Making a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Core Group on Sri Lanka called on the government to "address the suffering caused by enforced disappearances" following a report by the UN High Commissioner last month. 

In their statement to the UN, the Core Group, made up of Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom and the United States, called on Sri Lanka to take on the recommendations from the report which highlighted that the risk of future enforced disappearances remains today as Sri Lanka has failed to “tackle structural weaknesses and to undertake necessary reform.”  

The OHCHR recommended that Sri Lanka acknowledges the occurrence of enforced disappearances on a "mass scale" as well as stepping up independent and impartial investigations into enforced disappearances and holding those responsible to account "through criminal and administrative processes."

The Core Group also urged the Sri Lankan government to "ensure that transitional justice mechanisms are independent, inclusive, impartial, transparent, and meet the expectations of affected communities." The current Sri Lankan government announced that it would establish a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation to reportedly investigate atrocities that occurred during the armed conflict.

However, Tamil victim survivors and the families of the disappeared have expressed their lack of confidence in domestic mechanisms as previous commissions have failed to provide meaningful accountability. 

The group expressed their concerns over ongoing tensions over land seizures, arbitrary arrests, irregular searches, and ill-treatment in detention during Sri Lankan police operations.

Despite repeated calls for accountability at the UNHRC, Sri Lanka continues to reject these allegations and the need for an accountability mechanism to prosecute for war crimes committed against Tamils.

Delivering his oral statement at the 55th regular sessions of the UNHRC, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry said “Sri Lanka rejects extensive external evidence gathering measures established following the resolution 46/1 and 62/1," which he claimed "will have wide-ranging legal and political issues”.

^{Bandara at a protest in 2014, outside the US Embassy in Colombo.}

A spokesperson for the Sinhala extremist National Patriotic Movement (NPM) warned that a recently proposed US Congress resolution calling for an independence referendum was “far worse” than Canada placing sanctions on the Rajapaksas for war crimes, as he demanded the Sri Lankan government take action.

NPM spokesperson Wasantha Bandara demanded the Sri Lankan government “explain how it intended to counter the powerful Eelamist lobby… with the help of the US, a self-appointed world policeman,” according to a report in The Island.

Bandara spoke on the resolution which was introduced in US Congress last month and calls for an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and for Washington to recognize the genocide committed against them by the Sri Lankan state.

Bandara reportedly said that “successive governments, including the current dispensation, should be ashamed of their failure to counter unsubstantiated war crimes allegations”.

“The US move, unless countered, could be far worse than the Canadian declaration of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day on May 18 and sanctions on former Presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” he continued.

His remarks come as support for the resolution continues to grow with more US Congress members formally backing the move.

Whilst the resolution has been praised by Tamils across the globe, it has sparked ire from Sinhala extremists, including Sarath Weerasekera, the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security. The former Public Security Minister told reporters in Colombo that members of Congress had been “bought over with money” by the Tamil diaspora and called for an extension of a ban on several US-based groups.

The first-ever British Tamil community hustings is set to take place in London tomorrow, with senior figures from the UK’s major political parties set to speak directly to British Tamils on the issues that matter to them most, ahead of next month’s general election.

Representatives from the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party are scheduled to speak and answer questions on Thursday 20 June at 6.30PM, at The Abbey Centre in Westminster, London.

You can register to attend the event in person here.

The event will also be live streamed at www.tamilguardian.com.

More US Congress members have signed up to back a landmark resolution, calling on the United States to work towards an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and recognize the genocide committed against them by the Sri Lankan state.

Two more US representatives, namely Gabe Vasquez and J. Hillary Scholten backed the resolution this week, taking the current number of co-sponsors to ten.

The resolution, introduced by Representative Wiley Nickel, is the first of its kind to be brought to the US Congress. It came as Tamils marked 15 years since the Mullivaikkal genocide this week, with May 18 commemorated as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day worldwide.

The resolution calls for the “nonrecurrence of past violence, including the Tamil Genocide, by supporting the right to self-determination of Eelam Tamil people and their call for an independence referendum for a lasting peaceful resolution”. More details of the full resolution can be found here. 

(1) urges the United States to strengthen diplomatic channels with the Eelam Tamils and collaborate toward peace and stability in the South Asian region of the Indo-Pacific;

(2) urges the United States and the international community to advocate for and protect the political rights of the Eelam Tamil people and work toward a permanent political solution based on their right to self-determination that is democratically and peacefully approved by them through a universally accepted process of independence referendum; and

(3) recognizes the genocide against the Eelam Tamil people by Sri Lanka.

Speaking in Washington D.C. last month, US House Representative Wiley Nickel said the resolution commemorates that loss, but also aims to protect the Tamil people from “future violence and discrimination”.

“My resolution recognises the genocide in Sri Lanka and affirms the right of Tamils to self-determination through a democratic process,” continued Nickel. “The resolution emphasises the need for a peaceful and democratic solution to ongoing tensions in Sri Lanka. It advocates for an independence referendum.”

Such an approach had been used successfully to solve similar conflicts in other parts of the world, added Nickel.

“As we remember the end of a dark chapter in Sri Lanka’s history, we should also look to the future,” he continued. “A future in which the rights and dignity of all people are upheld and respected. We can do this. Let's stand together and advocate for a peaceful democratic solution that respects the Tamil people's right to decide their own future.”

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron said his party’s commitment to British Tamils was “unwavering”, as he praised the community for their “invaluable contribution to the life of our country" and pledged to “support truth, justice and accountability for all”.

“Britain's Tamil community is a huge success story,” said Cameron, in a video message released just weeks before the UK General Election.

“You make an invaluable contribution to the life of our country, from business and enterprise to teaching and medicine, to your vibrant culture. You play such an important role across so much of our national life.”

“The successes of our Tamil community are a model of what can be achieved in modern Britain,” he continued. "And we will always support your aspirations and hopes for the future.”

The Foreign Secretary went on to speak about mass atrocities committed in Mullivaikkal 15 years ago – crimes that are increasingly being recognised as a genocide.

“I do also know that for many British Tamils the pain of Sri Lanka's recent past continues to be felt,” he said. "And this year, as we mark the 15th anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict, my thoughts are with all those killed and disappeared and with their loved ones who continue to search for answers.”

“In 2013, I became the first prime minister or president to go to the north of Sri Lanka since 1948,” he said, highlighting his historic trip to Jaffna during his tenure as British Prime Minister.

^{David Cameron meets displaced Tamils at a refugee camp in Jaffna, 2013. (Number 10)}

“I heard firsthand about the devastating consequences of the war. The commitment I made then still stands. The UK continues to support truth, justice and accountability for all. And we have been leading international efforts on human rights and transitional justice in Sri Lanka.”

“In our manifesto, we have committed to redoubling our efforts to help achieve diplomatic breakthroughs in Sri Lanka,” he added.

“I have enormously valued the friendship of the British Tamil community over many years. And let me assure you that the Conservative Party's commitment to you is unwavering.”

The International Monetary Fund has approved Sri Lanka’s program review allowing the disbursement of 330 million US dollars, while cautioning that Sri Lanka’s path to debt sustainability remains ‘knife-edged.’

“Despite these positive developments, the economy is still vulnerable and the path to debt sustainability remains knife-edged. Important vulnerabilities associated with the ongoing debt restructuring, revenue mobilisation, reserve accumulation, and banks’ ability to support the recovery continue to cloud the outlook,” said Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair. 

The IMF also warned that inflation is expected to increase due to one-off factors temporarily. “Domestic risks could arise from waning reform momentum, especially on revenue mobilisation. External risks are associated with intensified regional conflicts, commodity price volatility, and a global slowdown. Slow progress in debt restructuring could widen financing gaps.”

While recommending several proposals, the IMF also called for further efforts to strengthen the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework. Directors stressed that supporting governance and structural reforms, supported by development partners and IMF capacity development, is crucial to unlock growth potential. 

The IMF mission stopped short of referring to concerns presented by civil society including the Human Rights Watch, which has called upon the IMF in a letter to stress to Sri Lanka the importance of civil society and to abandon legislation that would severely curtail their freedom.

The letter, published earlier this year, highlights that the IMF's recent Governance Diagnostic Assessment emphasised the indispensable role of civil society in addressing the causes of Sri Lanka's crisis, and also acknowledged that the Sri Lankan government sought to intimidate and silence independent voices.

“The IMF and other international partners supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery recognize that this crisis has its roots in misgovernance and corruption,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “If their efforts are to be successful, they need to stand firm against the government’s attempts to curtail fundamental civil and political rights.”

The full IMF report can be found here. 

