Within hours of being appointed Sri Lanka’s new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a stark warning to the island’s protestors, as government supporters reportedly attacked a demonstration site and a court blocked protests at another major site in the Southern capital.

“We will deal with them firmly according to the law,” he warned. “We will not allow a minority of protesters to suppress the aspirations of the silent majority clamouring for a change in the political system.”

Sri Lanka's President-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe mocked claims he was an old friend of the former president's family when questioned by Sky News.

Latest from Sri Lanka here: https://t.co/3GdudkJzyE pic.twitter.com/BNi1wkbZrd

— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 20, 2022

Sri Lanka’s president Ranil Wickremesinghe mocked a question from Sky News, as he claimed to not be a friend of the Rajapaksas and instead a “friend of the people”.

Sri Lanka's lawmakers have voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe to become the country's next pesident, after a secret ballot and a tense vote in parliament earlier today.

Last week, a discussion was held on "The New Frontlines of Resistance of Tamil Women" at the FeTNA 2022 summit in New York, featuring prominent Tamil activists, academics, and feminist leaders. 

The panel discussion centred Eelam Tamil women's distinctive experience within self-determination and nationalist movements, and introduced the plight of Eelam Tamils to a diverse, global audience. It featured esteemed writers and activists, Dr. Meena Kandasamy and Dr. Nimmi Gowrinathan. Mario Arulthas attended on behalf of People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), and articulated the need for Tamil organizations to amplify the voices of Tamil women. Abiramy Logeswaran of Tamil Diaspora Alliance (T.D.A.), described T.D.A.'s initiatives in the North-East to advance the economic self-sufficiency of Eelam Tamil women.

Poet Arivu, the lyricist behind the YouTube phenomenon, 'Enjoy Enjaami,' also voiced his solidarity with the Eelam Tamil community and sang an oppari paadal, originating from the Up-Country Tamil community. 

Vocalist and scholar, Ganavya, also presented a moving, original piece. 

The Tamil National Alliance has announced ahead of the election that they would "unanimously" vote in favour of the Rajapaksa acolyte Dullas Alahapperuma of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

In their announcement, they are photographed standing alongside the opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary G.L. Peiris.

Violence erupted in Tamil Nadu this week following the death of a 17-year-old schoolgirl whose body was found at a hostel in Kallaraikurichi.

Protestors entered the hostel premises on Sunday where buses were overturned and burnt, as thousands demanded justice for her death, which her family have said remains suspicious. As Tamil Nadu police had set up blockades preventing access to the schools, protestors broke the barricades and threw stones causing clashes between police and protestors to ensue. Many protestors were subject to a lathi charge or were beaten by police officers, who reportedly fired bullets into the air at least twice to control the protestors.

After Sri Lanka’s president fled and took refuge in Singapore, local Tamils have expressed their outrage at the accused war criminal and at their own government for allowing him into the country.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka last week, amidst a wave of protests that saw even his presidential residence ransacked. After boarding a military plane to the Maldives, Rajapaksa then went to Singapore, where he is currently residing.

The Tamil National People’s Front explained why it was going to abstain from voting for a new Sri Lankan president, ahead of a vote in parliament on Wednesday.

See the full text of their Twitter thread explaining the party’s decision below.

The Central Committee of the TNPF examined the choices for President extensively. Thereby we met with the parties that had sought our support over the past two days.

Whilst many in the Sinhala South seem satisfied with the opportunity to have a new leader after the ousting of one that they had overwhelmingly voted for just two years prior; for Tamils in the North-East, the dismal choice of candidates is yet further proof that Colombo is incapable of reform.

Tomorrow Sri Lankan parliamentarians will elect the next President of Sri Lanka following the resignation and departure of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the island.

Ahead of this vote, Tamil Guardian examines the record of the primary candidates for president; Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dullas Alahapperuma, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.