The Sri Lankan government has reversed its blanket ban on the import of chemical fertilisers following widespread and intense protests by the country’s farmers who are overwhelmingly dependent on the commodity, according to a report by the AFP. 

Sinhala politicians, trade unions, civil society organisations and religious leaders have all banded together to express their outrage at the Sri Lankan government’s signing of a deal with US-based firm New Fortress Energy, which will see the company acquire a 40% stake of the Yugadanavi Power Plant based in Colombo and develop a new offshore liquefied natural gas (LMG) terminal off the coast of the southern capital.

Sri Lanka's Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, speaking at weekly press briefing has stated that the country's long-delayed provincial elections will only be held after a "suitable election system has been decided upon". 

The statement comes despite reported Indian pressure to hold the polls before the end of the year.

Sri Lanka’s Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara warned the country’s striking teachers that the government had “destroyed terrorism” and insinuated that it would deal with any disruption in a similar manner.

Speaking at an event in Colombo last week, the controversial minister said;

“We destroyed terrorism. Whether the root cause of that terrorism was fair or not, terrorism cannot be justified, because it is innocent civilians who die from it.

As Sri Lanka faces the threat of financial default, the latest survey by LMD-NielsenIQ Business Confidence Index (BCI) reveals that the majority of Sri Lankans polled (46%) believe that Sri Lanka's economic situation will worsen over the coming 12 months.

The survey further highlighted that 71% of corporate executives polled do not consider this to be a good time to invest. This follows a scathing report by the US State Department which noted that Sri Lanka had one of the most protectionist regimes in the world.

Prominent Tamil journalist, Shanmugam Thavaseelan was amongst those that formally opened the Mullaitivu Press Club on Tuesday morning. 

The office aims to promote freedom of the press and of expression in the North East, as Sri Lanka remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Prior to the inaugural ceremony, Sri Lankan state officials, surveilled and harassed the journalists at the Mullaitivu office. 

Speaking before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Julie Chung, US nominee ambassador to Sri Lanka, emphasised her commitment "to speaking clearly and consistently in support of democratic values, human rights and a strong civil society".

Chung's previous posting was as the Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and she is replacing Alaina B. Teplitz as Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Chung has served in a variety of roles including as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and serving for roles in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, and Iraq.

(Photo Credit: The Guardian)

The UK Home Office has been criticised following a serious procedural error which has put a Tamil scientist and torture survivor and his family at risk of deportation to Sri Lanka. 

Renowned Tamil Eelam playback singer and musician Rameswaran Varnakulasingam (popularly known as ‘Varna Rameswaran’) passed away in Canada last month, after contracting COVID-19.

Varna passed away on 25^th September 2021, at the age of 52.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister lashed out at the United Nations and decried the “double standards” and “threats” that were coming Colombo’s way, in an interview published by the Daily Mirror this week.

G L Peiris, who has twice previously held the top foreign ministry job under Mahinda Rajapaksa, denounced what he deemed “coercion through resolutions” and “threats” that Sri Lanka had reportedly received over its human rights record and lack of action on accountability for mass atrocities.