^{Photographs: @JDSLanka}

Today marks the 17th anniversary since the abduction and murder of Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram.

Sivaram, popularly known under his nom-de-plume Taraki, was abducted in front of Bambalipitiya police station in Colombo on April 28 and was found dead several hours later in a high security zone in Sri Lanka's capital, which at the time had a heavy police and military presence due to the ongoing conflict. His killers, highly suspected to be linked to the government of then-president Chandrika Kumaratunga, were never caught.

Long-time Rajapaksa ally, Ali Sabry, who has recently been appointed as Sri Lanka’s finance minister has also secured the position of Justice minister.

Sabry was appointed yesterday upon arriving in Sri Lanka following discussions with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.

"No, I will not resign, don't worry. I can be sacked but I won't resign" Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa pic.twitter.com/6TEB31jgYL

United States Congressman Steven Horsford has expressed his intent to begin a congressional investigation of 'foreign asset' fleecing committed by US citizens who sit in the Sri Lankan administration. 

Pope Francis has urged Sri Lankan authorities to reveal the identity of those responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday bombing. 

Catholic leaders from the island allege the bombings was a plot to influence the election outcome in favour of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A Sinhala Buddhist monk, alongside Sri Lanka police officers, reportedly attempted to block Saiva Tamil worshippers and priests from visiting the historic Rajavanthan shrine in Muthur, Trincomalee over the weekend. 

Singapore has executed Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, a 34-year-old Tamil Malaysian man who has an IQ of 69 - a level that indicates an intellectual disability – despite global outcry over the sentencing.

Campaigners have called his killing a “tragic miscarriage of justice”.

Last-ditch appeals by the family of a disabled Tamil man have been rejected, as Singapore’s highest court scheduled the execution of mentally disabled Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam for just a few minutes time.

The Tamil Malaysian has been on death row since 2010. Dharmalingam was convicted on charges of carrying a meagre 42.72 grams of heroin into Singapore, a country that has received widespread criticism over its harsh drug laws. 

China's Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said Sri Lanka still owes Beijing approximately US $390 million for 12 shipments of fuel that were delivered from July to January this year, as discussions began on financial assistance to help overcome the current economic crisis.

Locals in Mannar held an event to celebrate the revolutionary Tamil poet Subramani Bharathi, fondly known as Bharathiyar, last week in a show that celebrated Tamil culture, dance and literature.

Hindu, Catholic and Muslim leaders were invited to the event, alongside local politicians.

A group calling itself the “Tamil Eelam Cyber Force” has hacked yet another Sri Lankan government website this week, leaving another message about the genocide of Tamils visible.

The group posted a screenshot of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health’s website, which was hacked and carried images from the Mullivaikkal genocide instead. “We Never Forget! We Never Forgive!” the group said.

A group of 10 Tamils who were arrested under the Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and detained for almost 7 months for holding a remembrance ceremony to mark Tamil Genocide Day, have finally been released without charge on Monday.