The Prime minister has noted that the food crisis could directly affect four to five million people in the near future.

During a meeting of the Committee on Food Security, Wickremesinghe stated that MP's would be asked to take charge of food security programmes in their respective divisions. The Prime minister also appointed Parliamentarian Nimal Lansa to look into mitigation efforts to address the food crisis and has asked for a plan to be drafted in two weeks. 

After Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department harassed the family of the Tamil National People’s Front’s spokesperson, he posted a public message on social media stating it was “unacceptable” and vowed to continue with his political activism.

“It is in no way acceptable for to go to my home when I am not in the country and threatened and interrogate my family,” posted Kanagaratnam Sugash.

^{File photo: Australian authorities stop a boat of asylum seekers.}

Australia’s newly elected prime minister doubled-down on an asylum policy of not allowing any arrivals by boat to settle in the country, as authorities intercepted a third boat of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka since his election last month.

Sri Lankan security forces arrested at least 21 anti-government protesters today, as officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held key talks with senior government officials in the southern capital Colombo.

Dozens of exacerbated locals staged an impromptu protest in Vavuniya on Sunday, with the Sri Lankan army deployed as tempers flared amidst a worsening fuel shortage and economic crisis on the island.

Amnesty International has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure that human rights are “central to any future economic reform program” negotiated between the organisation and the Sri Lankan government. 

In a letter to the IMF’s representative in Colombo, the rights organisation raised its concerns over the impact financial assistance from the IMF will have on human rights in Sri Lanka. 

A Tamil political prisoner who has been imprisoned for over 26 years was allowed to briefly attend the funeral of his mother who had passed away after campaigning tirelessly for his release, before being escorted back into Sri Lankan detention.

Vigneswaranathan Parthiban was arrested aged just 19 years old, over his alleged involvement in the 1996 Central Bank Bombing. He has spent more time in prison than outside it.

Mallavi police summoned Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan who was assaulted earlier this week for an inquiry but failed to arrest the assailant. 

On Friday, Thavaseelan went to Mallavi petrol station in Mullaitivu to report on the long fuel queues that had built up outside the petrol station where he was attacked by an unidentified man while Sri Lankan police officers reportedly looked on. 

Families of the disappeared, civil society members and local Tamils held a protest in Jaffna on Sunday, decrying Sri Lankan foreign minister G L Peiris' remarks at the United Nations Human Rights Council and calling on the United Nations to not dismiss calls for international justice, as Sri Lanka deals with a worsening economic crisis. 

As Tamils who were injured after Sri Lankan soldiers fired shots in Mullaitivu last night continue to receive treatment, the army has claimed that a “drunk” mob was responsible for the “melee” and shrugged off responsibility for the violence.