Sajith Premadasa, leader of Sri Lanka’s largest opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has withdrawn his candidacy in favour of Rajapaksa-ally Dullas Alahapperuma, from the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of President. @sjbsrilanka and our alliance and our opposition partners will work hard towards making @DullasOfficial victorious.

Shritharan Sivagnanam, an MP from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), met with US diplomats and members of the US Congress this week, noting that only an independent referendum would provide a permanent political solution for the Tamil people. 

In discussions with diplomats, Shirthanran stated that the US government should assist in allowing for an independent referendum monitored by the international community to democratically and peacefully determine a political solution.

Ahead of a vote to decide Sri Lanka’s care-taker President, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) have declared their intention to abstain from voting, stating on Twitter:

The TNPF has decided not to participate in the vote for President in Parliament on Wednesday (20th).https://t.co/usUVMgH88s

The Sri Lankan military continues with its militarisation in the North-East by teaching Tamil school children English, claiming it is "grooming" the future of the North-East.

Sri Lanka is in an economic crisis, and the blame is being laid squarely at the door of its president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Last weekend, tens of thousands of protesters tore that door down and stormed his official residence. Since the beginning of this economic crisis, Sri Lankans have been quick to denounce his corruption and amassing of personal wealth. They picked apart his policies ranging from his tax cuts to his pledge to ban chemical fertilizers. Sri Lanka’s protestors, however, have been conspicuously silent about one of the state’s most significant policies that have brought the country to this predicament in the first place - the Sri Lankan military occupation of the Tamil North-East.

Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa regime had the “failings of abusive political leaders around the world” wrote The Observer in its editorial this week, as it highlighted the island’s “long road to recovery”.

Read the full text of the editorial here.

See extracts below.

Sri Lanka’s acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared yet another state of emergency, as lawmakers prepare to vote for a new head of state this week.

For the first time, the secretary general of Sri Lanka’s parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake, read aloud former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation letter in which he claimed that he “took all possible steps” to prevent the crisis and did his “utmost” for the country.

In a video published on YouTube, Sinhala Buddhist monk Kirulapona Dhammawijaya blames the protesters for the downfall of the Rajapaksa, claiming that they have not only destroyed the rule of Sinhala Buddhism in the country.

Singapore authorities have told Sri Lanka’s former President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, that they would not extend his leave beyond the 15 days they had initially granted.

The announcement follows Rajapaksa’s resignation on Thursday whilst in exile. The disgraced former President took flight over the weekend amidst mass protest in Colombo. Without diplomatic immunity, he may face prosecution for numerous crimes, including that of genocide.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry released a statement moments after Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly landed, claiming that Rajapaksa was on a “private visit”.