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The Russian government announced an early release of all Indian citizens fighting in its army, according to India’s foreign ministry, following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow.

Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, reiterated his pledge to implement the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution 'in full' during another recent visit to the North-East this week, despite outrage from across the Sinhala south.

During a meeting in Mannar, he made this announcement adding that he would not be deterred from carrying out a full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the constitution.

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed the “guidance and advice of the Maha Sangha are crucial in leading the country,” as he addressed the Sinhala Buddhist clergy on the topic of “establishing a new economic and political system” on the island.

Less than four months after a Sri Lankan High Court sentenced racist Buddhist monk Gnanasara Thero to four years of rigorous imprisonment for defamatory remarks he made against the Muslim community, he was released on bail. The order was issued when the revision petition was filed by Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero and was taken up for consideration. 

Tamils lined the streets of Paris with flags and flowers to celebrate as Tamil baker Tharshan Selvarajah became the first Eelam Tamil to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the Paris Games.

Selvarajah was cheered on by friends and members of the French Tamil diaspora as he carried the torch through the streets of Paris last week.

Following the global release of the 'Oozhi: A Dark Age', the Tamil Guardian interviewed its director Ranjith Jospeh to discuss the creative process behind making the film and why the film is important in educating the younger generation about the Tamil struggle.

Speaking in parliament, the Sri Lankan government’s chief whip and public security minister, Tiran Alles, encouraged the police to engage in extrajudicial killings claiming “eliminating criminals from the country is not a sin”.

“Don’t be afraid to use the weapon in your hand for the right thing, and we stand by you” he added.