Colombo Mirrors

Fast & Factual

[Colombo Mirrors @ColomboMirror]

What happened to the Right to Mourn? @anuradisanayake ‘s left wing - Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna - which once waged violent armed campaign against the #lka state is allowed to commemorate their fallen heroes unhindered! Why only Tamils in North-East are denied such basic rights?

[P. Karunakharan @PKarunakharan]

#lka President @RW_UNP has reportedly ordered police minister @TiranAlles & justice minister Wije Rajapaksa at Cabinet meeting to take action against those commemorated Heroes Week on Nov 27 in North & East. This is despite local courts rejecting police attempts to get it banned.

[ITJP @itjpsl]

Sherine Xavier: “The wounds remain open decades later. Survivors continue to live with trauma, fear, stigma, and silence. They have spent decades waiting to be believed.

The UN OSLAP report puts on record what survivors have long known, but it cannot fully convey what it means to live with these experiences for decades while the world moves on. Too often, women are reduced to case notes, statistics, and footnotes.”

[ITJP @itjpsl]

@jsoufi: One of the first steps is to extend the definition of rape in #LKA to include male survivors.

Second, the statute of limitations is critical. When there is no investigation or acknowledgement, every passing day moves closer to impunity, reduced only to memory and the passage of time. There is a real sense of urgency. Victims ask: “If I die tomorrow, what will happen to my memory and the truth I carry?” We often focus on direct perpetrators, but we know this is also a matter of command responsibility. We must consider the widespread nature of these crimes, and the failure to investigate and punish as a mode of liability.

Survivors also describe intersectionality. When you are poor, unemployed, a victim of CRSV, and have a father or brother who has disappeared, with no access to health care. These are not siloed harms. They are experienced together as overlapping, compounding violations.

[ITJP @itjpsl]

@jsoufi : Impunity is a culture in which soldiers commit crimes punishable under international law, and because they are not punished, they believe it is permissible, or at the very least, they know they will never be held accountable.

There is no temporal red line for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), nor is there a geographical red line for sexual violence. Credible allegations against LKA soldiers in Haiti illustrate this concern: if sexual violence is committed at home without consequence, why would it stop when forces are deployed far from home?

States also observe one another. When impunity becomes entrenched in Sri Lanka, it signals a broader normalization of unaccountability in the international system. It is therefore essential to prevent these crimes not only in Haiti or Sri Lanka, but globally.

[P. Karunakharan @PKarunakharan]

Lanka's former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa & two senior military officials have been banned from travelling overseas. A Colombo Magistrate Court issued this order today in connection with the ongoing investigation over 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. https://t.co/oSlcpV9CrB

[LankaFiles @lankafiles]

Tamil undergraduates condemn the act of vandalism on a lantern made by Sinhala students for Vesak festival.

"We express our deep concern regarding attempts by certain individuals to generalize this incident and attribute responsibility to the Tamil student community as a whole"

[Marc-André Franche @MAFrancheUN]

It means building a future where everyone belongs, no one is left behind, and we have the courage to pursue truth, justice and accountability.

The UN stands with all Sri Lankans🕊️

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[Ambika Satkunanathan @ambikasat]

I am saddened to see Intl Centre for Ethnic Studies hold a seemingly anti devolution lecture on 18 May when Tamils commemorate those killed during war. Devolution of power isn’t perfect but given SL’s biggest problem is consolidation of exec power, is this our greatest concern?

[Kumanan @kumanan93]

Mother Searching for Disappeared Sons and Son-in-Law Passes Away

Murugesupillai Sellamma (74) from Muththaiyankattu, Mullaitivu, who spent years demanding justice for her two sons and son-in-law who were forcibly disappeared after surrendering to the Sri Lankan military in May 2009, has passed away on 27.04.2026.

Trusting assurances of rehabilitation and release, she handed them over to the military at Vattuvakal during the final days of the war. Since then, no information has been provided about their fate.

Her daughter, Sasikumar Ranjinidevi, continues the struggle for truth and justice as a representative of families of the forcibly disappeared in Mullaitivu.

Just two months after the death of her husband, Sellamma too has passed away without knowing what happened to her loved ones.

#Disappearedtamils #Mullivaikkal #Nojustice

[Marc-André Franche @MAFrancheUN]

Today marks seven years since the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka.

At a commemorative event, I joined others in honouring the victims, while calling for truth, justice and closure.

Families have waited too long for answers and deserve an outcome.

[Chanchala Samaraweera Gunewardena @Chanch_SL]

Journalist @sulorammohan shows state issued media ID to take an interview only to be harassed by police, her phone searched & intimidated into signing a statement. Min @NalindaJay if system change is to uphold media freedom - will there be accountability?

https://t.co/uvLnNCFYwT

[Al Jazeera Breaking News @AJENews]

BREAKING: A joint statement by 10 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia call for an urgent end to Israeli attacks and the protection of aid workers in southern Lebanon.

[P. Karunakharan @PKarunakharan]

One more journalist Killed while covering the war..the number is ballooning... https://t.co/ebI0AhHJFo

[ITJP @itjpsl]

Today, the ITJP released a briefing note for UK MPs on the legality of UK involvement in the Iran war. Read the full briefing here: https://t.co/Q7xW47R7ik

[P. Karunakharan @PKarunakharan]

#SL fast bowling coach @malinga_ninety9 had an islandwide fast bowling talent find today at RPIS - to select a few youngsters to be considered & groomed 4 national fast bowling pool. So far he has found this young talent from Eastern Batticaloa distr who has bowled over 125 kmph

[Colombo Mirrors @ColomboMirror]

Here is the full link for the story in detail ..
https://t.co/o9fNgrrtoK

[Colombo Mirrors @ColomboMirror]

Colombo Fort Magistrate has stated on March 11 that - #lka Fmr State Intelligence head, Rtd Maj.Gen Suresh Salley, currently in detention custody, is facing allegations that are directly connected to the Easter bomb attack, reports a private TV.

[Dharmesh Dixit @theDDixit]

From Host to Spectator: India's influence sinks with Iranian ship? #IRISDena

India is central resident power in Indian Ocean due to geography, naval strength and economic stakes. We position ourself as a net security provider and first responder, protector of critical sea lines of communication.

Iris Dena was UNARMED, the weapon system were kept in a SECURED & NON-OPERATIONAL mode. They believed they were in friendly waters, most of the men on the ship were non combat & ceremonial staff.

After US subamrine attacked Iris Dena close to Indian waters killing over 100 crew members: India's response has been notably muted or absent. No prominent public condemnation, no statement of concern, no diplomatic note from govt, MEA or Navy has emerged in reports. No claims of involvement in post-incident SAR despite proximity and prior hosting of the ship and conducting joint exercise. No visible assertion of "net security provider" responsibilities, such as offering assets for rescue, joint investigation or freedom-of-navigation concerns in a suddenly militarized IOR zone.

On other hand, Sri Lanka's response has been swift, visible and courageous. This positioned Sri Lanka as the effective first responder be it, humanitarian, logistical and communicative, in waters very close to India's sphere of influence.

India's geography, naval capabilities and economic stakes position it uniquely to lead in IOR crises. But when a tragedy unfolded near its backyard on a ship fresh from its hospitality, India appeared sidelined. Sri Lanka, with far smaller naval assets, stepped up as the visible protector of life and maritime norms.

#USIranWar #IranWar #IndianOcean #MILAN2026 #IRISDena #SriLanka #Navy

[Frances Harrison @francesharris0n]

Amazing level of denial!