Right to peaceful assembly

Security forces have stopped three buses carrying Tamil nationals from the North region to the Human Rights Festival scheduled to be held at the UNP headquarters today afternoon (Nov. 13), Britto Fernando of the ‘Samagi Balawegaya’ said.The buses have been stopped at Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Madu this morning.Speaking to ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’, Mr. Fernando said […]

[TamilNet]Amidst the presence of foreign journalists who have come to Jaffna in connection with the CHOGM meet, alleged operatives of the occupying SL military have been issuing death threats to the organisers of the protest scheduled to take place on Tuesday. In the early hours of Monday, heads of dead cows were dumped in front […]

Civil society  convention 7th November 2013 – Colombo, New Town Hall We the undersigned civil society organizations who made joint submissions to the Universal Periodic Review on Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council in November 2012, will not be participating in the November 2013 Peoples’ Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting […]

24 died of cancer in our village Fear has gripped residents of Dorape after a man who protested against the poisonous gas emissions from the SRRI rubber factory attached to DSI group, has been arrested by the counter terrorism unit of the Sri Lankan Police last morning (18), the BBC Sandeshaya reports. Regional correspondent Rathnasiri […]

ASP Chandana Kodithuwakku: I will stop you Gampaha ASP Chandana Kodithuwakku has allegedly forced a group of activists to abandon a vehicle parade to spread awareness regarding the drinking water issue in Rathupawala.  An organization for the protection of water had organized a vehicle parade today (13), to educate the public regarding the Rathupaswala water […]

Press Release Foreign and Commonwealth Office Alistair Burt seriously concerned at reports of violent disruption of peaceful protests by security forces in Sri Lanka. Speaking today, Alistair Burt said:“I note with serious concern emerging reports of the violent disruption of peaceful protests by the Sri Lankan security forces in Weliweriya on 1 August, in which […]

■Gota says villagers were provoked by political elements ■CCD to conduct inquiries into allegations of army attack on protestors ■Residents claim security forces stormed Catholic church where demonstrators took refuge ■Blood stains and bullet marks visible at St. Anthony’s parish Weliweriya ■Ground water test results due in 10 days: Minister ■Opposition Leader tours area, expresses concernBy Dharisha Bastians Residents and authorities […]

 As part of its post-war peace building initiatives the National Peace Council (NPC) has been conducting an educational programme on the LRRC report in different parts of the country, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Colombo, Matara, Galle, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Puttalam, Ampara, Kurunegala, Batticaloa and Trincomalee. These LLRC workshops have been very popular with community leaders and […]

The National Movement for Protecting Free Education (NMPFE) has issued an announcement asking as to who takes the responsibility of the brutal attack carried out on students of Sabaragamuwa University. The announcement issued with the signatures of the co-conveners of NMPFE Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero and Senior Lecturer Devaka Punchihewa states’ “The students of Sabragamuwa […]

Sri Lanka has emphasized that regulation, transparency and accountability of funding to NGOs and NPOs is a pre-requisite in the interest of national security and counter-terrorism as recognized by states, and that obligation placed on states to adhere to the regulatory framework in compliance with 40 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, makes it […]

Four years since the end of the war, restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms that were in place during the war in the name of ‘national security’ are largely unchanged.[2] The Government has systematically sought to suppress dissent and in particular, peaceful assembly, though this is a fundamental right guaranteed under constitution and an […]

 Vikalpa photo Riki FernandoThe war in Sri Lanka ended on 18th May 2009. During three decades of war, civil liberties were severely curtailed, often in an arbitrary manner, without possibilities of challenging them or seeking remedies through independent bodies. The Ministry of Defense, the military and police reigned supreme. Even judicial discretion was curtailed, with […]

Sri Lanka Monthly Briefing Note | Issue No 01 – 1 May 2013Period covered:  22 March 2013 – 31 April 2013 Summary: On 21st March Human Rights Council adopted resolution A/HRC/22/L.1/Rev.13 on Sri Lanka.In short it calls for the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to implement a policy framework (constructive recommendations of the Lessons Learned […]

 Kamaya Jayatissa  It is often the case that a nation which experienced a protracted war will tend to look forward rather than backward. For Sri Lankans, over the years, the war became a part of their lives, and survival a part of their routine. In such a context, healing becomes a lengthy and culturally-bound process. […]

It is reported that the Leader of Sri Lanka’s Democratic People’s Front (DPF) and former parliamentarian Mano Ganesan has been attacked today when he was participating in a demonstration in Kotagala.It is said that the assault has been taken place in a protest held by Sri Lanka’s Up Country Trade Union Alliance (UTUA) in Kotagala […]

