Three Ukrainian tourists who arrived in Sri Lanka have tested positive for COVID-19.

The first batch of 185 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka on the 28 December, being the first group of tourists to arrive in Sri Lanka for nine months. The second batch of 204 tourists arrived on the 29 December. The government has reopened Sri Lanka for tourists this week after closing its borders since March. The pilot project is expected to welcome tourists from various countries to assess its capability of handling flights and tourists amidst the pandemic.

Gaj Wallooppillai, a senior Conservative Party advisor and International Secretary received an OBE from the Queen in the 2021 New Years List. The honour was awarded for services towards equality and community cohesion.

Speaking at a Buddhist temple in Payagala, the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Ranjith, called upon Sri Lanka’s political leaders to follow and safeguard Buddhism.

Following the arrest of several Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka’s Navy last week, Indian representatives called for the release of Tamil fishermen during the fourth meeting of the Indian-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries, held on the 30 December.  

DMK leader and party treasury, T R Baalu, has urged India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to intervene in Sri Lanka to prevent the abolition of provincial councils.

The Sri Lankan Army opened a newly constructed bar and mess hall for soldiers in Mannar, on occupied Tamil land.

The outdoor bar and entertainment area were opened by the Commanding officer of the 54 Infantry Division, Major General Indrajith Bandara. 

Sri Lankan authorities held a discussion with the world health organisation (WHO) to discuss future imports of coronavirus vaccines.

The discussion was attended by Lalith Weeratunga, the Presidents Chief advisor, the director-general of health service, Dr Asela Gunawardena and accused war criminal, and head of Sri Lanka's army, Shavendra Silva.

^{Photograph: Daily FT}

The leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has reportedly spoken out against the Sri Lankan government’s policy of forcibly cremating suspected COVID-19 victims, stating that the regime has “decided to follow mythology in place of science”.