Following a damning US State Department report which warned investors of the risks they faced in Sri Lanka, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz, raised concerns over the legislation covering Colombo’s Port City.

“I continue to be concerned about some aspects of that (Port City) legislation. Because there appears to be openings for either corrupt influences or potential of illicit financing, money laundering and things like that. US companies are going to be wary of that,” Teplitz stated.

Sri Lanka’s former finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera, warned of a likely fuel shortage in Sri Lanka as the economy continues to grapple with a crisis and fuel debt of 1.2 billion USD, was pushing the island towards becoming a "failed state".

“We are becoming a failed state isolated from the world," warned Samaraweera. "Before July 27, we must repay a billion dollars for a loan taken in 2011. In addition, around USD 1.3 billion in Sri Lankan Development Bonds will have to be paid in December this year.”

_{Photo credit (Twitter: @PragasGnanam) Read more here.}

Rithish Kirushnaneethan, a four-year-old Tamil boy, died in a house fire in Melbourne’s Southeast last Saturday. 

The Sri Lankan navy deployed dozens of troops in response to a protest against a mass land-grab in the Vadduvakal area.

After efforts were stepped up to permanently seize 617 acres of Tamil-owned land for the ‘Gotabhaya Navy Base’, a process initiated with a gazette in 2017 but was stalled due to heavy local opposition and protest, land surveyors arrived in the area at 7am on Thursday morning.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne, defended the controversial Kotelawala National Defence University (“KNDU”) Bill stating it does not hinder the state’s free education. The Bill has drawn widespread condemnation across the island, in particular the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), for reasons including, the proposed militarisation of Sri Lanka’s education and its proposed enactment without extensive national consultation or debate.

Valaichenai District court issued an order on Tuesday to extend the remand of 10 Tamil men and women arrested under the widely condemned Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to August 13, according to JDS Lanka. 

The group was arrested on May 18, for holding a vigil to mark Tamil Genocide Day and commemorate the genocide of Tamils by Sri Lankan security forces at the end of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Academics across Sri Lanka withdrew from their teaching and administrative responsibilities on Wednesday to protest the government bill intended to “militarize” education.

The Federation of University Teachers Association is campaigning against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (or KDU) Bill. Its main claim demands “that the government keep military and civilian education separate.”

“The Bill is not just about the university, it is essentially a model of private education, subsidised by the government and run by the military. It is an assault on the country’s public education system,” said Professor Rambukwella. 

^{Sam Tarry - MP for Ilford South} 

Sam Tarry, Labour MP for Ilford South released a video statement commemorating the 'Black July pogrom', highlighting how the pogrom led to a 'brutal war of oppression' being waged by the Sri Lankan government which led to 'many being murdered' by state forces. 

The shadow minister went on to reflect on the current situation in Sri Lanka and the difficulties Tamil people still face within the island. 

Sri Lanka’s ruling party has blamed the Tamil Tigers for the recent surge in protests and strikes across Sri Lanka despite over a decade passing since the end of the armed conflict.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) general secretary S. Kariyawasam told reporters on Monday, “the same groups who tried to prevent the war victory have come out today to create a wave of protests and strikes in the country.”

Commenting on the unrest in Sri Lanka the Economist has highlighted the wide-reaching discontent with the current government