Ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential elections, on 21 September, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a damning report detailing the sexual abuse and intimidation of Tamil activists by Sri Lanka’s security forces; continued crackdowns on memorial activities across the North-East; and failure to advance accountability for human rights abuses committed.

In a landmark decision, the British Indian Overseas Territories (BIOT) Court of Appeals rejected an appeal launched by the BIOT Commissioner, against an earlier Supreme Court judgement by Judge Mararet OBI, and reiterate its concerns over the welfare of Tamil asylum seekers on the territory, and in particular the welfare of children.

The North-East Families of the Disappeared has appealed to people in the homeland to gather together to mark August 30th, which is the International Day of the Disappeared, to call for an international investigation into the war crimes committed by Sri Lanka 

The association held a press conference at the Jaffna Press Club to reiterate the need for an investigation, which the Sri Lankan government is yet to deliver. 

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) docked at the Colombo Port this week, for replenishment according to the Sri Lankan Navy. The destroyer which stretches 160 meters in length is operated by a crew of 338 personnel. The ship is under the command of Commander Thomas Adams.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry had reportedly summoned the Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh to formally protest the laying of the foundation stone for the Tamil Genocide Monument at the Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Canada on August 14.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn is scheduled to visit Colombo where she is expected to engage with the Sri Lankan government, and civil society to discuss joint efforts on climate resilience, environment protection, and wildlife conservation. Her visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is bracing for a decisive presidential polls which is scheduled to be held on September 21st. 

Himalee Subashini Arunatilaka, the current Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, has been ordered by the Australian Federal Court to pay $543,000 in unpaid wages and interest to a domestic worker who served her when she was deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka in Australia.

Ahead of his headline London show in October, musician Sid Sriram sat down to speak with the Tamil Guardian about how he grew to embrace his identity, recall midnight recording sessions with A R Rahman and his deep love for the Eelam Tamil community worldwide.

A group of Sinhalese protesters disrupted a ceremony in which a foundation stone was being laid to mark the beginning of the construction of the Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada on Wednesday. 

The protesters, who numbered just over a dozen in total, held Sri Lankan flags, shouted 'shame on you' and held placards that read claimed Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is 'destroying peaceful Sri Lanka’, as Tamils gathered at the ceremony. Their attempts to disrupt it come after the Sri Lankan government tried to block  the construction of the monument dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide.