Category: Featured Headlines

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, said he would “lead the world in seeking prosecutions in international courts” against Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes if elected as Canada’s next prime minister.

Speaking at the ‘Harvest of Hope’ event in Toronto, Canada on January 18, marking Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month, Poilievre said:

“It will be Conservative prime minister Pierre Poilievre who will lead the world in seeking prosecutions in international courts of the Rajapaksas and other criminals who have persecuted the Tamil people.”

His comments follow Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign as the country’s prime minister after a decade in office.

Poilievre also highlighted that in 2013, former prime minister Stephen Harper boycotted the Commonwealth summit that was taking place in Colombo “to isolate and punish the oppressive regime in Sri Lanka for the genocide it was carrying out against the Tamil people.”

In his speech, Poilievre also recognised the contributions made by Tamils across Canada.

“The harvest is a celebration of the fruits of our labour and that symbolises everything that is great about the Tamil people who are known for relentless hard work in industry, entrepreneurship [and] building things,” Poilievre said.

This is not the first time the party leader has pledged to push for justice and accountability for Tamils.

Last year, Poilievre told Tamil news outlets that he would expand on sanctions and pursue accountability in the international fora, specifically at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was called into the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday (28)to lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka following an incident involving the Sri Lankan Navy firing on 13 Indian fishermen near Delft Island in the early hours of January 28, 2025.

Two of the fishermen sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, while three others suffered minor injuries and have been treated.

Indian Consulate officials in Jaffna have visited the injured fishermen to check on their well-being and are providing all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families, said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs, where a strong protest was lodged over the incident.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government.

The Government of India emphasized the need to treat issues related to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind their livelihood concerns.

The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed, said the Indian Ministry of Externalk Affairs.

The Northern Naval Command of the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 13 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai, Jaffna, on the night of January 27, 2025, said the country’s navy in a statement.

The operation was launched around 2200 hrs after the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats in the area.

During the operation, the Navy deployed naval craft to drive away the fishing boats.

One Indian fishing boat, which continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters and engage in illegal fishing activities, was seized. The Sri Lanka Navy boarding team had to conduct a noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat maneuvered aggressively and did not comply with lawful orders.

The Indian fishermen acted confrontationally, attempting to assault naval personnel and snatch a firearm from a naval officer, endangering the lives of the naval team.

In the process, an accidental fire had occurred, causing slight injuries to two Indian fishermen.

The Navy provided initial first aid and transferred the injured fishermen to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where their condition is reported to be stable. A complaint has been lodged with the Kankesanthurai Police regarding the incident.

The seized Indian fishing boat and the remaining fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal action.

The Navy continues to conduct operations to prevent illegal fishing activities and protect the livelihoods of the fishing community in the Northern Province.

An immediate aid freeze of US funding on many programmes aiming for diversity and inclusiveness is likely to hit funding for many local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka, sources who are aware of the impacts of the new US President Donald Trump’s decision have said.

The US State Department has issued a halt to nearly all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, the BBC has reported, citing an internal memo sent to officials and US embassies abroad.

“This means there won’t be funding for diversity and inclusive programmes which also have been promoting LGBTQ,” one source, who has the knowledge on the impacts of the US funding freeze, told EconomyNext.

Officials in NGOs said some of their key projects including media training, inclusive democracy, rights, and diversity programmes are funded by the US.

“All the programmes are frozen with immediate effect. They have to file a report within 90 days from Trump’s declaration and justify their programmes focusing on diversity, inclusivity, and promoting LGBTQ,” the source said.

Soon after his taking oath, Trump under his executive orders said: “There are only two genders: male and female.”

His order will deprive large amounts of US funding for inclusivity and diversity projects around the world, sources said.

The 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending a review of efficiencies and consistency with Trump’s foreign policy is already in effect.

The United States is the world’s biggest international aid donor spending $68 billion in 2023 according to the US government figures. The State Department notice appears to affect everything from development assistance to military aid, the BBC reported.

It makes exceptions only for emergency food aid and for military funding for Israel and Egypt.

It also orders a wide scale review of all foreign assistance to be completed within 85 days to ensure the aid adheres to President Trump’s foreign policy goals.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, is in Sri Lanka for talks with the new Sri Lankan Government.

Inclusive economic growth, anti-corruption, human rights and national reconciliation are on the agenda as Catherine West meets key government ministers, including Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

The visit marks the first ministerial visit to Sri Lanka since the formation of new governments in both countries.

The Minister will strengthen valuable UK-Sri Lanka trade links, boosting growth for UK and Sri Lankan businesses. She will launch new export procedure handbooks, helping Sri Lankan businesses better access the UK market through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The minister will also travel to Jaffna to emphasise the UK’s ongoing support for human rights, reconciliation, climate resilience and minority rights.

She will meet with local political leaders and civil society organisations working on post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as visiting the only FCDO-funded climate adaptation project which directly addresses groundwater depletion and its impact on agriculture and local communities.

Minister for Indo-Pacific, Catherine West said:

“I am so pleased to make my first official visit to Sri Lanka and meet the new government so soon after they have taken office. I have heard a lot about the country from my UK constituents of Sri Lankan heritage; and I have experienced their warm hospitality.

The UK and Sri Lanka share a dynamic modern partnership. I look forward to exploring our potential to grow our relationship through trade, economic growth and education.”

I believe social and economic development are vital to sustained growth. The UK remains steadfast in our commitment to tackling corruption, supporting human rights progress including long-standing grievances, and taking action on the impacts of climate and nature.”

The Minister will meet the British Council to discuss the growing education partnership as Sri Lanka positions itself as regional hub for transnational education (TNE).

UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick said:

“Minister Catherine West’s visit marks an important moment – the first meeting of our two new governments. To see the Minister visit so soon after elections underscores the UK governments commitment to strengthening our bilateral partnership. We’ll see lots of activity in the months ahead, as we work with the government on their agenda of reform.”

The visit highlights the shared ambition of our two governments to deepen collaboration, and address shared challenges such as economic growth, climate change and human rights.”

The Colombo Magistrates Court ordered the release of Yoshitha Rajapaksa on bail today (27).

Rajapaksa was granted bail on two surety bonds of Rs 50 million each.

The suspect, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was presented before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court this morning.

He was arrested on Saturday (25) in the Beliatta area.

Following his arrest, he was presented before Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeewani at the Hultsdorf No. 5 Magistrate’s Court that afternoon, and was subsequently remanded until today.

According to Police Spokesperson Senior SSP Buddhika Manatunga, Rajapaksa was arrested in connection with an investigation into the purchase of a property and house in the Ratmalana area for Rs 34 million, allegedly acquired through illegal means.

The arrest was made based on sufficient evidence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006, following the advice of the Attorney General.