The International Red Cross Tuesday urged Sri Lanka on Tuesday to disclose the fate of more than 16,000 people still officially missing since the island   

Of 395 families surveyed by the Red Cross, just over one third believed their loved ones were dead while another third were convinced they were still alive somewhere. The remaining third were unsure. "The survey found that these families primarily want to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing relative and that they also face economic, legal and administrative difficulties in their daily lives," it said. Government forces crushed Tamil rebels fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic minority, in a brutal offensive in 2009.

Some 40,000 people are thought to have been killed in the final few months of the conflict alone. Huge numbers of Tamils disappeared during the 37-year war including after being arrested by security services, while thousands more died in military bombardments. Thousands of people also went missing during a crackdown by security forces and pro-government vigilante groups on Marxist rebels between 1987 and 1990.

The ICRC said it has registered 16,000 people as missing since setting up a presence in Sri Lanka in 1989. The database includes more than 5,100 security personnel listed as missing. President Maithripala Sirisena has taken steps to reconcile with the Tamil community since coming to power last January, including by setting up a missing persons office to help families seek compensation. Last month, the government announced a landmark law to recognise as dead those still missing, allowing relatives to claim inheritances.

The cabinet approved a draft bill to issue "certificates of absence" to the families of those who went missing. Several mass graves containing skeletal remains have been found in the past two decades, but only a handful of those buried have ever been formally identified.

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan national charged in the mass killing of a newcomer family in Ottawa has no plan to seek bail, his lawyer says.

With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held in the first week of October, political parties have begun vigorous campaigns in electorates as well as closed door discussions with parliamentarians in a bid to secure a basic 50 percent vote base which will win them the presidency.

Notwithstanding the internal friction within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) resulting in changes in party's leadership positions, the Election Commission clarified its role in accepting nominations for SLFP candidates in the event that internal conflicts persist beyond the declaration of elections.

Editor of the official Catholic Sinhala weekly ‘Gnanartha Pradeepaya’, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today for an investigation related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (Apr 19) compared to Thursday. According to Seylan Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 295 and Rs. 305.50, respectively.

It is reported that the Presidential Security Division has taken over the security of the visiting Iranian President – Ebrahim Raisi, who will arrive at Sri Lanka on April 24 for the inauguration of the Uma Oya project.

Sri Lanka remains on high alert as Canadian leaders may make genocide allegations next month when the country marks the war victory, according to a diplomatic source.

The respondent parties in the first application filed before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court under the newly enacted Online Safety Act, raised objections challenging the maintainability of the application.

The Court of Appeal has issued notice on former Member of Parliament Hirunika Premachandra, requiring her to appear before court on May 8 in connection with a contempt of court application.

The Catholic Church has received the remaining parts of the report submitted by the presidential commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today. Cardinal Ranjith said the church had received it three weeks ago. “A team of lawyers are studying the report and we will come up with a statement on it once the study is completed,” he told a briefing.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested two suspects, including a retired Major of the Sri Lanka Army for fraudulently obtaining money from individuals promising employment in the Russian army.

The Colombo District Court today further extended its enjoining order preventing former President Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This order will be effective till May 9. The Colombo District Court made this order following a lawsuit filed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Sri Lanka is considering providing free visas to over 50 countries, it was reported. According to Tourism Ministry sources, a proposal in this regard is to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers next week.

According to the family members, the funeral service for former Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma is scheduled to take place this Friday (10).

Admissions for the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations will be issued by next week, the Examinations Department said. Accordingly, admissions will be issued to school applicants through the respective principals and to private applicants by post. The examination is scheduled to be held on May 6.

Preparations are underway to bid farewell to late Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, the founder and President Emeritus of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, with full state honours.

The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated further against the US Dollar today (Apr 17), compared to Tuesday, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 294.20 to Rs. 295.28, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 303.54 to Rs. 305.19. The Rupee has also depreciated against several foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies.

The United States (US) Government recently held preliminary talks with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Colombo regarding the planned transfer of a fourth US Coast Guard cutter to the SLN, as part of the ongoing security partnership between both the countries.

Amidst reports that some ex-military men from Sri Lanka have joined the Russian military operations against Ukraine, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow Prof. Janita Liyanage said she asked for details about them from the Russian military if any. She said this in response to a query about media reports to that effect. “I sought such details from the Russian military if there is anyone there,” she said.

Sri Lanka cannot be pushed and bumped into a global conflict and therefore it should be diligent in its dealings with various nations, a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP said today.