Following the appointment of Basil Rajapaksa to the cabinet, the Economist highlights growing unrest throughout Sri Lanka including farmers, teachers, war victims, and civil society actors. In light of this growing unrest, the Economist writes that “the Rajapaksas’ suffocating hold on power look like a weakness”.

In advance of the Moody Investor Service placing Sri Lanka “under review for downgrade” Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance slammed the agency’s announcement claiming that it was “ill-timed, ill-judged and hence unacceptable’.

Vavuniya Families of the Disappeared marked 1,616 days of continuous protest yesterday, as they continued their struggle for justice and accountability.

The demonstrators, who have been protesting to know the whereabouts of their forcibly disappeared loved ones, stated, “our economy has been looted by the by the Sri Lankan Army, especially our agriculture, trade, fisheries and infrastructure sectors.” 

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF)’s legal advisor and Tamil lawyer, Sugash Kanagaratnam insisted that “international pressure is crucial for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).”  

During a press conference last month, he said: 

“Whilst the international pressure is crucial in the repeal of PTA, it is equally important for diaspora Tamils and Tamils across the North-East to unite together and voice against the PTA.”    

_{Photo credit (Twitter: @PragasGnanam)}

Protesters in Colombo on Thursday demanded the arrest of the perpetrators who sexually abused a 16-year-old girl who reportedly committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

The girl had worked for MP and former minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s residence prior to her death.

Following a recent meeting of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), attended by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary and State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, the Secretary of the JAAF claimed that progress was being made and expressed optimism over the continuation over the GSP+ trading arrangement.

Speaking in Parliament, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe admitted that the Government of India had alerted Sri Lanka’s Police intelligence service of the Easter Sunday attacks hours prior to the incident however the police failed to act.

Over 270 people lost their lives during the attack and a further 500 were injured.

Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU)’s secretary, Joseph Stalin and 15 other union members who were arrested and kept at the Keppapulavu Air Force camp, were released on Friday morning following mounting condemnation of their detention.

Sri Lankan President, and accused war criminal, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed convicted Murder and former MP Duminda Silva as the chairman of the National Housing Development Authority.

Earlier this week, Britain’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton, meet with Sri Lanka’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Namal Rajapaksa, where they reportedly discussed “online harms facing women, girls and vulnerable groups, human rights issues, and youth and sport opportunities”.