No Fire Zone

Last night I attended the screening of No Fire Zone, The Killing Fields of SriLanka, a feature-length film about atrocities attributable to the government of Sri Lanka as it crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009. It is based on the two documentaries made by director Colum Mcrea for Channel 4 but there is also much new footage and the presentation is quite fresh and different. Check the website of the film for information about how to see it. Residents of the UK can get it for a small price on www.distrify.com. Also, check out the special presentation of the film on Prezi.

The film is released as part of a campaign as Sri Lanka prepares to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November. Last night, Colum and Channel 4’s Jon Snow both said they plan to be in Colombo for the meeting.

The film concludes by noting the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Only last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay visited the country and said that 'democracy has been undermined and the rule of law eroded'.