In brief
Postponed
North-east local elections scheduled for 25 June were postponed to 24 January 2004 after the Supreme Court declared that amendments sought by government to election laws to call for fresh nominations, instead of papers submitted last year, was contrary to constitutional provisions on equality.
Festival
Huge crowds participated in the Pongu Thamil (Tamil Effervescence) festival on 28 June at Suthumalai in Jaffna. A festival declaration urged a north-east interim administration under the LTTE recognized by the government.
Strike
An island-wide strike launched on 10 June by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) was called off on 20 June. The doctors are demanding salary reform.
Denied
Colombo High Court denied bail on 18 June to former Defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte and 14 others, accused of involvement in the murder of 10 Muslims during 2001 elections. The court accepted the argument that they posed a threat to witnesses.
Appointed
Radika Kumarasamy was appointed head of the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission in June. Ms Kumarasamy earlier served as UN Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
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