the situation.

The offending police officer was made to apologise to Father Benno, although villagers continued to criticise the police for protecting the sand miners.

The problem of sand mining continues to grow across the North-East, causing worsening relations between police and communities.

Tamil groups say the police use the issue as a guise to target and surveillance communities, accusing police departments of taking bribes to protect actual perpetrators.

In 2017, an unarmed Tamil man was shot dead by police in Vadamarachchi during a purported confrontation about sand mining.

Sri Lanka Police were compelled to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse a protest in Colombo staged by a group of unemployed graduates.

The unemployed graduates marched from the Fort railway station in Colombo to the Presidential Secretariat citing injustice was caused when graduates were recruited to the government sector.

Ven. Thenne Gnananada Thero requested the police to meet the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding their demands.

However, police denied their request citing the emergency state prevailing in the country.

Several students were emotional following the discharge of water cannons and tear gas stating that all they demand is employment as they underwent numerous hardships to graduate.

Ven. Thenne Gnananada Thero, Convener of Joint Unemployed Graduates Association explained that the government had voluntarily removed the names of the individuals who suffer from visually and auditory impaired from the recruitment lists along with graduates who are over 35 years of age.

The protestors attempted to commence a fast this evening opposite the Fort Railway Station, however, the attempt was foiled.

Meanwhile, during a media briefing held at the Temple Trees today, UNP MP Chandima Gamage expressed that a program to provide employment to graduates is already in effect.

MP Chandima Gamage noted that despite criticism claiming that it is a political agenda, the prime minister has already decided to appoint 20,000 graduates as Development Officers.

He confidently stated that none of the job opportunities provided by the Yahapalanaya government are political ploys and the government has already decided to recruit a total of 16,800 graduates to the program.

He finally added that these Development Officers will be promoted to the Project Officers following their training program.

The Free Media Movement strongly condemns the attack on journalist Prasad Purnamal Jayamanne and the obstruction in carrying out his professional media activities.

According to the reports received, Prasad Purnamal Jayamanne who was photographing a protest by villagers against a tipper transporting sand in the Mukkuthoduwawa area in Madurankuliya, has been attacked by a person inside the tipper truck.

It is reported that Prasad Purnamal Jayamanne’s camera equipment has also been damaged as a result of the attack.

This particular incident, is an addition to a series of incidents that have been reported pertaining to obstructions faced by journalists in carrying out their professional duties and it appears to have become an element of the anti-social behaviour of certain sections amongst the Sri Lankan society.

The development of such a trend is extremely detrimental to the existence of a democratic society.

The Free Media Movement does not approve in any form the prevention or obstruction of journalists from reporting information correctly for citizens to make informed decisions.

The Free Media Movement strongly urges the authorities to deliver justice by bringing those who disrupt the professional activities of journalists before the law, and to strengthen the required landscape in the country to maintain a free media culture. and conductive environment.

A senior Sinhala journalist was interrogated by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) for around six hours for allegedly threatening national security after reporting on the arrest of Kilinochchi’s Judicial Medical Officer (JMO).

Kilinochchi JMO and senior Tamil doctor Dr S Sivaruban was arrested by TID on August 18 for alleged links to terrorist activities.

Sinhala journalist Thinasena Rathgama was summoned to the TID in Colombo after publishing reports that the terrorism police were alleging Dr Sivaruban was involved in an assassination plot against former Defence Secretary and presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and having links with the LTTE.

Rathgama said he had been accused of threatening national security by publishing the reports.

Dr Sivaruban, who remains in detention, was involved in several high profile cases as JMO, including providing medical reports linking the Sri Lankan army with the so called 'grease devil' attacks of 2011. He was also a key medical witness in the case of the rape and murder of a child by a member of the EPDP paramilitary group.

Freedom Media Movement vehemently condemns the threat to journalist K. Prasanna by Palani Digambaram, Minister of Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, in connection to an article titled ‘Does the Indian Housing Scheme provide fund the Minister’s food?’ written by journalist K. Prasanna using Right to Information Act.

This article by journalist K. Prasanna highlighting the irregularities that had taken place in the implementation of the Housing Scheme under the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, was published in the ‘Thinakkural’ Tamil Newspaper on 4.08.2019. The journalist had written this article using the RTI. Prasanna told us that Minister Digambaram and the Minister’s Coordinating Secretary contacted and threatened him following the publication of the said article. Journalist K. Prasanna has lodged a complaint with the RTI Commission. Free Media Movement views this as an act of intimidation on the freedom of the press and a threat to the Right to Information Act, thus it calls upon all parties to cooperate with journalists in their work without hindrance.

Aluthgama Police were yet to arrest the suspects identified in connection with the assault of Daily Mirror /Lankadeepa Aluthgama Correspondent Thusitha Kumara de Silva and his wife on Friday night, over an alleged exposure of artificial toddy mafia in the Kalutara District.

A large number of Kalutara District journalists representing mainstream print and electronic media organisations staged a silent demonstration yesterday afternoon demanding Aluthgama Police to bring the culprits of this attack to book without delay.

Thusitha Kumara and his wife who had been rushed to Aluthgama Base Hospital in a traumatic condition with assaults to their heads and body with clubs on Friday night had later been transferred to Kalutara General Hospital in Nagoda on Saturday. The journo and his wife who were away from home on a personal matter had rushed back hearing that an armed gang had stormed their house and was attacking it around 7.00 p.m. Friday (06). Their son was the only occupant at home during the incident. When the couple reached the scene about 10 to 15 men armed with clubs had started attacking them with threatening “you were the one who wrote about the artificial toddy industry in newspapers and exposed us”.
The gang had soon left the scene leaving the wounded couple behind who were rushed to the hospital by the neighbours.
Thusitha Kumara had lodged a complaint with the Aluthgama Police regarding the assault and had given details of five of the gang as identified to be residents of the same area. His mobile phone and cash amounting to Rs.4,800 had also been missing in the attack.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, National Organiser of Independent Media Foundation of Kalutara Suresh Wijeyarangana said the district journalists gathered in solidarity to demand justice to Thusitha Kumara and his wife.

