By Aanya Wipulasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been ordered to give evidence before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on June 21 in a Habeas Corpus inquiry into the disappearance of two human rights activists who went missing during his tenure as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. Speaking to the Sunday Observer ex-Defence Secretary’s legal team …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Give Evidence at Jaffna Magistrate’s Courts on June 21st Regarding Habeas Corpus Inquiry Into Two Human Rights Activists Who “Disappeared” in Jaffna on Dec 9th 2011’ »

By Ranmini Gunasekara If the Police do not arrest the General Secretary of the All Ceylon Thowheeth Jama’ath (ACTJ), Abdul Razeek, within the course of next week, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) will find him and do the needful, warned General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera today (24). He was addressing the …

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Gen-Secy Gnanasara Thero Threatens to “Find and do the Needful” to All Ceylon Thowheeth Jamath(ACTJ) Gen -Secy Abdul Razeek if Police do not Arrest him Within a Week.’ »

By Prof. A.N.I. Ekanayaka There is something intrinsically meaningless in the bare assertion “Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country” where the denial that it is a “Buddhist country” is obviously the most contentious part provoking bitter controversy. However, on any detached analysis the debate whether Sri Lanka is or is not a Buddhist country …

Continue reading ‘When People Say Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist Country What They May Actually Mean is that Sri Lanka Belongs to the Sinhala Buddhists Alone!’ »

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a leading public policy research and advocacy think tank in Sri Lanka, yesterday expressed its deep shock and concern over the Presidential pardon of controversial Buddhist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero. The general secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, who was convicted of four counts of …

Continue reading ‘Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Wants Sirisena and the Entire Govt To Justify With Stated Reasons the Granting of a Presidential Pardon to Controversial Buddhist Monk Gnanasara Thero Who was Convicted of Four Counts of Contempt of Court and Was Serving a Six-year Sentence of Rigorous Imprisonment.’ »

Sandya Eknaligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, had written to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting for security for herself and her children after the release of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara. The monk was jailed after he was found guilty of Contempt of Court following verbal abuse hurled …

Continue reading ‘Sandya Eknaligoda Writes to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Requesting Security For Herself and Children After Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Gnanasara Thero was Released From Jail by Sirisena.’ »

THERESA MAY strode out of the door of 10 Downing Street in a crimson business suit and bowed to the inevitable. Having failed three times to get her Brexit deal through a hopelessly divided parliament, and confronted with a Tory insurrection over her proposed fourth attempt, she announced on May 24th that she would step …

Continue reading ‘Theresa May Bows Out as Prime Minister on June 7th Leaving Her Successor to Grapple With the same Forces That Destroyed Her- The Economist.’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued By the Media Office of the Tamil National Alliance ) The Tamil National Alliance unequivocally condemns the President’s act of pardoning Ven. Gnanasara Thero by abusing the Constitutional powers vested in the Head of State. He was jailed by the Court of Appeal for committing the offence of contempt …

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance unequivocally condemns the President’s act of pardoning Ven. Gnanasara Thero by abusing the Constitutional powers vested in the Head of State.’ »

Camelia Nathaniel, Sandasen Marasinghe and Amali Mallawarachchi Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training and Skills Development Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be taken up for debate on June 18 and 19. Speaker Jayasuriya made this announcement in Parliament …

Continue reading ‘Parliament to Debate No Confidence Motion Against Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen On June 18 and 19 Despite Opposition Wanting it on June 6 and 7; MIffed UPFA and SLFP Refuse to Participate in Select Committee in Protest.’ »

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today announced the appointment of an eight member Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) headed by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri, to look into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. The other members of the PSC include Ministers Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MPs Kavinda Jayawardene, Ashu …

Continue reading ‘Eight Member Parliament Select Committee Headed by Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri Appointed to Probe Easter Sunday Attacks.’ »

By B. Kolappan But with party not cutting through in bypolls, change in govt. is unlikely The DMK’s well-oiled campaign machinery, led by party president M.K. Stalin, on Thursday succeeded in stopping the Modi juggernaut from rolling into Tamil Nadu by mobilising votes with a focus on core issues such as demonetisation, NEET and the …

Continue reading ‘MK Stalin -led DMK Coalition Prevents Modi-led BJP Juggernaut From Rolling Into Tamil Nadu State by Winning 37 of 39 Lok Sabha Seats.’ »

BJP has led NDA into a landslide victory in the 2019 General Elections, with the party alone winning 303 seats – 31 seats more than the halfway mark of 272. The NDA came close to the 350-mark, while the UPA, led by Congress, has sunk once again in the Lok Sabha. The grand old party …

Continue reading ‘BJP Led NDA Coalition in Landslide Victory While Congress Fares Poorly in Lok Sabha Elections: Narendra Modi Makes History as the First Non – Congress Prime Minister of India to Lead His Party to Success for a Second Consecutive Term.’ »

By Priyanka Thirumurthy For the ruling AIADMK which hauled 37 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, results have been nothing short of disappointing this time around. As of 1.45 pm, the party is leading in just one seat in Tamil Nadu. Anbumani Ramadoss of the PMK – part of the AIADMK-BJP alliance – has …

Continue reading ‘MK Stalin Led DMK and Allied Parties Including Congress Leading in 38 0f 39 Lok Sabha Constituencies in Tamil Nadu Heading for Sweeping Victory in State.’ »

By Ramanathan S. Sparking euphoria among his supporters across the country, and in a brutal defeat to the opposition, PM Narendra Modi has led his coalition to a victory, yet again. The BJP-led NDA is all set to form the Union government for a second consecutive term. With counting for the 17th Lok Sabha still …

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi Set to Become Prime Minister of India Again with BJP -led NDA Coalition Leading in More Than 300 Seats In Elections to the 542 Member Lok Sabha.’ »

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was released from the Welikada Prison, Commissioner General of Prisons, J. W. Tennakoon said. Earlier today, President Maithripala Sirisena ordered the Commissioner General of Prisons to release Gnanasara Thera who was sentenced to 19 years imprisonment to be served in six years …

Continue reading ‘Convicted Gnanasara Thero Pardoned by Sirisena Exits Welikade Jail Premises Through Separate Gate While BBS Gen Secy’s Mother, Monks, Media and Supporters Waited at Main Gate .’ »

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had decided not to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), appointed to probe the Easter Sunday terror attacks. However, parliament yesterday approved a motion to set up a select committee to look into Easter Sunday attacks and to determine if any …

Continue reading ‘Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, Sarath Fonseka,Kavinda Jayawardena, Ashu Marasinghe, Jayampathy Wickramaratne and MA Sumanthiran Appointed to Parliament Select Committee Probing Easter Sunday Attacks; UPFA and SLFP Opt out of PSC.’ »

The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the No Confidence Motion against Industry and Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Co-operative Development and Vocational Training and Skills Development Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be taken up for debate on June 18 and 19. The Speakers decision upheld the ruling party’s position that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) …

Continue reading ‘No Confidence Motion Against Cabinet Minister and ACMC Leader Rishad Bathiudeen Would be Taken Up for Debate on June 18 and 19 Announces Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Secretary General Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has been granted a presidential pardon, highly placed sources confirmed. The hardline Buddhist group has called on its supporters to gather near Welikada Prison, where Gnanasara Thero was serving his jail term, at 3 p.m. today to welcome the monk, expected to …

Continue reading ‘Convicted Bodu Bala Sena Gen-Secy Gnanasara Thero Serving Prison Sentence for Contempt of Court Offence Has Been Issued Presidential Pardon by Sirisena in a “Big Blow to Rule of Law” in Sri Lanka.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama Lawmakers engaged in heated arguments yesterday in Parliament, unable to reach a decision on the date to take up the No-Confidence Motion against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to look into allegations against him. Having listened to lawmakers of both sides for two hours, Speaker …

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Compelled to adjourn Parliament Early Due to Ruckus Created by Joint Opposition MP’s Protesting Over No Confidence Motion Against Rishad Badiutheen Issue.’ »

By Kelum Bandara In the wake of reports about Arabic signboards in some areas of the eastern province, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that they should be written only in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages. According to sources close to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister instructed Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardane to initiate …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Instructs Home Minister Abeywardane to Ensure That all Public Signboards and Nameboards Should be in Sinhala,Tamil and English only and Not in any Other Language.’ »

By Ajith Alahakoon The resolution for appointing a Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to probe the causes of the Easter Sunday terror attacks which killed over 250 persons and caused injuries to around 500 others was passed in Parliament yesterday (22) with an amendment. UNP National List MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne PC brought the amendment to …

Continue reading ‘Resolution to Appoint Parliament Select Committee to Probe Causes for Easter Sunday Violence Passed with Amendment to Empower PSC to Investigate MP’s and Governors with Alleged Terrorist Links also.’ »

by Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera Minister Rishad Bathiudeen today said he had never influenced the army commander and that he only inquired about a person who was taken by an unidentified group. He told parliament that he never forced the Army Commander to release anyone and asked if it was wrong to inquire about …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Minister Bathiudeen Tells Parliament That He Only Asked the Army Chief Whether a Particular Person Was in Military Custody and Never Asked for the Release of Anybody.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran There have been four very disturbing developments in Sri Lanka in the past few days, which, if not recognized and attended to immediately, could pave the way for more attacks by the local affiliates of the Islamic State (IS). In fact, the vitiated political and communal atmosphere could be used by any group, …

Continue reading ‘Four Disturbing Developments That Could Make Sri Lanka More Vulnerable to Attacks in the Future.’ »

By Manoj Colombage Army Intelligence Major Prabath Bulathwatte has been back in the spotlight after Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake stunned civil society in a television interview last week, announcing that the officer, who was interdicted for allegedly running the white van squad responsible for a slew of attacks against journalists, had been reinstated into a …

Continue reading ‘Has the Good-Intentioned Army Commander Lt.Gen Mahesh Senanayake Been Misled by Vested Interests Into Re-enlisting Alleged ” Black Sheep” Maj Prabath Bulathwatte as a Staff Officer ?’ »

By Gamini Weerakoon Politicians, like astrologers, are keen to predict a quick end to the ‘malefic period’ that befell the country on Easter Sunday for their usual fun and games to resume. The realisation that it was a fanatical, ruthless attack, the likes of which have devastated some countries has still not dawned on many. …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Nationalists See the Present Situation as a Grand Opportunity for Their ‘Strongman’ in the Presidential Race.’ »

DECLARATION & PLEDGE BETWEEN FOCUS AND AUMSA The series of bombings on Easter Sunday (21st April 2019) and subsequent events compel us to reflect deeply about how we as Sri Lankans must change the way we think, speak and act towards one another. In light of this, the Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS) and …

Continue reading ‘Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS) and All University Muslim Student Association (AUMSA) Representing Christian and Muslim Undergraduates of Sri Lanka Make Landmark Declaration and Sign Joint Pledge.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Sunday Observer” of May 19th 2019 Under the Heading “A long war against racism”) Ten years ago, Sri Lanka finally ended a bloody conflict that spanned three decades. It is particularly tragic that the week preceding this milestone was marked by calls to guard against a repeat of July …

Continue reading ‘Parallels Between the Anti-Tamil Violence of July 1983 and the Anti -Muslim Violence of May 2019 Are Stark and Terrifying -” Sunday Observer”.’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya In the aftermath of the IS-linked Easter bomb attacks that left the country riven, Sri Lanka’s government representatives at the highest level were seen going in different directions – both literally and figuratively speaking. President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday (May 13) suddenly left for Beijing to attend a conference on Asian civilisations. …

Continue reading ‘President – Prime Minister Divide Fractures Foreign Relations Drastically as Sirisena Holds Hands with Beijing While Marapana Plays Footsie With Washington.’ »

The recent anti-Muslim attacks in the Gampaha and Kurunegala districts that left one dead and thousands affected were orchestrated by political forces connected to a key party, the Sunday Observer reliably learns. UPFA MP and SLFP General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekara made a statement yesterday at the Colombo Division DIG’s office regarding video footages that emerged …

Continue reading ‘Recent Anti-Muslim Attacks in Gampaha and Kurunegala Districts were Orchestrated by Political Forces Connected to a Key Party: Prof GL Peiris and Basil Rajapaksa of SLPP Not Available for Comment.’ »

BY TISARANEE GUNASEKARA “And even here Lies the other shore Waiting to be reached.” Tagore (My Reminiscences) The blue, red, yellow, orange and white lights are on, as are the makeshift stalls selling lanterns. Yet few pause to see, haggle, buy. Vesak, so near chronologically, had never seemed so far away spiritually. After the Easter …

Continue reading ‘Why Are The Leading Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka Not Stating That Violence has No Place in Buddhism and Denouncing Anti – Tamil and Anti-Muslim Attacks as Being Anti-Buddhist?’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene There is much good sense in the assertion by Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church this Friday that despicable communal violence by organised mobs against Muslims in the North Western Province and Minuwangoda a few days earlier was not only politically instigated but also a deliberate attempt to turn public focus away from …

Continue reading ‘Were the police and security forces inactive when hordes of scrawny Sinhalese men shouting unspeakable filth went on the rampage for two days, attacking mosques and Muslim shops, despite curfew being imposed? IF SO WHY?’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa A decade after the end of the war, Sri Lanka is visibly, and far more than what’s acknowledged or reported openly, reeling from violent conflict. The anti-Muslim riots last week – of a scale, scope and speed of destruction that dwarfed Digana just over a year ago – coupled with the increase …

Continue reading ‘The Spread, Scale and Scope of Violence – Verbal and Kinetic, Digital and Physical – Against the Muslims and Tamils Since Easter Sunday Indicates the Success of the Easter Sunday Terrorism.’ »

BY AANYA WIPULASENA AND ANURADHA KODAGODA An irredeemable gloom hung over the air. On Tuesday (14) evening Kottaramulla, in Nattandiya, was uncomfortably silent. As the 6.00 p m police curfew approached army personnel and police officers patrolled deserted streets. They would stop and check all vehicles going past that way. A day after an organised …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Victims have no faith that the police and army personnel would protect them if Violence Happens Again Because the security forces Have Tragically failed them.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The mobs that hurled the stones were largely outsiders. But the men that threw bottles of petrol into his wholesale shop and struck the match while his family quaked in the flat above were from his own village. And that is what’s tearing communities apart in areas where, on Sunday and Monday, …

Continue reading ‘Majority of Attackers Were Organized Mobs Coming From Outside Who Were Assisted by Local Residents who Pointed out Muslim-owned Properties and Participated in the Violence at Times’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana The no-confidence motion (NCM) against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen alleges he tried to pressurise the Army Commander to release suspects arrested over the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, and that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under him had supplied empty cartridge cases violating procedure to the copper factory owned by Inshaf Ahmed — …

Continue reading ‘No Confidence Motion Outlining Ten Charges Against Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Signed by 66 MP’s Submitted to Speaker Jayasuriya on May 16th Has Been Listed on Parliament Order Book.’ »

By V. V. Ganeshananthan In the case of September 11 2001, communal loss is – comparatively, at least – well understood. Everyone saw or could see those deaths; they were on the news even as they happened; the broadcast was part of their lasting tragedy. Few perceived denial of the deaths as rational. The people …

Continue reading ‘Grief is a Country That Looks Different to Each Person Entering it.’ »

By World Socialist Web Site Reporters On Wednesday, World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) reporters visiting Minuwangoda, a bustling town in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka, discovered a ghost town. The town, with many Muslim-owned shops, is located 50 kilometres from Colombo in the Western Province. It has been devastated by an anti-Muslim rampage by …

Continue reading ‘“Soldiers in Black Clothes With Faces Covered in Black Knocked Doors with Their Guns and Shouted Obscenities, Saying ‘Thambio’ (Muslims) Allege Terrified Muslim Residents of Galoluwa to WSWS Reporters’ »

By Sunetra Choudhury On the last day of the 2019 election campaign, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spoke about the big controversies of the day, her political debut, and the possibility of seeking election to the Lok Sabha. Edited excerpts: What is your reaction to the Prime Minister’s remark today that he can’t forgive …

Continue reading ‘Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India Must State His Position on Nathuram Godse Who Killed the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi says Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’ »

by Jacinda Ardern Essentially, our motivations have been to create change for the better. In the wake of the terrorist attack in Christchurch New Zealand on the 15th of March, you may have seen many images or footage. Disturbingly, you may have also seen the attack itself. Not because social media was created to be …

Continue reading ‘We Each Have a Role to Play in Protecting Freedom of Expression and an Open, Free and Secure Internet But This Should Never be Used as a Justification for Leaving Extremism and Terrorism Unchecked’ »

By AN EYE WITNESS I happened to be there at the exact time when rampaging mobs were attacking the shops and the following is an eye witness account by me. The time was almost 7.15 pm in the evening. The police were only handling the traffic, no riot police or policemen with batons were present, …

Continue reading ‘“When the Attacks Began in Minuwangoda, Air Force Personnel in a Double Cab On Airport Road Drove Away While the Army and Police at the Spot did NOTHING to Prevent or Stop the Mobs” – An Eyewitness Account’ »

By M.S.M.Ayub The terrorists of the National Thawheed Jama’ath cold-bloodedly killed around 300 Christians just because they were Christians. That was clear by the statement made eight days after the terrorist attack by Abu Bakr-al Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which seemed to be behind the Easter Sunday …

Continue reading ‘Muslims Are Being Ridiculed by Fancy Stories about “Virgins of Paradise” Despite The Fact That in Sri Lanka’s 1000 Year Muslim History No Muslim Has Killed A Member of Another Community to Attain Such Virgins’ »

By Dr.Nirmala Chandrahasan It is said that those who do not heed their past often repeat it. In other words history repeats itself. Looking at the present scenario in the Country one feels that we might be on the brink of another period of conflict. Recent revelations that some members of the Muslim community have …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Muslim Suicide Bombers Were Radicalized by a Religious Fervour Fuelled by Events Outside Sri Lanka Connected to Global Politics and Global Terror Group Links.’ »

By Hemantha Randunu Police investigations have revealed that millionaire businessman and Mabole resident arrested for his alleged links to the proscribed Islamic extremist terrorist outfit National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) is the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) organiser for Wattala.

By Shanika Sriyananda Army Commander Lt. General Mahesh Senanayake yesterday said anti- Muslim violence carried out in at least three districts this week was perpetrated by well-organised groups. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he denied allegations that the military was ineffective in cracking down on the groups that carried out well-coordinated attacks across a number …

Continue reading ‘Army Commander Lt.Gen Mahesh Senanayake Says Anti-Muslim Violence In Three Districts were Perpetrated by Well- Organized Groups Engaging in Co-ordinated Attacks.’ »

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association has strongly condemned the decision to restore an Army Intelligence official named as the main suspect behind the abduction and torture of journalist Keith Noyahr who is also linked to the murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge back into active service. In a statement issued yesterday, the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Strongly Condemns the Re-induction of Major Prabath Bulawatte Implicated in Past Attacks on Journalists Into active Service by the Army Commander and Urges President and Govt to “Correct Mistake”.’ »

by Dilrukshi Handunnetti COLOMBO –From the misty Knuckles Hills that form a part of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands, a new snake species has been added to the island’s already rich catalog of unique reptiles. De Silva’s rough-sided snake (Aspidura desilvai) is described in a new paper published in Zootaxa, making it the ninth species in …

Continue reading ‘New Species of Snake Discovered in Sri Lanka Named “Rough-sided Snake “(Aspidura desilvai) Which Is Only Found in the Matale Knuckles Hills Range in the Central Province’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe, Chathuri Dissanayake, and Chandani Kirinde The Police yesterday arrested 33 people linked to widespread anti-Muslim Ma attacks, which erupted countrywide as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe renewed appeals for the public to cooperate with security forces and Police to restore calm. The Police arrested 60 people from the North-Western Province, but only nine …

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Reveals he has Information that some local Politicians Belonging to Certain Political Parties Were Behind Current Anti-Muslim violence and Says “We would like to tell the leaders of these political parties to control their party members”’ »

BY RAJEEWA JAYAWEERA Daham Sirisena entered wedded life last week. I believe most, if not all, citizens, will join me in wishing the newly wedded couple happiness, joy and wedded bliss in the years to come. Daham is no ordinary person. He is the youngest child and only son of Maithripala Sirisena, the President of …

Continue reading ‘By Celebrating Son Daham’s Wedding on Such a Grand Scale 18 Days After the Easter Sunday carnage, President Sirisena has Added Callousness to his Already Bloated list of Negative Traits.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde and Chathuri Dissanayake Huddled together with her one-year-old grandson, husband and daughter-in-law, Sarah Umma (55) left her fate in God’s hands as mobs stoned their house and set fire to the motorbike in the front patio. The mobs, over 500 of them, Umma says, took over the winding inner roads of Kottampitiya …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Communities Living in Pre-dominantly Sinhala Areas in North -Western Province Attacked by Rampaging Mobs Numbering Over 500 During Curfew Hours Despite Deployment of Police and Army.’ »

By Darshana Abayasingha Sri Lanka’s largest pasta manufacturing facility, Diamond Pasta Limited, which is located in Minuwangoda, was destroyed during the violence on Monday night. Speaking to the Daily FT, the company’s management stated that though Police was called to control the situation, only ten officers had arrived at the scene, and they had been …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Largest Pasta Manufacturing Facility Diamond Pasta Ltd in Minuwangoda Totally Destroyed By Mob Numbering Over 200 on Monday Night: Damages Estimated at Over 700 Million Rupees for Muslim Owned Company with Largely Sinhala Employees.’ »

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday denied that he had used political influence to get several suspects released from the Hettipola police station, insisting his intervention was only to calm a rapidly escalating situation. Jayasekera told reporters at SLFP party headquarters that he was informed of a large group of people …

Continue reading ‘SLFP Gen -Secy Dayasiri Jayasekera MP Says he only Got Six Arrested Persons Transferred from Hettipola to Bingiriya Police Station To Resist Mob Pressure and That Were Later Released Due to an “Independent” Decision taken by the Police.’ »

By Divya Thotawatte Anglican Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey yesterday called on authorities to take strong action to prevent mob violence, and warned that failure to do so will only expand rifts between the majority and minority communities in Sri Lanka. Addressing the media, Canagasabey stated that the Government should act without fear while …

Continue reading ‘Anglican Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey Wants Govt to Safeguard Life and Property of Each Individual in the Country While Urging Police and Armed forces Not to be Influenced by Vested Political Agendas.’ »

The family of M.S. Fouzul Ameen (49) is in shock. The well-to-do furniture shop owner from Kottaramulla in Nattandiya fell victim to a mob attack on Monday night, passing away at the Marawila Hospital, having sustained serious cut injuries to his neck and face. M.S. Fouzul Ameen’s national identity card held by one of his …

Continue reading ‘49 Year Old Furniture Shop Owner MS Fouzul Ameen From Kottaramulla in Nattandiya Succumbs to Injuries Inflicted by a Sword -Wielding Gang and Passes Away at Marawila Hospital’ »

The software engineer suspected by authorities of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, Reuters reported on Tuesday quoting investigators. Four sources in Sri Lankan investigating agencies had said they believed 24-year-old Aadhil Ameez was …

Continue reading ‘24 Year old Aadhil Ameez the Software Engineer From Aluthgama Who Called Himself “Aadhil Ax” Arrested by Police is Suspected of Providing Logistical and Technological Support to the Easter Sunday Suicide Bombers’ »

The head of the Catholic church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, told newspersons here on Tuesday, that the clashes in the North-Western Provinces have no religious nuances and that the attacks on Muslim properties appear to have been carried out by political and not religious elements. “What we see is more a political crisis …

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Denies Catholic Involvement in North Western Province Anti-Muslim Violence and says “Certain political parties and their agents at the base level have run out of control and they go and attack these people unnecessarily”’ »

(Text of a Statement Issued by the NCEASL on the Recent Violence Against Muslim Communities) The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka ( NCEASL) is deeply saddened by the ongoing attacks on Muslim communities in Kurunegala, Gampaha, and the Puttalam districts. The violent mob attacks targeting mosques, Muslim owned-businesses and homes have left our …

Continue reading ‘Christian Evangelical Alliance Calls Upon Govt to Take Urgent Action to Stop and Prevent Mob Attacks on Mosques , Muslim Owned Businesses and Homes’ »

By Meera Srinivasan On Monday afternoon, mobs unleashed sustained violence on a group of villages in Kurunegala district in the island’s North-Western Province, damaging several mosques in the area. A 45-year-old man, who ran a timber store, died of stab injuries, even as two busloads of people, aided by local goons, carried out raging attacks …

Continue reading ‘Amith Weerasinghe of “Mahason Balakaya” Who was Suspected Of Having Incited Violence against Muslims in Digana Last Year Arrested Again by Police for Questioning About Alleged Complicity On -Going Anti-Muslim Violence’ »

