<p>The Leader of the National Freedom Front, MP&nbsp;Wimal Weerawansa, spoke at a press briefing where he expressed anger at US personnel who he claimed did not have their luggage inspected by security as they checked into a Colombo hotel.</p> <p>Weerawansa went on to claim that Sri Lanka’s security apparatus has been weakened to a state where US personnel might come and go as they please without allowing the security forces to inspect their belongings.</p>

<p>Thiraviyarajah Subramaniyam, a 37-year-old Tamil refugee and torture survivor, is currently detained under “hellish” conditions on Manus Island, an Australian offshore detention centre in Papua New Guinea, and has launched an appeal to join and settle with his sister in the UK.&nbsp;</p>

The Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF) reiterated its call that Sri Lanka should be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) more than a decade after a military offensive killed tens of thousands of Tamil civilians.

TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, stating that the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation in Sri Lanka (OISL) “has been the most damning report on Sri Lanka so far”.

Thousands of people attended a rally outside the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last week, calling for accountability for the Tamil genocide.

The remains of one of the Easter Sunday bombers has been moved following a protest campaign by locals, including a demonstration last month that saw Sri Lankan riot police deploying batons and teargas against protestors.

Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has summoned Tamil journalist and Tamil Guardian’s Mullaitivu correspondent Shanmugam Thavaseelan for questioning to Colombo.

The TID summons stated that Thavaseelan’s testimony was required for an ongoing investigation, ordering the journalist to appear in Colombo on September 25.

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance called Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential elections “a fraud” said parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran, as he responded to criticism of the party on Twitter earlier today.

“We are only staying true to our policy and ready to accomplish the mandate received whatever the time. We have constantly made this position clear,” said Sumanthiran, stating that the TNA would support abolishing Sri Lanka’s executive presidency.

“TNA leader called this election a fraud on the people and a denial of their repeated mandate for 25 years,” he added.

Sri Lanka’s opening of the ‘Lotus Tower’ in Colombo was marred amidst claims from the president that the Chinese company behind the construction disappeared with more than $11 million of the funding.

The 356-metre tall structure was opened on Monday in a grand ceremony with several Chinese officials, including the ambassador to Sri Lanka, present. 

 

Sri Lanka’s elections office announced today that presidential elections will be held on November 16^th.

The elections come at a crucial time for the island, in the wake of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed hundreds and the UN Human Rights Council's decision earlier this year to grant a two year extension to Sri Lanka to implement a resolution which mandates a hybrid accountability mechanism for mass atrocities.

A new report from the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has identified at least 58 alleged torturers in the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lankan police, including those who personally participated in violence and those who bear command responsibility.