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Sri Lanka: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2015
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Incidents
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March - 1 
On March 1, Dahal said the opposition parties were ready to sit for talks if the ruling parties ensured the environment to promulgate the new constitution on the basis of a political consensus, according to Republica.
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On March 1, Dahal said the opposition parties were ready to sit for talks if the ruling parties ensured the environment to promulgate the new constitution on the basis of a political consensus, according to Republica.
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March - 1 
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 1 said the accusations that Tamil youth were being held in secret detention camps were baseless, reports The Island. Wickremesinghe emphasised that all those who had been taken into custody were being held
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 1 said the accusations that Tamil youth were being held in secret detention camps were baseless, reports The Island. Wickremesinghe emphasised that all those who had been taken into custody were being held in legally run facilities and, therefore, all detainees could be accounted for. He said instructions had been given for preparing a full list of persons in custody in a bid to dispel fears expressed in some quarters as regards secret detention camps. According to the report, the Prime Minister didn’t mince his words when he declared that those missing but not listed among those in government custody had either perished during the conflict or were now living overseas. Authoritative sources said that Sri Lanka’s efforts to track down missing persons living overseas hadn’t been successful due to Western countries’ refusal to cooperate. Sources said that a joint effort was needed to establish the whereabouts of those who had assumed new identities and citizenship in other countries.
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March - 2 
Police have questioned several Sri Lanka Navy personnel of an investigation unit of the Navy on disappearances of children, reports Colombo Page on March 3. The Police Media Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that st
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Police have questioned several Sri Lanka Navy personnel of an investigation unit of the Navy on disappearances of children, reports Colombo Page on March 3. The Police Media Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that statements have been recorded from seven Navy personnel regarding the disappearance of 10 children during the 2008-2009 period. In 2010 the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had commenced investigations into complaints received over the disappearance of some youth and their parents between the period of 2007 and 2009 in Colombo (Western Province) and in Trincomalee (Eastern Province). Rohana said the CID has interrogated the officer in charge of the investigation unit of the Sri Lankan Navy, Commander D. K. P. Dassanayake, who was also the former Navy spokesman, in this connection. It has also been revealed that the officials of the investigative unit had taken ransoms in large measure from the parents of the children. The activities of the infamous unit were reported to have centered on Trincomalee and Fort.
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March - 2 
Police on March 2 arrested a former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tiger Women's Wing, identified as Murugesu Bairahi alias Burugesu Pahiradiat at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo while she was about to lea
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Police on March 2 arrested a former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tiger Women's Wing, identified as Murugesu Bairahi alias Burugesu Pahiradiat at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo while she was about to leave for France, reports Colombo Page. Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said that the Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) of the Police had launched investigations over reports that Murugesu Bairahi had arrived in Sri Lanka. The 41 year old former Sea Tiger was arrested by the TID yesterday (March 2) when she was preparing to leave the country and is currently held on detention for 72 hours. Police informed that Murugesu Bairahi headed the women's wing of the LTTE Sea Tigers from 1997-2000 and that she had fled to France in 2005. Police further said the investigations had revealed that she had returned to Sri Lanka last month and was staying in Parathion in the North. The suspect has been produced at the Colombo Magistrate Court.
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March - 3 
United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman, during an official visit to Sri Lanka said on March 3 that the global institution is encouraged by the Sri Lankan new Government’s commitment to promote reconciliation, accountability and
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United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman, during an official visit to Sri Lanka said on March 3 that the global institution is encouraged by the Sri Lankan new Government’s commitment to promote reconciliation, accountability and human rights and it is committed to assisting in the process of accountability and reconciliation in the island nation, reports Colombo Page. Jeffrey Feltman said the recent election of a new government has given Sri Lanka an historic opportunity to seize to address the accountability and bring the reconciliation to the island. The UN official, who arrived in the island on February 28 for a four-day official visit, said he had a series of positive, constructive discussions with the President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Acting Foreign Minister Ajith Perera, the leadership of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and the diplomatic community in Colombo.
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March - 3 
South Africa had told the former Sri Lankan Government that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was not operating in South Africa as was alleged at the time, Al Jazeera said quoting a secret cable, reports Colombo Gazette on March 4. Accordin
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South Africa had told the former Sri Lankan Government that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was not operating in South Africa as was alleged at the time, Al Jazeera said quoting a secret cable, reports Colombo Gazette on March 4. According to the report the previous Sri Lankan Government was told quite plainly that, at least in the case of South Africa, the LTTE posed no threat at all, according to a secret intelligence agency cable (PDF) obtained by Al Jazeera’s investigative unit. In the cable, dated June 9, 2010, South Africa’s State Security Agency (SSA) replied to a request for information about several cases of purported LTTE activity in South Africa, from a suspected “military training camp” held in May 2010 to suspicions that local Tamil organizations were raising money for the LTTE and allegations that the LTTE was in contact with former members of the South African military. In every case, South African intelligence concluded that there was no sign of LTTE activity or support in the country. “The LTTE does not have any offices or known representatives in South Africa,” the cable states. However, Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Al Jazeera, by phone and by email, about the cable and the statements made subsequently by government officials. The office of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the new minister had not been briefed on the issue and could not comment.
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March - 3 
The Sri Lankan Government has assured an international media delegation visiting the country that the long-awaited Freedom of Information bill would be tabled this month and passed in parliament before the upcoming general election, reports Colombo P
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The Sri Lankan Government has assured an international media delegation visiting the country that the long-awaited Freedom of Information bill would be tabled this month and passed in parliament before the upcoming general election, reports Colombo Page on March 4. The International Media Solidarity Delegation during its five-day visit to the island called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure that critical media reform measures are made permanent and media freedom to be an absolute priority of the new administration. The Government has also assured the delegation a commitment to tackle impunity for crimes against journalists, which according to the journalists, is a long-running and festering blight on Sri Lanka's reputation globally. Government representatives have said that they had already requested the Inspector General (IG) of Police, N.K. Ilangakoon to carry out thorough investigations into journalist killings, with priority given to the 2009 murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga and the 2010 disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda.
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March - 5 
In an interview ahead of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said that Indian politicians might have developed “amnesia” over the fact that India had assisted former President Mahinda Raj
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In an interview ahead of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said that Indian politicians might have developed “amnesia” over the fact that India had assisted former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) war of 2009, reports The Hindu on March 6. Lankan Prime Minister said “Without the help of India, President Rajapaksa could not have wiped out the LTTE. He got that help and he agreed to give concessions even beyond the 13th amendment ... But he did not do so ....”. Asked specifically about the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s denials of help to Sri Lanka, especially because of opposition from its alliance partner the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), he said, “Amnesia, you know is very common among politicians.” Wickramasinghe accused the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Government in the Northern Province and Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran of being “irresponsible” in passing a resolution for an international genocide investigation to look into allegations dating back to the 1970s. The Prime Minister said that in that case, not only would the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE had to be charged with killings, but so would the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) that went in to assist in the late 1980s. He said “Casualties took place under the Sri Lankan Security Forces (SFs), the IPKF and also by the LTTE ... But to say that it was only the Government of Sri Lanka is wrong.”
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March - 5 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on March 5 urged the Sri Lankan Government to design mechanisms that will work to address the human rights issues and not repeat the failures of the past, reports Co
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on March 5 urged the Sri Lankan Government to design mechanisms that will work to address the human rights issues and not repeat the failures of the past, reports Colombo Page. Delivering the Opening Statement at the 28th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, the High Commissioner said the Member States were due to consider his report on the implementation of UNHRC resolution 25/1 on accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, including the findings of the comprehensive investigation mandated by the Council at this session. The High Commissioner said he will present the report on the UN mandated investigation into the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka during the war at the 30th Session of UNHRC in September.
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March - 7 
A minor Tamil political party in Sri Lanka, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has called on Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to speak to all Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka on the Tamil issue and not just with the major party, Tam
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A minor Tamil political party in Sri Lanka, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has called on Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to speak to all Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka on the Tamil issue and not just with the major party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), reports Colombo Page on March 8. TULF General Secretary V. Anandasangaree stated that dealing with the Tamil question is no more a monopoly of either the TNA or the Illangai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK). The TNA had committed several serious blunders and prevented Tamils taking part in 2005 Presidential election on the instructions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), he said in a statement. Anandasangaree noted that the Tamils have "waited for so long" by allowing the TNA to deal with the ethnic problem and having lost confidence in the TNA the time has now come for all the other concerned parties to find an alternative.
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March - 8 
Sri Lankan authorities have extended the detention of a former Sea Tiger Women's Wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) arrested earlier this week, reports Colombo Page. Police on March 2 arrested the former LTTE leader Murugesu J
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Sri Lankan authorities have extended the detention of a former Sea Tiger Women's Wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) arrested earlier this week, reports Colombo Page. Police on March 2 arrested the former LTTE leader Murugesu Jayaganesh Pakeerathy at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo while she was about to leave for France with her eight-year-old daughter, a French national. The authorities initially detained her for 72-hours pending investigations by the Unit Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) and the detention has been extended to 90 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajith Rohana said "We have now got a detention order under the Prevention of Terrorism Act which means we can hold her for a period of 90 days." "We are hopeful of completing investigations very soon," he added.
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March - 9 
A group of pro- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) British Tamils gathered at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9 to protest the new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's participation in the Commonwealth Day celebrations held in London
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A group of pro- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) British Tamils gathered at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9 to protest the new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's participation in the Commonwealth Day celebrations held in London, reports Colombo Page. According to the report, upon seeing the protesters, President Sirisena, who is the current Chair-In-Office of the Commonwealth, alighted from his official motorcade and greeted the protesters waving at them. The protest against the visiting President was organized by the British Tamils Forum (BTF). The President was attending the Commonwealth Day service held at Westminster Abbey. The event was attended by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and representatives of Commonwealth Nations.
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March - 9 
Filmmaker Callum Macrae who exposed Sri Lanka's war crimes and took the famous picture of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's son eating a snack just before he was shot dead will release a new Sinhala version of h
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Filmmaker Callum Macrae who exposed Sri Lanka's war crimes and took the famous picture of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's son eating a snack just before he was shot dead will release a new Sinhala version of his award winning documentary "No Fire Zone" in the premises of the House of Commons (United Kingdom), reports Daily Mirror on March 10. According to The Times of India Britain's relation with Sri Lanka may soon sour over the film. The launch will be attended by director Callum Macrae and will have the presence of British MPs (Member of Parliament) -Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, Conservative MP Lee Scott and others from Parliament. The documentary was nominated for the prestigious Emmy award. The meeting will also be addressed by exiled Sinhalese writer Bashana Abeywardane. The release of the version will coincide with the visit of the new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to the UK and will take place a day before he is due to have dinner with the Queen.
