Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister, and leader of the pro-government paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Douglas Devananda chaired a discussion over illegal fishing in Mullaitivu which was attended by government officials and representatives of the army’s fishery organization.

By Kithsiri Wijesinghe

Colombo magistrate has approved the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) request to continue the detention of 26-year-old Muslim poet, Ahnaf Jazeem, under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

A protest in Mannar yesterday called for the release of the arrested MP and former minister Rishad Bathiudeen. 

Protesters started the agitation at 9.30 AM near the Mannar Bazaar holding placards and raising slogans in condemnation of the arrest of Bathiudeen. 

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Sri Lanka’s parliament to reject a resolution that seeks to exonerate government and military officials implicated in human rights abuses and to prosecute those pursuing investigations against them.

A Tamil man was assaulted while confronting illegal sand miners on his land, last month.

Bilateral trade discussions were held between China’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, and accused war criminal, Kamal Gunaratne, following the passage of a UN resolution which raised concerns over military impunity in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved a proposal to ban the burqa, as discrimination against Muslims continues to rise on the island. 

Last month, Sri Lanka's Minister for Public Security, Sarath Weerasekara, submitted the proposal on the grounds of "national security" and claimed that the burqa us a "sign of religious extremism."

Memorial events were held across the North-East to mark the 16th anniversary of murdered Tamil journalist, Dharmeratnam Sivaram. 

^{The 'reconstructed' monument unveiled last week, missing sculptures of Sri Lankan shells landing on the outstretched arms.}

Valvettithurai Police recovered LTTE explosives in Puthuvalavu near Polikandi, early Saturday morning.

^{Accused War Criminal, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias}

An explosion near the Vadduvakal bridge in Mullaitivu killed one Tamil teenager and severely injured another young man yesterday. 

The Sri Lankan army has erected sign boards claiming ownership of private lands in Kankesanthurai (KKS) which were released to the owners in 2018 after 27 years of occupation as a 'high security zone' (HSZ).