Melani Manel Perera

John Rankin met 200 Catholic Tamil refugees force d to live in a jungle with nothing. They had been drive out of their village more than 20 years ago during the civil war. The high commissioner plans to discuss their plight with the Sri Lanka government.

Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, president of the Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA), criticised the government's education policy. Persons unknown threatened him. The Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM) called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of thought to all citizens.

Eliminated from the famous Derana Dream Star, Luxmi Deepa Sharma, 21, reacted to the defeat by exploiting her natural talent for singing and music. Every weekend she returns to her native village to play the organ during mass. "My experience is a gift from God."

Nimalka Fernando receives 2011 Citizen's Peace Award. The woman stood out for her commitment to create citizens awareness of rights, and combating all forms of discrimination.

The delay of the monsoon rains threatens to destroy rice and other crops in the northern, northwestern and central northern areas of the country. The energy blackouts are starting: the water supplies of the hydroelectric reservoirs are almost exhausted. Agriculture Minister promises state aid.

Trawling destroys the ecosystem of the Indian ocean in the northern areas. But northern communities suffer from other problems: rudimentary equipment, prohibition of access to some of the bays, damage caused by civil war. The commitment of the Southern communities to help them.

With the Civil War, the community of Mullikulam (Mannar, Northern Province) has lost everything: homes, properties, land. They can't return to their home village because the Navy wants to build a naval base there. Now the government has placed them in a forest: they sleep on the floor, surrounded by elephants and snakes. They need to build new homes, but they have no tools. Catholic priest: "We are witnessing an intolerable and meaningless discrimination."

Jesumaria Kingsley, a 40 year-old Catholic fisherman, lost a leg during protests against rising petrol prices. Sebastian, 14, left school to help his mother and siblings. Tried by the situation, the man decided to hang himself. An activist for the rights of fishermen: "We are all responsible for his death."

The incident occurred in the Mahanama College Getambe in Kandy (Central Province). Amila, 13, bled in the left ear but without permanent damages. Despite a report being filed, police did not arrest anyone. Education Department rules say that students have a right to be taught their religion, and that schools have an obligation to provide religious courses for students of different faiths.

Presented the national program that will bring civil society and NGOs to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio de Janeiro, 20-22 June 2012). To emerge from the global crisis, we must return to putting human being at the center. The richest countries must reduce consumption of resources.

The visit by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has not been confirmed. Colombo opposes it, wants local NGOs as mediators. US secretary of state wants the Sri Lankan government to support Pillay.

Most are located in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Foreign Employment and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (Slbfe) offering training courses to send skilled workers abroad. Compared to last year, migrant workers down by 40%.