^{Image courtesy of PMD}

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe decried the apparent double standard of the “West” in their approach to the current bombardment in Gaza and Sri Lanka’s own 2009 military offensive but remained staunchly opposed to an international accountability mechanism into the massacres on the island.

“Why is it one rule applies to us, and another rule applies to them,” Wickremesinghe told an audience last week.

Thousands of Muslims gathered at the Kinniya Urban Council Grounds in Trincomalee to hold a mass protest and collective prayer in solidarity with Palestine on Friday.

A large Sri Lankan flag was waved, alongside a Palestinian one.

My dear Percival Mahendra,

I hope this letter finds you in good health.

What can impede your health as long as your buddy Ranil is there for you? Was it not because of the grace of Ranil you were saved from the electric chair? I mean, he claimed a few years ago that it was he who saved you from the electric chair. Not many people understood what he meant but I don’t recall even a bit of whining from you then, so I am assuming it was he who came to your rescue when the Americans were threatening to bring war crimes charges against you and your beloved brother Nandasena Gota.

There was a lot of ‘silly’ talk in 2010 that the Americans were not happy with your election victory over Fonseka. And then came the presidential election of 2015. When the results came out, you really didn’t want to step down. Remember you summoned the commanders of the security forces and were contemplating staying in power through unconstitutional means. And then the warning shots came, and you decided to back down, or to be precise, step down.

Preparations were underway at Aatkattiveli Thuyilum Illam in Mannar yesterday ahead of Maaveerar Naal which falls on November 27. 

Before the cleaning began, the families paid tribute to the fallen Tamil fighters. Thommai, the brother of Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle, lit a flame by a makeshift gravestone. 

Tamils have called for Theravil Thuyilum Illam to be released by the Sri Lankan army who are currently occupying the land. 

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) built Thuyilum Illams - resting homes- across the North-East where thousands of Tamil fighters were laid to rest. Following the end of the armed conflict, the Sri Lankan army bulldozed over these cemetries and in some areas built army bases over them. 

Six Tamil students have been released on bail by Eravur Magistrate court after they were arrested earlier today for participating in a protest against the Sri Lankan government’s seizure of land and settling of Sinhalese farmers in Mayilathamadu.

Parliamentarians from the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) lent their support to the restoration of a cemetery ahead of the upcoming Maaveerar Naal (Heroes' Day) commemoration this month. 

Six Tamil artistes took to the Sydney Opera House steps to perform eight 25 minute live shows to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening and inauguration of the world famed art facility.

A Tamil-run bakery in Paris can claim the title of having the best Pain au Chocolat in all of the French capital, and the second best in the whole country, after a hard fought national competition last week.

Sugeetharan Sigamani narrowly missed out on first place and the ‘Master du Pain au Chocolat’ title, but can still boast of having the best chocolate filled pastry in Paris as he battled it out amongst dozens of professional bakers.

The Sri Lankan government announced that three retired military personnel, who are all accused of committing atrocities, have been appointed as international diplomats in a move that may be aimed at shielding them from prosecutions for war crimes.

Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne was appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Damith Nishantha Sirisoma Ulugetenne was appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Cuba and Sudarshan Karagoda Pathirana was appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal.