The United States led international expressions of concern over Sri Lanka’s newly passed Online Safety Bill, as diplomats and international NGOs warned the legislature threatens freedom of speech.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung tweeted that the “United States remains concerned about the potential impact of Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Bill, which passed yesterday without incorporating important input from key stakeholders, including civil society and tech companies who say that this legislation threatens freedom of expression, innovation, and privacy.”

Thai Pongal celebrations took place inside Britain’s Houses of Parliament last week, as lawmakers from across the political spectrum joined Tamils in celebrating the harvest festival and pledging their commitment to seeing justice in Sri Lanka.

Tamils in Denmark marked the 31st death anniversary of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu earlier this week. Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

The nine other cadres who passed away with Col. Kittu were:

• - Lt.Col. Kuttisiri: Rasaiah Sri Ganesan from Suthumalai, Jaffna

Over 300 officers from Sri Lanka's tri-forces have taken part in a week-long operation, an amphibious training exercise dubbed “Seagull” in the Northern Sea area in the Jaffna peninsula, as tens of thousands of troops remain stationed in the region, which remains one of the most militarised per capita in the world.

A demonstration organised by the Jaffna Christian Union in front of the Jaffna Bus stand took place yesterday, as Sri Lanka's parliament debated and passed the controversial Online Safety Bill. 

An islet off the coast of Jaffna will be host to up to 8,000 people from Tamil Nadu and across the island next month, as officials began preparations for the annual festival of St. Anthony's Church in Katchatheevu.

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Water Supply, Sanatha Nishantha and his security officer died in an accident in the early hours of this morning when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a container truck along the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway near Kandana. 

Commemorations were held in sites across the Tamil homeland today to mark the 18th anniversary of the tragic death of journalist Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, including at the very site where he was fatally shot on January 24, 2006, whilst waiting for transport to get to work.

Sri Lanka's State Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon claimed "90% of lands" in the Eastern Province previously under army occupation had been handed back to locals, as he responded to a question raised by Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in parliament, who told him that he was "incorrect" and to "come and see for yourself".

The Sri Lankan Bar Association (BASL) has raised concerns over the escalating incidents of police brutality resulting in killings by the police, and called for an 'independent inquiry' into the matter.