The economic crisis is being felt by street vendors for Avurudu, the national holiday celebrated in these hours that marks the beginning of the year for both Sinhalas and Tamils.
Local people suspect that companies in the area are releasing harmful chemicals into the waters. For days, fishermen have been calling for intervention by the authorities to understand what has led to the death of so many fish.
India ceded the atoll in 1974 when the Indian National Congress led by Indira Gandhi was in power. Experts believe the prime minister is using the issue to woo voters in India’s southern states ahead of national elections, set to start on 19 April.
At a press briefing in Colombo, the country’s Human Rights Commission called for changes to the school curricula to give a central place to human rights, highlighting the plight of marginalised groups, like Tamil plantation workers. Guidelines were presented last December, including on proper arrest procedures. About “24 people taken into custody died in detention,” Commission member Nimal Punchihewa lamented.
Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, secretary general of the Bodu Bala Sena, an organisation opposed to other religions in Sri Lanka, received two fines of 50,000 rupees each for defamatory comments about the Muslim community.
The economic crisis pushes citizens to seek work abroad. Some fraudulent employment agencies lure needy people - both ex-military and civilians - to enlist in the foreign legions in Moscow and Kiev. This is the case of 55 Sinhalese who left on tourist visits. Nihal Thalduwa, deputy inspector of the DIG: 'Asked them between 250,000 and 500,000 rupees'.
