Sri Lankan troops reportedly “threw their full weight behind” a series of Buddhist ceremonies in Jaffna and Kilinochchi last month, as the military continues to assist in attempts of further Sinhalisation of the largely Tamil North-East.

A police official responsible for the investigation of the abduction and murder of 11 Tamil youths by Sri Lankan navy personnel has been handed transfer orders, Sri Lankan journalists have reported.

Nishantha Silva, officer in charge of the organised crimes division at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was given a transfer order to ordinary duties in Negombo, reportedly on the orders of the Sri Lankan president.

<p>“The world community should now realise why we insist on international input into the war crimes’ inquiry,” said Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran amidst the deepening political turmoil on the island which saw MPs attack each other in parliament last week.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

The International Monetary Fund’s program has been suspended due to the ongoing political crisis on the island, according to a report in The Morning on Sunday.

IMF official spokesperson Gerry Rice told The Sunday Morning that the programme with Sri Lanka, a three-year extended arrangement of about $ 1.5 billion which was approved in 2016, “is on hold pending further clarity on the political situation”.

<p>Cross party talks called by the Sri Lankan president ended in deadlock, prolonging the country’s political crisis.</p> <p>Despite both ousted UNP prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sirisena’s de facto prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa appearing at the president’s office for a meeting of over two hours, a solution was not reached, AFP reports.</p> <p>Squabbles still existed between the UPFA (SLFP and allies) and the UNF (UNP and allies) on the legitimacy of the no-confidence motions brought against Mahinda Rajapaksa, News First reports.</p>

<p>Dozens of people have died after Cyclone Gaja hit Tamil Nadu early Friday morning, pounding the state with extreme rainfall, 125kmph cyclonic gusts and widespread flooding, as per the Indian Metereological Department, which declared a Red Alert for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.</p> <p>The state urged residents residing in coastal towns to evacuate immediately and move inland, with 46 reported deaths and several more injuries as of Tuesday.</p>

The British government must suspend deportations to Sri Lanka, “to ensure that we do not deliver anyone into [Mahinda] Rajapaksa’s lethal hands”, the chief executive of Freedom from Torture has said, echoing calls from British MPs earlier this week.

Writing in The Observer this week, chief executive Sonya Sceats said “President Maithripala Sirisena, [Rajapaksa’s] successor, was never the human rights champion he claimed to be, and it was foolish of western governments to buy this lie.”

<p>The number of Tamil Nadu tourists to Sri Lanka has fallen in recent weeks following the island's political turmoil, Times of India reported this month.&nbsp;</p> <p>The paper reported that tour operators had received the highest number of cancellations since the end of the armed conflict.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Of the 6,000 tourists from Tamil Nadu, nearly 2,000 cancelled their trip in October. The prospective tourists, largely travelling in groups to the island nation, are exploring other options," president of Tamil Nadu Tour Travel and Hospitality Association told TOI.&nbsp;</p>

Residents and locals continued clearing Alampil Thuyilum Illam (LTTE cemetries) today, which remains under military control. 

The NPC councillor, T Ravikaran and TNPF's General Secretary, S Kajendran also took part in the preparations which are taking place ahead of Tamil Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) on November 27. 

Condemning the military ongoing hold on the North-East, Ravikaran said, "many thuyilum illams across the North-East are occupied by the military". 

"They should all be released," he urged. 

 

Sri Lanka's Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya remained defiant despite two days of violence in the parliamentary complex, stating he "would safeguard the democracy even by sacrificing his life". 

He added that "would not be intimidated by any threats or obstacles placed in his way" and urged "people of the country who loved their motherland to maintain peace in the country".

Sri Lanka has been at a state of political turmoil for several weeks following the president's sacking of the prime minister last month and the appointment of the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier.