As part of Rim of the Pacific (RIPAC) 2022, the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise, the United States has invited Sri Lanka to participate despite growing concern over the country’s human rights record.

The Sri Lankan contingent included 10 officers, 38 sailors from the Navy Marines and 2 senior sailor instructors from Special Boat Squadron. They left today to Australia onboard Royal Australian Airforce heavy lift Aircraft C- 130.

Tamil devotees are protesting at Vadduvakal Saptha Kannimar temple this evening after the Sri Lankan army blocked them from performing religious rites at the temple which sits on land currently occupied by the armed forces. 

Within 24 hours of video footage of a Sri Lankan soldier assaulting a civilian at a petrol station emerging, the military launched an investigation into the incident and sent out a press release accusing “invisible elements” of trying to “ridicule members of the Army”.

Footage of the assault at a petrol shed at Yaggahapitiya in Kurunegala had been widely shared earlier today. JDS Lanka identified the soldier in the video as identified as Lt. Col. Viraj Kumarasinghe, Commanding Officer of the 1 Sri Lanka National Guard.

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Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has officially denied reports that it received intelligence a “terrorist attack… evoking ‘Black July’” will take place, after receiving a letter from the Inspector General of Police warning of such an attack.

In a press release this morning, the defence ministry admitted that a letter sent by the Inspector General of Police to the Defence Secretary had been circulating on social media, which warned an attack may take place. The purported attack by “terrorist groups and anti-government groups may also incite violence to discredit and destabilize the government,” it added.

However, the defence ministry said the letter was based on “unconfirmed information received through intelligence sources” and said it remained “unverified”.

Black July is the name given to the anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983, when thousands of Tamils were killed by Sinhala mobs backed by the then UNP government and state forces. To date, no one has been held accountable for any of the crimes committed during the pogrom.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister pledged his government’s “unwavering support to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity” as he met with China’s Ambassador Qi Zhenhong in Colombo last week.

According to an official press release, Sri Lanka claimed China “appreciated the Government of Sri Lanka position and its consistent stance”.

Hundreds of frustrated Tamils staged an impromptu sit-down protest on Saturday, as fuel shortages continued to plague the island and even essential workers unable to access supplies.

An elderly Eelam Tamil woman who was found unconscious on a beach in Tamil Nadu passed away on Saturday, after she fled Sri Lanka for India last month.

The woman, identified as 71-year-old Parameswari from Trincomalee, was found alongside another elderly man, 81-year-old Sivan, on a beach in Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram last Monday.

Despite efforts to save her, Parameswari’s condition remained critical and she died while undergoing treatment at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Saturday night.

The coordinator of the Tamil National Heritage Forum, S Nishanthan, was attacked by unknown persons in Jaffna on Friday.

As Nishanthan was waiting near a fuel station in Jaffna, two unknown men with swords beat and slashed him several times.

He has since been admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital for treatment. The perpetrators of the attack have not been apprehended.

Kollywood superstar Dhanush released a trailer for his latest film ‘Captain Miller’ this week, racking up millions of views within hours as it generated worldwide buzz.

The eagerly anticipated film, which sees Dhanush in the starring role and is directed by Arun Matheswaran, caught the attention of many with its swashbuckling visuals and familiarly powerful title.

Captain Miller is also the name of LTTE’s first Black Tiger.

The family of a 16-year-old Tamil girl who was abducted and raped have demanded that all the perpetrators are brought to justice, as they alleged the Sri Lankan police have refused to apprehend all those responsible.