Speaking at the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Russia, the Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alexander Karchava, assured Sri Lanka that Russia will take every possible opportunity to secure the support of the UNHRC member countries against a possible resolution on Sri Lanka, that will likely be tabled at the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions.

A Tamil political prisoner in Colombo has undertaken a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners.

T Prabhakaran, who is being held in the Welikada prison, started a fast unto death on Wednesday.

Explaining his protest in an appeal to political leaders, human rights activists and religious leader, Prabhakaran wrote that despite many hunger strikes having taken place in the past and the government offering many promises, none of these have been fulfilled.

DMK president M Karunanadhi, criticised Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's comments in his address to Parliament on engagement with Sri Lanka.

Karunanidhi said in a statement:

The main Muslim clergy body in Sri Lanka, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, has asked stores to sell halal products to Muslims only, after Buddhist protests against the sale of halal meat.

A 37 year old British Tamil man has been reported missing in Colombo, reports Uthayan.

The man, Arumugam Yogeswaran, is originally from Karainagar, but is now a British citizen. He is believed to have recently visited his wife and relatives in Jaffna, before travelling to Colombo in order return to London.

The Sri Lankan Navy has confirmed that they will be providing pilgrims with 'assistance' for the upcoming St Anthony's Church annual feast in Kachchativu.

Apart from providing 'security', the Navy will be providing jetties for boats, deploying medical teams, building roads and painting the Church, all 'under the instruction of Northern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Shirantha Udawatte ', reported ColomboPage.

Protests in India against UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya have forced him to return to Sri Lanka, cutting his trip in India short.

Protestors from various organisations, including DMK, BJP, MDMK, PMK, VCK, Naam ThamizharIyakkam gathered outside the hotel where Jayasuriya was staying and chanted slogans demanding that he leave India immediately.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee claimed that India was 'making progress in our engagement with Sri Lanka' on the issue of equality for Tamils, when addressing the Indian Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking to Parliament, Mukherjee said,

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalitha has said that the state will not host the Asian Athletics Championships, due to be held in July, because of the participation of Sri Lankan athletes.

The government is to announce that elections in the North will be held on 7th September, reports Uthayan.

The move is seen as a pre-emptive attempt to diffuse the criticism Sri Lanka is expected to receive at the upcoming UNHRC session, as well as controversy surrounding the Commonwealth summit due to be held in November in Colombo.