Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sri Lanka deploys military to ‘Grease Devil’ towns



Reuters | Khaleej Times
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Sri Lanka on Monday deployed soldiers to quell unrest sparked by a fear of nighttime prowlers known as “Grease Devils”, after at least five died over the past two weeks in a wave of vigilantism and clashes with police across the island nation.

Sri Lanka’s army also set up a new brigade in Kinniya near the eastern port of Trincomalee, where thousands of angry people last week besieged a government office after fighting with the navy in pursuit of suspected “grease devil”.

The increased deployment came a day after a mob killed a police officer in the northwestern town of Puttalam. Troops have remained out in force since Sri Lanka’s government won a 25-year civil war in May 2009 with the Tamil Tiger ethnic separatists.

Read More

Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Human scars of Sri Lankan war neglected


Al Jazeera
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Two years after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, the north's roads, railways and homes are being rebuilt. But little attention has been placed on helping a population suffering from the trauma of being caught in the middle of decades of fighting.

Mental health workers have told Al Jazeera that not only is the treatment of post-traumatic stress not a priority for the government, but that in some cases the military has refused to allow counsellors in to reach affected people.

Al Jazeera's Steve Chao was granted special permission to report in the still sensitive area of northern Sri Lanka.

© Al Jazeera


Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Police officer killed in Sri Lanka "Grease Devil" riot



By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez | Reuters
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Angry Sri Lankans killed a police officer on Sunday in the latest outbreak of violence sparked by a fear of nocturnal prowlers known popularly as "Grease Devils" that has gripped rural areas in the island nation over the past two weeks.

Another officer and five other people were hurt in two separate incidents in the northwestern Sri Lanka town Puttalam, after residents gave chase to a suspected "grease devil," police and witnesses said.


Read More

Bookmark and Share
© 2009 - 2014 Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka

  © Blogger template 'Fly Away' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP