Amidst the ongoing political crisis in Colombo, Tamil families of the disappeared spoke about their concerns over security in the North-East, following a possible return to a Mahinda Rajapaksa led government.

“We are very worried about the state of our protection after having protested for so long out in the open if he [Rajapaksa] returns,” one mother of the disappeared from Kilinochchi told Tamil Guardian. “Already we are seeing the military becoming bolder since Friday,” she added.

This fear about security however is coupled with their deep disappointment with the current Sri Lankan government for its failure to address their concerns.

The Sri Lankan air force continued with its militarisation of Vavuniya, despite calls for the military to vacate the region, with a series of events to mark its 40^th anniversary.

A Tamil youth from Mullaitivu was reported missing by his parents on Saturday, after disappearing while travelling to Colombo earlier this week.

Kilinochchi’s local community came together to clear the destroyed LTTE cemetery (thuyilum illam) at Kanagapuram on Saturday.

Senior US policy figure, Samantha Power urged the US to consider suspending aid and imposing targeted sanctions on Sri Lanka, in response to the island’s ongoing political crisis.

“The dangers of [Sri Lanka] constitutional crisis are clear: violence is possible & Rajapaksa’s return to power ‘will likely end flagging efforts at ethnic reconciliation,’” Power posted on Twitter, quoting from an International Crisis Group (ICG) briefing.

“Where is US diplomacy? [Sri Lanka] must know suspending aid [and] targeted sanctions [are] on the table,” she said.

Condemning the economic policies of his rival, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged to bring down the cost of living in Sri Lanka with reductions in the cost of basic food items and fuel. 

Rajapaksa, who was appointed as prime minister by President Sirisena last week following the shock sacking of Ranil, has also taken the role of finance minister in his government. 

Over 3000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were chased away by the Sri Lankan navy on Thursday, the PTI reports. 

The navy personnel threw stones at the fishermen and cut the nets of over 50 vessels, the Rameswaram Fishermen Association president P Sesuraja told the news wire. 

The incident took place near Katchatheevu island. 

The fishermen were forced to return without a catch during the early hours. 

Read more here. 

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres urged the Sri Lankan president to allow "parliament to vote as soon as possible," and offered to facilitate dialogue between "all parties" in a phonecall on Thursday. 

In a statement on Friday Gutteres' office outlined the contents of the phonecall, after Sirisena tweeted: "I had a very successful telephone conversation with UN Secretary General H.E. António Guterres last evening. I assured him that the appointment of the new Prime Minister has been done in keeping with the Constitution of Sri Lanka."

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has announced its decision to support the UNP's no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa in parliament, arguing that remainjng "neutral in such a situation, would pave the way for acheiving an undemocratic end by force."  

The UNP brought the motion a week after President Sirisena sacked the UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and appointed the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. 

A lawmaker from Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP claimed that he was offered USD$2.8 million to cross over and support political rival Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the idst of a polticial crisis which has left southern parties vying for control of parliament.

State Minister Ranga Bandara made the claim at a meeting this morning and reportedly stated that he would go to the bribery commission.

"A proxy for Rajapaksa called me today and offered 500 million rupees to support the new prime minister and they also offered a cabinet portfolio," Bandara told Reuters.