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March - 9 
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has requested the British Government to persuade the new Sri Lankan administration to lift the ban on Tamil Diaspora groups imposed by the previous Government, reports The Island on March 10. The GTF is among those group
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The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has requested the British Government to persuade the new Sri Lankan administration to lift the ban on Tamil Diaspora groups imposed by the previous Government, reports The Island on March 10. The GTF is among those groups included in the list of proscribed organisations. GTF President Reverend Father S. J. Emmanuel has requested the ruling coalition’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond, Member of Parliament (MP), to take up the issue with the visiting Sri Lankan delegation led by President Maithripala Sirisena. The President and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera are scheduled to meet British Prime Minister (PM) David Cameron today (March 10). GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran confirmed their request to the British Government. Surendiran said that they strongly believed that the gazette notification bearing the number 1854/41, dated March 21, 2014 should be repealed.
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March - 10 
A Sri Lankan court on March 10 released the Tamil woman activist, Balendran Jeyakumari who has been held in detention for nearly a year for allegedly harbouring a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fugitive, reports Colombo Page. Acting Police
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A Sri Lankan court on March 10 released the Tamil woman activist, Balendran Jeyakumari who has been held in detention for nearly a year for allegedly harbouring a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fugitive, reports Colombo Page. Acting Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara said Colombo Magistrate Court released Jeyakumari on conditional bail after spending nearly a year in the Boossa detention camp. However, the Additional Magistrate has banned her from leaving the country as part of the bail conditions given to her by the Court. She is also required to report to police station closest to her residence every month, ASP Gunasekara said. The court also released six other activists along with Jeyakumari. Balendran Jeyakumari along with her 13-year-old daughter was arrested on March 13, 2014 in Kilinochchi in Kilinochchi District, Northern Province for allegedly sheltering an LTTE cadre, named Gopi, who shot a Police inspector in Kilinochchi during an arrest. Her daughter was handed over to Child Protection Services while the mother was sent to Boossa detention camp. The mother and daughter were active participants in most protests conducted by families of the disappeared in the Northern Province. Jeyakumari has led protest campaigns in the North demanding to find out what happened to the youngest of her three sons, who had joined the LTTE as a child soldier and went missing after he reportedly surrendered to the Sri Lankan Security Forces (SFs) at the end of the war. Her other two sons reportedly belong to LTTE, had been killed in the war. However, Tamil parties in the North say she was arrested for the involvement in protests to find missing persons.
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March - 10 
Housing and Samurdhi Minister Sajith Premadasa said that Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians do not stand for a separate state and their purpose is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Tamils, reports Daily News on March 11. Minister Pre
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Housing and Samurdhi Minister Sajith Premadasa said that Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarians do not stand for a separate state and their purpose is to ensure fair and equal treatment for Tamils, reports Daily News on March 11. Minister Premadasa said some politicians make allegations against the TNA claiming that they supported President Maithripala Sirisena during the Presidential election to divide the country. This is a political lie used to mislead voters, he said. The Minister said that “Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) activists in London protest against TNA MPs Sampanthan and Sumanthiran by burning their effigies. Even TNA MPs have accepted the unitary nature of the state.” "If Sampanthan and Sumanthiran wished to see a separate State and supported Maithripala Sirisena to fulfill this purpose, it is a big question for us as to why LTTE supporters in the United Kingdom (UK) are protesting against them? The cat is out of the bag and the truth is revealed. The TNA MPs do not demand for a separate state. They only want equal treatment for Tamils," said the minister. Minister added that according to the Constitution, no citizen should be discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion, place of birth or any such grounds and that every citizen has a right to be considered equal.
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March - 10 
Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman who visited Sri Lanka from February 28 to March 3, expressed confidence over Sri Lanka's efforts towards reconciliation and cooperation, reports Colombo Page. UN Political ch
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Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman who visited Sri Lanka from February 28 to March 3, expressed confidence over Sri Lanka's efforts towards reconciliation and cooperation, reports Colombo Page. UN Political chief said on March 10 that following presidential elections in January, a historic opportunity has now presented itself for Sri Lanka to set up a domestic process that is credible, accountable and up to par with international norms and standards for the benefit of the country's people, with the help of the wider international community. "The meetings and talks with the Government of Sri Lanka are so different than they used to be, so that leads us to greater expectations. There was suffering across all Sri Lanka, every community suffered and accountability must address the grievances in the North, but also allow that all [people] in Sri Lanka feel like all their concerns are being addressed," he said. Feltman said "without question" there still is distrust between groups, but all stakeholders must work together. He noted that he had heard skepticism, especially in the North of the country, on whether the Government will live up to its commitment. But nevertheless, he said, "I left with the confidence that the intention to do this is real. The UN stands ready to provide technical assistance, if it is needed. "This is important for the people of Sri Lanka," Feltman added.
