Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has officially been appointed Sri Lanka’s next president. It marks a remarkable turnaround for a party that staged two violent insurrections against the Sri Lankan state. Indeed, it was a result that left many observers around the world somewhat taken aback by the direction Sri Lanka may be heading in. For those on the island, however, this is not a surprise.

France has sent anti-riot police to the Island of Martinique, where protestors gathered despite the government barring demonstrations on the island. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the commanders of the security forces to discuss "defence priorities" shortly after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's president. 

The newly elected president met with accused war criminal and Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva, army commander Vikum Liyanage, navy commander Priyantha Perera and air force commander Udeni Rajapaksa to reportedly discuss national security and defence priorities. 

Following Anura, Kumara Dissanayake’s victory at Sri Lanka’s presidential elections earlier this week, diplomats from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, France and Germany have issued statements of congratulation for the president-elect. 

A blood donation drive was held in Nallur, Jaffna today to mark 37 years since Lt Col Thileepan's fast unto death. 

The Thiyaga Thileepan Memorial Organising Committee held the donation drive at a memorial dedicated to Thileepan in Nallur, where many Tamils, both old and young donated their blood. 

In one of his first acts as president of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha as the new Secretary of Defence – a military figure who boasted of causing “chaos” during the Mullivaikkal genocide.

Thuyacontha was the Wing Commander of the No 09 squadron, a helicopter gunship squadron that conducted nearly 400 missions during the genocide.

An adventure park in Hanwella, Sri Lanka has apologised for naming a new paintball programme after a site of Tamil genocide.

After fierce criticism on social media, Che Adventure Park said it has made a mistake and has removed the post on all social media platforms. It said it “was shared with no intention of causing harm or offence to any race or religion”.

Sri Lanka's dollar bonds and stocks sharply declined this morning following the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president, a result that threatens to derail the island’s economic recovery.

Following his victory at Sri Lanka’s presidential election, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with India’s High Commissoner for Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.

During this meeting the Indian High Commissioner congratulated Dissanayake on his victory and maintained India’s commitment to “further deepen ties for the prosperity of the people our two countries”.