The new bill comes against the backdrop of tension among the Sri Lankan state and Eelam Tamils, where there has been a concentrated effort by Sinhala Buddhist monks and the government to claim places of worship belonging to Tamils. Local communities have been actively resisting efforts to seize land and construct new Buddhist viharas in the North-East.

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The Mullaitivu Judicial Medical Officer told the court today that the excavation of Kokkuthoduvai mass grave is being halted due to a lack of funding from the Sri Lankan government. 

Tamils in Mannar have sent 5,000 postcards to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe demanding the return of their land which is currently occupied by Sri Lanka's military. 

Tamils from five divisional secretariats including Mannar, Nanaddan, Musali, Manthai West and Madhu are campaigning for the return of their lands which are being used by the military for agricultural and commercial purposes.  

Speaking at the 55^th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Core Group on Sri Lanka said that the recent legislative developments on human rights, reconciliation, and civic space “give cause for concern”.

Tamil journalist and Chairman of the Mullaitivu Press Club Shanmugam Thavaseelan has been summoned to court later this month over a complaint filed by a Sri Lankan navy officer in 2019 after he reported on a disappearances rally in Mullaitivu.

Sri Lanka reiterated its rejection of UN resolutions on accountability for mass atrocities this week, but admitted that thousands of forcibly disappeared remain unaccounted for despite years of failed domestic mechanisms.

The new Consul General for India Sai Murali called on the Governor of the Northern Province P.S.M Charles upon assuming duties at the Consulate in Jaffna this week. During the initial meeting, they held a wide-ranging discussion on Indian assistance as well as connectivity between Eelam and India. 

The Sri Lankan Court of Appeal has issued an interim order that will see the suspension of further steps in the divesture of sales in both the state-owned Sri Lanka Telecom and Lanka Hospitals until the next court date. The Petitioners are the owners of Lycamobile who had submitted its bid to buy 50% shares in the Telco earlier this year. 

30 Tamils were allowed access to temples located within a High Security Zone (HSZ) in Jaffna after 34 years but under close watch by Sri Lanka’s military. 

Devotees were escorted in buses by Sri Lanka’s army to Sri Muthumariyamman temple and Manampirai Pillaiyar temple over the weekend. The soldiers conducted checks before the Tamils entered the bus and dropped them back at a checkpoint at the border of the security zone.

A tense situation unfolded earlier today at Vavuniya Old Bus Station when Sri Lankan police stopped the vehicle carrying the remains of Santhan.

Santhan's body was brought to Vavuniya this morning, and the vehicle carrying it entered Vavuniya Old Bus Station in order to allow the public to pay tribute.

However, as the vehicle attempted to park, police intervened, stating that it couldn't stop there.

They threatened to arrest the driver if the vehicle stopped, further instructing the driver to exit the vehicle.