Addressing reporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka's Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa said the Air Force intends to expand its fleet, as he announced it would look to acquire new aircraft more than 15 years since the military slaughtered tens of thousands in Mullivaikkal.

The Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Sri Lanka is "going in reverse" on issues relating to human rights and social justice. 

Despite serious concerns over the human rights record of Sri Lanka's military, Sri Lanka's army has deployed a contingent of military personnel to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The South Sudan-bound contingent comprises of 64 Army personnel, including 14 Army Officers, 01 Naval Officer, and 49 Other Ranks.

The Sri Lankan Army claims to have suspended general recruitment whilst the Navy and Airforce have pledged to continue, with the Airforce also seeking to expand its fleet. 

Journalists in Batticaloa who went the cover the Batticaloa District Coordination Committee meeting were denied permission to attend or report on the meeting, which led to a collective of journalists protesting outside the District Secretariat. 

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Melbourne, Australia, that was bound for Colombo was forced to U-turn, following technical difficulties.

Sri Lankan Airlines is facing serious financial difficulties and is in the process of structuring. The Sri Lankan government has decided to sell the loss-making company’s majority stake to the highest bidder.

Former commander of Sri Lanka's notorious Special Task Force, Nimal Lewke, has pledged his support to Sri Lanka's main opposition party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadsa, making him the fourth high-ranking defence personnel to join the party. 

He is joined by the ranks of Daya Sandagiri a former Navy Commander, Daya Ratnayake, a former Army Commander, and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who has long been a stalwart support of the SJB. The local press reports that Nimal Lewke obtained the party membership from leader Sajith Premadasa today. Lewke had previously pledged his alliance to the SJB in 2016.

^{(Pic courtesy: Glassdoor)} 

Sri Lanka has barred the Tamil-owned telecoms company Lycamobile from the bidding of the government’s shares in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, stating the company 'failed to qualify', leaving only India’s Jio Platforms Ltd and Chinese firm Gortune International Investment in the running.

The plight of Eelam Tamils who are languishing in makeshift camps in Diego Garcia has remained the same, even after the United Nations refugee agency said the remote British territory in the Indian Ocean is "not a suitable location" for migrants to be held long-term, and as reports of sexual assault after being sent to Rwanda for medical treatment emerge.

K Manikandan seems to be carving a niche for himself by sensibly selecting well-written and unique indie scripts, which has found him on a deserved hot streak in the industry. Coming off the success of yesteryear’s rom-com darling ‘Good Night,’ Manikandan’s latest release is ‘Lover,’ a romantic drama directed by debutante Prabhuram Vyas. The film also stars Sri Gouri Priya, whose work in the first episode of Modern Love: Chennai ‘Lalagunda Bommaigal’ proved her capability to perform. These two stars shoulder the painful romantic drama deftly between them.