The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said it had taken the strategic city of Lashio in northern Shan State, about 120 km (75 miles) from the Chinese border, after 23 days of fighting with government troops.

Commander of Security force Wanni Major General J.P.C. Peris RWP RSP ndc visited the home of the Bishop of Mannar Reverend Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando on the 3^rd of August. Subsequently he attended the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, where he met with Reverend Father P. Gnanpragasam of Madu Church. The commander discussed the upcoming Madhu Feast, and security measures concerning the event. 

Sri Lankan police in Mankulam have summoned Mullaitivu based journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan for interrogation this week, as the harassment of Tamil journalists by the security forces continues.

Police officers went to Thavseelan’s home when he was not home on August 7 and handed the summons to his family.

A group of Tamil political parties have endorsed the former Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) parliamentarian Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran to be a common candidate in next month’s presidential elections.

Sri Lanka’s cricket players are reportedly fearing for their security, as they prepare to tour England later this month, after far right riots flared across the UK this week.

A Sri Lankan police officer shot dead three people, include a constable from the same police station, before turning his rifle on himself and committing suicide.

According to the Sri Lankan police, the 42-year-old shot dead killing a 33-year-old policeman, before going on to kill a 54-year-old woman and her 17-year-old daughter in the Eastern Province.

After weeks of deliberating on who the presidential candidate would be for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the party was forced to make its announcement following the withdrawal of business tycoon Dhammika Perera who voluntarily backed out. 

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe undertook a visit to Jaffna last week, where he told an audience of Tamils that “the majority Sinhalese and Buddhist people hold a prominent position” on the island, as he continued electioneering ahead of next month’s polls.