_{Image Credit: @TomObokata on Twitter}

As the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery concluded his visit of Sri Lanka, he told journalists that “Sri Lanka must become more inclusive and embrace all sectors of society” to end the contemporary forms of slavery that persist in the country.

A 25-year-old Tamil youth has been killed and a 13-year-old injured after a disused mortar shell reportedly exploded in Kilinochchi on Sunday.

The explosion, in the town of Umayalpuram, reportedly was due to an old, unexploded mortar shell that had been accidentally triggered.

John Sifton, the Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, addressed the United States House of Representatives Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights today, which is currently holding a hearing on 'Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka'.

See the full text of his address and video footage of the event below.

The United States House of Representatives Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights is currently holding a hearing on 'Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka'

Ten Tamils who were arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), for commemorating the Mullivaikkal genocide, were released on bail this morning by Valaichenai court. 

Jaffna Mayor Viswalingam Manivannan opened the restored Ariyakulam tank, renovated with the financial assistance the Thiyahie Charitable Trust (TCT), as part of the mayors "Pure City" initiative. 

A subscription-based streaming platform tailored towards Eelam Tamils is set to be launched in January 2022. A venture devoted to the portrayal of the Eelam Tamil homeland on screen, Eelamplay will feature nearly fifty short films, full-length movies and documentaries that have been made so far on Eelam Tamils, right from its launch. 

The Indian government has looked to expand several projects in the Tamil homeland, according to the latest press reports, as Sri Lanka’s finance minister Basil Rajapaksa faced criticism over his visit to New Delhi last week with claims that he “went to beg from India”.

Rajapaksa’s visit came as Sri Lanka sought crucial financial support from India amidst a deepening economic crisis and growing tensions between the neighbours.

He agreed a four-point economic plan with New Delhi, which alongside the offer of a much-needed currency swap to assist Sri Lanka during its financial crisis, also included “facilitating Indian investments in different sectors in Sri Lanka” and an agreement to develop the Trincomalee Tank Farm – a reversal from a previous Sri Lankan position.

Farmers in Kilinochchi have warned that the upcoming harvest may be worse than during the decades of armed conflict, according to a report in The Hindu, after the Sri Lankan government banned chemical fertilisers.

Muthu Sivamohan, a Tamil farmer leader in northern Kilinochchi described the uncertainty due to the chemical fertiliser ban of this year's paddy yield to "two other periods of crisis".

Excavations resumed in Suthanthirapuram, Mullaitivu where government ministers are in search of LTTE gold.

Excavation work was started by Sri Lankan police on 2 December. Mullaitivu court judge R. Saravanaraja was also present as the works began.