He said Thusitha was renowned for his brave reporting against illegal artificial toddy manufacturers in the area, where several large scale detections were made by the Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel a few months back and seized 40,000 litres of chemical toddy in Aluthgama.

The demonstration was held to urge the law enforcement authorities to secure the lives of journalists who fight against this illegal and artificial toddy industry in the area carried out by the goons of top politicians and some leading underworld figures of Kosgama area.

Meanwhile, the Aluthgama Police had searched the houses of the five identified suspects who had reportedly fled the area.

A special police protection has been given to journo Thusitha Kumara and his wife at the hospital as well as to their smashed house in Hettimulla. JVP Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa also took part in the demonstration.

Unidentified assailants attacked Lasantha Wijeratna, a freelance journalist and anti- corruption activist, on November 14. The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) and its affiliate Free Media Movement (FMM) raise concerns about the attack which took place in the lead-up to the country’s presidential election.

Wijeratna was attacked by three men with firearms in his home at around 2.30am on November 14. Wijeratna sustained injuries from the attack including severe lacerations to his hand and was admitted to the intensive care unit in Karapitiya Hospital.

News 1stspokesperson SSP Ruwan Gunasekara alleges it was a retaliatory attack to Wijeratna for his work on alleged acts of corruption believed to have been committed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his tenure as the former Secretary of Defense. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was declared the new president of Sri Lanka after the weekend’s election.

The Free Media Movement said it strongly urge “all parties concerned to expedite investigations into this incident, which has challenged the democratic space in this country.”

Mayuri Inoka, the wife of a disappeared husband, Madushka Haris De Silva, was herself abducted on 1 November 2014. According to Mayuri, her abductors threatened her not to engage in any activities calling for the recovery of her husband. Mayuri's husband disappeared in September 2013, and remains missing. Issuing a statement the Asian Human Rights Commission says; On 27 October 2014, Mayuri spoke at a public gathering in front of the "Monument for the Disappeared" at Raddoluwa, Seeduwa, during the annual commemoration ceremony for disappeared persons. The persons who abducted Mayuri identified themselves by stating, "we are from the police". They followed her and boarded the three-wheeler in which she traveled to the city centre in Anuradhapura, where she wanted to purchase milk powder for her 11-month-old twin babies. According to Mayuri's statement, broadcast in BBC's Sinhala Service, a well-built man, pointing a gun at her face boarded her three-wheeler, tied her hands behind her back, blindfolded her, and took her in a three-wheeler. Later, she was shoved into a van. She was driven around for about an hour and half in this van, a period when she was continually abused and threatened by her abductors, who asked her "not to engage in the campaign and protests to find her husband". She has recalled that, several times, one of the abductors aimed a pistol at her neck and threatened to shoot her. Mayuri says she was terrified and feared for her life. She was repeatedly told that "she will also be taken to where her husband is", if she continued to search for him, which, in fact, is nothing other than an assassination threat. Mayuri was finally thrown out of the van, onto the roadside near Nochchiyagama. Talking to BBC Sinhala Service following her ordeal, Mayuri says that when she was thrown out by the side of the road, with her hands still tied behind her back, and yelling for help, no person came to her assistance. Later, after sometime, several police officers in civilian clothes arrived and abused her in foul language, threatened her, and treated her as if she were a prostitute. Every month Mayuri holds a fast (hunger strike), in front of the Anuradhapura Police Station, demanding information about the whereabouts of her husband. The case regarding the disappearance of her husband is fixed for tomorrow, 4 November 2014, at the Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court. She has named Senior Police Superintendent Mahesh Senarathna and a group of other police officers as those who are involved in the abduction of her husband. She has complained to the police and to the courts about this disappearance and about whom she thinks is responsible for the disappearance. On a previous occasion, two persons have visited her house and threatened her to keep silent or face the consequences, and threatened her with her own death and that of her children. It is obvious that a group of police officers, afraid of being discovered for involvement and links to the disappearance of Madushka Haris De Silva, are pursuing her in order to intimidate her and to silence her. Given previous experiences in similar incidents, it will not be a surprise if Mayuri will be assassinated. The Asian Human Rights Commission calls on the Inspector General of Police and all government authorities to immediately inquire into Mayuri Inoka's abduction and the constant threats that have been levelled at her and her children by persons identifying themselves as "police officers". Meanwhile the AHRC also calls upon the Inspector General of Police to provide special protection to Mayuri Inoka and her children. The AHRC particularly calls upon the women's movements in Sri Lanka to come to Mayuri Inoka's assistance and to prevent her possible assassination. The AHRC also calls upon all human rights organizations to do everything they can, to provide for her protection. The AHRC will also take steps to bring this matter to the attention of the United Nations Human Rights agencies and the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's anti-terrorism police on Saturday 25th October arrested a 58-year old Tamil man in Kilinochchi for allegedly distributing forms meant to be circulated among the witnesses of the ongoing war crime probe by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Sri Lankan police has claimed that the Terrorists Investigation Department (TID) personnel on Saturday "has arrested Chinniah Krishnarajah at Mulankavil in Kilinochchi while he was distributing UNHRC witness forms". The police has also claimed to have recovered from Krishnarajah a set of UNHRC witness forms and other materials that were to be submitted to the UNHRC. According to sources, he has now been brought to the TID headquarters in Colombo for further investigation and is likely to be sent to the notorious Boosa detention camp in the South under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) laws . Several hundreds of Tamil men and women have been held indefinitely in Sri Lanka's prisons without any charges under the provisions of PTA. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not only refused to cooperate with the OHCHR inquiry, but has threatened to take action against those cooperating with the investigation, resulting in fear amongst the war-hit Tamil people. Leading human rights activists, however, have urged the survivors of the bloody war "to quietly and discretely have their evidence sent across" before it expires at the end of this month. The High Commissioner for Human Rights who presented an oral update during the September session of the Human Rights Council on the progress of the probe, will present the final report to the council's March 2015 session.

