Addressing a Jaffna District Coordination Meeting recently, leader of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam questioned why the Sri Lankan navy had allowed Indian trawlers laden with narcotics to enter the island's territorial waters. 

Sinhala extremist lawmaker Udaya Gammanpila submitted a Private Members Bill to the Sri Lankan Parliament, which seeks to remove police powers that should be granted to provinces under the 13th Amendment to the constitution, warning that “foreign nations” may end up funding “Tamil separatists” if it was enacted.

Despite proclamations from Sri Lankan politicians on protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity, minister for tourism Harin Fernando speaking at a recent event said that  “Sri Lanka is a part of India.”

Tamil fishermen in Mullaitivu complained that their main source of livelihood has been choked off, after a Tamil Canadian businessman reportedly blocked them from going about getting their daily catch, claiming he owns the beach and waters stretching across the coast.

Local fishermen in the area allege that Charlesjanthan Antony, the head of private Canadian company Canbe Foods Inc, has claimed a 2.5km stretch of coast in the Thiyogunagar area, Silawathai.

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katch (ITAK) leader S Shritharan has vowed to press ahead with his brand of Tamil nationalist politics, as the Jaffna District Court issued an injunction order preventing the ITAK from holding its general convention on the 19th of this month. 

Addressing reporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka's Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa said the Air Force intends to expand its fleet, as he announced it would look to acquire new aircraft more than 15 years since the military slaughtered tens of thousands in Mullivaikkal.

The Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that Sri Lanka is "going in reverse" on issues relating to human rights and social justice. 

Despite serious concerns over the human rights record of Sri Lanka's military, Sri Lanka's army has deployed a contingent of military personnel to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The South Sudan-bound contingent comprises of 64 Army personnel, including 14 Army Officers, 01 Naval Officer, and 49 Other Ranks.

The Sri Lankan Army claims to have suspended general recruitment whilst the Navy and Airforce have pledged to continue, with the Airforce also seeking to expand its fleet. 

Journalists in Batticaloa who went the cover the Batticaloa District Coordination Committee meeting were denied permission to attend or report on the meeting, which led to a collective of journalists protesting outside the District Secretariat.