By Meera Srinivasan On Monday afternoon, mobs unleashed sustained violence on a group of villages in Kurunegala district in the island’s North Western Province, damaging several mosques in the area. At least two busloads of people, aided by local goons, carried out raging attacks on mosques, Muslim-owned shops and homes on May 13 in Kurunegala, …

Continue reading ‘Two Bus Loads of Outsiders Aided by Local Goons Engage in Sustained Anti-Muslim Violence in Kurunegala District; Two Suspects Linked to Earlier Aluthgama and Digana Attacks on Muslims Seen in the Vicinity; Dayasiri Jayasekera Allegedly Freed Six Suspects Arrested by Police?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Mobs attacked several mosques, torched dozens of shops and homes of Muslims in Kurunegala, some 100 km north-west of capital Colombo, on Monday, in the biggest outbreak of violence since the April 21 Easter serial bombings. A police curfew, initially imposed in six villages in the district, was later extended to cover …

Continue reading ‘Mosques, Muslim Owned Homes and Businesses Attacked in Kuliyapitiya, Kobeigane, Rasnayakapura, Hettipola, Bingiriya and Dummalasuriya in Kurunegala District: Mobs on Motor Cycles Reportedly Moving From Place to Place’ »

Sri Lanka has partially lifted an overnight curfew imposed nationwide after an upsurge in anti-Muslim violence, three weeks after the deadly Easter Sunday bombings. The curfew in the North-Western province will remain until further notice, police said. Mosques and Muslim-owned shops have been vandalised or set on fire, and one Muslim man has been slashed …

Continue reading ‘“We can see many places where the curfew has been announced. The army is on the streets with guns, but they don’t take any action against the violence,” -Muslim Businessman Tells BBC.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake As mob violence escalated yesterday, the Government clamped down imposing an island wide curfew and blocked social media sites as clashes erupted across three districts and the Government appealed for calm. As security forces struggled to contain the communal violence which started on Sunday night in several localities in Kurunegala area, the …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Community Fearful as Violence Escalates in Kurunegala District: Police Arrest Three Men in Kuliyapitiya but Cave in to Pressure and Release Them’ »

Concerns over state of governance were raised yesterday in political circles with President Maithripala Sirisena leaving to China on an official visit leading to the cancellation of today’s Cabinet meeting, putting off key decisions when the country is in a state of emergency post-Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Text of a Press Release Issued by the Tamil National alliance on May 14th 2019 on reports of Mob violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka ) The Tamil National Alliance is deeply concerned by reports of mobs attacking Muslim homes, businesses and Mosques in several villages over the last two days. It is particularly concerning …

Continue reading ‘TNA Expresses Deep Concern Over Mob Attacks on Muslim Homes,Businesses and Mosques in Several Villages Reportedly Taking Place During Curfew Hours With Security Forces not Taking Effective Steps to Stop the Violence.’ »

Hollywood legend Doris Day, whose films made her one of the biggest stars of all time, has died aged 97. The singer turned actress starred in films such as Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk and had a hit in 1956 with Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). Her screen partnership with Rock Hudson …

Continue reading ‘Hollywood Screen Legend Doris Day Whose Screen Partnership With Rock Hudson Was One of the Best in Romantic Movie History Dies at the age of 97.’ »

Doris Day was the fresh-faced, all-American girl who became one of the world’s most bankable film stars. Her glittering singing career included timeless classics like Whip Crack Away, Qué Será Será and Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. On screen, the wholesome, girl-next-door never failed to find love. Off screen, she could not have had less luck: she …

Continue reading ‘Actress -Singer Doris Day Will Be Remembered Forever For The Famous Song “Que Sera Sera “(Whatever Will be,Will be)She Sang on the Alfred Hitchcock Film “The Man Who Knew Too Much”.’ »

By a Special Correspondent The main suspect in the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr in May 2008, Major Prabath Bulathwatte, who also led the shadowy military intelligence unit suspected to have been behind the 2009 murder of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, has been restored to active service, Army Commander Lt. Gen Mahesh Senanayake …

Continue reading ‘Major Bulathwatte who Commanded the Tripoli Military Intelligence Platoon Allegedly Responsible for Assassinations, Abductions and Attacks on Journalists During Rajapaksa Regime Recalled to Active Service in “Special Unit” Directly Under Army Chief Lt.Gen Mahesh Senanayake’ »

By Norman Palihawadana The slow reaction by Chilaw police to disperse a crowd that had gathered near a Thowheed Jamath prayer centre in Wattakkuliya, Chilaw resulted in unrest and property damage yesterday. Earlier a group of youth had informed the Chilaw Police that some persons were inside the prayer centre that had been abandoned some …

Continue reading ‘Crowd Attacks and Damages Thowheed Jamath Prayer Centre at Wattakkuliya in Chilaw Because Police Arrive Late To Investigate Their Complaint About Persons Inside; Army Disperses Mob by Firing Shots in the Air.’ »

By Shihar Aneez, Ranga Sirilal COLOMBO (Reuters) – Several dozen people threw stones at mosques and Muslim-owned stores and a local man was beaten in the town of Chilaw on Sri Lanka’s west coast on Sunday in a dispute that started on Facebook, sources told Reuters. Three weeks ago in Sri Lanka Islamist bombers blew …

Continue reading ‘Mobs Throw Stones at Three Mosques and Some Muslim -Owned Shops in Coastal Town of Chilaw Allegedly Provoked by Wrong Understanding of a Facebook Posting in English by a Muslim Businessman:Curfew Imposed Overnight and Lifted in Morning.’ »

By Rohantha De Silva The US exploited last month’s terrorist bomb attacks in Sri Lanka to immediately dispatch Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials and military intelligence experts to Colombo under the pretext of assisting investigations. More than 250 people, including about 50 foreigners, died in the April 21 suicide bombings of Christian churches and …

Continue reading ‘Washington Exploits Terrorist Violence Crisis in Sri Lanka to Strengthen Politico-Military relations With Colombo as Part of its Preparation for the Indo-Pacific War Against China’ »

By World Socialist Web Site Correspondents The Sri Lankan government has unleashed a crackdown, mainly targeting Muslims, following the horrific April 21 bomb attacks on three Catholic churches and three hotels that killed more than 250 men, women and children, and injured some 500 more. The government immediately seized upon the attack to impose draconian …

Continue reading ‘Security Crackdown in Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday Attacks by ISIS and Thowheed Jamath Turns into an Anti-Muslim Witch – hunt’ »

