NA: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2021

Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader turned politician Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, the leader of the Tamil United Freedom Front (TUFF), speaking at a media briefing held in Kilinochchi on January 3 said that while many LTTE leaders and other members of the LTTE were released under a general amnesty, all other Tamil political prisoners should also be released under a general amnesty, reports Colombo Page. “I am of the view that all Tamil political prisoners must be released. At the end of the war, the then President and current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa took a valuable decision to release all LTTE leaders, in accordance with a general amnesty. A group of members have been released. At present there are very few people to be released and they too should be released. In fact, their lives are very painful. These political prisoners really belong to the category of ordinary people, they were not directly involved in the war. We are concerned about their release. The government should also answer the issue of missing persons. The government should answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the issue of missing persons so that the relatives of the disappeared will have the opportunity to perform the remaining duties,” Muralitharan said. Read less...

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara on January 6 said that Police had completed investigations into 32 suspects who were directly or indirectly involved in the Easter Sunday suicide attacks and eight files have been submitted to the Attorney General (AG) in order to file cases against them, reports Daily Mirror. He told Parliament that the AG would file cases against the suspects on charges of murder, vandalism and causing injuries after receiving the report of the Presidential Commission of Investigation on Easter Sunday Attacks. He said investigations are underway on another 246 suspects who are detaining or in remand prison in connection with offences of supplying weapons, training and instigating racism through Madrasas. Read less...

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into the terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019 is functioning independently and impartially, Justice Minister Ali Sabry said in Parliament on January 7, reports Colombo Page. The Minister of Justice said that the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks on Easter Day should be severely punished and no one is influencing the investigations. If there are any innocents arrested, they should be released, the Minister added. He was responding to a question raised by MP Hesha Vithanage seeking an oral answer. Read less...

The United States Department of Justice on January 8 announced that three Sri Lankan citizens have been charged with terrorism offenses, including conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (ISIS) over the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks, reports Colombo Page. The three defendants named in the criminal complaint, all of whom pledged allegiance to ISIS, are: Mohamed Naufar, the “second emir” for the group of ISIS supporters that called itself “ISIS in Sri Lanka,” who allegedly led the group’s propaganda efforts, recruited others to join ISIS, and led a series of multi-day military-type trainings; Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Riskan, who allegedly helped manufacture the IEDs used in the Easter Attacks; and Ahamed MilhanHayathuMoahmed, who allegedly executed a Police officer in order to obtain the officer’s firearm, shot a suspected informant, and scouted a location for a separate terrorist attack. All the defendants are in custody in Sri Lanka, and the Justice Department said it will support the Sri Lankan investigation and prosecution in Sri Lanka and will continue to work with the authorities there to pursue the shared goal of holding these defendants accountable for their crimes. Read less...

A tense situation continued at the Jaffna University on January 9, as dozens of locals, students, and politicians gathered overnight, protesting the removal of a war memorial on campus, reports The Hindu. According to students and eyewitnesses, on January 8 university authorities bulldozed a sculpture erected in memory of several thousand civilians brutally killed in the final phase of the civil war in 2009, in Mullivaikkal in Sri Lanka’s northern Mullaitivu District. Jaffna parliamentarian S. Shritharan described the developments as “very disturbing.” “This is a deliberate, provocative act, knowing well that memorials are to do with people’s emotions. After a relatively peaceful period here, this act will trigger much pain and anger, especially among our youth. That is very worrying,” he said. “I also feel the state has tactfully used the VC to carry out this, pitting some Tamils against others, while achieving what they want,” he added. Read less...

Education Minister G.L. Peiris addressing the media on January 11 said that no permission was obtained from the Jaffna University to build the war monument in the university premises, reports Daily Mirror. He said "It is not relevant to have debates or arguments regarding the value or the meaning of any type of monument or statue to exhibit, if it is built without permission of the relevant university. There is no political interference with the demolishing of the monument. It has only the law of the university, but for the unity of the students." Read less...

Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa at a discussion held with the media chiefs at the EC Office on January 12 said that the Provincial Council elections should be held as they are a part of the Constitution, reports Colombo Page. The Chairman of the EC pointed out that the non-holding of the Provincial Council elections has only prevented the appointment of people's representatives to those institutions and that the functions assigned to the Provincial Councils are being carried out as usual. “Some parties point out that the expenses incurred by the Provincial Councilors are a waste of money. However, according to the reports of the Finance Commission, the expenditure incurred on the staff and members of the Provincial Councils is only about 0.3 percent of the total expenditure of those Provincial Councils,” said the Chairman of the Election Commission. He further pointed out that a large role pertaining to various fields is being played through the Provincial Councils. Read less...

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on January 13 in its World Report 2021 that Sri Lanka’s human rights situation has seriously deteriorated under the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, reports Colombo Page. According to the report, Government security forces have increased intimidation and surveillance of human rights activists, victims of past abuses, lawyers, and journalists. Minority Muslim and Tamil communities have faced discrimination and threats. The Government pushed through passage of a constitutional amendment that undermines judicial independence and weakens oversight institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. In February, Sri Lanka withdrew its commitments to the 2015 United Nations Human Rights Council for truth seeking, accountability, and reconciliation following the country’s long civil war. Read less...

