Sri Lanka’s president has apologised to a group of Sinhala extremist monks from Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), after police launched tear gas at a protest held by the organisation earlier on Monday.

The monks, who were seen posing with a racist Sri Lankan lion flag, were calling for the release of jailed BBS leader Galagodaatte Gnanasara.

Sri Lanka’s parliament met on Monday morning, amidst a week of violence in the chambers, with the session ending after just 10 minutes.

In a relatively peaceful sitting in comparison to last week's clashes, Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri presided over the brief proceedings. He declared parliament adjourned until Friday the 23^rd of November.

Parliamentary sittings last week were marred by violence, which saw lawmakers with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa hurl chairs and chilli powder at police and opposing MPs, as the political crisis on the island deepened.

 

Parents of Maaveerar (fallen LTTE cadre) were honoured in Batticaloa on Saturday evening ahead of Tamil Remembrance Day (Maaveerar Naal) on November 27. 

The parents of over 50 Maaveerar were given parcels of household items by members of the Tamil National People's Front. 

A 25 year old Tamil youth was arrested on Friday for allegedly being in possession of heroin. 

The youth, who has not been named, is from Navatkuli, Jaffna. 

The police allege 250mg of heroin was found on his person. 

 

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>