By Anbarasan Ethirajan For many Sri Lankans, it was a horrific shock to learn that local Muslims could have been behind the suicide attacks that killed more than 250 people last month. How could a small group have planned such a devastating wave of bombings undetected? The clues were there in mid-January, when Sri Lankan …

Continue reading ‘Family Networks Were Key Components of the Islamist Organization That Blasted Churches and Tourist Hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.’ »

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) is receiving complaints from Muslims about widespread harassment tied to “cultural misunderstandings, stereotyping and insensitivities to a way of life,” said Deepika Udagama, its Chairperson, this week. The whole Muslim community was being branded for acts of terrorism perpetrated by a few amongst them, Dr Udagama said, …

Continue reading ‘Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Concerned Over Reports of Muslims Being Harassed and Discriminated Against Due to ” Stereotyping, Insensitivity and Cultural Misunderstandings” After Easter Sunday Attacks.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry has presented to the Government a bill called the Madrasa Education Regulatory Act that seeks to set up a Board with powers of regulation, registration, supervision, control and development of education within Madrasas in Sri Lanka. The Sunday Times obtained a copy of the draft …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Drafts Madrasa Education Regulatory Act to set up a Board with powers of regulation, registration, supervision, control and development of education within Madrasas in Sri Lanka’ »

by Sanjana Hattotuwa I posted on Facebook this week a rough comparison between New Zealand’s response to terrorism in Christchurch and Sri Lanka’s response to the Easter Sunday attacks, a month after. Fleshing this out and placing it for wider consideration amongst an older demographic, possible through this column, may help kickstart what Martin Luther …

Continue reading ‘“The Fierce Urgency of Now”: Comparing New Zealand’s Response to Christchurch Terrorism and Sri Lanka’s Response to the Easter Sunday Attacks.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene With the shadow of tragedy looming over a still stunned nation in the wake of the Easter Sunday atrocities, there is a curiously stark contrast at play in Sri Lanka. Even as politicians shriek, lie and pontificate for partisan advantage, the triumph of the human spirit soars above this ugly cacaphony. …

Continue reading ‘Even as Politicians Shriek, Lie and Pontificate for Partisan Advantage After The Easter Sunday Attacks, the Triumph of the Human Spirit Soars Above this Ugly Cacaphony in Sri Lanka’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Government Printer is yet to issue gazette notifications proscribing two extremist organizations responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage. Well informed sources told The Island that the Government Press was yet to receive the go ahead in this regard.

By Bishop Duleep de Chickera The worship had just reached the Anamnesis, the affirmation of God’s intervention in history, when the police arrived. The officer was courteous but firm. The service had to be terminated and the people dispersed. Beyond this he remained tight lipped. Pictures on people’s smart phones said the rest. Unbelievable scenes …

Continue reading ‘Failure to Understand Distinctions Between Exclusivism , Extremism and Terrorism May Lead to Wrong Stereo-typing of a Whole Community and Unfairly Hold it Responsible for the Actions of Some.’ »

The Sri Lankan government on Friday ordered mosques to clamp down on extremists and to submit copies of sermons in new fallout from the Easter suicide bombings that left 258 dead. The country has been on edge since the April 21 attacks by jihadist bombers who attacked three churches and three Colombo hotels which also …

Continue reading ‘Govt Orders all Mosques in Sri Lanka Not to Promote or Propagate Hatred and Extremism in any Form and to Submit Copies of all Sermons to Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs Ministry.’ »

By Shavini Madhara The Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake ordered the Batticaloa Prison Authority to bring the sister of the Thawheed Jamaath Leader Zahran Mohammed Hashim to the Colombo Judicial Specialist Medical Officer to verify the DNA test to determine the identity of the Suicide bomber, who carried out the bomb blast at Shangri-la Hotel. …

Continue reading ‘Identities of Shangri – La Suicide Bombers to be Confirmed Through DNA Tests of Zahran Hashim’s Sister and Ibrahim Ilham’s Father and Brothers.’ »

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader and Industry and Commerce Minister, Rishad Bathiudeen said were attempts to accuse him falsely regarding his recent visit to Oman and incidents that took place recently, but that he was prepared to face them and prove his innocence. In a statement issued to the media he said, “Various people …

Continue reading ‘ACMC Leader and Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Issues Statement Refuting Allegations Made Against Him and Re-iterating his Innocence.’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today allowed the prosecution to obtain a DNA report using a blood sample obtained from Zahran Hashim’s daughter for the investigators to confirm the identity of the Shangri-La Hotel suicide bomber. The CID also informed the Court that two suicide bombers who blasted themselves at the …

Continue reading ‘Court Sanctions Prosecution to Obtain DNA Report Using Blood Samples of Zahran Hashim’s Daughter to Confirm the Identity of Suicide Bomber who Targeted Shangri-La Hotel.’ »

By Lakshmi Subramanian AS DEFENCE SECRETARY in his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, Gotabaya Rajapaksa played a ruthless role in wiping out the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which had waged a civil war for three decades in Sri Lanka. A few days after the terror attacks on Easter Sunday, THE WEEK met Gotabaya in …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Tells Indian Magazine “The Week” That He Will Run for President and That Him Being a Dual Citizen Wont be a Hinderance Because He Has Renounced His US Citizenship’ »

By Saman Indrajith State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene told Parliament, yesterday, that the government would hold an investigation to find out how son of Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hisbullah had secured shares amounting to 500 million rupees in the proposed Sharia University in Batticaloa. The University is a gift from Saudi Arabia. President Maithripala Sirisena …

Continue reading ‘State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene Tells Parliament That Govt Will Investigate How Eastern Province Governor MLAM Hisbullah’s Son Got 500 Million Rupees Worth of Shares in the Proposed Saudi Arabia Financed Sharia University in Batticaloa.’ »

By Sandun A Jayasekera Former Minister and joint opposition stalwart S.B.Dissanayaka continuing his verbal battle with Commerce and Industries Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday said the government had ample evidence to arrest minister Bathiudeeen and a team of joint opposition members including him would urge President Maithripala Sirisena to direct law enforcement authorities to arrest him …

Continue reading ‘SB Dissanayaka Urges President Sirisena to Arrest Minister Rishad Bathiudeen For Allegedly Having Close Contacts With National Thowheed Jamath Members and Helping Them in Destructive Activities.’ »

