A Sri Lankan state minister boasted of paying off a long unpaid wedding bill for Namal Rajapaksa, son of accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a sign of respect and admiration for his father.

The bill in question was reportedly for the electricity used at Namala Rajapaksa’s extravagant wedding ceremony and had remained unpaid for four long years. The total came up to over 2.5 million rupees.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Aviation has reportedly approved a Rs. 200 million upgrade for the Jaffna International Airport, as it looks to operate an increasing number of flights to India and the south of the island.

Nimal Siripala de Silva visited the airport earlier this month, which remains within a Sri Lankan military-controlled ‘High Security Zone’.

The violence in Israel and Palestine over the last month has been horrific. Thousands have already been killed and it shows no signs of abating in the days and weeks to come. For many around the world, Eelam Tamils included, it has been difficult to observe. But what has added to the dismay for Tamils in particular, is the hypocritical response by Sri Lankans across the political spectrum to the violence in Gaza.

Frontline Defenders condemned the “persecution and reprisals” by Sri Lankan authorities against Tamil protestors in Madhavanai and Mayilathamadu, Batticaloa, as they continue to demonstrate against land encroachment by Sinhalese settlers.

Author Roy Ratnavel visited London for the launch of his novel ‘Prisoner #1056.’ Ratnavel’s book, a bestseller in Canada, details an introspective journey, recounting his idyllic upbringing in Point Pedro before turning to the horrors of imprisonment during the armed struggle, leading to his resettlement in Canada. 

Freedom House has deemed internet freedom in Sri Lanka as only “partly free” in its annual report, highlighting attempts to censor the Tamil Guardian and the detention of Tamils over social media posts.

Clearing has begun at the Visuvamadu Theravil Thuyilum Illam in preparation of Maaveerar Naal which is marked on November 27. 

In a historic event that echoed the resilience and spirit of the Tamil nation, the 'Yaazh Gaanam' concert, headlined by the acclaimed Tamil music maestro Santhosh Narayanan, unfolded on the evening of October 21st at the Muttraveli ground in Jaffna. This gathering marked not only a celebration of music but also a poignant tribute to Tamil heritage, a moment of reflection on the liberation struggle, and a resounding call to action using the power of music.

The Sri Lankan government announced the so-called ‘presidential palace’ in Jaffna, which was constructed by the military in 2012 on land that it had seized from local Tamils, will now be leased out to a private university.

The Sri Lankan government has announced that it will distribute air rifles to farmers to fight of an expanding population of monkeys and other animals that are destroying crops.

Speaking to reporters Sri Lanka’s Agricultural Minister Mahinda Amaraweera lashed out at environmental groups protecting the toque macaques monkeys and maintained that “if the crisis becomes worse standard rifles will have to be given”.