Melani Manel Perera

After the war, the loss of social cohesion, economic deprivation and the lack of government rehabilitation policies have prevented people from recovering from their trauma.

The Vedda people want the government to respect their traditions and grant them part of the forest to hunt. They are the oldest indigenous group in Sri Lanka, direct descendants of communities that already lived on the island during the Neolithic.

A Protestant pastor appeals on behalf of dozens of refugees seeking political asylum in Sri Lanka. Disregarding the request by the UN agency for refugees, Sri Lanka's government has begun deportation. At least 84 Pakistanis, 71 Afghans and 2 Iranians could be expelled.

Mgr Rayappu Joseph refuses to testify at an investigation by the Presidential Commission in his district. In a letter explaining his decision, he says, "Sri Lanka's problem is the lack of political will to end impunity".

The authorities justify the deportations with the increase in the number of refugees. Many of them are Christians and Muslims (Shia and Sunni) fleeing threats from religious extremists. Christian Human Rights activist: "We should face the issue in a brotherly way, we are all human beings."

Led by monks, a mob stopped a meeting that had brought together northern families, activists, Catholic clergy and foreign diplomats. The police were present but did not intervene to stop the attackers.

After 25 years of priesthood, spent helping the poor and ethnic minorities, Fr. Sherard Jayawardana tells AsiaNews about his vocation, the highs and lows of a lifetime "dedicated to building the Kingdom of God on earth". The gratitude of the Colombo fisherfolk and an appeal to Catholics: "Let us commit more to the good governance of the country."

More than 500 people demonstrated against a Ministry of Defence-issued notice to all non-governmental organisations. The warning prohibits associations from engaging in activities that transcend their specific tasks. Specifically, it bans activities related to freedom of the press, expression and assembly.

A thousand people of all ethnicities and religions participate in a meeting to denounce the conditions in which the North’s Tamils are forced to live. Police desperately try to prevent the rally, even threatening some refugees.

The Defence Ministry issued a circular to prevent NGOs from holding press conferences and meetings for journalists. For the authorities, such activity is "unauthorised". Human rights groups say they are ready to disobey the gag order and take to the streets. The Defence Ministry is headed by the president's brother, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is accused of war crimes.

Between 5 and 8 July, the Presidential Commission held a public session during which 387 new cases emerged. Most of them concern people who went missing in the last phase of the conflict. So far, more than 18,000 complaints have been received, 5,000 of which from relatives of missing soldiers. The commission will end its work on 12 August.

The Collective of the Families of the Disappeared (FOD) and the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) organize a peaceful demonstration in honor of Madushka Haris da Silva, who disappeared over 10 months ago. He was detained by men claiming to be "police".