<p>The Alliance of Independent Professionals (AIP) said that restrictive journalism and ethnic discrimination are among the key concerns in Sri Lanka’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.</p> <p>In their analysis of Sri Lanka’s response to the pandemic, the AIP stated that the Sri Lankan media “plays a subservient role at present, restricting their journalism to the verbatim reproduction of government messages and communiques, avoiding any investigative journalism for fear of military and intelligence services.”</p>

<p>Sri Lankan police have arrested 24 people in Trincomalee during celebrations of Tamil New Year as they broke the state-imposed curfew.</p> <p>The Colombo Page&nbsp;reports that 11 people were arrested whilst preparing to boil milk at Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Trincomalee. Further arrests were undertaken at Gayathri Kovil in Uppuveli Kanniya area of Trincomalee.</p> <p>The Colombo Page&nbsp;further reports that the Sri Lankan police are deploying plainclothes officers for special operations and to survey the public and arrest those breaking curfew or engaging in illegal alcohol trafficking.&nbsp;</p>

Sri Lankan naval soldiers attacked Tamil fishermen in Poonakari in two separate attacks last week, with troops beating and biting the fishermen.

Several Muslim organisations have called for an “immediate investigation and urgent action on the continued hate mongering against the Muslim community,” in a letter addressed to the acting Inspector General of Police amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

“We wish to state that it is also important to investigate whether any organized group is supporting, aiding and abetting the spread of racial and religious hatred to destabilize the country at a time when the Government’s fullest attention is on controlling and eliminating the deadly COVID-19 here in Sri Lanka,” added the letter.

British Tamils across the UK sent Prime Minister Boris Johnson wishes for a speedy recovery as he was discharged from hospital this week.

Photographs posted on the Conservative Party’s official social media pages garnered thousands of likes last week, as the prime minister spent two nights in intensive care after contracting coronavirus.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted Puthandu wishes yesterday, as Tamils around the world celebrated the new year.

“Happy New Year to all celebrating Puthandu,” tweeted the official Prime Minister’s page.

“This year's celebrations may be slightly different from usual, but we must remember why we are staying apart,” it added. “So stay home, protect the NHS and save lives this Puthandu.”

<p>Seven people have been arrested in Sri Lanka over the last two days under allegations of spreading false news on the coronavirus.&nbsp;</p> <p>In total 16 people have been arrested under the charge of spread false information of the coronavirus. However, it follows Dr. Ramesh Pathirana an MP for the&nbsp; Sri Lanka Freedom Party encouraged individuals to drink black tea 3-4 times a day to help fight the coronavirus and other respiratory issues despite the lack of credible evidence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar, editor in chief of the Tamil Guardian, responded to Pathirana’s claim stating;</p> <blockquote><p>

Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister, released a message sending Puthandu wishes to the Tamil community celebrating the New Year. 

"Today, Tamils in Canada and around the world celebrate Puthandu, and welcome the beginning of a new year," he wrote in a statement today. 

<p>Special Rapporteurs are calling on the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the order for compulsory cremations for coronavirus victims.</p> <p>In a letter to Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Special Rapporteurs explained that they are “concerned that the amendment is inconsistent with the Infection Prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19 guideline provided by World Health Organisation.”</p>

The head of the Sri Lankan army, accused war criminal Shavendra Silva, toured the military’s bases in the occupied North of the island this week, as he praised the armed forces for leading the government’s coronavirus containment strategy.