Melani Manel Perera

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) sends a letter to the Queen of England, who is celebrating 60 year reign. Since 2007, the Sri Lankan girl is sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for the alleged murder of a newborn babay.

The Kandy High Court has sentenced Sandanam Jeevaratnem, 48, to 20 years in prison, the maximum penalty in Sri Lanka for the crime of rape. In 2007, the man abused the girl when she was at home alone. Staff of the Office for Human Rights in Kandy, run by Fr. Nandana Mantunga central to her battle for justice, psychological and legal support.

The representatives of trade unions are calling to set up a commission to investigate corruption accounts of 'Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), the main pension fund in the country. The EPF money used to buy inflated shares of some national companies. The fund houses the savings of 11 million workers in private and cooperative sectors; 250 thousand farmers, 280 thousand workers in the textile sector.

Sister Augustine, a nun at the Ave Maria Convent of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Nayakakanda, teaches catechism. In the first year and half of teaching, she brought 66 people to baptism. Currently, she is helping an additional six, drawn to conversion by love or hardships. Irrespective of their reason, if they "are here, it is because the Lord wants" it.

The priest went house to house, explaining to people what was going on. In his last parish in Koongodamulla, friends and parishioners remember him as a paragon of justice and courage who knew how to live by the Word of God to its fullest. Officially, he died in his "sleep" on 19 January 1990, but many believe he was assassinated because he had become 'trouble' for some.

Sri Lanka's Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, a Muslim, accuses Mgr Rayappu Joseph of stirring the Tamil community against Muslims in his region. People from across the country come together to demand an official apology. "No one defends our rights like the bishops," Muslims and Hindus say.

Catholic priests participate in a meeting in Jaffna (Northern Province) where they criticise the government for violating the fundamental rights of Tamils in the north. In Batticaloa (Eastern Province), 184 war widows are still living in temporary housing without running water, electricity, toilet facilities or government financial assistance.

Perhaps a future in politics, as requested by many. But many do not see him as political leader and judge his release a move by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. A Catholic priest: "To be a leader for the country, you must act without revenge and respect the rights of all ethnic groups and religions."

Whilst the government commemorated fallen soldiers, the Sisters' Link for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation held a counter-commemoration and a prayer. Three years since the end of the civil war on 19 May 2009, the nuns say that remembrance must not discriminate and that only forgiveness and compassion can bring true reconciliation.

families of Navy, Air Force, Army and Police personnel. For an Anglican priest, it is the attempt to create a Sinhalese and Buddhist majority population. Criticism of human rights activists: risk of ethnic crisis.

Defence Ministry makes the announcement. Survivors and human rights activists criticise the decision, seeing it as just a way to curry favour with the international community. A year ago, the government had made a similar promise, which it did not keep.

Falsely charge of murder, the young woman has been in jail since she was 17. The European Union is closely monitoring the case. For Saudi authorities, the "case is not yet closed." Sri Lanka is trying to get the victim's family to pardon her.