35 years ago, up to 64 Tamil civilians were killed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Valvettithurai in a massacre that was termed “India’s My Lai”.

The massacre, which saw dozens killed, came on the background of escalating violence and rights abuses committed by Indian forces across the Tamil homeland. As Tamil militant groups continued hostilities with the IPKF, the Indian forces imposed a curfew on August 2, 1989, following an ambush attack.

Sri Lanka's president Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa have both condemned the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. 

Wickremesinghe reportedly condemned the act while addressing a meeting with former Provincial Council members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP).  

As Sri Lanka’s Sinhala nationalist parties tussle over their support for current president Ranil Wickremesinghe ahead of presidential polls next month, the Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is reported to be considering announcing Namal Rajapaksa as its own official candidate.

Sri Lankan MP and leader of the United National Party (UNP) Wajira Abeywardana warned of a “third civil war” if political parties on the island continued to follow what he termed “'traditional ideologies”.

Bangladesh’s Prime Minsiter, Sheikh Hasina, was forced to resign and flee the country earlier today amidst protests which have seen the deaths of over 300 people.

The protests originated in response to a decision by Bangladesh’s Supreme Court which saw the revival of a quota system that awarded 56% of civil service jobs for the descendants of those who fought in Bangladesh’s independence war. Whilst the decision was later scrapped, the protests morphed to encompass a wide range of issues.

Seven Tamil People’s Party representatives who met in Jaffna at a private hotel said they would announce the name of the Tamil Common candidate by next Thursday.

The representatives who gathered in the afternoon deliberated for four long hours but failed to reach a consensus during this meeting. Some members who were present and spoke to the press following the meeting said that former TNA parliamentarian Chandrakanthan Chandraneru’s name has been shortlisted and may likely be chosen. 

The Indian government summoned Sri Lanka’s representative and lodged a “strong protest,” after one Tamil Nadu fisherman was killed and another remains missing, following a confrontation with the Sri Lankan navy last week.

^{File photograph. Eelam Tamil fishermen protesting in 2021.}

In the last two months alone, Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 84 foreigners who were allegedly operating online scamming compounds in the south if the island – including in hotels along the tourist-filled coasts.

The latest announcement comes as the island seems to be the latest base of activity for online fraud, similar to those in Myanmar and Cambodia.