Colombage Melani Manel Perera

Dissanayake's secretary, Dr Kumanayake, has tasked officials with presenting a proposal. The instructions are part of the Prajashakthi government programme for the equitable distribution of benefits in society. Autism (DSA) is increasingly recognised in Sri Lanka. The Ayati Trust centre in Ragama has reached 14,000 children with disabilities in five years.

The government ban comes into force tomorrow. Children under 16 are banned from begging, street trading and domestic work, while dangerous work is off-limits to those aged 16 to 18. Minister Jayatissa cites the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children are 30 per cent of the Sri Lankan population. Poverty, migration and poor education are the main causes of exploitation.

In recent days, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, visited the island. Meetings were held with religious leaders, politicians and civil society figures. The issue of internal ‘accountability’ and the creation of an independent prosecutor to shed light on past abuses. The story of over a hundred Rohingya adrift off the north coast.

Several civil society groups have presented an appeal to the Ministry of Justice after it announced new legislation. They want the government to immediately and unconditionally scrap the existing law. But for Justice Minister Nanayakkara, it is “essential”. Adopted in 1982, the PTA has been used to silence critical voices and oppress minorities, such as Tamils ​​and Muslims. Critics demand that ordinary, not special laws, be used, and that those convicted be provided compensation as well as physical and mental health care.

A student who took her own life at Wayamba National College of Education has sparked student protests and prompted the Ministry of Education to launch an investigation. For Father Gamunu Dias, National Director of Catholic Education, no one can be indifferent. This should never happen again while young people and future teachers must be protected.

On Tuesday the company informed its employees via WhatsApp, shocking workers and unions. A worker told AsiaNews that, “compensation will help us for a few days, but what about after that?” The Ministry of Labour was not informed until the last moment. The “Company has threatened workers against requesting an inquiry,” reports the Dabindu Collective.

For the first time, Sri Lankans were able to pay homage to the memory of the fallen and the missing in an atmosphere of relative peace and security. Rallies were held in the north and in the capital to remember the end of the war in May 2009 between the Tamil Tigers and the military. Tens of thousands of civilians paid the ultimate price. “Reconciliation without justice,” said Sister Deepa Fernando, “is an empty gesture.”

A day after Buddhists marked Vesak Poya, a fundraiser was held in Colombo, attended by 80 Myanmar monks . Muslims, Hindus, and Christians also joined the show of solidarity. After the earthquake in Myanmar, many Sri Lankans raised funds and collected aid for the more than 400 monks studying in the country after their families and donors could no longer support them. For Fr Rohan Silva, the student monks need a helping hand, like Sri Lankans did after the 2004 tsunami.

Sri Lankan authorities have announced plans to improve early treatment for autistic children, who number at least 9,000 according to the latest data. Plans include setting up model kindergartens, creating teacher training programmes, and implementing a single preschool education policy. For Minister Paulraj, active monitoring can provide autistic children with equal opportunities “toward a healthy developmental path”.

Protests are taking place opposite the Welikada police station demanding justice for Sathsara Nimesh. Speaking to AsiaNews, his mother wonders how this could have happened since he was in good health. An investigation has been opened and three of the officers held responsible have been removed. But activists, religious and lawyers are calling on the government to take concrete steps against this problem.

Jeyakumari Balendran writes to the president, the fifth since her son was detained, asking for information on his fate. Conscripted by the LTTE, he was last seen in a picture taken when he was in a rehab camp. For 17 years, Tamil families have been seeking justice for the thousands of missing. Relatives told AsiaNews that they want an “international inquiry” right away.

Tamil families in Thaiyiddy were displaced in 1990 by the military. An area of six acres is now home to the Tissa Vihara Buddhist temple. Despite the end of the civil war in 2009, locals have not seen their land returned. With the backing of the People's Alliance for Land Rights (PARL), they are speaking out against forced expropriation and demand justice.