Illustration by Keera Ratnam / wavesofcolour

Despite pre-election bluster and high hopes, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a resounding defeat in Tamil Nadu, failing to gain a single seat. Even constituencies such as Coimbatore and Dharmapuri, where the party’s state leader, K. Annamalai was confident of a victory, was swept by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Despite a renewed commitment to win over the southern state by India’s Prime Minister, Narenda Modi, which saw him touring the state and avowing affection for the Tamil language and culture, he has failed spectacularly. In spite of the overtures to Tamil citizens, voters remained unstirred, holding such rhetoric as hollow. Throughout the campaign, the BJP was slammed by Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister for its “betrayal of Tamils” and the party’s inability to combat this claim underlies its failure.

Ahead of the election, the BJP central leadership sought to turn the tables on this claim. Modi and his foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, launched a scathing critique on the Indian National Congress over the sovereignty of an islet between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, Katchatheevu. Responding to the recent release of documents detailing the 1974 decision by Congress to cede the islet to Sri Lanka, Modi took to Twitter to claim that, “this has angered every Indian and reaffirmed in people’s minds - we can’t ever trust Congress”. Jaishankar similarly slammed the decision as callous and noted that “in the last 20 years, 6,184 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lanka.” Whilst they placed the blame on Congress, Annamalai brought the fight to DMK stating that they also bore guilt.

The issue of fishing rights in the Palk Strait is salient. For years now, including under the BJP administration, Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested, beaten and even murdered by the Sri Lankan Navy. To date, not a single Sri Lankan sailor or government official has ever been held accountable. However, even despite the genuine outrage in Tamil Nadu over the treatment of their fishermen, the BJP failed to garner support. This is because for years government officials have paid lip service to the plight of fishermen but done little to address the issues. 

Responding to the supposed outrage in Delhi,  Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry appeared unfazed, simply stating “there is no need for further deliberations on this issue”. Indeed, the speed with which Katchatheevu has fallen from the agenda is evidence of this. In a recent trip to Sri Lanka, Jaishankar shook hands with Sri Lanka’s premier with nary a word spilt on this. This speaks to a fundamentally feeble approach that Delhi has adopted in its approach towards Sri Lanka.

For years now India has refrained from adopting a more stern approach to its southern neighbor which has alienated Tamils who have consistently demanded action over empty platitudes. In October 2022, India abstained on the UN Human Rights Council resolution 51/L1 which established a mandate to collect evidence of war crimes for use in a potential trial. Instead, its delegate reiterated support for the implementation of the 13th amendment. The 13th amendment is a relic from the Indo-Lanka accord of 1987, which called for a merged North-East and the devolution of police and land powers to the province. 

Eelam Tamils have consistently rejected the amendment as an inadequate substitute for their calls for self-determination, whilst the Sri Lankan state has for decades worked to weaken the amendment and to obfuscate its implementation. Instead of heeding to Tamil calls for self-determination, the BJP has decided to cling to this archaic framework set by Congress in the 1980s and has continued to fail to bring pressure to bear on Sri Lanka for its implementation. Consequently those across the North-East, and Tamils in Tamil Nadu who are deeply concerned over the fate of their kinfolk, are unmoved by such an inept approach which disregards their views.

Ultimately, the BJP’s failure in Tamil Nadu is indicative of a failure to take Tamil concerns seriously. Instead of empty rhetoric, India must show clear leadership in tackling the arrest, torture and extrajudicial killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Such leadership may be shown through the prosecution of navy officials implicated in war crimes or imposing targeting sanctions. Similarly, the BJP should no longer seek to placate Sri Lanka but show that there will be consequences for Colombo’s continued failure to meet the political aspirations of Tamils; one which goes beyond the meager framework set by the 13th amendment. In making this demand, the BJP should recognise the unalienable right of Eelam Tamils to self-determination. Finally, in place of abstentions, India ought to be a leading partner in pursuing truth and accountability for the genocide suffered. Unless the BJP are able to show Tamils that they care about the issues afflicting them through concrete action, their brand will remain toxic. They will continue to be viewed as betraying the interests of Tamils.

Sarath Weerasekara, the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Natural Security has warned that the war crimes evidence gathering mechanism created by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) poses a "dangerous situation" for Sri Lankan military officers who stand accused of war crimes. 

In 2021, the UNHRC passed Resolution 46/1 which mandated the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to "collect" as well as "consolidate, analyse and preserve” evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials.

The former Minister told the members that several countries were working together to file cases in their countries and in international courts under the principle of universal jurisdiction against certain members of the military and politicians who have been credibly accused of committing human rights abuses. The Sri Lankan government continues to reject all international mechanisms while the Tamil nation has continously called for international accountability since the genocide at Mullivaikkal in 2009. 

