US courts Colombo on trade and the Indian Ocean
US courts Colombo on trade and the Indian Ocean by Thara
The United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, S. Paul Kapur, met the Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat during a three-day visit to the island, in talks centred on trade, investment and security cooperation.
Kapurs visit, from 21 to 24 June, was billed by the United States as a mission to "advance trade, investment, and security cooperation", and was framed by the Trump administration as a reflection of its drive to deepen ties with Sri Lanka as "a key Indian Ocean part
Chemmani toll rises to 412, but the work of identifying the dead has not begun
Chemmani toll rises to 412, but the work of identifying the dead has not begun by abilash
Thirteen more skeletal remains were exhumed from the Chemmani mass grave on Monday and a further seven newly identified, bringing the total identified at the site to 412, of which 390 have now been exhumed, as the excavation, the
Chemmani mass grave excavations halted again at 412 remains
Chemmani mass grave excavations halted again at 412 remains by abilash
Excavation work at the Chemmani mass grave, the largest uncovered on the island, has once again been temporarily halted, with officials planning to resume around 15 July.
The dig has so far yielded 412 sets of sk
Vijay looks back on Eelam solidarity, but not forward
Vijay looks back on Eelam solidarity, but not forward by abilash
The Tamil Nadu chief minister, Vijay, made a brief reference to Eelam Tamils during a speech in the state legislative assembly on Tuesday, recalling his participation in a 2008 hunger strike in support of Tamils during the final stages of the armed conflict, in remarks that looked back to his own activism rather than to the realities facing Tamils in the North-East today.
"Back in 2008, we undertook a hunger strike in support of Eelam Tamils. We demanded that the war come to an end and that Eelam Tamils should be able to live peacefully," he said.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Hakeem rejects Katchatheevu handover calls in Tamil Nadu
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Hakeem rejects Katchatheevu handover calls in Tamil Nadu by Thara
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Member of Parliament Rauff Hakeem has said that the sovereignty of Katchatheevu is already settled under international law and bilateral agreements, warning that attempts to reopen the issue are not a practical solution to the long-running dispute between fishermen on both sides of the Palk Strait.
Speaking at a press conference in Tamil Nadu on Friday during a visit to India, Hakeem said making Katchatheevu the focus whenever tensions arise between fishermen was not a prudent approach.
Sri Lankan army moves to cement occupation of farm in Valikamam
Sri Lankan army moves to cement occupation of farm in Valikamam by abilash
The Sri Lankan military has erected a signboard designating a military-run agricultural farm on privately owned land inside the Valikamam North High Security Zone (HSZ), entrenching its presence even as landowners campaign for the return of their property.
Large tracts of private land in Valikamam North have remained under military occupation for more than three decades, since the High Security Zone (HSZ) was established during the armed conflict and thousands of Tamil families were displaced from June 1990.
The owners have never stopped demanding
Rights group flags 184 Sri Lankan prison deaths to visiting UN delegation
Rights group flags 184 Sri Lankan prison deaths to visiting UN delegation by Thara
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has formally raised concerns with a visiting United Nations delegation over custodial deaths, prison overcrowding, alleged torture and deteriorating detention conditions in Sri Lanka.
The submissions were made as the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture concluded its official visit to Sri Lanka today, following a ten-day mission from 15 to 24 June.
Executive Director of the Committee, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, said written submissions were handed over on
Three thousand years deep - Evidence uncovers Velanais ancient seafarers
Three thousand years deep - Evidence uncovers Velanais ancient seafarers by Thara
A newly published study has identified the earliest scientifically confirmed evidence of prehistoric human settlement on Velanai Island in the Jaffna Peninsula, dating back around 3,460 years and overturning an erroneous long-held Sri Lankan assumption that the region was largely uninhabited until much later.
The study, published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology and led by Thilanka Siriwardana of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and the University of Groningen, examined an extensive shell midden, design
