A decades-old spat over alleged Hindi imposition in the southern state of Tamil Nadu has erupted again. Here’s why.
Long-simmering ethnic tensions between mainly Buddhist Sinhalese and largely Hindu Tamil minority led to the civil war.
The bankrupt country says it will reduce army personnel to 135,000 by next year and 100,000 by 2030.
The current crisis is a second blow to the Tamil population, already ravaged by the civil war’s final offensive.
It was the first-ever public event on the island where mostly majority ethnic Sinhalese memorialised the minority group.
Sri Lanka amends Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) but opposition says the changes will not stop abuses under the law.
President promises rights reforms and ‘justice’ for missing people after years of resisting calls for such measures.
Relatives forced out of cemeteries as they attempted to light lamps at graves of loved ones who died in the conflict.
Probe against Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda highlighted extrajudicial killings during the nation’s 37-year ethnic war.
Opposition legislator Selvarajah Kajendran arrested for remembering rebel who died campaigning for minority community.
At least 29 refugees tried to take their own lives last month to protest their detention at a camp in Tamil Nadu state.
![The Sri Lankan Tamil detainees who tried to take their own lives at an Indian refugee camp [J Jayabathuri/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/detainees-who-attempted-suicide.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
International Truth and Justice Project report says 15 Tamils were beaten, burned, suffocated and sexually assaulted.
![Sri Lankan troopers stand guard in the district of Mullaittivu on May 17, 2018, before the 10th anniversary of Sri Lankan troops defeating Tamil Tiger rebels and declaring an end to a 37-year-old separatist war that killed at least 100,000 people [File: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/000_1GK3Z8.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
President pardons 16 men as island nation faces UN pressure over detentions without charge under an anti-terrorism law.
![The pardon is a first for people linked to the Tigers since Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power in 2019 [File: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/000_1WA6ON.jpg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
UN’s human rights chief warns the systems and policies that allowed grave rights abuses remain in place.