According to the Sri Lankan parliamentary brief, Weerasekera had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate measures to stop the accusations of war crimes by other countries of the world against the Sri Lankan military personnel and the prosecution of cases in the International Military Tribunal. 

Attorney at Law Darshana Weerasekera, who was called before the committee had stated that Sri Lanka should have a strong domestic mechanism that can break the external mechanism with evidence. All of Sri Lanka's previous domestic accountability measures have failed to meaningfully investigate and prosecute those accused of war crimes and to account for thousands of Tamils who were forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Sri Lankan military. 

In a recent report, the OHCHR highlighted that the "continuing accountability deficit in Sri Lanka is clear and unequivocal". The OHCHR reiterated that individual states can exercise the principle of universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka. The OHCHR also called for “targeted sanctions” including asset freezes and travel bans on Sri Lankan officials credibly accused of war crimes. 

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a Committee of Inquiry to investigate the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) for potential lapses in acting on intelligence received from other law enforcement agencies, despite the fact that it has been five years since the Easter Sunday bombings.

According to the President's Media Division, this decision follows the findings of the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry, dated 31 January 2021, which highlighted warnings from Indian intelligence agencies and other sources about the imminent attacks.

The committee's mandate includes assessing whether the SIS, CNI, and other relevant authorities took adequate actions based on prior intelligence and evaluating the effectiveness of these actions. This is not the first committee Wickremesinghe has appointed to investigate the Easter Attacks since taking office.

Last year, he appointed a committee a retired Supreme Court judge led to probe allegations raised in a Channel 4 documentary. Before this, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) and Commission of Inquiry (COI) were also established to scrutinize the events leading up to the Easter attacks. They concluded that timely action on Indian intelligence reports could have prevented the 21 April 2019 bombings.

On 19 April of this year, the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) released a report titled "5 Years Since Easter Sunday Attacks: Still Awaiting Justice," which criticised the delays in justice and the handling of investigative reports.

The President's Media Division stated that this new committee would investigate circumstances surrounding the Directorate of Military Intelligence's initial belief, held for four months, that the 30 November 2018 killing of two police officers in Vavunathivu was linked to the LTTE before suspects with alleged ties to the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) were identified.

Sarathanjali Manoharan, Senior Assistant Secretary to the President, will serve as the Secretary to the Committee of Inquiry. The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the President by 15 September 2024.

Two fundamental rights petitions have been filed in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court challenging the Adani Green Energy Wind power project proposed for Mannar. This is the third such petition to be filed against the project in less than a month. 

The first case was filed on May 17 by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WPNS), while the Center for Environmental Justice filed its petition on June 5. This petition has been filed by three environmentalists Rohan PEthiyagoda, Prof. Nimal Gunathilleke, and Prof. Sarath Kotagama along with Bishop of Mannar Rev. Fr. Bastian. 

The petition has been filed under public interest, challenging the procurement and construction of the proposed 250 megawatts Mannar Wind Power project which was awarded to Adani Green Energy. The case names 67 respondents including the Cabinet of Ministers, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, the Central Environment Authority, the Attorney General, and several others. 

The petition has raised concerns about the credibility of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project along with procedural issues in awarding the contract. The negotiated tariff is also questioned which is set at USD 8.26 cents per kilowatt hour for 20 years since the EIA was based on a cost of USD 4.6 cents. The petitioners have sought relief from courts adding that the awarding of the contract is wrongful and any further action is illegal. 

Meanwhile, a heated discussion took place at the District Coordinating Committee meeting in Mannar. Several individuals raised their concerns regarding the construction of the wind power project and illegal sand mining. The residents asked the committee to intervene to which the chairpersons of the committee responded by saying that the contract was already awarded. 

The meeting was chaired by Minister of State Kadar Mastan, while members of Parliament Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Charles Nirmalanathan, K. Thileepan were present during this meeting. Residents called out the committee stating that while they were given assurances this could be taken up in parliament, no such discussion had transpired thus far. 

Tamil freelance journalist Pradeepan Thambithurai was attacked by masked assailants at his home in Achchuveli, Jaffna, earlier this week. The assailants, arriving on motorbikes, vandalised his property, including setting fire to his motorbike and damaging his three-wheeler. Leaflets were left at the scene with a message about transgender representation.

The damage caused is estimated to exceed Rs. 1 million. Police have launched an investigation, recovering fingerprints from a gas container used in the arson and obtaining CCTV footage of the attackers fleeing the scene. Four police teams are currently involved in the investigation.