Sri Lankan military intelligence operatives have intensified attacks on independent Tamil journalists in Vanni in recent days. A 33-year-old reporter from Paranthan, Sinnarasa Siventhiran, who files news stories at Uthayan's branch office at Karadippoakku junction had a narrow escape from a squad that intended to kill him by throwing him in front of a vehicle on A9 Road Sunday 21st September 2014. Two masked men stopped Mr Siventhiran, who was returning home in his bicycle on A9 road after filing stories at the office of the Tamil daily Uthayan. He is a teacher and files stories in the evening as an independent journalist. He cycles to the branch office of the Tamil daily between 8:00 and 8:30 p.m. to write his stories, as he doesn't have computer or Internet facilities at home. First, the two men who claimed they were from Criminal Investigation Division interrogated him for 10 minutes. When Mr Siventhiran said he could go to the police station if there is anything he needed to clarify, the men claimed they were from a higher authority than the police and said they wanted to finish him off to give a lesson. The attackers claimed that there was no use in disciplining certain Tamil journalist, according to Mr Siventhiran. The incident took place at a least-populated locality situated between Paranthan and Karadippoakku. After attacking the journalist, the masked men wanted to throw him in front a speeding bus trying to kill him and make it look like an accident. However, the attempt failed as the driver of the approaching vehicle managed to turn his vehicle away from the person lying on the road. Mr Siventhiran managed to run towards a restaurant and the public gathered to confront the masked men who were chasing him. Siventhiran, in his complaint to the police on Sunday said he could identify one of the masked men who had pulled off his mask before pushing the journalist in front of the vehicle on A9 road.

Protected by the police, around 30 supporters of ruling party held a counter demonstration opposite the #FreeJeyakumary campaign held in front of Fort Railway station on 29th Sep 2014. The mob displayed a banner showing leading civil society activists in Sri Lanka ridiculing them. The pro government protestors displayed placards accusing leading HRDs of anti-country treacherous acts. There were more police offficers and intelligence agents than the demonstrators at the protest venue, according to reports from Colombo.

The Lawyers Collective has strongly condemned death threats to two of its leading members, Attorneys-at-Law, Namal Rajapakshe and Manjula Pathiraja. In a statement it said Rajapakshe and Pathiraja have been leading human rights activists and lawyers with long experience in public interest litigation. They appeared in a series of sensitive cases challenging arbitrary actions of all organs of the Government, including the Defence Authorities. Around 6:20 p.m. on 13 September 2014, two unidentified men with full face covered helmet and jackets, had rushed to the legal office of Rajapakshe, situated near the Thorana junction, Kelaniya, in the Colombo district. One of them had been armed, and he had taken Rajapakshe to a corner, and threatened that he and Manjula Pathiraja would be killed, if they appear in "unnecessary cases'. They particularly mentioned about several cases where Rajapakshe and Pathiraja had appeared against a controversial Buddhist monk. The two individuals had then fled on an unidentified motorcycle. Rajapakshe had made a complaint at the Peliyagoda Police Station bearing number CIB/III - 230/123. On 4 August 2014, Attorneys Rajapakshe, Pathiraja and Lakshan Dias were intimidated by a group of thugs inside the Maradana Police station, in front of the Head Quarters Inspector. The three of them were making representations on behalf of their clients, on the breaking up of a peaceful private meeting and criminal trespass. Rajapakshe had made a complaint regarding this incident on 5 August 2014. No actions have been taken by the Police in respect of this intimidation. Rajapakshe, Pathiraja and Dias have frequently appeared for victims of human rights violations across the country, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds, often pro bono. They have made themselves available for emergencies at all times and days. While upholding the highest traditions of the legal profession, all three of them have been well respected and committed human rights defenders who have been taking forthright and courageous positions on issues of democracy, rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka. Lawyers Collectice urges the Inspector General of Police to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of all three of them and to take all possible steps to hold accountable, all those responsible for these threats and intimidation.

An unknown group calling themselves " Patriotic Force that defends the country"[rata rakagathdeshapremeebalakaya] directed death threats to the journalist participants, organisers and their families at an event which was held on 15th October in Colombo. This event was organized to award certificates of a journalism training programme conducted by the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) section. Senior journalist and coordinator of the event Mr.Jayasiri Jayasekara and journalists Mr. Janoor Kichilan and Mr. Amadoru Amarajeewa are among those who received death threats. Mr.Shan Wijethunga, the organiser and Ravaya consultant editor Mr. Victor Ivan, resource persons of the event too had received threatening SMS messages. The Free Media Movement (FMM) asserts that this so-called "'Patriotic Force'' is another puppet group which is protected by the intelligence agencies. This conclusion has been reinforced by the statement given by journalist Mr. Amadoru Amarajeewa stating that the mobile phones that originated these threatening telephone calls belonged to some intelligence officers.

G Thevaraja, a human rights defender from Vavuniya, was assaulted by an unidentified gang on October 8th while Sri Lanka's human rights record was being reviewed at the UN Human Rights Committee. Thevaraja was attacked hours after he concluded a discussion with members of the Vavuniya citizens committee on a protest they were planning to stage on Friday 10th October urging the authorities to free detained human rights defender Balendran Jayakumari. He was attacked by four people and was heavily assaulted by iron rods. According to reports, the attackers threatened to kill him if he went on to stage the protest. Thevaraja has been admitted to hospital to receive further treatments.