BBS Monks led harassments to peaceful Vigil Kishali Pinto-JayawardenaHate pervades the air. It is sadly grotesque that amidst the Avurudu time of reflection and thanksgiving, what prevails is exactly the opposite.Just this week, in the Ratnapura District, plantation workers of Tamil ethnicity clashed with Sinhalese villagers ironically enough after a Sinhala and Tamil New Year […]

 Thrishantha NanayakkaraAfter nearly 7 years of postgraduate education and independent research experience abroad, I returned to Sri Lanka in mid 2003, to work in my mother country Sri Lanka that gave me free education all the way upto university level. When I left Johns Hopkins University in USA, some of my friends cautioned me of […]

Police in  performing their new duty On 12th April, around 7pm, I was amongst a group of people gathered on the pavement, outside the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi building, situated at 32, Havelock Road, Colombo 5. This is the address of the Bodu Bala Sena, which has been accused of inciting and unleashing violence against minority […]

A police thug harass innocent youth at the vigil – Screen shot of MTV News SCT Colombo,  (A Personal Response to the quashing of the first anti BBS protest on Havelock Road) This evening (Friday, April 12th 2013) around 7.15pm on Havelock Road in front of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Building adjoining Laurie’s Road, I was […]

The Bodu Bala Sena, with the assistance of the police, prevented a peaceful candle lit vigil from taking place outside the Bodu Bala Sena headquarters in Thunmulla late this (12.04.13)evening. A small crowd under the banner ‘Buddhists Questioning Bodu Bala Sena’ stood outside the Bodu Bala Sena headquarters and attempted to stage the vigil calling […]

UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe was behind the attacks on a political rally held recently in Jaffna.The Opposition Leader said that he himself had attended the rally and some people had attempted to disrupt it. The personnel who came to disrupt the […]

Distressed parents held up photos of their missing children at the protest The families of people who disappeared in Sri Lanka during and after the country’s long civil war have staged a demonstration in the capital Colombo. The rally was mostly on behalf of Tamil people. Many protesters were prevented by the authorities from attending, […]

MIlitary dismantled  the the Uthyan journalist’s camera 15 February 2013 People together with politicians engage in hunger strike protest on demanding to release lands and resettle people at the high security zone in the Waligamam north this afternoon.Due to the attack tense situation reported in the area. However people were confident on their protest. According […]

U.S. Embassy/CMBThe United States Embassy remains deeply concerned by the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, which were conducted in defiance of a Supreme Court order. This impeachment calls into question issues about the separation of powers in Sri Lanka and the impact of its absence on democratic institutions.The Embassy is also concerned about […]

What Happened today -Situation Report of Lawyers Collective 1. Peoples’ March organized by Lawyers’ Collective. (a) By 7.30a.m (Hulftsdorp – around the Supreme Court premises) the Government had deployed hundreds of goons with placards against the Chief Justice. Among those deployed were Civil Defence Force Officers disguised in civil clothing. Four groups of thugs armed […]

10 January 2013: Thugs armed with wooden poles, rocks, glass tubes attacked, verbally abused lawyers led peaceful protest march and  physically prevented them marching on. Police protected the thugs standing in front of them  and did not arrest the any of the thugs behave violently and threateningly. Demo vehicles belongs to a ruling politician was […]

Stop intimidation! Police assault a Uni student, Jaffna Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) has been informed that Mr. Amirthalingam Rasakumaran, member of the Executive Committee, FUTA and the President, University of Jaffna Teachers’ Association (UJTA) which is affiliated to FUTA has been asked by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) under the Ministry of Defence […]

Sathayagrahaya The Tamil National alliance led Sathyagrahaya   calling for the release of arrested Jaffna University students went ahead despite the intimidations by  an ‘unidentified group ‘.  The night before the start of the Sathyagrahaya ( 21) goons of the paramilitary had destroyed the roof of the platform built for the event. The destroyed roof was […]

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission’s Jaffna regional branch Regional Coordinator T.Thanagaraj informed that 43 complaints have been received about the arrest carried out by the Terrorism Investigation unit.  Continuous arrests are taking place in the Jaffna peninsula from last 27th, after the heroes’ day. Jaffna university students, former rebels from the Tamil Eelam Liberation tigers, […]

Military deployed together with the police at Kaladdi junction, close to the University of Jaffna. The Asian Human Rights Commission expressed grave concern over the present situation in the University of Jaffna. Most students are unable to attend lectures as the whole university is in a state of stalemate. The government has added a“national security” […]