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March - 10 
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran on March 10 claimed that there are about 300 political prisoners in Sri Lanka, reports Daily News. Sumanthiran was addressing the press following his meeting with Solicitor General Suhada
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Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran on March 10 claimed that there are about 300 political prisoners in Sri Lanka, reports Daily News. Sumanthiran was addressing the press following his meeting with Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath on the issue of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) detainees. However, Solicitor General Gamlath discounted this claim stating that it is unfair to claim that those who were taken into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or under the Public Security Ordinance as political prisoners. He emphasized those arrests were made within a structured legal frame work and hence there are no political prisoners in the country. Sumanthiran said that the law has taken a different course for those who helped the LTTE by providing them with food and water, and they are still in detention though 11,900 detainees have already been rehabilitated. According to Sumanthiran, the group under custody could be divided as (1) those against whom no legal action has been instituted (2) those whose legal battle is completed and (3) those against whom legal action continues."The Committee to be appointed by the Solicitor General will conduct its first meeting on March 16," sources said.
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March - 11 
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lankan Police, as directed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the order of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate, will soon begin investigations into the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga,
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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lankan Police, as directed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the order of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate, will soon begin investigations into the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga, reports Colombo Page on March 12. Police Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara said that preliminary investigations into the assassination of Wickrematunga were carried out by the Mirihana Police and later by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID). As ordered by the IGP the CID has already sought the extracts related to their investigations from the Mirihana Police Station and the TID and CID would start its investigation after analysing these investigations, the spokesman said. Lasantha Wickrematunga, the chief editor of Sunday Leader, was assassinated on January 8, 2009 by four assailants who stopped him on his way to his office on Attidiya-Mt. Lavinia road, in a suburb of Colombo and opened fire at him. In an editorial written shortly before his death and that was published posthumously, Wickrematunga accused the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Government of intending to silence him and voiced his commitment for press freedom at the risk of his life.
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March - 12 
British writer-filmmaker Callum Macrae has urged Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to "show courage and commitment" in pushing Sri Lanka to address war crimes ahead of his visit to Colombo, reports The Times of India on March 13. Macrae said "
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British writer-filmmaker Callum Macrae has urged Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to "show courage and commitment" in pushing Sri Lanka to address war crimes ahead of his visit to Colombo, reports The Times of India on March 13. Macrae said "(The Sri Lankan Government should) allow a genuinely independent international process of justice - something which can command support and trust of all communities of Sri Lanka." The filmmaker, who took the picture showing Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) 'chief' Velupillai Prabhakaran's son eating a snack before he was shot dead and helped expose war crimes, said he wants to persuade Modi to intervene. Macrae recently released a Sinhala version of his award winning documentary, 'No Fire Zone' that has been nominated for the Emmy Award. India has refused visa to Macrae and certification for his film for screening, explaining in part it might "strain friendly relations with Sri Lanka". Macrae called New Delhi's attitude a cause of concern. "The refusing of a certificate on the openly political grounds...was a shameful episode - as was, quite frankly, the refusal to grant me visa,'' he said. "Now that both the Government in Sri Lanka and the Government in India have changed, I hope that the certification will be granted and that when I re-apply for a visa, it too will be granted.''
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March - 12 
President Maithripala Sirisena on March 12, said that Sri Lanka does not want "any outsiders" in its domestic inquiry into alleged atrocities committed against the Tamil Tigers during the last stages of the country's civil war, reports DNA. "We are r
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President Maithripala Sirisena on March 12, said that Sri Lanka does not want "any outsiders" in its domestic inquiry into alleged atrocities committed against the Tamil Tigers during the last stages of the country's civil war, reports DNA. "We are ready to get advice and their opinions for the inquiry, but I don't think we need any outsiders because we have all the sources for this," Sirisena said. This implies the United Nations (UN) investigators will not be able to participate in the domestic inquiry that the new government plans to set up within a month into the alleged war crimes committed during the nearly three decade-long military operations that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009. Sirisena's comments came a day before Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's visit to the country, the first by an Indian premier in 28 years. Modi will also be the first Indian PM to travel to Jaffna in the Northern Province, the former bastion of The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He is also expected to press the new Government for an early reconciliation with the minority Tamils. Colombo Page adds that President Maithripala Sirisena said he hopes to set up a special investigative commission within a month to inquire into the alleged war crimes committed during the last phase of the country's civil war. President Sirisena said an investigative commission will be appointed legally and it will be tasked with identifying what needs to be done to probe the alleged violations. If the commission found anyone guilty of committing war crimes they will be punished according to the country's law, Mr. Sirisena said.
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March - 13 
A Sri Lankan court on March 13 released a former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tiger women's wing on conational bail when she was produced in court, reports Colombo Page. Police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Polic
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A Sri Lankan court on March 13 released a former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tiger women's wing on conational bail when she was produced in court, reports Colombo Page. Police spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara said Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attigala released the former LTTE leader Murugesu Jayaganesh Pakeerathy on a personal bail of LKR 200,000. The suspected LTTE leader was ordered to hand over her passport to the court and appear before a Police Station once a week. Earlier on March 3 the Police arrested Pakeerathy at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo while she was about to leave for France with her eight-year-old daughter. The authorities initially detained her for 72-hours pending investigations by the Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) and the detention was extended to 90 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
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March - 13 
Balendran Jeyakumari, along with her then 13-year-old daughter, Vibushika, was arrested on March 13, 2014 in Kilinochchi for allegedly sheltering a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre, named Gopi, who shot a Police Inspector in Kilinochchi
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Balendran Jeyakumari, along with her then 13-year-old daughter, Vibushika, was arrested on March 13, 2014 in Kilinochchi for allegedly sheltering a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre, named Gopi, who shot a Police Inspector in Kilinochchi during an arrest. Her daughter was handed over to Child Protection Services while the mother was sent to Boossa detention camp in Galle in Southern Province. The mother and daughter were active participants in most protests conducted by families of the disappeared in the Northern Province. Jeyakumari, who was detained for nearly a year without being charged, was released on conditional bail on March 10. Following Jeyakumari's release on bail, the Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court ordered the authorities to hand over Vibushika to her mother's custody.
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March - 13 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on March 13, urged the Sri Lankan Government to ensure early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and to go beyond that when finding a political solution, reports Daily News. "We
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on March 13, urged the Sri Lankan Government to ensure early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and to go beyond that when finding a political solution, reports Daily News. "We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process," the Indian Prime Minister said at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of the heads of the Sri Lankan Government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Colombo on March 13, adds The New Indian Express. He laid a wreath at the base of the tall column on which was inscribed the names of all the 1,500 Indian soldiers who were killed in the operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) between 1987 and 1990.
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March - 14 
Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in an International Conference on Education in Dubai said that the whole country does not want an international probe into the alleged war crimes committed during the 26-year long war wit
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Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in an International Conference on Education in Dubai said that the whole country does not want an international probe into the alleged war crimes committed during the 26-year long war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorists, reports Colombo Page on March 15. Kumaratunga has said that both the Sri Lankan people and its politicians found the calls for a United Nations (UN)-led international investigation "insulting" by implying that the country could not carry out its own. She said that Sri Lanka is united against an international investigation into alleged war crimes.
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March - 14 
Making a historic visit to Jaffna in Northern Province, a region once ravaged by strife, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on March 14 called for equitable development and respect for all citizens in Sri Lanka, seen as an oblique reference to
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Making a historic visit to Jaffna in Northern Province, a region once ravaged by strife, Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on March 14 called for equitable development and respect for all citizens in Sri Lanka, seen as an oblique reference to Tamils who had suffered during the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Security Forces (SFs), reports Daily Mirror. Winding up his public engagements on his two-day trip to the island with a hugely-symbolic visit to Tamil-dominated Jaffna, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, he said he was glad that it "is one to wipe tears from the eyes of those who suffered". The Prime Minister, who is also the second international leader to visit the region after Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) David Cameron in 2013, handed over 27,000 new homes to Tamils who became homeless during the civil war. The houses were built with Indian assistance as part of India's efforts to help in the reconciliation process.
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March - 14 
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran said that the Indian PM Narendra Modi had "planted a very positive idea" in the minds of those at the Central Government in Sri Lanka, reports The Hindu on March 15. PM Narendra Modi’s address at the
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Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran said that the Indian PM Narendra Modi had "planted a very positive idea" in the minds of those at the Central Government in Sri Lanka, reports The Hindu on March 15. PM Narendra Modi’s address at the Sri Lankan Parliament on March 13 was a message to Colombo on the need for greater devolution of powers, said C.V. Wigneswaran. After his brief meeting with Modi, Wigneswaran said “I hope the Central Government will take it upon themselves to change the Constitution in such a way that more and more powers will be given to the periphery”.
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March - 14 
The arrest at the Colombo Airport last week of a former woman ‘Sea Tiger’, Murugesu Jayaganesh Pakeerathy has exposed new global Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) financing networks with continued links in Sri Lanka, reports Sunday Observer on
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The arrest at the Colombo Airport last week of a former woman ‘Sea Tiger’, Murugesu Jayaganesh Pakeerathy has exposed new global Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) financing networks with continued links in Sri Lanka, reports Sunday Observer on March 15. The husband of Murugesu Jayaganesh Pakeerathy lives in France and is identified as the main financial controller of the LTTE’s diaspora-based global finance networks. The husband, Subramaniam Jayaganesh, is suspected to be still maintaining close ties with the former Tiger leader and key ‘banker’ Kumaran Pathmanathan alias ‘KP’ who was the LTTE’s main global funds coordinator. ‘KP’ currently lives in Sri Lanka following his arrest in Malaysia and controversial ‘rehabilitation’ by the previous regime despite many serious charges relating to terrorism arraigned against him. The sources said that the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), which is currently questioning Murugesu found these international financial linkages. This has prompted a fresh probe into possible international LTTE financing networks that may still be linked with Colombo, Police sources said. Murugesu was arrested by TID officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo as she attempted to leave the country for France. Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Artigala granted bail to her on March 13. She has also been asked to report to the police station every fortnight. Meanwhile, the court case against KP, arising out of a petition filed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuṇa (JVP), will be taken up by Court of Appeal this week, adds Sunday Observer. At the last hearing, Justice Vijitha Malalagoda, asked for more information about KP’s global links.
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March - 14 
The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) is to hand in an interim report regarding the missing persons' cases to the President Maithripala Sirisena on March 18, the Secretary to the Commission, H.
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The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) is to hand in an interim report regarding the missing persons' cases to the President Maithripala Sirisena on March 18, the Secretary to the Commission, H. W. Gunadasa has said, reports Colombo Page on March 15. According to the official, the report has already been finalized and it will be handed to the President on March 18. The Commission has recorded statements from witnesses regarding 303 cases of disappearance during the first week of this month. The Commission has received 471 complaints. Since the Establishment of the Commission on August 15, 2013, the Commission up to date has received in excess of 20,106 complaints inclusive of approximately 5,000 complaints from relatives of missing Security Forces (SFs) personnel.
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March - 16 
Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 16 said that livelihood development programmes should be implemented for the rehabilitated cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in order to secure their economic environment, reports Col
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Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 16 said that livelihood development programmes should be implemented for the rehabilitated cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in order to secure their economic environment, reports Colombo Page. Following a special discussion headed by the PM held at the Temple Trees in Colombo, the PM appointed a committee to explore and initiate programmes to create employment for the ex LTTE cadres. The committee comprises the officials of the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. According to the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation report Sri Lanka has almost completed the rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 former cadres of LTTE. Currently, 49 hardcore LTTE cadres remain in detention centers.
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March - 17 
In a major reconciliatory move, President Maithripala Sirisena will be sending a circular to all institutions saying that there is no bar on singing the Lankan national anthem in Tamil language, reports Daily Mirror on March 18. He will thus be lifti
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In a major reconciliatory move, President Maithripala Sirisena will be sending a circular to all institutions saying that there is no bar on singing the Lankan national anthem in Tamil language, reports Daily Mirror on March 18. He will thus be lifting an unofficial ban existing since 2010, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa let it be known that Government will frown on singing the anthem in Tamil. Schools and other institutions, which were using the Tamil version of “Sri Lanka Matha, Apa Sri Lanka” since 1951, stopped doing so. Sirisena announced his decision to lift the language bar when the leader of the Democratic Peoples’ Front (DPF), Mano Ganeshan, raised the issue at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on March 17. “The President said that he would send a circular saying that there is no ban on singing the national anthem in Tamil. He also said that he would have the matter cleared by the National Security Council,” Ganeshan said.
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March - 17 
Visiting Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter on March 17 told the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo that Switzerland is w
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Visiting Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter on March 17 told the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo that Switzerland is willing to open a new chapter in bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and ready to extend its full support for a national reconciliation programme, reports Colombo Page. Burkhalter said that the Swiss Government is very happy with the measures taken by Sri Lankan Government so far to build up national reconciliation and empower democracy in Sri Lanka. Burkhalter also met Tamil National Alliance (TNA) seniors R. Sampathan, and Member of Parliament (MP) M.A. Sumanthiran and discussed the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka.
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March - 18 
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera while presenting amendments to strengthen the laws to combat terrorist financing and money laundering combat in the Parliament on March 18 said that the Government will review the proscription of 16 Tamil Diaspora
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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera while presenting amendments to strengthen the laws to combat terrorist financing and money laundering combat in the Parliament on March 18 said that the Government will review the proscription of 16 Tamil Diaspora organizations and over 400 individuals by the previous Government, reports Colombo Page. Minister Samaraweera said that the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa Government banned Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora groups and individuals under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1373 for their alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He said the Government took that measure to "build up the hysteria about the LTTE regrouping" in the run up to the presidential election. Minister said "However, most of the organisations listed may have merely been vocal proponents of Tamil rights. There was hardly any tangible evidence to link them to the LTTE. Some of the individuals listed had even been dead for some time." "Reviewing this list of individuals and entities is an important exercise at this juncture when the Government of President Maithripala Sirisena is seriously committed to expedite the reconciliation process," the Minister pointed out. Earlier, Sri Lanka on April 1, 2014 signed the UNSC Resolution 1373, which sets out strategies to combat terrorism and to control terrorist financing. With the signing of the Resolution 1373, the Rajapaksa Government banned the Tamil Tiger terrorist organization, LTTE and 15 other Tamil Diaspora groups that are alleged of having terror links and involved in reviving the terrorist movement in the country.
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March - 18 
Sri Lankan Government has started a fresh probe in to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, reports Colombo Page on March 19. Minister of Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Gayantha Karunathilaka has made this observation in parliame
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Sri Lankan Government has started a fresh probe in to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, reports Colombo Page on March 19. Minister of Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs Gayantha Karunathilaka has made this observation in parliament in response to an oral question posed by Kurunegala District in North Western Province Parliamentarian Shantha Bandara. Eknaligoda who supported the common opposition presidential candidate General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 Presidential elections disappeared in the evening of January 24, 2010, just 36 hours before the elections. Karunathilaka added that the government has also taken steps to formulate a welfare plan to support Eknaligoda's family and the education of his two children.
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March - 22 
New Government on March 22 conferred the country's highest military rank of Field Marshal to former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, who was jailed on alleged treason charges by the previous Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, for "achieving the v
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New Government on March 22 conferred the country's highest military rank of Field Marshal to former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, who was jailed on alleged treason charges by the previous Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, for "achieving the victory over terrorism", reports Colombo Page. President Maithripala Sirisena promoted the former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka to the rank of Field Marshal at a special function held at the Defence Ministry ground in Colombo. Fonseka, who is credited with leading the Sri Lankan Army to secure victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and eliminating the terrorist group, will be the first ever Field Marshal in Sri Lankan military history. He led the final phase of the war against terrorist group LTTE culminating in the total elimination of the terrorist group and three-decade long terrorism.
