In his letter, Rudrakumaran noted that we still do not know what happened to Rev. Father Joseph, the LTTE members, and their families including babies

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, January 31, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — TGTE Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran sent a letter to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances “urging it to compel the Sri Lankan state to publicize the list of LTTE members who were made to surrender to the Sri Lankan Army, including babies and children who surrendered along with their families.”

In his letter, Rudrakumaran noted that:
“yesterday also marked the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz liberation, and the mantra “Never Again” has not yet materialized—enforced disappearance has been and continues to be used in parts of the world as a tool of genocide.”

“He also urged Working Group to urge Sri Lankan state to revoke its reservation of Article 31 of the Convention on Enforced Disappearance and ​Bring closure to the families of the disappeared in the form of truth and accountability for enforced disappearances.”

Rudrakumaran also noted that we still do not know what happened to Rev. Father Joseph, the LTTE combatants, and their families including babies and children taken at the end of the war—quoting Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard:

“Men who may have been soldiers for the LTTE often surrendered with their entire families and the entire family has disappeared. That means young children and babies. I think the Sri Lankans need to ask where are the babies, where are the children? I have seen photos of four-month-old, ten-month-old babies…”

To me it is “unforgivable not to have an answer for those children and babies who were caught at the end of the war; people who surrendered willingly. ” “They were not arrested in the formal way of the word. They went to the army and said we are surrendering and these are the ones who disappeared”. [https://groundviews.org/2024/05/20/addressing-sri-lankas-complex-human-rights-issues]

The letter also noted that “in the island of Sri Lanka, enforced disappearance has been used not only to eliminate individuals who campaign for the realization of the right to self-determination in the form of an independent state but also as a tool of genocide.”

“Tamil mothers have protested the lack of action and accountability for years, with many going to their graves uncertain of what happened to their children.” said Rudrakumaran.

Rudrakumaran “cited Prof. Phillipe Sands’ argument before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of the Bosnian Genocide: that the mental anguish and trauma caused to the families of the disappeared may constitute evidence of genocide.”

The letter further “stated that while Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on Enforced Disappearance and made it part of domestic law, they made reservation to Article 31—which allows victims to seek justice by bringing their complaints to the committee appointed under the convention—thus compromising the force of the Convention.”

The letter concluded by noting that “not a single Sri Lankan state perpetrator has been brought to justice or even arrested in cases of Tamil victimization because the Sri Lankan polity is permeated with pervasive and entrenched racism.”

Rudrakumaran further stated that “This is demonstrated by the absence of any meaningful action in spite of change in government—including the current National People’s Power (NPP) government which came to power a few months ago. As such, the Tamil Mothers of the Disappeared have declared February 4th (Sri Lanka’s Independence Day) as a Black Day.”

Enclosed with the letter are the “Disappeared Tamil Babies of Sri Lanka” booklet and the International Truth and Justice Project’s list of surrendered Tamils who were subjected to enforced disappearance at the end of the war.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): In yet another overbearing move by the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revealed that more than 3,000 Sri Lankans are amongst the 1.4 million people on its deportation list, highlighting the relentless and often indiscriminate approach to immigration enforcement under the former president’s regime.

The crackdown has cast a wide net, ensnaring individuals from all corners of the globe who are living in the U.S. without legal documentation.

Amongst these, the 3,065 Sri Lankans are now at risk of being forcibly removed from the country under the current regime’s harsh policies.

Despite the significant number of individuals affected, the Trump administration has shown a glaring disregard for international cooperation. In an official document, ICE outlined the process it expects foreign governments to follow to assist in the deportation effort, including issuing travel documents swiftly and ensuring the return of nationals through scheduled flights.

However, the administration’s history of alienating countries and undermining diplomatic relations has led to a reluctance from many governments to engage in these practices.

Sri Lanka, however, is not listed amongst the countries that are resisting these deportation efforts. This perhaps reflects a more pragmatic approach from the island nation, but it should be noted that many nations remain unwilling to cooperate fully, with ICE marking 15 countries as uncooperative and another 11 as at risk of non-compliance.

The decision to target large numbers of noncitizens without regard to their personal circumstances or ties to the U.S. illustrates the cruel and sweeping nature of Trump’s immigration policies.

Far from an attempt to uphold the law, this is a callous, politically motivated action that undermines the very values of compassion and fairness the U.S. once prided itself on.

Whilst it may be framed as a “tough on immigration” stance, the real effect of such policies is a chilling disregard for human rights, as they tear families apart and disrupt lives without a second thought.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is set to convene its next session from February 03 to 21, 2025, where it will assess the progress of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, alongside seven other countries: Nepal, Belarus, Luxembourg, Belize, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, and Liechtenstein.

As part of their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, these nations are required to undergo periodic reviews by the 23 independent experts that comprise the CEDAW Committee.

