Relay hunger strike in Jaffna enters fifth day demanding international justice for disappeared Tamils

Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba hailed former Sri Lankan president J.R. Jayewardene this week, recalling his 1951 address at the San Francisco Peace Conference and describing it as pivotal to Japan’s postwar reintegration into the international community.

Japan has formally launched military grant aid to Sri Lanka, marking a significant expansion of its security cooperation with Colombo by providing surveillance drones to the Sri Lankan navy.

The U.S Department of State's Investment Climate Statement on Sri Lanka has noted that foreign investment on the island is limited and 'difficult' due to minimal progress on 'structural reforms' and 'stronger governance mechanisms' across the state.

Despite the electoral victory of a new government under President Anura Dissanayake and the outward commitment of his National People's Power coalition to encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), investors remain wary. The report states that, 

On 24 September 2025, a United Nations delegation led by Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche met with Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo.

The discussions focused on enhancing the Sri Lankan military’s involvement in international peacekeeping operations. Key areas included expanding participation in UN missions, expediting the deployment screening process, and implementing specialised training programmes.

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that one or two former army officials will soon be arrested in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

Speaking to members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the United States during his ongoing visit, Dissanayake claimed that investigations under his government were moving forward after years of political interference.

At least 40 people, including nine children, were killed and more than 120 injured after a crowd crush at a rally led by Tamil film star and politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu on Saturday night.

The Mannar district came to a standstill on Monday as thousands of people took part in a general strike against the controversial wind farm project and to condemn the brutal Sri Lankan police assault on Tamils last week.

The Valikamam East Divisional Council has passed a resolution to erect a statue in honour of LTTE political leader Thileepan and to restore the name of a local road to “Thileepan Road”.

An unprecedented number of events took place across the North-East last week. Hunger strikes were staged. Flames were lit and garlands laid. The elderly and children gathered together. A kavadi even procession took place, with hooks piercing the flesh of a devotee in a symbolic act of devotion. All to remember the LTTE’s Lt. Col. Thileepan – a young man who undertook a hunger strike until death thirty-eight years ago, demanding justice for his people.