As tensions either side of the Palk Strait continue to escalate between fishermen in Tamil Nadu and the North-East, Tamil fishermen in Jaffna have written to the Indian Consulate, calling on authorities to ensure the situation is resolved.

The Federation of Jaffna District Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Unions said in their letter earlier this week that they were “very worried that despite discussing this problem for more than 10 years now, there has been no forward movement or a solution until now”.

Thurairasa Ravikaran, a former member of the Northern Provincial Council, expressed his frustration over the perceived inaction of the Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry and the Sri Lankan navy regarding the reported incidents of incursions into Mullaitivu waters by Tamil Nadu fishermen. 

“Are they asleep?” Ravikaran asked, referring to the fisheries ministry and other authorities.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted her office’s work on transitional justice and enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka as part of an update delivered to the UN General Assembly earlier this week.

Presenting her report to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, Michelle Bachelet highlighted her Office’s activities “related to transitional justice, including for enforced disappearances and missing persons in Sri Lanka, Mexico and Lebanon”.

Locals in Jaffna have apprehended two Sri Lankan soldiers who were reported to have been driving their vehicle suspiciously in the Araly area on Saturday.

When approached by locals, the men identified themselves as soldiers, but they remained wary, and the suspects were handed over to police. The suspects were released on bail after police confirmed they were off duty soldiers on holiday.

The Sri Lankan army has allegedly ordered a probe into the incident.

A Sri Lankan police officer entered a Hindu temple in Jaffna with his shoes on earlier today, sparking widespread condemnation as the officer broke centuries of temple rules and tradition.

The officer, who was photographed with his shoes on at the Selva Sannidhi Murugan Temple in Thondaimanaru, is reportedly a senior superintendent of the Sri Lankan police in charge of the Kankesanthurai area.

The Sri Lankan government is considering launching a bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games according to a report in the BBC, following a previous failed attempt under Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2011 and ongoing controversy over the island’s human rights record.

The BBC quoted “insiders” as stating that Sri Lanka, alongside Australia, Canada and India and Sri Lanka have “expressed interest in staging the 2026 Games but, as yet, a host has not been secured”.

The next set of games in 2022 are set to be held in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved the proposed "Defence Cyber Commands Act" as well as a similar bill that aims to impose cyber protection under the guise of combatting "terrorist groups and criminals".

Sri Lankan police have arrested an 18-year-old Tamil youth in Jaffna, over alleged “gang affiliations” in connection with an incident with a sword in Kondavil.

Police raided the youth’s home reportedly based on a tip and recovered two hidden swords. 

Earlier this year, authorities arrested 30 Tamil youth alleged to be part of ‘Aava gang,’ which has previously been linked to Sri Lankan military intelligence.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance has presented its Appropriation Bill for 2022 with the largest allocation, 12.3% being allocated to the Ministry of Defence.
The bill comes as Sri Lanka faces increasing scrutiny from the international community and the public over its increasing militarisation. During the 48th UNHRC session, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet , slammed the "corrosive impact of militarisation" highlighting the continued culture of impunity and deterioration of "fundamental rights, civic space, democratic institutions, social cohesion and sustainable development".

It also comes as Sri Lanka's face a severe food crisis with the prices of basic commodities increase by as much as 37% across the board.

Charles Nirmalanathan, a parliamentarian with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) expressed his strong concerns regarding the Sri Lankan government’s inaction over the plight of Tamil fishermen and demanded that the Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda resign from his position.

Speaking to the press at his office in Mannar on Monday, Nirmalanathan said that encroachment of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu has risen since the end of the armed conflict in 2009.