Our Reporter

Our Reporter

‘Our Reporter’ is a collective byline representing a team of Jaffna- and Sri Lanka-based journalists and editorial staff who contribute to Jaffna Monitor.


19-Year-Old Student Found Dead at Home in Eastern Sri Lanka

19-Year-Old Student Found Dead at Home in Eastern Sri Lanka

KALMUNAI, Sri Lanka — A 19-year-old student at a prominent school in eastern Sri Lanka was found dead at his family home in Kalmunai, just four months after the death of his father, police said. The student, identified as Iruthayanathan Amrisan, was studying for his Advanced Level examinations at Carmel Fatima National School in Kalmunai, in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province. His body was discovered at a house on Vanniyar Road, within the jurisdiction of Kalmunai Headquarters Police in Ampara Distr


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Namal Rajapaksa Remanded Until Oct. 16 as Krish Bribery Inquiry Widens

Namal Rajapaksa Remanded Until Oct. 16 as Krish Bribery Inquiry Widens

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Colombo court on Tuesday extended the remand custody of Namal Rajapaksa, a member of Parliament and the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, until Oct. 16 in a bribery investigation involving payments linked to Krish, an Indian property company. The order also applies to Janaki Siriwardena, a former director of Krish. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama said he would rule on bail applications for both suspects on Oct. 16. The magistrate issued the


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Daughter, Son-in-Law Face Court Proceedings in Killing of Jaffna University Lecturer

Daughter, Son-in-Law Face Court Proceedings in Killing of Jaffna University Lecturer

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — Police have filed a formal charge sheet in the killing of a senior University of Jaffna lecturer whose body was found in a secluded area four days after her death in March, clearing the way for preliminary proceedings against her daughter and son-in-law. The two suspects, who have remained in remand custody since their arrests, were brought before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court under security on Monday. Police submitted the charge sheet prepared after their investigation into


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Jaffna Man Dies in House Fire Near Paris While Visiting Family

Jaffna Man Dies in House Fire Near Paris While Visiting Family

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka: A 38-year-old Tamil man from Jaffna died early on Saturday, Oct. 3, in a house fire in a suburb northeast of Paris while visiting relatives, according to French news reports and people familiar with his family. Jaffna Monitor has confirmed the man's identity as Rexson Selvarasa, 38, originally from Jaffna. He was born on July 16, 1988. Mr. Selvarasa was a vocalist, and people who knew him described him as a known supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The LTTE, w


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Shritharan’s Call to Lift LTTE Ban Sparks Clash With Archchuna

Shritharan’s Call to Lift LTTE Ban Sparks Clash With Archchuna

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: A debate in Sri Lanka's Parliament on Tuesday on regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act turned into a dispute over the Tamil Tigers, with two lawmakers from Jaffna District taking opposing positions in the chamber. S. Shritharan used his speaking time to raise the removal of a bust of Thileepan, a political leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who died on a hunger strike in 1987. He called for the ban on the LTTE to be lifted and accused the government of pursu


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

‘How Can Thileepan Be Commemorated?’ Dayasiri Challenges Government

‘How Can Thileepan Be Commemorated?’ Dayasiri Challenges Government

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Dayasiri Jayasekara, an opposition lawmaker, challenged the government in Parliament on Tuesday over commemorations for Thileepan, a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who died on a hunger strike in 1987, asking why such events were permitted while the separatist group remains banned in Sri Lanka. Mr. Jayasekara, who represents Kurunegala District for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, put the question to Aruna Jayasekara, the deputy minister of defense, during the cha


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

After Four Months in Hospital, Suresh Salley to Return to CID Custody

After Four Months in Hospital, Suresh Salley to Return to CID Custody

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A medical board has determined that Maj. Gen. Suresh Salley, the former head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service, is fit to be discharged from the National Hospital in Colombo, the attorney general’s office told a magistrate on Tuesday. Mr. Salley, who has been hospitalized for nearly four months while being held under a detention order, is expected to be returned to the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department after his discharge, the Fort Magistrate’s Court


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Once Stripped by Protesters, Kahandagama Now Held Over ‘Ice’

Once Stripped by Protesters, Kahandagama Now Held Over ‘Ice’

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Mahinda Kahandagama, the former Colombo municipal politician whose torn red shirt became one of the most recognizable images of Sri Lanka's 2022 political upheaval, was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of possessing crystal methamphetamine, the police said. Officers from the Colombo Central Crime Investigation Bureau detained Mr. Kahandagama near a restaurant in Mirihana and said they recovered a quantity of the drug, known in Sri Lanka as "Ice," from him. The location


Our Reporter

Our Reporter