In brief
Impact
The Committee of Inquiry into Undue Arrest and Harassment has requested the Attorney General for a report on the impact of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act after the amendment in July 1998. The Bail Act 1997 and the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act 1979 relating to bail are inapplicable to offences under this Act, making it equivalent to the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Over 100 Tamil youths are in detention or have been convicted under the Act, reports say.
Confirmed
The Supreme Court of India, on 11 May, confirmed the death sentences of two Sri Lankans and two Indians accused in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case. Three were sentenced to life and 19 others were acquitted.
Temple
Deputy Defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte asked Colombo businessmen in late May to finance the construction of a Hindu temple near Colombo, to neutralise the harmful effects of the Srirangam Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India. The new temple may cost Rs 600 million ($8.6 million).
Accused
Police claim that Sinhala newspaper Lakbima journalist Srilal Priyantha, now in custody, was a leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), wanted in connection with five murders in 1988-89. Mr Priyantha has written articles on corruption in the military.
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