Despite over a decade since the end of the armed conflict, Tamils in the North must wait another two years for their land to be returned from military occupation if New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa is elected, claimed a current Sri Lankan government minister.

A Batticaloa based journalist for Vasantham TV was admitted into hospital on Friday, after being attacked by a group of unknown persons.

Mohamed Saji of Kattankudy was reportedly on his way to his office on Friday, when he was assaulted.

As Sri Lanka gears up for a presidential election in just a few weeks time, Tamils on the island find themselves faced with a familiar decision. Almost five years after an election that was hailed as the dawn of a new era for Sri Lanka, the island has instead seen pledges of reforms broken and the failure to address key issues towards accountability, justice and a lasting peace. With leading candidates choosing to boast their Sinhala nationalist credentials, for Tamils in particular, the future seems bleak.

Outrage has erupted over social media after images of recently issued stamps in Sri Lanka with a racist depiction of Tamils surfaced.

Tamil families of the disappeared demonstrated outside the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) central executive committee meeting on Sunday, as the party’s leadership decided unanimously to endorse Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election.

Ali Sabry, a member of the legal team of Gotabaya’s presidential counsel, has reportedly claimed that Muslims will need to vote for Gotabaya or may face reprisals, according to a report in the Colombo Telegraph.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has visited Jaffna and during his visit emphasised that he would support economic development in the north but failed to comment on political demands made by Tamil political parties.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the largest party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has announced its decision to endorse Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential candidate, despite the candidate refusing to engage with demands put forward by Tamil parties.

Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)announced that daily commercial flights between Jaffna and Chennai will commence from November 10. 

The New Democratic Front is (NDF) was formed on Friday with several parties, including a component of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) backed by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, to support presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. 

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said that the Philippines is studying the eradication of insurgency in Sri Lanka, Colombo Gazette reported.

Shobini Gunasekera, the ambassador designate of Sri Lanka met with Teodoro L. Locosin Jr, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Philippines.

An activist for Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the largest party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has been summoned for questioning by Sri Lankan’s terrorism investigation division (TID).

The British High Commission in Colombo has announced that the UK and Sri Lanka have conducted a joint disaster relief exercise despite concerns raised over human rights abuses committed by Sri Lanka’s army.