The National Peace Council has expressed deep concern over the increasing and continuous surveillance of civil society activities by the Rajapaksa-regime using military and law enforcement authorities in the post-war period. In a media statement issued yesterday, the NPC has noted the escalating surveillance operations - initially widely prevalent in the North and East but now spread to the entire country - includes every aspect of civilian life including weddings, puberty ceremonies, memorial services in addition to seminars and workshops organised by civil society organisations in the North. Underpinning their accusations and concerns, the NPC has pointed out that during the past month, its activities implemented under the inter-religious reconciliation programme have been subjected to surveillance by security forces on three occasions. Among the three incidents where the NPC activities were disturbed by military and police surveillance were: 1) An inter-religious dialog in Kandy - the event had been held inside a private hall of a reputed civil society organization. Despite informing the relevant authorities of the event, intelligence personnel had entered the hall in civvies and had recorded the discussion. 2) An event in Galle -Despite inviting the local Police to attend the event,another Police team had arrived at the premises to investigate the programme 3) A youth Amity camp in Addalaichenai in the East - Although the local police and local government authorities had been informed of the event, uniformed military personnel with weapons had arrived and questioned the organisers of the programme on three separate occasions over a two day period. The NPC has pointed out that two of the incidents occurring outside the former war zones of the North and East indicates surveillance is now being carried out in the entire country. In its statement, the NPC has also pointed out that this type of activity has resulted in the polarization of social relationships and a perpetuation of such conditions of insecurity will contribute to the creation of a lasting social mistrust between communities and jeopardize reconciliation. It has also stressed on the fact that such spying on civilian activities will also lead to the emergence of forces that lack faith in peaceful methods to rectify their grievances as happened in the 70s. "The government needs to recognize that the surveillance of civil society activities by members of security forces strikes fear and resentment in the minds of the people - particularly those of the ethnic and religious minorities that would in turn lead to self-censorship and reluctance to voice their grievances," the statement notes adding if not, the concerns will remain stifled and would continue to fester within the hearts of the people who feel victimized and deprived of justice. Writing furthermore, the NPC has pointed out the breakdown of affection towards the government as a result of the public being intimidated due to spying and surveillance, will turn the reconciliation process harder to achieve. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Amid allegations of NGO attempts to collect evidence to be sent to Geneva, the government has decided to consider a proper regulatory framework to monitor their accountability, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said today. [More...] He said the Government would take a serious view on this matter, though there was no intention of taking punitive action against the NGOs that had attempted to collect evidence to be submitted to the UN investigative panel. The minister said a regulatory system would be put in place to monitor the activities of the NGOs. "It is necessary to look at the quantum of money they receive and how it is used," he said at the Fourth Defence Seminar, which commenced today at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo, organised by the Sri Lanka Army and added that such a regulatory framework existed in South Asian countries "A foreign minister of an Asian country told me that there was an avalanche of foreign funds was received by NGOs when elections are around the corner in his country. Elections are meant for people of a particular country to decide their future. In certain cases, NGOs mention their purpose vaguely. Therefore, it is a matter that warrants consideration. It has been flagged for consideration now," the minister said. However, he said no firm decision had yet been taken on this matter so far. "Our good Samaritans or do-gooders do not live up to our expectations and they simply forget that ours is a tradition-rich society. You can now see how Sri Lankans feel the sense of belongingness as the national anthem rends the air. We will therefore be alert to elements who are intent on doing harm to us with foreign funds, some of which are spent for the sake of so called "capacity-building', etc. Explaining the series of positive and pragmatic measures that have been taken by the government after putting in place local mechanisms with the implementation of social and economic equity projects, enhancing credibility and the trust, being reposed in a society that has been affected continuously for near 30 years was as a result of bloodshed and violence, caused by the LTTE. "It is a matter of profound regret that we look at some foreign powers who are targeting Sri Lanka without learning or seeing what we are today and our involvement and the trajectory for the future, to couple with our social and economic growth. Our critics conveniently say that physical development, alone is not adequate. But they always fail to see reconciliatory moves, set in motion in war-affected areas in correct perspectives," Prof Peiris said. "HE the President took the bold decision with political courage to have elections in the Northern Province after absence of 28 years. That gave the people the chance to use their franchise as they prefer, and now the Northern Provincial Council, like other provincial councils elsewhere, has sufficient authority to deliver to their people. Isn't it a home-spun and home grown process? Those rudiments denigrate the public opinion and their cherished values and traditions," Prof Peiris claimed. "It is the constructing approach that is wanted, instead, what is forthcoming is the disincentive to engage in earnest in domestic process, by application of devolved power. All what they talk is 13th amendment. Other than Police powers, everything has already been devolved and such devolution has to go on," Prof Peiris commented, saying that it is the people who would identify their needs and not the powers that dedicate terms to us." People believe that the hard-won victory in the country should be maintained and should not be allowed to be torpedoed by organizations with vested interests, he added.