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera President Maithripala Sirisena had been informed of the recent terrorist attack at the Security Council (SC) for more than 15 times but he had nodded off the repeated warnings, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said today. He told parliament that those who had participated at the SC had confirmed the …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena was Informed of Possible Terrorist Attacks at Least 15 times at National Security Council Meetings But Simply “Nodded” Without Taking Necessary Action Says Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.’ »

By Saman Indrajith UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, yesterday, told Parliament that he had opposed fielding Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate against Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 presidential election as he had realised Sirisena’s inability to handle national security. “I was dead against him. It was Chandrika Bandaranaike who brought this Kodivina (voodoo). …

Continue reading ‘Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Says He Opposed Sirisena Becoming Presidential Candidate as he Realised the Man’s Inability to Handle National Security and Blames Chandrika Kumaratunga For Bringing This “Kodivina” (Voodoo)’ »

By Sarah Jameel Dear Fellow Humans, Some of you may know Sri Lanka from the recent news, some of you may have tried our exquisite cinnamon or world-famous Ceylon tea, some of you may have visited the island on holiday, some of you may have left during the civil war, some of you may have …

Continue reading ‘Home Thoughts From Abroad: A True Sri Lankan Writes With Refreshing Positivity About The Island In the Sun at This Dark Hour’ »

By Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake Analysis of the Easter carnage in Sri Lanka has focused on the massacre of innocents that took place in three of the island nation’s coastal churches and congregations and largely overlooked the fact that the ocean-front, super-luxury, five star, Shangri la Hotel, was the only non-Sri Lankan “asset” (to use security jargon), …

Continue reading ‘Was China the Hidden Signifier? Easter Bombings and the Weaponization of Religion as a New Cold War Looms’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Communal violence has raised its ugly head again in the Western coastal city of Negombo 32 KM to the North of Colombo on Sunday May 5th. Although sections of the mainstream media have either blacked out or played down the events in Negombo as a clash between two groups of people due to …

Continue reading ‘Anti – Muslim Violence Erupts in Negombo With Attacks Occurring on Sunday Night Despite Curfew Being in Force: Situation Reported Calm on Monday’ »

By Radhika Coomaraswamy (Text of Speech made by Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy at the Vigil for a United Lanka held at the Independence Square on May 4th 2019) For people of my generation, as Sharika Thiranagama wrote in her recent article, news like the Easter Sunday blasts does not initiate a new fear, it ignites an old …

Continue reading ‘How did we create young men and women capable of such hate? What did we do or not do to make them receptive to hate mongering and delusion?’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Western Province Governor Azath Salley yesterday alleged that Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun, who blew up the Easter Sunday congregation at St. Sebastian Church, Katuwapitiya, had married an underage Tamil girl, Pulasthini Rajendran, alias Sarah from Batticaloa before the attack. The blast caused by Hasthun claimed the lives of over 100 men, women …

Continue reading ‘Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hasthun the Suicide Bomber who Targeted St. Sebastians Church in Negombo Had Married an Batticaloa Underage Tamil Girl Pulasthini Rajendran Alias Sarah Before the Attack Alleges Western Province Governor Azath Salley’ »

BY Norman Palihawadana Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, yesterday, said a politically motivated group had been behind last Sunday’s clashes at Poruthota, Negombo. The Cardinal said that a group of persons in a state of inebriation had come to Negombo from another area and tried to create tension between the Catholics and Muslims who lived …

Continue reading ‘Politically Motivated Group in an Inebriated State had Come To Negombo From Another Area and Created Tensions Between Catholics and Muslims in Poruthota States Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.’ »

by Amal Jayasinghe The Roman Catholic Church appealed for calm and an alcohol ban on Monday after clashes between Christians and Muslims in a town scarred by the Easter suicide attacks. Hundreds of security forces entered Negombo to impose a curfew after dozens of Muslim-owned shops, homes and vehicles were attacked. St. Sebastian’s church in …

Continue reading ‘Dozens of Muslim -owned Shops,Homes and Vehicles Attacked in Negombo After Clashes Between Christians and Muslims: Calm Restored After Curfew;Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Visits Negombo and Appeals for Safety of “Our Muslim Brothers”.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, MP, yesterday, said that law enforcement and intelligence services were free to inquire into the members of parliament in connection with the ongoing investigations into multiple suicide bombings on Easter Sunday. Speaker Jayasuriya said so when The Island asked him what would be his response to a spate of …

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Says Law Enforcement Authorities Investigating the Multiple Suicide Bombings on Easter Sunday Can Inquire Into the Activities of MP’s Relating to the Probe.’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya The horror of the new reality that the Islamic State (IS) terror group has chosen Sri Lanka for its operations – for whatever purpose – is yet to fully register with many. While that is understandable against a backdrop of 10 years of peace, the government’s response to this new crisis, with …

Continue reading ‘Is the Govt by Circulating Disinformation Suggesting the US had Offered Helpful Intelligence Preparing the Ground for Revelation of a Much Larger CIA Presence in the Country Than People are Aware of?’ »

By Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe Makandure Madhush, an organised criminal considered the god father of the Sri Lanka underworld detained by Dubai Police was brought down from Dubai to Sri Lanka by a special Police team yesterday. Informed sources said the special Police team which left for Dubai last week arrested Makandure Madhush who was in …

Continue reading ‘Notorious Drug Trade Kingpin Makandure Madhush in Sri Lankan Police Custody “Breaks Down ” After Intensive Grilling by CID ; Ready To Squeal All Details About His Associates, Links and “Businesses”’ »

(Text of a Statement Issued by Former President and Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa Under the Heading “A counter terrorism law to stifle democracy and to foster terrorism”) One of the pledges given by the present government to their foreign masters through UN Human Rights Council Resolution No: 30/1 of October 2015 was to …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Denounces Govt’s Proposed Counter Terrorism Law as a Comprehensive Relief Package for Terrorists and Demands the Retention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act(1979) and Public Security Ordinance(!947) Without Changes’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As Sri Lankans are besieged by daily if not hourly reports regarding the rounding up of suspected islamist jihadists in the wake of last month’s Easter Sunday atrocities, it is crucial to recognise that the terrorism of a barbaric few cannot and should not be allowed to taint an entire Muslim …

Continue reading ‘The Counter-Terror Bill Proposed by the Prime Minister That Undermines Civil Liberties in its Present Formulation will Pave the way in Future for a ‘Security State’ run by Smiling Rajapaksa Strongmen’ »

By Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Whilst the security operations continue, it is time for the committee set up by the president and indeed the rest of us, to consider the questions that refuse to go away and demand answers. The carnage of Easter Sunday throws up many questions, some of which have been answered albeit unconvincingly. …

Continue reading ‘The president has Clearly Failed at the Cost of 250 or more Lives, as Minister of Defence, the Minister in Charge of the Police and the National Security Council.’ »

By Don Manu As the SUNDAY PUNCH stated last week, the Indian intelligence warned their counterparts in Colombo not once, not twice but thrice. The first warning, it is said, was given on April 4 the second the day before the attacks, the third hours before the attack. And it was thrice ignored. Indian intelligence …

Continue reading ‘Can President Sirisena or Premier Wickremesinghe Clarify Whether the Indian Envoy in Colombo Requested Protection From Govt To Ensure The Safety of the Indian High Commission and Consulates in Sri Lanka After Indian Intelligence Got Information of Impending Attacks?’ »

By Namini Wijedasa Quran Madrasas and Arabic Colleges have mushroomed in their thousands around Sri Lanka during the past decade, promoting a “pure” form of Islam imported from West Asia that is at odds with South Asian traditions. The trend mirrors developments in other parts of this region, including Bangladesh, where strong Gulf influence has …

Continue reading ‘Official Statistics Reveal There Are 1669 Quran Madrasahs, 317 Arabic Colleges and 277 “Ahadiya” Muslim Education Schools Linked to Mosques in Sri Lanka.’ »

By Wijayani Edirisinghe Intelligence agencies are still doubtful of the death of the National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim, said to have died in the suicide bomb attack at the Shangri-La hotel on Easter Sunday. Intelligence agencies suspect that one suicide bomber and Zahran had come to the attack, but Zahran had not committed …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Intelligence Agencies Doubtful Whether National Thowheed Jamath Leader Zahran Hashim Really Died in the Explosion in Shangri-La Hotel as Generally Believed.’ »

By Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe The suicide bomber Zahran’s wife Abdul Cader Fathima and Katuwapitiya Church suicide bomber Mohomaddu Hasthun’s wife Pulasthini Rajendran alias Sara had bought nine sets of white clothing, nine blouses, skirts and undergarments from a shop in Giriulla on April 19. This was disclosed by Zahran’s wife Fathima on being questioned by …

Continue reading ‘Negombo St.Sebastians Church Suicide Bomber Mohommadhu Hasthun’s wife Pulasthini Rajendran Alias Sara was also Killed in the Sainthamarudhu House Explosion Says Mohammed Zahran’s Injured Wife Abdul Cader Fathima’ »

By Ameena Hussein After the Easter bombings, I am struggling to understand how violent ideology has taken hold in my Muslim community. Two days after the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, I met my greengrocer at the Colpetty market, a symbol of the cosmopolitan city that I call home. I have known Ashraff …

Continue reading ‘Fighting for the Soul of Islam in Sri Lanka’ »

By Sharika Thiranagama On the evening of April 20, I was making Easter bread with my children at our home in California when a friend texted me, saying there had been bombings in Sri Lanka. My chest hurt. I thought, I have been there before. I grew up partly in northern Jaffna, one of the …

Continue reading ‘The Easter Sunday bombings are an attack on Sri Lankans as a whole — on our possibilities of plurality’ »

Sri Lanka’s Catholic cardinal has received “foreign information” that attempts would be made this week to attack a church. According to a letter he sent to church officials that appeared on social media on Thursday, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith – archbishop of Colombo – said he was closing churches and Catholic schools throughout Sri Lanka and …

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Closes Catholic Schools and Churches and Cancels All Church Services Throughout Sri Lanka ” Until Further Notice” Due to Receiving “Foreign Information” About Possible Fresh Attacks This week.’ »

A top government minister revealed shocking details of alleged Sri Lanka military involvement with suspected pro ISIS militants who massacred hundreds in a series of deadly bombings. Quoting from a confidential intelligence report, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that both Islamist and Buddhist extremist groups were initially bankrolled by the former government led by Mahinda …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Spokesman Dr.Rajitha Senaratne Alleges that Four Military Intelligence Officials Coordinated the Killing of Two Sinhala and Tamil Police Officers Through National Thowheed Jamath Members at Vavunatheevu Checkpoint in Batticaloa Last November.’ »

The younger sister of Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter SUnday attacks was arrested by Batticaloa Police yesterday (May 01) in Kattankudy.

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene There is a special kind of atavistic horror when terrorists attack places of worship. These strikes aim at decimating not only the life and limb of innocents but also destroying a community’s faith and spirituality, the very qualities that distinguish human beings from barbarians. As bombs ripped through churches and top …

Continue reading ‘Easter Atrocity Happened Because of Sri Lanka’s Politicians. The President and the Prime Minister owe this Country an Explanation Beyond Their Asinine ‘I did not know’ Stories.’ »

Police yesterday released the identities of the nine suicide bombers involved in the Easter Sunday attacks, and said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was taking steps to freeze the assets of those identified as being involved. According to the Police, the two Shangri-La Hotel suicide bombers were identified as Mohamad Cassim Mohammad Zaharan (Kudaikaran …

Continue reading ‘CID Takes Steps Under Money Laundering and Terrorist Funding Preventive Laws to to Freeze Assets of Nine Easter Sunday Suicide Bombers Identified by Police.’ »

The Police has released the photographs and details of the suspects involved in the Easter Sunday attack to media. Accordingly the Police has revealed information on the terrorists who died during the 9 explosions that occurred in 8 locations on 21 April. However, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that DNA tests are being …

Continue reading ‘Police Release Details of Nine Terrorist Suspects Killed in Explosions at Eight Locations on April 21st 2019’ »

Intelligence agencies in the country have identified eight Government ministers who are under threat, issuing instructions to restrict movements and beef up security for the individuals as the authorities crack down on the Easter Sunday attackers. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne claimed that intelligence services have asked eight ministers in the Government to restrict their movements …

Continue reading ‘Dr. Rajitha Senaratne Alleges That Several Groups Such as the National Thowheed Jamath and Bodu Bala Sena Were Initially Funded by a “Defence Ministry Secret Fund” When Gotabaya Rajapaksa Was Defence Secretary; “26 National Thowheed Jamath Members Were on Defence Ministry Payroll” Says the Cabinet Spokesman.’ »