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Selvarajah Kajendren visited Thambithurai's home to express concern and demand swift legal action from the Sri Lankan government. “It is very unfortunate that this incident happened,” he said. “The assailants have not only destroyed Thambithurai's belongings but they’ve also damaged the three-wheeler which is owned by his relation and wholesale items belonging to him which were meant for sale. These were worth lakhs and have been all destroyed.”

Kajendren highlighted that Thambithurai, a veteran journalist with over 15 years of experience, had recently been barred from covering the President's visit to the North. Thambithurai informed fellow journalists and several diplomatic missions, "which may have motivated the attack". "Although leaflets were left behind, it was an attempt to camouflage the actual reason behind the attack," said Kajendren.

Kajendren also added that during a previous occasion, Thambithurai was summoned by the Special Crime Office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Kilinochchi for recording an incident where TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnamblam was threatened by state intelligence officers. “Ever since this incident, he has been under surveillance. He now finds it hard to do this job or work as he fears for his life and is traumatized by the incident. The government needs to take responsibility. This could not have happened without their knowledge.”

Jaffna Media Association President K. Selvakumar condemned the attack and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible. C.V.K. Sivagnanam, Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council, echoed this sentiment, urging a peaceful resolution and swift justice for the perpetrators.

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division has summoned at least seven Tamil political activists in the North-East for questioning in the last three months, as the state’s intimidation of activists and rights defenders continues.

This week alone, the former chairman of the Batticaloa district youth wing of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Lohitharaja Deepakaran, and the coordinator of the Tamil Youth People's Movement, Jeevarathinam Thaveswaran, had been instructed to appear at the police office in Batticaloa on June 11 and 12, respectively.

This move was criticised by Tamil parliamentarians, including ITAK leader Sivagnanam Shritharan, where he tabled a letter addressed to Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a recent parliamentary session. 

The letter, dated June 4, warns of a systematic plan to disrupt the daily lives of Tamils through targeted investigations and intimidations by the security forces, particularly focusing on political leaders in the Tamil homeland. 

In his letter, the parliamentarian provided details of seven such Tamil individuals who have been summoned by the TID within the past three months. Shritharan called for an end to the ongoing police harassment against Tamil political activists.

The latest summons issued to Thaveswaran came from the acting Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kokkadicholai Police Station. The notice directed him to appear at the TID's Batticaloa Sub-Division and to bring documents related to the Tamil Youth People's Movement for "investigative purposes".

Thaveswaran believes this action is politically motivated, especially in light of his movement's support for a Tamil public candidate in the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election. The activist took to Facebook to condemn what he perceives as a violation of rights and threatening activities.

Similarly, on June 6, Deepakaran received a police notice form instructed to appear at the Batticaloa Sub-Division office on June 11.

The intimidation of Tamil political activists has become routine across the North-East, where the Sri Lankan security forces maintains a massive military and police presence.

Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sajith Premadasa who is currently touring the North-East recently met with members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarian whilst in Jaffna.

Premadasa met Mavai Senathirajah and M A Sumanthiran at the ITAK office in Jaffna where they reportedly discussed the devolution of power for the North-East.

The Tamil lawmakers reportedly asked that the opposition leader make clear his plans for the homeland by way of an election manifesto so that it is clear to both Tamils and Sinhalese his plans if elected to power. The topic of the 13^th Amendment, which Premadasa pledged to implement in full which his party colleagues contradicted, was also discussed.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker who is a long-time Rajapaksa ally and Deputy Chairman of Parliament Committees Angajan Ramanathan was seen meeting with Premadasa as he visited the American Mission Tamil school.

Ramanathan told reporters he had participated in the event to express his gratitude to Premadasa for the efforts he is supposedly making to uplift schools in the North-East. 

Premadasa is currently touring the North-East where he has been providing smartboards to classrooms and disbursement of funds to schools in the North-East. He recently told a gathering that once elected, he would not only hold a donor conference for post-war reconstruction but would implement the 13 Amendment. 

Read more on that here. 

An expert committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recommended the construction of a "centrally located iconic building as a repository of artistic and cultural expressions" to commemorate those who died in the armed conflict, political unrest, or civil disturbances. 

The committee claims this building could foster collective commitment to non-recurrence and promote community healing. Their report, based on months of deliberations and public consultations in the North-East and Kurunegala, asserts the right to memorialise and notes diverse engagement with memorialisation and reconciliation.