Seven journalists attached to Tamil newspapers in the Northern province had been detained last night and questioned for over six hours by the law enforcement authorities sabotaging a workshop they were planning to attend in Colombo today, under charges of possessing marijuana. The journalists had been en-route to Colombo to participate in a workshop last night. Tamil politician Gajendra Ponnambalam who has been tweeting on the incident claims the van had been tailed by the military since the group left Jaffna. According to his tweets the vehicle had been initially stopped at Mankulam and searched by the Army. Thereafter the second stop had been made at the Omanthai checkpoint where three Army personnel had placed in the front seat of the van, which had been searched thereafter. During the search, a packet of marijuana had been recovered from the van. Ponnambalam's tweets state that at least three journalists had witnessed the bag of cannabis being placed in the front seat of the van by the Army personnel. The group had thereafter been taken to the Omanthai Police where they were questioned for over six hours. The journalists also state that although they attempted to lodge a complaint concerning their suspicions over the planting of evidence, the Omanthai Police did not accept it. Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya commenting on the incident claims the checking was carried out after the officials at the Omanthai checkpoint received a tip on a possible transportation of heroin last night. "About ten minutes later, this vehicle in question had approached the checkpoint and it had been stopped to be checked during which, a packet of marijuana had been recovered. The driver and the van has been detained but the other seven passengers have been released. It is unfortunate that they had to be journalists," he said speaking at a media conference today. He also rejected allegations of an Army official stationed at the check point planting the evidence and said it could not have happened since it was two Police officials who discovered the marijuana packet from the van. Meanwhile, during a media conference organized by the Free Media Movement (FMM) today to raise objections over the harassment of the seven journalists, it was revealed that its Convener Sunil Jayasekara has been receiving death threats for holding the event. "I received a call from an unknown number, which I could not dial back - and the individual on the other end said he will not let me live if I hold this press conference today," he said adding that democracy and civil rights in Sri Lanka have been severely threatened presently and accused the Rajapaksa regime of attempting to turn journalists into puppets under their control.

Against the backdrop of some organisations defying the regulations governing NGO activities, the government has decided to enact a law, before the end of this year, making it mandatory for all of them to register with the National Secretariat on NGOs. NGO activities are currently governed by the provisions of the Voluntary Social Service Organizations[Registration and Supervision] Act Number 31 of 1980 and Voluntary Social Service Organizations[Registration and Supervision][Amendment] Act Number 8 of 1998. As required by the relevant acts, the NGOs are required register themselves with the National Secretariat on NGOs which functions under the Ministry of Defence. There are 1421 NGOs registered with this secretariat. Recently the secretariat issued instructions to NGOs to refrain from conducting press conferences and workshops for journalists unless they were mentioned in their annual action plans and approved by the secretariat. However, some organisations such as Transparency International and the Centre for Policy Alternatives, openly defied the instructions by the NGO Secretariat. Against this backdrop, Saman Dissanayake, the director of the NGO Secretariat, said the proposed law would be introduced in the form of an amendment to the existing Act and enacted before the end of this year. Then, he said, all these organisations would be required to register with the NGO Secretariat. "Otherwise, there will be legal restrictions on their activities. They will face restrictions in getting foreign funding," he said. Currently, though they operate as NGOs, some have been registered as nonprofit organisations under the Companies Act. Mr.Dissanayake said the new bill had almost been drafted. "The Legal Draftsman is giving it final the touches now," he said.

The National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), a body functioning under the Defence Ministry, has banned NGOs from holding news conferences, workshops and training of journalists and the issuance of media releases. The decision was taken in the aftermath of the cancellation of workshops for Journalists organised by Transparency International recently. It drew widespread condemnation from various bodies and the opposition. The NGO Secretariat, in a letter dated July 1 has requested all NGOs in the country to refrain from indulging in such activities. Its Director D.M.S. Dissanayake in a letter said such activities carried out by the NGOs were beyond their mandate. "It has been revealed that certain NGOs conduct news conferences, hold workshops, train journalists, and issue news releases, which is beyond their mandate. We reiterate that all NGOs should desist from such unauthorised activities with immediate effect," he said in his letter. When asked for a comment on the decision, Mr. Dissanayake told Daily Mirror NGOs had only been asked not to exceed their mandate through this letter. He said his office examined all aspects such as the trustee of the NGO concerned, its funding sources, vision and mission, programme of work and the officials, before registering it. He said intelligence reports were obtained about the officials when the NGOs applied for registration. "We register the NGOs after all these aspects are cleared. NGOs are also required to submit their annual action plans to us for approval. We also get confirmation letters of their foreign funding agencies as well. However, we have received numerous complaints that some NGOs act in contravention of their mandate. In this letter, we have only asked 1,416 NGOs registered with us to stick to their mandate," Mr. Dissanayake said.

The Sri Lankan government's decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country's Tamil minority, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. The government should provide evidence of the unlawful activity of specific groups and individuals or remove them from the list. On April 4, 2014, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris made public an order signed on March 20, on the advice of the defense secretary, freezing the assets and financial resources of entities ranging from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was militarily defeated in 2009, to nonviolent Tamil organizations around the world. Chief Military spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya reportedly said that under the order, legal action would be taken against anyone having links with the listed groups. This would place local activists and alleged group members visiting the country at risk of being detained and held without charge under Sri Lanka's abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act. "The Sri Lankan government is using vague counterterrorism regulations to tie the major diaspora Tamil groups to the ruthless but defunct LTTE," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "This broad-brush sanction could then be used to punish local Tamil activists and politicians with international ties." Sri Lanka's United Nations Regulation No. 1 of 2012 empowers the government to designate individuals, groups or entities believed to "commit or attempt to commit or participate in or facilitate the commission of, terrorist acts" and freeze their financial assets and economic resources. The government's order provides no factual basis for its actions. Most of the groups listed in the order are lawfully registered entities in the various countries in which they are based. The asset freeze also covers 424 individuals. The government should address its legitimate concerns about foreign terrorist financing primarily through legal cooperation with foreign governments. It should promptly produce the factual basis for listing, and ensure organizations and individuals are able to contest their designations before independent and impartial courts. United Nations Resolution No. 1 is derived from UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001), passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and requires countries to freeze assets and entities of those "who commit or attempt to commit terrorist acts or participate in or facilitate the commission of terrorist acts." Human Rights Watch has extensively reported on how Resolution 1373 has provided governments broad leeway to create vague and overbroad definitions of terrorist activity and to curtail basic rights. In 2009, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that Resolution 1373, by serving as a vehicle for "numerous" countries to enact provisions that derogate from international human rights treaties, has had "a very serious negative impact on human rights." In 2010, the then-UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Martin Scheinin, said in his final report to the UN General Assembly that the counterterrorism regime created by the Security Council "continues to pose risks to the protection of a number of international human rights standards." Government statements on the asset freezes did not allay concerns of future rights abuses. The chief of national intelligence, Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana said that those having dealings with the listed persons and organizations could continue to do so as long as they do not violate Sri Lanka's constitution or collect money for terrorism, but did not specify further exactly what actions would be prohibited. Hendawitharana also left open the possibility that the government might issue an outright ban on the persons and organizations listed, and said that more could be added. "The government is putting all Tamil activists at risk by delegitimizing the major Tamil organizations abroad," Adams said. "Putting organizations engaged in peaceful political activity on a terrorist list is a modern version of McCarthyism."

