Sri Lanka attempted to rebuff reports that it has lost sovereignty over the Chinese-controlled Hambantota Port, with a senior official insisting that Colombo still maintains oversight.

Ravindra Jayawickrema, CEO of Hambantota International Port Services (HIPS), a subsidiary of port operator Hambantota International Ports Group (HIPG) reiterated that the port is controlled by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Act.

Jayawickrema told Xinhua that “all ships entering the port have to gain approval from the Harbormaster in Colombo". “The pilots who bring the ships in and out of the port are direct employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority,” he added.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, M A Sumanthiran, has criticised the government for marring the national reconciliation process following their decision to sing the national anthem only in Sinhala at the upcoming National Day celebrations in Colombo, Adaderana reports. 

Earlier this week, the Sri Lankan government confirmed that its national anthem will be sung in Sinhala only for next year's independence day celebrations in Colombo. 

Parliamentarian of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), M.A. Sumanthiran, called for the government to investigate allegations of white van abductions before making any arrests of personnel involved with disclosing allegations publicly, on Wednesday.

Eelam Tamil refugees living in India have expressed their disappointment at being excluded from India’s Citizenship Amendment Act after decades of displacement in Tamil Nadu - driving one man to request a mercy killing.

Twenty-eight-year-old T. Yanadhan, who was born in Tamil Nadu after his parents fled Sri Lanka, approached the District Collectorate in Salem to officially request a mercy killing from Indian authorities, stating that he was better off dead than living stateless, reports HuffPost India.

Kalmunai Magistrates Court has arrested 12 people earlier this week under suspicion that they were involved in the Easter Sunday Bombings which have claimed the lives of over 250 people. 

The magistrate's court maintained that their detention should be continued for a further two weeks until their case is heard on the 7th January.

Commemorative events were held today across the Tamil homeland to remember the 35,000 victims of the catastrophic tsunami on December 26, 2004. 

Defending the controversial citizenship bill, BJP senior leader, La. Ganesan, has stated that Eelam Tamils residing in Tamil Nadu should return to Sri Lanka despite human raised human rights concerns.

The BJP leader stated on the matter;

“I am not against citizenship being given to Sri Lankan Tamils. But, they do not want it. They want to go back. That would be the best solution as their votes are more important in Sri Lanka”.

Former Sri Lankan Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratne, was not present at his residence when CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officials came to arrest him in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The CID had been a granted a warrant for his arrest following a controversial press conference in which the former Minister spoke alongside men who claimed to be involved in the ‘white van’ abductions.