This process serves to evaluate their adherence to the provisions of the Convention and ensures that gender equality and women’s rights are being effectively promoted and protected.

The reviews will be based on country reports submitted by the governments, as well as submissions from national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The Committee’s sessions, which will take place in Geneva, will be open to the public and will provide an opportunity to scrutinise the situation of women’s rights in these countries.

The scheduled dates for each country’s review are as follows (all times are Geneva times):

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: February 4, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Nepal: February 5, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Belarus: February 6, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Luxembourg: February 7, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Belize: February 11, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Congo: February 12, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Sri Lanka: February 13, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00
• Liechtenstein: February 14, 10:00 – 13:00; 15:00 – 17:00

The session will particularly highlight issues related to sexual violence in conflict zones, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo set to present a special report on this critical subject.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a former Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Rs. 6.1 million.

The arrest took place yesterday in the Malabe area, according to Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga.

This latest arrest follows the earlier detention of former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and his wife, who were also implicated in the alleged misuse of the same sum of money from the CEYPETCO, dating back to 2014.

The couple was subsequently granted bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): N.B.M. Ranatunga has reportedly resigned from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA).

Ranatunga, who had taken up the role on October 10, 2024, has stepped down following a series of high-profile resignations within key government positions.

His resignation marks the third instance of a senior official relinquishing their post since the current government came into power.

Earlier this week, Ramal Siriwardena, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), also resigned, further adding to the growing list of departures.

Additionally, Dr. Senesh Bandara stepped down as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) last month.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs, in collaboration with joint trade unions, has initiated a four-day accelerated container clearance process starting January 30.

The move is aimed at addressing the growing backlog of containers at examination yards.

The goal is to clear the backlog by February 02, 2025.

Customs Media Spokesperson and Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda confirmed that all examination yards and the Valuation Directorate will operate with full staffing levels throughout this period.

This push is expected to expedite the clearance of containers that have been piling up, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and efficiently.

To facilitate this, consignees, clearing agents, and transporters are being urged to fully cooperate by attending to their respective tasks in a timely manner, ensuring that the clearance process meets its target deadline.

In addition to the efforts by Customs, all other relevant government agencies have been notified and asked to provide their support in this time-sensitive operation.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): The College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL) has expressed grave concern over the role of social media in the increasing number of child suicides in the country.

According to the organisation, the surge in cases of child suicide is a significant public health issue, with more than 200 incidents reported in 2024 alone.

Dr. Kapila Jayaratne, the Chairperson of the CCPSL, revealed that the number of suicides among children under the age of 18 has seen a troubling rise.

In 2022, 133 child suicides were recorded, but unofficial reports suggest that figure nearly doubled in 2023, reaching an alarming 270 cases.

Dr. Jayaratne highlighted that while there are various contributing factors to these tragic events, the influence of social media has been identified as a key concern.

“We are currently exploring measures to address this growing problem, including the potential for regulating or even limiting social media access for children,” Dr. Jayaratne said. “We have gathered substantial information on the matter and plan to share further recommendations within the next week or two.“

Whilst acknowledging that social media can offer educational and social benefits, the CCPSL is particularly concerned about its negative impact on children’s mental health, with many of the younger generation experiencing cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and pressure to conform to unrealistic online standards.

The CCPSL is working on developing a set of guidelines aimed at better regulating social media use, to help safeguard children from its adverse effects.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to visit the Jaffna District today (31), confirmed the President’s Media Division (PMD).

This visit aims to address the concerns of the people in the Northern Province and engage with local communities.

During his time in Jaffna, the President will attend the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Meeting, where key issues affecting the region will be discussed.

He is also expected to participate in various public meetings, giving him an opportunity to interact directly with citizens and gain insight into their ongoing challenges.

It is anticipated that discussions will centre on socio-economic development, infrastructure needs, and other critical concerns specific to the region.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): Priyantha Mayadunne, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, was granted bail yesterday (30) after being arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with alleged financial misappropriation.

Mayadunne was taken into custody over suspicions surrounding the misuse of funds linked to a commemorative event held in 2011.

The Fort Magistrate’s Court set Mayadunne’s bail at Rs. 200,000, and he was released on a personal bond after being formally presented before the court.

The arrest relates to ongoing investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 183 million, which was obtained from the Cooperative Fund for the ‘Isuru Saviya’ event in Kurunegala, held to mark International Cooperative Day.

The CID submitted key details of their investigation to the Attorney General (AG), who concluded that there was sufficient evidence to charge Mayadunne in relation to the financial irregularities, according to Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Buddhika Manatunga.

At the time of the alleged misappropriation, Mayadunne held the position of Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade.

January 31, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Uva province and in Batticaloa, Ampara, Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Hambantota districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (31).

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kandy districts in the evening or night.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Southern provinces during the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Marine Weather: