Colombage Melani Manel Perera

Police report rising complaints and an intolerable situation. The real emergency is educational. Sex with those under 16 is rape with sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Helping the most fragile left to fend for themselves is the challenge.

The UN today marks International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances celebrates. In Sri Lanka, the missing remain an open wound years after the civil war. Human rights activist Rev Sathivel asks, “Why is the government not saying anything” about Tamil fighters who surrendered.

The textile and garment sector had so far withstood the pandemic and supported the Sri Lankan economy through exports. But now unions complain that workers in free trade zones have paid a price for this and demand the government ensure greater safety.

Card Ranjith has urged fellow Sri Lankans to display the symbol of mourning in protest against the government’s failure to find the truth about the 2019 bombings. Many civil society groups back the prelate’s request, but for others it is half-hearted. At least 25 people have been charged in connection with the attacks, but the authorities have failed to identify the principals.

The government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the decision after a written request from Buddhist monks. The lockdown will last at least until the end of the month. In the past week over 4,000 new cases have been reported per day. To reduce the pressure on hospitals, people are asked to send text messages describing their symptoms. Ships with liquid oxygen are coming from India.

In the new wave of the pandemic, Sri Lanka has become the fourth country in the world in terms of the number of deaths per million inhabitants. Many are in favor of a general lockdown, but the government is slow to impose it. Health authorities concerned about situation in hospitals. Christian Solidarity Movement: 'Day labourers cannot afford self-isolation'.

After receiving a presidential pardon, the ex-fighters received about US$ 500 each from the army. For Anglican Fr Marimuttu Sathivel, “This is not freedom." Displaced people in the north of the country continue to demand the return of land seized by the military during the civil war.

The young woman died in hospital from burns. The case has again highlighted the problem of child labour in Sri Lanka. Bishop Fernando of Kandy wrote a letter to the government with a seven-point proposal to protect children. More than 12,000 complaints of child abuse have been filed in the past 18 months.

Public offices reopen from 2 August. Controversial decision: since early July, Covid-19 infections have doubled in the country. The civil service is divided over the decision. The president justifies it with the fact that most employees have completed vaccinations.

After two months, the burning of the large container ship off the Sri Lankan coast near Colombo continues to impact the area. Fishermen complain that the shipwreck has not been anchored far off, in deep waters, but is resting in shallow waters, in a fishing ground, near the coast.

A meeting by the Christian Solidarity Movement marked the anniversary of “Black July”, the event that set off the country’s civil war in 1983. India still has 107 refugee camps with 58,000 Tamil refugees who are not recognised as citizens in either India or Sri Lanka. Teaching ethnic groups to live together from childhood remains a challenge.

In Sri Lanka school lessons have moved online, but many children have no access to have tablets or internet. The teachers speak of the challenges they face: "As Christians it is our responsibility to continue with the educational process".