Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara has dismissed reports that the government plans to remove the Sri Lankan military headquarters in Jaffna, stating that the claims are “entirely false”.

A protest was held in Kayts, Jaffna, demanding justice for a 17-year-old Tamil boy who was shot dead by Sri Lankan police, as activists and family members marked one month since the killing.

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) parliamentarian S. Shritharan called for justice for the Tamil people during a speech in Parliament last week, highlighting the ongoing suffering of families searching for loved ones who were forcibly disappeared during the armed conflict. Addressing lawmakers, Shritharan stressed the urgent need to secure justice for the relatives of those who remain missing.

The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko challenging the Indian government’s ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Vanni District Member of Parliament Thurairasa Ravikaran questioned when the Sri Lankan government would recognise the suffering of Tamil families of the forcibly disappeared, who have been protesting continuously in the North-East for nearly a decade in search of their loved ones.

Sri Lanka will grant free one-month visas to Iranian sailors rescued from distressed naval vessels in the Indian Ocean, allowing them to remain in the island under humanitarian protection, amidst reported US pressure not to repatriate the crew to Iran.

Tamil families held a protest in Mullaitivu today, marking nine years of continuous demonstrations as they continue to seek answers about the fate of their forcibly disappeared relatives.

Two British Members of Parliament have launched a campaign calling for the introduction of a GCSE qualification in Tamil, stating that the move would recognise the language’s global significance and provide fair educational opportunities for Tamil-speaking students across the United Kingdom.

Sri Lankan political leaders have offered tributes following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlighting the longstanding relationship between Colombo and Tehran that has spanned successive Sri Lankan administrations.

Sri Lanka’s political establishment has been walking a tightrope this week, after the island was thrust into global headlines following the sinking of an Iranian warship by a United States submarine. 

Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into allegations that police assaulted protesters during a demonstration against the controversial Thaiyiddy Vihara in Jaffna.

Sri Lanka’s government has moved to extend the state of emergency, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and potential disruptions to essential services in the coming weeks.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has confirmed that Iran had requested permission for its naval vessels to visit Sri Lanka days before one of its warships was struck near the island’s southern coast.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has questioned how a US submarine was able to enter Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and carry out an attack on an Iranian naval vessel without the government being aware of its present.