Sri Lanka’s president has stated that he had deferred dealing with the issue of Tamil political prisoners until the political crisis in the country has resolved, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

Maithripala Sirisena met with members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday, and according to the Daily Mirror “the meeting did not last long”. The newspaper also quoted an “informed source” as stating that Sirisena told the TNA "He was the only one remaining in the government now”.

In another blow to Colombo, Fitch Ratings became the second credit agency in two weeks to downgrade Sri Lanka’s long-term debt rating as political upheaval continues on the island.

Fitch announced on Tuesday that Sri Lanka's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating was to be downgraded to ‘B’ from ‘B+’.

“Fitch believes the ongoing political upheaval, which has disrupted the normal functioning of parliament, exacerbates the country’s external financing risks, already challenged by the tightening of global monetary conditions amid a heavy external debt repayment schedule between 2019 and 2022,” the agency said in a statement.

<p>Sri Lanka’s President remains adamant that he will not reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, causing parliamentarians to call negotiations between the president and the UNF a failure.</p> <p>“The talks were a failure,” UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said, according to Economy Next. “The president insisted that he will not make Ranil Wickremesinghe the prime minister even if 225 MPs support him.”</p> <p>The UNP however has also stuck to its position that Wickremesinghe would be the UNF nominee for prime minister.</p>

Germany's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Joern Rohde, visited the site of the Mannar mass graves on November 27. 

Over 230 skeletons have been recovered from the site, with excavation work ongoing. 

The tax on imported potatoes and onions was halved today by Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry, amid the country's ongoing political turmoil and despite today's court order preventing the functioning of cabinet. 

The special commodity level, which was at 40 rupees per kilogram of imported potatoes and onions, was cut to 20 rupees at midnight tonight. 

The cabinet under Rajapaksa has made a number of tax cuts since his appointment following President Sirisena's sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe, including tax on fuel and sugary drinks. 

<p>The former president Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected a court order issued by the Court of Appeal earlier today preventing Rajapaksa from functioning as prime minister and holding cabinet meetings.</p> <p>Rajapaksa was appointed as prime minister in October by President Sirisena following the sacking of the UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe as premier.&nbsp;</p> <p>"We are not in agreement with the interim stay order issued by the Appeal Court suspending the functioning of the Cabinet of Ministers," Rajapaksa said in a statement today, pledging to lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), a constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)&nbsp;said that any form of support given to the United National Party (UNP) should be based on a written agreement to address issues concerning Tamils, reports <a href="https://b.marfeelcache.com/amp/www.dailymirror.lk/article/TNA-support-f…">DailyMirror.lk</a>.</p> <p>Following a meeting on Sunday, TELO, one of the four main constituent parties of the TNA, called for a written agreement based on five central points to be made with the UNP before any further support.</p> <p>A central committee member of the party, MK Shivajalingam, speaking to the Daily Mirror, said,&nbsp;“we know it is difficult for a minority government to find a solution to the Tamil national question. We are looking for an interim solution at least to begin with. If the TNA supports the UNP, it should be conditional and an agreement needs to be signed. Unless the TNA agrees to this demand of ours we will take our own decision on it separately.”</p>

<p>Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena will take “necessary action” in the next 24 hours and will meet with the national security council on the issue of political prisoners, said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) after a court order this morning barred Mahinda Rajapaksa from acting as prime minister.</p> <p>The TNA said that its “leadership” had met with Sirisena, who said that there was no prime minister or government at present.</p> <p>“Accordingly he will take necessary action within the next 24hrs,” the TNA <a href="http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sqo34u">tweeted</a>.</p>

Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal has issued an interim order preventing Mahinda Rajapaksa from functioning as prime minister and holding cabinet meetings. The order is a blow to the former president’s attempt to hold the prime minister’s office and forms the latest twist in Colombo’s political turmoil.

Judge Preethipadhman Surasena said the stay was issued as "irreversible damage could be caused" if Rajapaksa continued to function as Sri Lanka’s prime minister.

“An interim order is granted against the first respondent functioning as the prime minister...also issuing interim order against 30 other respondents functioning in their offices,” the judge said.

Tamil Americans in several states commemorated Maaveerar Naal over the past week.

In New York City hundreds of Tamils gathered in Queens. Events were also held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Massachussets, Washington DC, amongst others.