Third Jaffna community launches protest against Sri Lankan military occupation of land
Third Jaffna community launches protest against Sri Lankan military occupation of land by abilash
Residents of Vasavilan in Jaffna launched a protest on Sunday demanding the release of their lands inside the Valikamam North High Security Zone, becoming the third community in the ar
Another pledge to free army-held Point Pedro post office, as land releases stall
Another pledge to free army-held Point Pedro post office, as land releases stall by Thara
The Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Kaushalya Ariyaratne, has assured that steps will be taken soon to release the land and building of the Point Pedro Post Office, which remains under Sri Lankan military control, during a meeting with senior postal officials of the Northern Province.
Ariyaratne, who was on an official visit to Jaffna, toured the Jaffna Postal Complex and held a discussion at the office of the Deputy Postmaster General for the Northern Province, where she was briefed on the needs and challenges of the regions postal service.
Army shuts Palaly temple road after festival as land remains under military control
Army shuts Palaly temple road after festival as land remains under military control by Thara
The permanent access road to the Palaly Raja Rajeshwari Amman Temple, temporarily opened for the temple festival after being released from the Sri Lankan militarys high-security zone, was closed again on 31 July following the conclusion of the festival.
Although the temple area had been released last year, the public had only been allowed to reach the temple by a temporary route, while the permanent road remained shut. In the days before the festival, local residents fenced off their private land, making the temporary route impassable for
Buddhist clergy join lawyers in opposing Sri Lankas judges retirement age bill
Buddhist clergy join lawyers in opposing Sri Lankas judges retirement age bill by abilash
File photograph.
Sri Lankas Buddhist clergy have urged Anura Kumara Dissanayake not to proceed with a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges, even as the Attorney General has cleared the draft legislation to advance.
The chief prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Ramanna and Amarapura Chapters have written to Sri Lankas president opposing the amendment, according to Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Rajeev Amarasuriya, who disclosed the intervention on
Buddhist clergy join lawyers in opposing Sri Lankas judges retirement age bill
Buddhist clergy join lawyers in opposing Sri Lankas judges retirement age bill by abilash
File photograph.
Sri Lankas Buddhist clergy have urged Anura Kumara Dissanayake not to proceed with a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges, even as the Attorney General has cleared the draft legislation to advance.
The chief prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Ramanna and Amarapura Chapters have written to Sri Lankas president opposing the amendment, according to Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Rajeev Amarasuriya, who disclosed the intervention on
‘We will not be silenced, Ravikaran MP vows to continue commemorating Balraj
‘We will not be silenced, Ravikaran MP vows to continue commemorating Balraj by abilash
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi parliamentarian Thurairasa Ravikaran has said that commemorating Tamil figures such as the Vanni king Pandara Vanniyan and the LTTE commander Balraj is a "historical duty", vowing to continue paying tribute despite opposition from Sinhala politicians and sections of the Sinhala-Buddhist community.
Speaking at an event honouring practitioners of traditional Tamil martial arts at the Muttraveli grounds in Mullaitivu on 2 August, the Vanni District MP said he would not be deterred by criticism. He recalled the backlas
Slain Tamil journalist Sahadevan Nilakshan remembered in Jaffna 19 years on
Slain Tamil journalist Sahadevan Nilakshan remembered in Jaffna 19 years on by abilash
Tamil journalist Sahathevan Nilakshan, who was shot and killed by suspected Sri Lankan military intelligence personnel on August 1, 2007, was remembered in Jaffna on Saturday.
At a time when the Jaffna district was on lockdown due to military-imposed curfew, and the city’s streets were heaving with troops, so-called unidentified gunmen were able to approach Nilakshan’s home in Kokkuvil.
The perpetrators forced a friend of the journalist to accompany them to Nilakshan’s home and call him outside, before gunning him down.
Tamil civil society renews call for irrevocable federal solution in merged North-East
Tamil civil society renews call for irrevocable federal solution in merged North-East by abilash
Tamil civil society representatives have renewed their call for an "irrevocable federal" power-sharing arrangement in a merged North-East, as the North East Coordinating Committee marked four years since the launch of its campaign for a permanent political solution.
The fourth-year convening of the "100 Days of Activism for a Permanent Political Solution" was held in Jaffna on Saturday, bringing together civil society activists, university students, political representatives and social activists from across the eight districts of the N
Sri Lanka pledges land release in Mullaitivu weeks after vowing to seize 1,661 more acres
Sri Lanka pledges land release in Mullaitivu weeks after vowing to seize 1,661 more acres by Thara
Sri Lankas Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara, has said steps will be taken soon to release several tracts of military-occupied land in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts, including in Vattuvakal and Keppapilavu, though the pledge is hedged with conditions and follows years of unmet promises to displaced Tamil families.
The assurances came just weeks after Jayasekara told parliament that a further 1,661 acres in the North-East would be permanently acquired for military infrastructure and would not be



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