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March - 22 
The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) has decided to indefinitely postpone the handing in its interim report to the President Maithripala Sirisena, reports Colombo Page on March 23. The report h
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The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons (PCICMP) has decided to indefinitely postpone the handing in its interim report to the President Maithripala Sirisena, reports Colombo Page on March 23. The report has already been finalized and it was to be handed to the President on March 18. However, the Chairman of the Commission Justice Maxwell Paranagama said that the presenting of the report to the President will be postponed indefinitely. As the President is busy with enormous amount of duties, the Commission has decided to postpone its meeting with the President.
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March - 23 
The New Government on March 23 started handing the thousands of acres of land in the Northern Province taken by the Security Forces (SFs) during the civil war back to the original owners, reports Colombo Page. President Maithripala Sirisena, at a ce
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The New Government on March 23 started handing the thousands of acres of land in the Northern Province taken by the Security Forces (SFs) during the civil war back to the original owners, reports Colombo Page. President Maithripala Sirisena, at a ceremony held at the Walalai area in Jaffna in Northern Province, released 425 acres of land previously situated in Jaffna high security zone to the original owners. At the event, the President symbolically presented the ownership certificates to the rightful owners of the land. President said his Government is dedicated to building peace and co-existence among all communities; eliminating fear and mistrust and will take every measure to resolve their burning grievances.
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March - 23 
A large number of Tamils on March 23 held demonstrations in the North and Eastern provinces, demanding an international probe into the alleged human rights violations during the last phase of war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), repo
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A large number of Tamils on March 23 held demonstrations in the North and Eastern provinces, demanding an international probe into the alleged human rights violations during the last phase of war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports DNA. Rejecting President Maithripala Sirisena Government's proposed domestic investigation rather than an international probe into the human rights violations, Tamils including activists of Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), held protest in eight Northern and Eastern Districts.
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March - 23 
The official said that the PCICMP report will be handed over to President Sirisena before the publication of the report of United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHGHR] Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) into alleged war
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The official said that the PCICMP report will be handed over to President Sirisena before the publication of the report of United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHGHR] Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) into alleged war crimes. It will be up to the President to decide whether to submit the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), or to act according to a domestic legal framework, he added.
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March - 26 
Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe announced on March 26 that the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been appointed to lead a special Presidential Task Force to identify urgent reconciliation needs of the minority Tamil com
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Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe announced on March 26 that the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been appointed to lead a special Presidential Task Force to identify urgent reconciliation needs of the minority Tamil community, reports Colombo Page. PM Wickremasinghe at a special meeting with the heads of government and private sector media institutes at the Temple Trees said that a Secretariat on National Harmony has been declared open under the leadership of the former president Mrs. Kumaratunga. "We are focused in achieving communal and religious harmony," Wickremesinghe said. Wickremasinghe added that the major task entrusted to the Presidential Task Force on Reconciliation (PTFR) is to preserve the diversity of all ethnic groups. The PTFR would identify urgent reconciliation needs of the communities that require immediate solutions and would consider proposals from the public on the issues.
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March - 27 
Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe March 27 embarked on a tour in the Tamil dominated Northern Province in a bid to strengthen Government's efforts to bring about the reconciliation among the communities, reports Colombo Page. The PM participat
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Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe March 27 embarked on a tour in the Tamil dominated Northern Province in a bid to strengthen Government's efforts to bring about the reconciliation among the communities, reports Colombo Page. The PM participated in a special meeting held with the Jaffna District parliamentary members and local Government representatives at the Jaffna District Secretariat to review the progress of the government's 100-day program implemented in the Northern Province. PM, while addressing the meeting, said the Government will provide long term solutions to address the problems faced by the people in the District who have been affected by the war and assured to take measures to uplift their economy along with the development of infrastructure facilities. He said the Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena is committed to create a better tomorrow for the people in the province with the conclusion of the cruel war and the two main political parties of the country have formed a National Government with that objective. He expressed hope that the local Government representatives and civil organization in North will support the Government. Wickremesinghe also visited Point Pedro and Kilinochchi in the Northern Province, and talked to former combatants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), war widows, civil society representatives, and parliamentarians.
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March - 27 
The Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court in Kilinochchi District in Northern Province on March 27 ordered the immediate release of Balendran Vibushika, the daughter of Tamil activist Balendran Jeyakumari, who was transferred to probationary custody in a ch
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The Kilinochchi Magistrate's Court in Kilinochchi District in Northern Province on March 27 ordered the immediate release of Balendran Vibushika, the daughter of Tamil activist Balendran Jeyakumari, who was transferred to probationary custody in a children's home in Kilinochchi after her mother was arrested in March 2014, from probation, reports Colombo Page.
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March - 28 
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Ajith P Perera said that the EU had re-imposed the ban on the LTTE due to the positive diplomatic intervention of the Government, adds Colombo Page. However, the EU has not officially announced the decision to extend
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Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Ajith P Perera said that the EU had re-imposed the ban on the LTTE due to the positive diplomatic intervention of the Government, adds Colombo Page. However, the EU has not officially announced the decision to extend the ban.
