PEARL’s News Update 12 November 2018

    The annual tree planting drive in the Northern Province to honor fallen LTTE cadres was marked with a cultural programme and an exhibition in Jaffna on Saturday. Former CM Wigneswara and Tamil Nadu politico Thirumavalavan  attended the event. The annual Tamil Remembrance Day falls on November 27 (Photo: Tamil Guardian)         PEARL’s…

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PEARL’s News Update 02 November 2018

    Students at the University of Jaffna held a memorial service to mark ten years since the death of former student union leader Sellathurai Purusothaman, who was killed along with another Tamil youth. He was one of the many activists killed as the ceasefire broke down (Photo: Tamil Guardian)         PEARL’s…

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Statement by Civil Society: Immediately Release Land of the People of Keppapilavu

(February 17, 2017) We, the undersigned civil society organizations, write this statement to express solidarity with protestors of Keppapilavu and condemn the Government’s lack of appropriate and timely response or action towards releasing their land from military occupation.[1]   For over two weeks, villagers from Pilakudiyiruppu, Keppapilavu, have been stationed on the side of the…

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Sri Lanka should not obstruct Tamil commemorations of Maaveerar Naal

Sri Lanka should not obstruct Tamil commemorations of Maaveerar Naal     (Washington, DC; November 22, 2016) PEARL is deeply concerned about a statement attributed to Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene, who threatened legal actions against those commemorating Maaveerar Naal on November 27. Annually, Tamils around the world observe Maaveerar Naal, or…

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International Community Must Keep a Critical Eye Over Sri Lanka’s Reform Process, Amidst Ongoing Militarization and Human Rights Violations

(Washington, DC: June 30, 2016) PEARL welcomes the oral update from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing Resolution 30/1. The work of OHCHR has been a source of hope and a focal point for Tamil victims and activists on the ground. However, in the…

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