China has approved a 10 billion yuan ( US$1.54 billion) currency swap deal with Sri Lanka, amidst Colombo's rising debt levels and dwindling foreign reserves.

The deal would allow Sri Lanka to address “present difficulties”, the State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, Ajith Nivard Cabraal said. The announcement follows contested reports of negotiations breaking down for another IMF credit facility last year due to Sri Lanka’s obligations on “debt sustainability” not being met.  

An editorial by the New Straits Times raises concern over the discriminatory legislation adopted by the Sri Lankan government, warning that the burqa ban and closure of over a thousand madrasahs, highlight that Sri Lanka “races to be another genocidal Myanmar”.

In their piece, they highlight how Muslim and Christians launched legal challenges against the government’s draconian policy of forced cremations which violated religious liberty and noted the Supreme Court’s dismissal without calling for evidence.

Ambihai Selvakumar, a British Tamil woman and one of the directors of the International Centre for the Prevention of Genocide (ICPPG), has concluded her hunger strike after 17 days of demanding that the British government pursue international accountability for genocide committed by the Sri Lankan state.

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— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) March 14, 2021

Tamil actors Kamal Haasan and Sathyaraj have expressed their support to Mrs Ambihai Selvakumar, a British Tamil activist who has now entered the 17th day of her hunger strike, demanding the British government to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the Tamil genocide.

UK Metropolitan Police officers clashed with hundreds of Tamil protestors today in Kenton North-West London, outside the home of a British Tamil woman who has been on hunger strike for 16 days.

Sri Lanka's Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara announced that Sri Lanka is to ban the burqa and close 1,000 Islamic schools on the grounds of 'national security' as Islamaphobia on the island continues. 

"In our early days, we had a lot of Muslim friends, but Muslim women and girls never wore the burqa," Weerasekara reportedly said. "It's a sign of religious extremism that came about recently. We are definitely going to ban it," he added. 

^{Thurairasa Ravikaran being questioned by Sri Lankan police officers}

Mallavi police questioned former Northern Provincial Council member, Thurairasa Ravikaran this week, obtaining a statement regarding his participation in the Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P) rally that took place in February.

Following Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal, Malcolm Ranjith call for an international inquiry into the Easter Sunday bombings which claimed an estimated 270 lives, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, MA Sumanthiran has supported these calls and highlighted the urgent need to investigate Sri Lankan war crimes.

“His Eminence has called for an international inquiry after 2 years. We have waited for 11 long years or longer than that, how can anybody blame us for asking for an international investigation?” Sumanthiran stated.

Following Sri Lanka’s unilateral withdrawal from the East Container Terminal (ECT), worth an estimated $700 - $800 million dollars, India has reportedly discussions on the West Container Terminal (WCT).

Ambihai Selvakumar, the British Tamil woman hunger striking in demand of Sri Lanka’s referral to the International Criminal Court, continues to receive support and solidarity from politicians around the world.