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Despite Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis, the Tamil New Year, which falls on the first day of the month of Chithirai in the Tamil calendar, was celebrated across the North-East earlier today.

With some referring to the April festival as an exclusively Hindu and sanskritised holiday, there is debate among Tamil communities as to whether the day truly represents a Tamil New Year.

Speaking in parliament, leader of the Tamil National Peoples' Front (TNPF) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam called into question Sri Lanka’s exorbitant military spending of 10.35% of the annual budget

“10.35% in a situation where there is no war” he stated. “Who is your enemy?”

Anti-government protestors have refused to meet Mahinda Rajapaksa and called for the resignation of all Rajapaksas' members from government. 

Staff at Mankulam hospital protest over severe shortage of medicines 

Sri Lanka is expected to receive $10 million from the World Bank to secure essential medicines in an attempt to avoid worsening the current medical crisis. 

11 political parties led by the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), a former coalition partner to the Rajapaksa regime, have boycotted negotiations after the appointment of Shantha Bandara as State Minister for organic fertilisers.

Sri Lanka is seeking a second USD $500 million credit line from India, as an existing credit line is close to finishing.  

A protest was held in Vavuniya on Tuesday, demanding the Sri Lankan government halt the military appropriation of private lands, repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and release Tamil political prisoners.

Responding to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the Tamil National People’s Front has signed a motion of no confidence, demanding that the Rajapaksa administration stands down.

The statement comes as Sri Lanka defaulted on its US$ 51 billion worth of international debt. Despite the dire economic situation which has seen a severe shortage in food, fuel and medicines, Sri Lanka’s President has refused to resign.

A fervently racist Sinhala Buddhist monk joined other clergy members in prayers ‘blessing’ the anti-government protests currently underway at Galle Face Green in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

Omalpe Sobitha, a monk who is also a MP with the extremist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), was one of several monks that was spotted at Galle Face on Tuesday.

Yet another Tamil father has died this week after spending over a decade demanding the whereabouts of his disappeared son. 

Muniandy Karuppaiya, from Mulliyawalai, Mullaitivu, has been searching for his son Mohandas who was forcibly disappeared during the armed conflict.