With the aim of promoting coexistence among the people of the Eastern Province, the Governor of the Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath has appointed an Expert Committee to study social injustices, reports Colombo Page on January 15. The expert committee is tasked to study in depth complaints, requests or appeals from the public regarding the development of coexistence among the communities, review information and make appropriate recommendations. Those who are seeking relief for the prejudices they have faced and the injustices they continue to face, can send the information of such incidents including facts and transcripts of the written testimonials to be received before January 31 to the “Committee of Experts on Social Injustice, Eastern Province Registrar's Office, Trincomalee”. The committee is scheduled to meet at the Batticaloa District Secretariat whole day on January 18 and at the Ampara Divisional Secretariat on the 19th and 20th. On those days it is possible to hand over the problems of the people to that committee. Read less...

Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris speaking to the media after meeting Ven. Kappetipola Sri Vimala Nayaka Thera in Kandy on January 16 said that Government will present the draft for a new Constitution to Parliament before the end of this year, reports Daily News. He pointed out that a Committee headed by Romesh de Silva, PC has been appointed for the purpose, adding that the 1978 Constitution needs to undergo comprehensive changes to suit the contemporary times. Read less...

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) mandated to probe the terror attacks on Easter Sunday has concluded its hearings on January 19 this week and is to submit the report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa before January 31, reports Daily News. The PCoI was established on September 20, 2019. The Commission source informed that 436 people had testified before the Commission within the abovementioned period. Currently, the Commission had recorded evidence from the suspects who were detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and those proceedings were not opened for media. Read less...

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that 268 suspects had been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks and 195 suspects have been remanded on court orders, reports Daily News on January 22. In addition, 73 suspects have been detained as per the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID). The Police Spokesman noted that several investigations had already been completed successfully, especially with regard to the eight attacks which took place at Kochchikade, Katuwapitiya, Batticaloa, Shangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Kingsbury Hotel and the Dehiwala blast. Read less...

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on January 21 appointed a three-member commission of Inquiry to investigate, inquire into and report or take necessary action on the findings of the preceding commissions of inquiry or committees on alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, reports Daily Mirror. The commission chaired by Supreme Court Judge A.H.M.D. Nawaz consists of retired IGP Chandra Fernando and retired District Secretary Nimal Abeysiri. The Commission has been appointed through an extraordinary gazette issued by the President and required to submit its report within six months. Read less...

Minister of Justice Ali Sabry said a preliminary draft of the proposed new constitution would be tabled in Parliament within a month, reports Colombo Page on January 25. The Minister said the preliminary work of the Constitution is being carried out successfully at present. The Minister of Justice said that the views of various parties are being sought for the preliminary draft of the proposed new constitution and that various parties had been consulted on the basis of the advertisements made so far. He said that this preliminary draft will be prepared taking into consideration all the ideas and suggestions. Read less...

Former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekara on January 25 testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing Easter Sunday attacks said that there was no concrete information on foreign links that involved in the Easter Sunday suicide attacks at the time he was serving as the Director of the CID, reports Daily Mirror. Appearing before the Commission, former CID Director Abeysekara said that he was not aware of the present status pertaining to the investigation into the Easter Sunday attack, but said immediately after the suicide attacks that took place during his tenure as the CID Director, there were no verified or concrete information on any foreign links to the attack. Read less...

A new United Nations (UN) report published on January 27 warning that human right violations are increasing in Sri Lanka called on the international community to enhance monitoring and take measures to prevent recurrence of the policies and practices that gave rise to grave human rights violations in the past, reports Colombo Page. The report prepared by the UN Human Rights Office warns that the failure of Sri Lanka to address past violations has significantly heightened the risk of human rights violations being repeated. It highlights worrying trends over the past year, such as deepening impunity, increasing militarization of governmental functions, ethno-nationalist rhetoric, and intimidation of civil society. Read less...

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN), Mohan Peiris in his speech at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s Arria Formula Meeting on Children and Armed Conflict held in New York on January 29 said that Sri Lanka rehabilitated all 594 of child soldiers recruited by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) without prosecuting them, reports Daily Mirror. He said the plight of children is worsened by the prolonged effects of poverty, all forms of violence and conflict. Read less...

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), at its upcoming session, should act on the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and adopt a new resolution to enhance scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation and pursue accountability for past and recent violations, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on January 29, reports Colombo Page. In her report released on January 27, 2021, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she was ‘alarmed’ by Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation and set out steps that the Human Rights Council should take to confront the growing risk of future violations. Read less...

Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said Sri Lanka will not be governed according to the dictates of other countries and organizations, reports Daily News on February 1. He said “The UN Human Rights Commissioner who accused Sri Lanka on various matters has not seen how the previous Yahapalana government harassed and jailed opponents by influencing the Police and the Judiciary. It is obvious that this Human Rights Commissioner is acting to the Opposition’s stance. Ministers and MPs of the former Yahapalana regime worked against the independence of the Judiciary by making various influences on Judges and Police officers. However, this Human Rights Commissioner did not utter any word against them. Today, military officers are engaged in administration in various fields. That is really a good move. We know how Security Forces personnel contributed to eradicate terrorism and also minimizing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic here. We cannot forget how the Security Forces acted in protecting people during the Easter Sunday attack.” Read less...