^{File photo: Australian authorities stop a boat of asylum seekers.}

Australia’s newly elected prime minister doubled-down on an asylum policy of not allowing any arrivals by boat to settle in the country, as authorities intercepted a third boat of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka since his election last month.

Sri Lankan security forces arrested at least 21 anti-government protesters today, as officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held key talks with senior government officials in the southern capital Colombo.

Dozens of exacerbated locals staged an impromptu protest in Vavuniya on Sunday, with the Sri Lankan army deployed as tempers flared amidst a worsening fuel shortage and economic crisis on the island.

Amnesty International has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure that human rights are “central to any future economic reform program” negotiated between the organisation and the Sri Lankan government. 

A Tamil political prisoner who has been imprisoned for over 26 years was allowed to briefly attend the funeral of his mother who had passed away after campaigning tirelessly for his release, before being escorted back into Sri Lankan detention.

Mallavi police summoned Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan who was assaulted earlier this week for an inquiry but failed to arrest the assailant. 

As Tamils who were injured after Sri Lankan soldiers fired shots in Mullaitivu last night continue to receive treatment, the army has claimed that a “drunk” mob was responsible for the “melee” and shrugged off responsibility for the violence.

Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan was attacked by an unidentified man at Mallavi petrol station while reporting on a story on the fuel shortage on the island. 

Sri Lankan soldiers have reportedly opened fire at a petrol station in Mullaitivu.

At least two Tamils are reported to have been injured at Visvamadu petrol station, after shots were fired.

As schools continue to be a focus of militarisation for the Sri Lankan state, the army further entrenched its occupation of the Tamil-inhabited North-East under the guise of a badminton training programme for young Tamil students. 

The badminton training programme was to “popularize the game of badminton among the youth in the Jaffna peninsula.” 

Sri Lanka is left with fuel stocks for five days, as the country urgently awaits a new credit line from India for fuel. 

The Sri Lankan army announced it was undertaking a “gigantic project of national and timely importance” by sending in soldiers to farm fruit and vegetables across the island, as a food crisis hits.

The military, which admits to already running at least 16 farms, will now take on an even greater role in the agricultural sector, said the army.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a two-week shutdown, encouraging all public sector employees to work from home, as a fuel shortage amidst the island’s economic crisis has brought many forms of transport to a grinding halt.