Across the Tamil homeland, Tamil Christians gathered to celebrate Christmas, although there were some reports of surveillance by Sri Lankan police outside of the churches.
Four Sri Lankan police officers assigned to Thirukkovil Police, in the Ampara district, were shot dead when a rogue sergeant opened fire before surrendering to Ethimale Police station with two T-56 assault rifles and 19 rounds of ammunition.
Following a visit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), IMF's mission chief for Sri Lanka Masahiro Nozaki noted that Sri Lanka has not sought financial support from the IMF despite their willingness to discuss options.
Writing in the International Crisis Group (ICG), senior consultant Alan Keenan slams Sri Lanka's "One Country, One Law" Presidential Taskforce as a means by which the Rajapaksa can "divert discontent among the government’s Sinhala Buddhist base toward an embattled minority".
Protests in Valikamam North managed to block Sri Lankan officials from the land survey department from acquiring land for the military last week, in another successful Tamil push back against land grab attempts.
As UN member states are discussing the 2022 budget for the organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged members to "stand firm against Russia and China-led efforts to slash funding".
“Actual steps, including accountability, are needed to address serious crimes and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka,” said the US State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice this week, following a meeting with Sri Lanka’s ambassador in Washington.
Following the visit of China’s ambassador to the Tamil homeland, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has left today for a two-day visit to India.
Saheer Ahmed, a Muslim journalist who works for a major television channel based in Amparai, received a death threat a few days ago from a police officer from the Akkaraipattu station, prompting him to file an official complaint with the Deputy Inspector General of Police.
Consumers in Sri Lanka are being forced to eat less as food costs continue to spiral, with warnings from nutrition specialists of malnutrition striking the island soon.
The prices of some staple goods have soared in the midst of an economic crisis gripping the island, with even basic foods such as beans or carrots doubling or tripling in price respectively.
“In the past, I have never reduced the food in the house,” Anura Fernando from Kadawatha told the Sunday Times. “But now I am compelled to do that because I cannot manage to buy provisions for my house as all the things are very expensive.”
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Protests in Valikamam North managed to block Sri Lankan officials from the land survey department from acquiring land for the military last week, in another successful Tamil push back against land grab attempts.