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March - 28 
Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 28 said that the Europe Union (EU) has responded positively to the quest made by him to extend the ban on, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. The PM made this announcement
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Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe on March 28 said that the Europe Union (EU) has responded positively to the quest made by him to extend the ban on, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Colombo Page. The PM made this announcement when he met with the members of the three Armed Forces and Police at the Defence Headquarters at Palaly at Jaffna in Northern Province. Accordingly, the EU will further extend the ban on LTTE, the PM said. Wickremesinghe assured the Security Forces (SFs) that his Government will not leave any room to sacrifice lives of armed forces and general public due to wrong decisions taken by the politicians.
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March - 30 
Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P Perera on March 30 warned that there is a real danger that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could regroup and wage another war for an independent Tamil homeland, six years after they were militarily defeated
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Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P Perera on March 30 warned that there is a real danger that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) could regroup and wage another war for an independent Tamil homeland, six years after they were militarily defeated, reports Colombo Page. Perera said that "Their front organisations operate businesses abroad, they run petrol stations, supermarkets and have shipping companies." "Even though they have been defeated on the ground, there is a real danger of their trying to regroup," he said. His comments came after the Sri Lankan government pushed the European Union (EU) to again blacklist the LTTE. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Government said that a final decision has not yet been taken on lifting the ban on some diaspora groups or individuals listed by the former Government, reports Colombo Gazette on March 31. Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P Perera said that the issue is sensitive and needs to be dealt with carefully and will also need the support of Parliament.
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March - 30 
Dismissing much-touted allegations that thousands had been still held on terrorism charges, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, on March 30 said that there were only 210 persons in custody, reports The Island. The minister stressed that nine hel
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Dismissing much-touted allegations that thousands had been still held on terrorism charges, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, on March 30 said that there were only 210 persons in custody, reports The Island. The minister stressed that nine held on terrorism charges had been given bail. According to the minister, 134 persons had been remanded had 60 were under investigation and 25 held under Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Of the total number, nine have been released on bail. Earlier, in the run-up to the January 8 Presidential election, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), overseas Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) groups and some civil society organisations accused the previous Government of holding thousands of political prisoners in secret detention camps. Recently, Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe denied the existence of secret detention camps in the country while asserting those who had been categorised as missing were either dead due to the conflict or living overseas. The previous Government on more than one occasion briefed the Geneva based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the release of over 11,000 ex-LTTE combatants following rehabilitation.
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March - 30 
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Sri Lanka has arrested three former Navy personnel and detained them in connection with the killing of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) Nadarajah Raviraj and a Policeman providing
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The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Sri Lanka has arrested three former Navy personnel and detained them in connection with the killing of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) Nadarajah Raviraj and a Policeman providing security to him in 2006, reports Colombo Page on March 31. The parliamentarian was shot dead by gunmen riding a motorbike in Colombo in Western Province on November 10, 2006. His bodyguard, Police Constable Lakshman Lokuwella attached to the Jaffna Police Station, was also killed in the shooting. The Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara said the three security personnel including two officers are being interrogated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and they will also be questioned over several disappearances during that time. The new government of President Maithripala Sirisena has promised accountability for wartime abuses. Raviraj was outspoken on greater self-rule for minority ethnic Tamils and explained the Tamil perspective of the conflict in Sinhala, the language of the majority. A former mayor of Jaffna and a lawyer by profession, Raviraj openly spoke out against the conflict between the military and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the country's north and east.
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March - 31 
The newly-appointed Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Krishantha de Silva said that Sri Lanka Army has not withdrawn the troops or camps in the North, reports Colombo Page on April 1. In an interview, the Army Commander has stressed that saf
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The newly-appointed Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Krishantha de Silva said that Sri Lanka Army has not withdrawn the troops or camps in the North, reports Colombo Page on April 1. In an interview, the Army Commander has stressed that safeguarding territorial sovereignty was of paramount importance and assured to take all measures to prevent the resurgence of militancy in the North. The Commander added that the President, who is Commander-In-Chief, and he, himself are committed to achieving national security. He assured that no military camps have been withdrawn to release land to the original owners in the North and East. Speaking of the reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is trying to make a comeback, the Army Commander said the Security Forces (SFs) are extremely alert and watching the situation "very carefully". "There will be zero tolerance of any acts of terror," he emphasized.
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March - 31 
Three Sri Lankan Navy personnel, including two officers, have been arrested by the Police under the anti-terrorism Act for the alleged murder of a popular Tamil lawmaker in 2006 that had been blamed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), rep
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Three Sri Lankan Navy personnel, including two officers, have been arrested by the Police under the anti-terrorism Act for the alleged murder of a popular Tamil lawmaker in 2006 that had been blamed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reported The Times of India. Police spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruwan Gunasekara said on March 31 that the three men are suspected in the killing of Nadaraja Raviraj, who was shot dead in his car in November 2006 during the country's civil war. A former mayor of Jaffna and a lawyer by profession, Raviraj openly spoke out against the conflict between the military and LTTE in the country’s North and East. The Government of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa blamed the killing on the now-defeated LTTE, but Raviraj's supporters suspected a government hand.
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*Data till , April 25, 2024
Source:Compiled from news reports and are provisional.
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