Mar 20, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court has issued warrants to arrest 15 students attached to the Kelaniya University. The Mahara Chief Magistrate issued the arrest warrants on the university students for allegedly disturbing the peace by holding a protest march despite a court order forbidding it. The arrest warrants were issued as the university students had failed to present themselves in Court following a complaint that they had gone ahead with the protest. About 5,000 undergraduate students of Kelaniya University belonging to the Marxist student union launched the protest march to Colombo Wednesday. However, the police fired tear gas and water cannons and dispersed the protesters when they tried to reach the Presidential Secretariat. The protest march was organized by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) over several issues faced by the country's education and higher education sectors including the slashing of budgetary allocations to the country's education sector. Source: Colombo Page UPDATE 27/03/2014: Daily Mirror- The students are freed on bail.

Last night's arrest of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen in Kilinochchi on terrorism charges, soon after the arrest of Jeyakumari Balendran and her young daughter on suspicion of harbouring a criminal, is extremely disturbing and an urgent call to action. In stark contrast to what the Government says in Geneva is what it does in Sri Lanka. Human rights activists are being arrested under draconian laws which permit the authorities to interrogate them in isolation for extended periods of time. It is clear the government wants to go after those who flag human rights abuses. This is happening when deliberations at the Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka are taking place, demonstrating the regime's scant regard for international opinion and scrutiny. It is an urgent call to hold the government accountable and use all means necessary, in Geneva and elsewhere, to secure the safety of Ruki, Fr. Praveen, Jeyakumari, her daughter and others similarly under arrest and detained. Failure to do suggests that words aside, the international community accepts the democratic deficit in Sri Lanka. We received the following updates last night: At around 10.05 pm tonight, several of us received a text message from Ruki Fernando, on his mobile number 0773874xxx stating that Ruki and Father Praveen have been detained at the killnochchi police station, apparently on suspicion of a shooting. Later, Ruki informed a colleague also via text, that he and father Praveen were being questioned separately. A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police station, was informed that no such persons were arrested by the Killinochchi police or being held at the police station. However the police said that two persons had been arrested by a specially appointed unit of the TID and were being held at a separate location in Killinochchi. Another lawyer who spoke to the OIC Killinochchi was informed that Ruki and Praveen were being questioned and a decision regarding their continued detention would be made in the morning. This directly contradicts the version in the para above. We don't know the details of arrest or the facts leading up to it. We are very concerned for their safety and urgently need a lawyer who can visit the police station tonight and find out where they are being held on for what reasons etc. We published two more updates to the situation: Update 1: A lawyer who called the Killinochchi police, was informed that ruki and fr. praveen were being questioned by around 15 TID officers at the Killinochchi Police station. The HRC has also been informed that both persons are being held at the police station. Still no clear reasons for this treatment and we have also not been able to find a lawyer in Jaffna/Vavuniya/Killi who can visit the police station. Update 2: there is a possibility that ruki and father praveen ay be moved to colombo or vavuniya, but we have not been able to verify where they are at present.As journalist Dinouk Colomboge notes on Twitter, Ruki has been a prolific author on Groundviews, covering over the years issues and incidents mainstream media has often glossed over and the Government claims simply don't exist, are fabricated or over-hyped. A number of videos featuring Ruki's take on the human rights conditions in Sri Lanka can be viewed here. UPDATE : 21 March 2015 Statement to mark one year since the issuing of the gag order, travel restrictions and TID investigation against Sri Lankan human rights defender Ruki Fernando. The 21st March 2015 will mark one year since a court order restricting the freedom of expression on leading Sri Lankan human rights defender and writer, Ruki Fernando was obtained by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). Such restriction on freedom of expression of a prolific writer and commentator on human rights issues such as Ruki, is unprecedented in recent Sri Lankan history. Ruki and another colleague were arrested on 16th March 2014 during a fact finding mission to the war ravaged Northern part of the country. Both were released on 19th March 2014 after massive national and international outrage. Immediately after his release, Ruki gave interviews to local and international media. As a result of this, he faced intimidation after his release and a fresh investigation was launched against him by the TID. The TID also obtained Court Orders restriction Ruki's overseas travels and freedom of expression, and also confiscated communication equipment , all of which are effective till today. Ruki's arrest had resulted in him being branded a traitor and terrorist supporter by some media and Sinhalese nationalist groups, and the restriction on freedom of expression had made it difficult for him to respond to such accusations and defamation and defend himself. His human rights work locally and internationally as well as personal life has been constrained by the need to go to courts each time he needs to travel overseas. Even after obtaining court permission, he was compelled to miss a flight when he was travelling overseas for a human rights conference and he had faced delays, humiliation on other occasions he was travelling overseas for human rights work, due to being stopped and questioned by the Immigration and State Intelligence Service officers. It is now more than 4 months since Ruki's lawyers had made verbal and written submissions to the Attorney General's Department about the closure of the case and lifting of the restrictions . There has been an indication of readiness to lift the travel restriction. But the Attorney General's Department and the TID has refused to close the investigation, return the confiscated equipment and lift of the gag order. This clearly indicates the continuing anti -human rights and media freedom mind-set of the security establishment and the insensitivity of the new political leadership towards same. It shows that HRDs released from detention can be subjected to continued harassments and restrictions, despite the new political leadership in Sri Lanka. The conditions imposed on Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, a woman HRD released on bail on 10th March 2015 after 362 days in detention, reaffirms this. We the undersigned fully endorse and look forward to "...the day when all human rights defenders and dissenters can be free from accusations of supporting terrorism and are able enjoy their rights to express themselves and travel freely" (as said by Ruki ). Signatures: Individuals 1. Ainslie Joseph - Convener/Chief Animator, Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) 2. Amal de Chickera 3. Anberiya Hanifa 4. Anthony Jesudasan 5. B. Gowthaman 6. Balasingham Skanthakumar 7. Brito Fernando 8. Budi Tjahjono 9. Chamila Thushari 10. Damaris Wickremesekera 11. Deanne Uyangoda 12. Dr. Cheran Rudhramoorthy 13. Dr. Leonie Solomons - Executive Director, Language Matters 14. Dr. Muhammad Muzzammil Cader - Convener, People's Movement for Non-Violence 15. Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu - Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) 16. Dr. Richard Perera 17. Dulan de Silva 18. E.M. Bandara Menike 19. Emil van der Poorten - Community Activist seeking to uphold basic human rights 20. Faizun Zackariya - Citizens' Voice for Justice and Peace 21. Freddy Gamage - Editor, Meepura Newspaper 22. Godfrey Yogarajah - Executive Director, World Evangelical Alliance - Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) 23. Herman Kumara - Convener, NAFSO 24. Ian Ferdinands 25. Indika Udugampola 26. Jake Oorloff 27. Jayampathi Bulathsinhala 28. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala 29. Joanne Senn 30. Joe William 31. Jovita Arulanantham 32. K. Guruparan - Attorney-at-Law 33. Kalani Subasinghe 34. Kelly Senanayaka 35. Krishan Rajapakshe 36. Kusal Perera - Journalist 37. Laaurence KWARK 38. Lesley Sirimane 39. M. Nilashani 40. M.M. Rahman - Journalist, Mannar 41. Manjula Wediwardana 42. Marianne Johnpillai 43. Marisa de Silva 44. Melani Manel Perera - Journalist 45. Melisha Yapa 46. Menaha Kandasamy - Red Flag Women's Movement 47. Monica Alfred 48. Nalini Ratnarajah - Women Human Rights Defender 49. Nicola Perera 50. Nilantha Ilangamuwa - Journalist & Editor of Sri Lanka Guardian 51. Nilshan Fonseka 52. Nimal Perera - CSM 53. Nimalka Fernando 54. Nirmala Rajasingam 55. P. Selvaratnam 56. P. Vijayashanthan - Theatre Activist 57. P.N. Singham 58. Paba Deshapriya 59. Philip Setunga 60. Poddala Jayantha 61. Prof. Ajit Abeysekera 62. Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda - University of Colombo 63. Prof. Jayantha Seneviratne - University of Kelaniya 64. R.M.B Senanayake - Retired C.C.S 65. Rajany Chandrasegaram 66. Ranjith Henayakaarachchi 67. Rasika Manobuddhi 68. Ravindra Chandralal 69. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph - Bishop of Mannar 70. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos 71. Rev. Fr. Sherard Jayawardane 72. Rev. Fr. T. L. R. Dominic 73. Rev. Jason J. Selvaraja - Assembly of God, Chavakachcheri 74. Rev. Sr. Anne Perera- HF - CSM 75. Rev. Sr. Deepa Fernando - HF 76. Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando - SCJM, Sri Lanka 77. Rohini Hensman - Writer and Independent Scholar 78. S. R. Perera 79. S.C.C. Elankovan 80. Sampath Samarakoon 81. Senaka Wattegedara 82. Shantha D. Pathirana - Human Rights Defender 83. Shreen Saroor 84. Sunanda Deshapriya 85. Suren D. Perera 86. T. Mathuri - Attorney-at-Law 87. Tanuja Thurairajah - Researcher 88. Tejshree Thapa 89. Udaya R. Tennakoon 90. V. Sanjeev 91. Visaka Dharmadasa Organizations 92. Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) 93. National Peace Council (NPC) 94. Rights Now Collective for Democracy

Activist groups are now confirming that a Tamil woman from Kilinochchi and her 13 year old daughter have been arrested by police investigators following a five hour raid on their home at Dharmapuram last evening. Both of them are reportedly being held in Vavuniya. Reports that Balendran Jeyakumari a prominent campaigner for families of the disappeared in the Kilinochchi District and her daughter were being detained inside her home which is in the Indian Housing scheme broke late afternoon yesterday (13). Media and Tamil politician Gajen Ponnambalam reported that Jayakumari's home had been surrounded by police and armed forces personnel at about 4:30 P.M. on Thursday (13). Ponnambalam and other friends who called Jayakumari on her phone reported that the woman had first answered and that later her phone was snatched away by men claiming to be police, who said there was an investigation under way before switching off the mobile. Neighbours reported the sound of screams and crying by Vithushaini at the home. Media personnel rushing to the scene were not permitted to get close to Jayakumari's residence, with police cordoning off the area near her home. For several hours no reports emerged about their whereabouts, although late Wednesday night, Ponnambalam said there were unconfirmed reports Jayakumari and her daughter had been arrested. Police meanwhile, told reporters in Colombo that one policeman had been injured in an attack when a team of police personnel was attempting to arrest a suspected Ex-LTTE cadre in Kilinochchi. Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana told the BBC on Thursday that the suspect had been in a house in which there were two women who were now being investigated. More unconfirmed reports are emerging about further police casualties. Jayakumari and her daughter Vithushaini are familiar faces in disappearances protests and were heavily photographed during the missing peoples' protest in Jaffna when British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the area during CHOGM in November last year. Jayakumari had four children - two sons were killed in the war and a third went missing after she handed him over to the military in May 2009. Her 13 year old daughter is her last remaining child. Both Jayakumari and her daughter handed over documents of their family members last whereabouts and information to Channel 4?s Jonathan Snow who was mobbed by the demonstrators in Jaffna during Cameron's visit. Sources said that the two women were being harassed on suspicion of having been informants for the British Broadcaster. Video of demonstration at Nallur Kovil Jaffna prior to Cameron's arrival in the North shows Jayakumari and her daughter are in the first row of protestors. UPDATE: 10 March 2015 Jeyakumari was released after 362 days in detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without charges. The Court granted conditional bail of Rs. 200,000 (approx. USD 1,464) and imposed travel ban by impounding her passport and ordering her to report to a police station twice a month. Police will continue investigations into her case.

