Sri Lanka’s former President and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Maithripala Sirisena defended his record claiming that if he had prior warnings of the Easter Sunday bombings he “would not let the attacks happen”.

Image courtesy of JDS 

Mangala Maddumage, a national organiser of the Revolutionary Students Union was reportedly abducted by unidentified men in a three wheeler in Colombo, as the crackdown on anti-government protesters continues across the South. 

An Australian vessel docked in Colombo last week, as it forcibly sent back 46 asylum seekers who were looking to flee Sri Lanka after it intercepted their vessel on 21 July 2022 at the Australia’s maritime border.

The move reportedly marks the first time that asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka are forcibly brought to the island on board an Australian Border Force ship.

Tamil families of the disappeared denounced the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for engaging in discussion with Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe over a “national all-party programme,” stating that only an international accountability mechanism will see justice served.

The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) has refused to engage in talks with Sri Lanka’s newly appointed president Rani Wickremesinghe, until the state releases all the southern protestors who have been detained in a crackdown across the south in recent weeks.

Following the announcement that a Chinese military vessel would no longer be able to dock in Hambantota port, Chinese officials have sought an urgent meeting with senior Sri Lankan authorities.

Despite repeat concerns over Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused army, Britain’s Defence attaché met with Sri Lanka’s current army commander Vikum Liyanage to discuss “enhancing training programmes for Sri Lankan Army personnel” and potential “exchange programmes”.

^{File photo: Sri Lankan army athletes}

At least ten athletes who were contesting in the Commonwealth Games for Sri Lanka have gone missing, with reports indicating that they may try to claim asylum in Britain.

The 9 athletes and a manager are reported to have vanished after completing their events.

Sri Lankan President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is facing stiff opposition to his calls for an all-party government, with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna rejecting any cabinet positions whilst the Samagi Jana Balawegaya remained divided.

Following continued opposition from Indian officials, Sri Lanka has requested an indefinite delay to a Chinese military ship that had planned to dock in Hambantota port.

The National Forum of Tamil Culture launched a petition in Jaffna yesterday, demanding the arrest of former President and war criminal Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

All images courtesy of Thaarakam

Tamils in France held a memorial event to mark the 16th anniversary of the Muttur massacre, where 17 aid workers from the French NGO, Action la Contre Faim (ACF), were summarily executed by the Sri Lankan security forces. 

^{File photo: Sri Lankan army athletes}

Sri Lankan athletes who are currently competing in the Commonwealth Games in the UK have had been forced to turn in their passports after their team mates absconded from the athletes' village earlier this week. 

Image courtesy of Action Contre la Faim (ACF)

On August 4 2006, Sri Lankan security forces summarily executed 17 aid workers from the French NGO, Action la Contre Faim (ACF), in Muttur, Trincomalee.