Millions of voters across the island are heading to the polls today, as Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls get underway.

There are 17.1 million eligible voters, including 1 million first-time voters, who will elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term.

Why the election?

The Indian Navy submarine INS Vela completed a three-day visit to Sri Lanka this week, in a move that seems aimed at building closer ties between the two militaries.

Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and Republican politician of Tamil Brahmin heritage, has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to co-head a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

The United States has sanctioned India-based Shaurya Aeronautics Private Limited (Shaurya), part of a consortium with Russia’s Airports of Regions Management Company to oversee Sri Lanka’s Mattala Rajapaksa Airport.

 In a move that has raised concerns over government scrutiny of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has signed an agreement to expand the exchange of information on investigations and prosecutions involving money laundering, terrorist financing, and related activities connected to NGOs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the annual BRICS summit last month in the southwestern city of Kazan – a three-day gathering with leaders from 36 countries, as well as the UN Secretary General in attendance.

The leader of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), a Tamil nationalist party in India, has called for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka in light of the ongoing Palk Strait disputes and brutality against Tamil fishermen. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the NTK leader, Senthamizhan Seeman, urged the Indian Government to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka. Seeman specifically referred to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's statement that Indian fishermen crossing the border illegally would 'face firm action'.

The Russian Embassy in Colombo has addressed recent media reports suggesting that Sri Lanka’s application for BRICS membership had been rejected, clarifying that no final decision has been made. According to an official statement from the embassy, Sri Lanka’s application to join the BRICS coalition—which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—is still under consideration.

Tamil residents of Keppapulavu presented a petition to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, demanding the release of lands currently under military occupation.

Eelam Tamil residents, alongside civil society organizations, gathered in Olaithoduvai, Mannar last week to oppose government-led soil sampling for a controversial mining project.

The Association for the Families of the Disappeared issued a reminder to Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake, urging him to take concrete actions rather than making election-time promises this week.

Plainclothes Sri Lankan police officers arrived at the family home of exiled Tamil journalist Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran and subjected his elderly father to intense interrogation, recording his statement for more than an hour, as the harassment of Tamil media workers continued.