A Buddhist monk, who campaigned for inter-faith harmony was found assaulted today with cut wounds, and has been hospitalized in Sri Lanka. The General Secretary of Jathika Bala Sena, Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thero was reportedly abducted and found beaten with cut wounds in the Bandaragama area this morning, the police said. He was admitted to the Panadura hospital and was later transferred to Colombo National Hospital for further treatments. According to the information received by the Panadura Police, Ven. Wataraka Vijitha Thero was found with his hands and feet tied up early this morning on the road side in an area called Hirana. Ven. Wataraka Vijitha Thero was threatened by Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, leader of the extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in April during an inter-faith press conference he held with the Muslim religious leaders. The militant monk leader of BBS disrupted the press conference and made Watareka Vijitha Thero to apologize. The Thero later complained to the Slave Island police that he apologized due to threats to his life. Earlier this month the BBS leader threatened the lawyer, former Provincial Councilor of the United National Party (UNP) Maithri Gunarathna, who was representing the victimized monk, at the court premises. Panadura Police has begun investigations into the assault on Watareka Vijitha Thero.

On the night of April 14, 2014, Mr. Sivagnanam Selvatheepan, a Tamil journalist, was brutally attacked by two masked men in the Puraapporukki area of Jaffna Peninsula, in Northern Sri Lanka. Although, the assailants attacked with metal rods with intent to kill, Selvatheepan miraculously survived the murderous attack. The International Council of Eelam Tamils strongly condemns the attack on journalists who are risking their lives to bring out news about the atrocities committed by the occupying forces. Selvatheepan was the Jaffna Vadamaraachchi region correspondent for Virakesari, Thinakkural, and Valampuri newspapers. As a member of the Jaffna Press Club, he had been informing the Jaffna Press Club and his fellow journalist about the continuing threats to his life. Recently, the Nelliady Police Station had obtained personal details about him. The assailants who followed him for a few kilometers clearly identified him prior to the vicious attack. It should also be noted that Selvatheepan, accompanied by his mother, gave evidence about his missing brother to the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka. The fact that he was attacked in a closely guarded area with heavy military presence points to the strong links between the assailants and the military. Journalists and editors working for Puthiyavan, another regional newspaper from Mannar District located in the Northwestern part of Sri Lanka, have been receiving death threats from a politician aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka has also refused to extend the Visa of BBC correspondent Mr. Charles Haviland. All of these point to a strong culture of repression of the press freedom in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will continue to muzzle the press in order to hide its genocidal project coming to the attention of the international community. We strongly urge the international community to intervene and stop the attack on journalist and protect the Tamils from ongoing genocide.

Two student activists were abducted by the Government of Sri Lanka and 17 student activists were remanded until May 19th, says the Inter University Students' Federation. Issuing a statement the IUSF today said; "Abducting and illegally detaining students without warrants and assaulting them is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of the students activists. We categorically condemn this political witch hunt of student activists by the police in collusion with the courts, especially in the context of the Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake's open threat towards IUSF activists and their families. We invite the people of this country to organize and rally to protect educational, political and fundamental rights of the students."\ We publish below the statement in full; Although the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to give solutions to the cut in the Allied Health Sciences' degree and the resistance action of Rajarata students against the repressive university administration, it has launched a campaign of repression against the student activists fighting for education rights. The latest step by the police in this direction is following students in civil attire and abducting and illegally detaining them. Police has conducted two such illegal abductions. In both these abductions they have produced fake warrants against the students. These abductions happened when the students were leaving after a protest action held in front of the University Grants Commission yesterday (16) afternoon. The first abduction happened at about 3.45 in the evening in front of the Post Office in Town Hall. Police officers in civil attire have followed 4 students, ambushed them and a three wheeler and a jeep that arrived suddenly have abducted them. Then they were illegally detained at the Kirulapona Police Station. Second abduction happened at about 5.35 in the evening. Students have got into a bus to go to Colombo Fort and again police officers in civil attire had got into the bus had attempted to arrest a student under a warrant issued in the name of a different person. Students had protested the illegal arrest of the fellow student and the police had arbitrarily ordered the driver to take the bus along with the 13 students to Slave Island Police Station. When the bus arrived at the Police Station the police have inhumanly attacked the students with batons and poles right in front of the Police Station. As of now, students who were injured were not even hospitalized. Students were presented in front of the Fort Magistrate at his residence in Mount Lavinia at about 10.30 in the night and the Magistrate had ordered them to be remanded until 19th. Allied Health Science Students activists of Universities of Ruhuna and Peradeniya are thus being illegally detained and Students Council President of University of Peradeniya, Dimuthu Gunasekere is also among the illegally detained. Abducting and illegally detaining students without warrants and assaulting them is a grave violation of the fundamental rights of the students activists. We categorically condemn this political witch hunt of student activists by the police in collusion with the courts, especially in the context of the Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake's open threat towards IUSF activists and their families. We invite the people of this country to organize and rally to protect educational, political and fundamental rights of the students.