Tamil youth abducted and killed by paramilitaries

A Tamil youth was abducted and killed by pro-government paramilitaries in northern Sri Lanka over an ongoing environmental dispute.

Ketheeswaran Thevarajah was working in a post office in Vadamaraadchi when he was abducted by armed and masked men, he was found shot dead a few hours later. Mr. Thevarajah had been actively protesting against the removal of sand dunes in the north of the Jaffna peninsula. He had claimed that the excavation of sand was seriously damaging the unique ecosystem. The contract to excavate the sand for sale to glass manufacturers was awarded to a company linked to the pro-Government EPDP paramilitary group.

As seen in the following image, seawater has begun to spread inland as the sand has been removed:

The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EDPD) actively aided the Sri Lankan Military during the civil war and has been accussed of involvement in a number of massacres.

Man injured by landmine - Sri Lanka

 A man has been inured in a suspected landmine explosion in northern Sri Lanka.

It is understood that a man was out collecting firewood around the town of Ketpali when he was injured in an explosion. Locals claimed a landmine or unexploded Sri Lankan military shell was to blame.

Since the end of the civil war a number of people have been killed or injured by unexploded ordinance which has been left behind by the Sri Lankan military in previously Tamil Tiger held territory.

The man, 39, is receiving attention at a nearby government hospital.

Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels arrested

 Sri Lankan authorities say that they have arrested five suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in Colombo.

The rebel group suffered major losses last year as Sri Lankan troops took back their last stronghold in the north of the island. Since then the rebel group has continued to carry out hit and run attacks on government forces.