Sri Lanka
Rising incidents of custodial death trigger demonstration in Sri Lanka

A teenager’s custodial death has prompted demonstrations in the northern Sri Lanka’s Kokuvil, protesters are accusing police of torture and harassment

One year after mass uprising, Sri Lanka’s political and economic crisis festers

Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer at the University of Jaffna, talks about the political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, one year after the uprising that overthrew President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He explains how the Ranil Wickremesinghe regime has combined repression with anti-people economic policies

Sri Lanka food insecurity (2)
One-third of school students in Sri Lanka go without an adequate breakfast

Sri Lanka has been grappling with an acute economic crisis since last year. This has aggravated the problem of food insecurity in the country

Tamil political prisoners release
Three Tamil political prisoners freed in Sri Lanka after 14 years of incarceration

The three were arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in May 2009. Their release comes after the court ruled that witness statements in the case could not prove their involvement in conspiracy against the state

Sri Lanka health care
Strengthening public health services imperative as crisis continues in Sri Lanka

As the social and economic crisis in Sri Lanka continues, health activists call for prioritization of the public health system on the occasion of World Health Day

New terrorism bill Sri Lanka
Rights groups express concern over proposed anti-terrorism bill in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s latest anti-terror legislation gives greater powers to law enforcement agencies, which human rights groups fear will be used to suppress the democratic rights of citizens

Sri Lanka privatization
Workers launch strike against privatization of Sri Lanka’s state-run petrol corporation

The government’s program to divest from state-run enterprises like the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are parts of managing state expenditure as per the IMF’s conditions

Sri Lanka IMF bailout
Sri Lanka secures its 17th IMF bailout package of USD 3 billion

The bailout package for Sri Lanka under IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) has been in the pipeline after the country defaulted on its foreign debt last April

Sri Lanka protest
Thousands of workers observe nationwide strike against increased taxation in Sri Lanka

Over 40 trade unions have announced a nationwide strike against the new income tax policy that has doubled taxation and increased the cost of living in Sri Lanka

Opposition and civil society criticizes delay of local body polls in Sri Lanka

Local polls were to be held last year but were delayed due to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. After another postponement was announced in February, judicial intervention led to the polls being scheduled for April 25

Sri Lanka protest ban
Ahead of planned union strike, Sri Lanka imposes ban on strikes in key sectors

Authorities have attempted to shut down growing protests with repressive police action, which has already caused the death of a protester, and a ban on strikes

Families of forcibly disappeared persons mark six years of struggle in Sri Lanka

Holding banners and black flags, hundreds of relatives of disappeared Tamils marched in the northern Sri Lankan town of Kilinochchi demanding justice and accountability