Mannar Diocese Bishop Emmanuel Fernando Andagai has raised the alarm to protect the natural resources of Mannar district and called for immediate action to prevent the exploitation and destruction of the region's natural treasures under the guise of development.

Emphasising the collective responsibility to preserve the earth for future generations, the bishop said "this earth is a common house for all of us to live in. Therefore, as we have received these rich and prosperous natural resources from our ancestors, we have an obligation to hand them over to our future leaders.”

Just days after Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs ministry called for a ceasefire as violence escalated in Israel and Palestine, Ranil Wickremesinghe came out and condemned the Hamas assault.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry had originally not placed blame on either party but called for an “immediate halt to violence” and reaffirmed its support for a "two-state solution".

In a new statement, Wickremesinghe however “condemned the recent Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the loss of numerous civilian lives”.

The first female martyr in the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle, 2nd Lt. Maalathy, was commemorated in Jaffna on Tuesday.

The event was led by the women's wing of the Tamil National People's Front.

This year marks 36 years since Maalathy fell in battle against the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF), at the age of 20.

In a vigil held on Tuesday evening at Adampan, the 36th anniversary of the sacrifice of 2nd Lt Maalathy, the first woman fighter in the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle, was observed. Born in Mannar in 1967, Maalathy's life and legacy were commemorated at her residence as family, friends, and fellow activists gathered to pay tribute.

UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan has met Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and will travel to Jaffna during a three day visit to the island.

"Good to discuss opportunities to further develop UK-Sri Lanka opportunities with President [Ranil Wickremesinghe]. We have shared priorities on solving challenges of climate change, prosperity, human rights and reconciliation." Minister Trevelyan said on X.

Both former Sri Lankan presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa have praised Ranil Wickremasignhe’s recent fiery interview with Deutsche Welle, where the current president repeatedly denounced any prospect of an international investigation into rights abuses or the Easter Sunday bombings.

Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremsinghe has reiterated his opposition to any international inquiry into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, just weeks after a fiery interview in which he denounced any attempts at international involvement.

The Presidential Media Division issued a statement questioning an editorial published in the Gnanarthaya Pradeepaya newspaper which called for an international investigation into the bombings.

At least 12 members of the US Congress demanded the Biden administration ensure Sri Lanka is held to account for crimes committed against the Tamil people last month, with calls for the issue to be elevated to the International Court of Justice.

Tamil political parties have united to call for a hartal on October 20 across the North-East in support of Mullaitivu judge T Saravanarajah, who fled the island in the face of death threats last month. 

The parties have called for the total shutdown of the North-East and to demand an investigation into the threats made against Judge Saravanarajah.  

The death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle, was commemorated by Tamil activists in Mullaitivu today. 

Tamil activists, including former Northern Provincial Councillor Thurairasa Ravikaran and Peter Ilanchezhiyan, lit a flame and laid flowers to mark 36 years since her death.