Sri Lanka Country Specialist for Amnesty International USA. On Facebook under Jim McDonald. Tweets are my own, not AI's.
Joined October 2009
- Tweets 19,859
- Following 1,768
- Followers 2,431
- Likes 7,186
4,532 Photos and videos
Jun 17
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 16
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jun 15
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 14
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jun 13
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 12
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jun 11
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 10
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jim McDonald retweeted
Sri Lanka: @amnesty is concerned by the continued arrests and detentions carried out under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), notwithstanding the current administration’s stated commitment to repeal the legislation, which has long been criticized for its overly broad provisions and incompatibility with international human rights law and standards.
Recent cases underscore ongoing concerns regarding the application of the PTA. Among them is the case of Sangeethan Ganeshkumar, a 24-year-old Tamil hip-hop artist, who was arrested on 2 June and has been remanded until 17 June in connection with one of his performances, which was also shared on social media platforms. Authorities claim his performance glorifies the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), however, the PTA’s broad and vaguely defined offences do not align with that of international law standards. Sri Lankan authorities must immediately release Sangeethan Ganeshkumar unless he is promptly charged with an internationally recognisable offence in proceedings consistent with international fair trial standards.
The same week, family and lawyers have also publicly raised concerns on due process and alleged inhumane treatment in custody of former State Intelligence Service Chief, Suresh Salley, who was arrested on 25 February in connection to the Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019 that killed more than 250 people. Sri Lankan authorities have a responsibility to provide truth, justice and reparations to the victims of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks. Those suspected to be responsible must be brought to justice through strict adherence to due process and fair trial rights.
The PTA has also been invoked in cases involving alleged drug-related criminal activity, raising further questions regarding the scope and manner of its application.
As currently framed, the PTA continues to enable arbitrary and abusive practices, including by facilitating conditions conducive to torture and other forms of ill-treatment due to the absence of adequate safeguards.
Amnesty International calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to:
•Promptly investigate all allegations concerning the abuse and misuse of the PTA;
•Investigate allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and ensure full due process guarantees for all detainees held under the PTA, including Suresh Salley;
•Impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the PTA; and
•Repeal the PTA without delay.
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Jun 9
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 8
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jim McDonald retweeted
For many Malaiyaha Tamil tea workers in Sri Lanka, losing a job can also mean losing their home. Amnesty International’s latest research exposes how estate workers in private tea estates in southern provinces are trapped in deep dependence on employers for both wages and housing leaving many too afraid to challenge abuse and exploitation. Housing insecurity is deepening the risk of forced labour for Malaiyaha Tamil tea workers. The Government of Sri Lanka must protect Malaiyaha Tamil tea workers from forced labour now!
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Jun 7
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 6
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jun 5
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jim McDonald retweeted
Sri Lanka: This morning, the prosecution led evidence from two witnesses in the Prageeth Eknaligoda case before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar. Four additional witnesses are scheduled to testify at the next hearing, on 19th June at 1:00 p.m.
@SP_Ekneligoda #SriLanka
Sri Lanka: The prosecution led evidence from four witnesses in the Prageeth Eknaligoda case before the permanent three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar today, while one witness was absent. Four more witnesses were summoned for the next hearing on 4 June at 9:30 a.m.
@SP_Ekneligoda

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Jun 4
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 3
#whereisprageeth? Ask #SriLanka to investigate the disappearance of journalist Prageeth #Eknaligoda. Also, please do our online action & join our photo action for him. Thanks. #lka #stillnoanswers amnestyusa.org/countries/sri…
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Jun 2
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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Jun 1
#Justice4theTrinco5! Ask #SriLanka to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of the #Trinco5 students. Also, join our photo action for them. Thanks. #lka amnestyusa.org/countries/sri… #warcrimes #impunity #humanrights #amnestyinternational
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