The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) held commemorative events across the North-East on Friday to remember Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

<p>Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from the post as prime minister tomorrow, in the latest twist to the island’s political crisis.</p> <p>His son and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa tweeted the announcement, stating it was done “to ensure stability of the nation”.</p> <p>Rajapaksa is expected to give an announcement tomorrow.</p> <p>“The SLPP with Frm President, SLFP &amp; others will now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena,” Namal added.</p>

India appears to have adopted a “waiting game” approach to Sri Lanka, said the Hindustan Times in an editorial today, but warned “the wait for the crisis to play out to some sort of conclusion could be a long one”.

The paper stated the crisis in Colombo comes amid calls in Sri Lanka for an “inclusive system that takes care of the interests of all sections of society, including the minority Tamils, who have a considerable impact on domestic politics in Tamil Nadu”.

The skeletons of at least 21 children have been recovered from a mass grave in Mannar, as excavations continue at what is now reportedly the largest mass grave to have been found on the island.

The Independent spoke to forensic archaeologist Professor Raj Somadeva, who confirmed the bodies of the children were part of 276 skeletons that had been excavated so far.

“We have excavated only 70 per cent of the gravesite, so the body count is bound to be much higher,” Professor Somadeva told The Independent.

Today marks 12 years since the passing of the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Anton Balasingham. 

Balasingham, or as he was fondly known among Tamils - Bala Anna, was widely respected by the nation. His charismatic addresses drew tens of thousands, as he provided political analysis with sharp wit. Leading LTTE delegations through numerous negotiations, Bala Anna eloquently and forcefully articulated the rights of the nation. His intellectual prowess and political acumen earned him respect from all sides of the negotiating table.

He remains an extraordinary theoretician and a formidable figure within the Tamil struggle.

Bala anna's special relationship with the Tamil Guardian is a bond that we remain deeply proud of to this day.

<p>Sri Lanka's Supreme Court today began hearing the appeal filed by Mahinda Rajapaksa against the Court of Appeal's interim injunction, preventing them from functioning in their appointments.&nbsp;</p> <p>The appeal hearing begins the day after the Supreme Court decision to overturn the dissolution of parliament.&nbsp;</p> <p>A request was made for a five-member bench to hear the appeal, however this too was rejected today by the Supreme Court.&nbsp;</p> <p>The hearing has been taken up by Justices Eva Wanasundara, Buwaneka Aluwihare and Vijith K Malalgoda.&nbsp;</p>

Despite Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court judgement on Thursday, Maithripala Sirisena’s opponents may not yet be able to write him off, warned The Economist today.

“As unusual as it was, the court’s slap to the country’s head of state came as no surprise,” said the paper. “Mr Sirisena has been testing the limits of his powers ever since October 26th.”

“But Mr Sirisena’s opponents may not be able to write the president off so easily,” it warned.

<p>Residents of Jaffna and Kilinochchi have been alarmed by the sudden deployment of Sri Lankan troops on streets since the beginning of this week, according to local reports.</p> <p>A heightened military presence was noted by locals in busy areas including Stanley Road and other main streets in Jaffna town, as well as on the main A9 road through Kilinochchi town and its off-roads.</p> <p>Locals also noted that the troop numbers within the army camp opposite Kilinochchi’s Kanthasamy temple had seemed to increase.</p>

Security had to be ramped up outside Sri Lanka’s oldest major press house on Thursday, after United National Party (UNP) supporters began demonstrating outside the building.

Daily Mirror and Colombo Gazette report that the UNP supporters had demanded that posters of Mahinda Rajapaksa be removed from the walls of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon also known as Lake House. Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force and riot police reportedly had to be deployed in order to quell the crowd.

Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force and riot police reportedly had to be deployed in order to quell the crowd.

Families of the disappeared in the Eastern Province protested in Amparai on Monday to mark International Human Rights Day and call for answers and justice for their disappeared relatives.