Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Secretary to the Ministry left for India on Tuesday to seek a USD $1 billion credit facility from India, to import food, essential items and medicine.

The trip comes as officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visit the Island to hold talks with the Rajapaksa regime to discuss the current economic crisis. Last week the IMF released a summary of their Article IV consultation which stressed the need for the government to implement a strategy to deal with 'Unsustainable levels' of debt. 

State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya, has said that a prolonged war in Ukraine will have an 'astronomical' on Sri Lanka. 

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka announced that it would allow 'greater flexibility in the exchange rate', allowing the Sri Lankan rupee to be exchanged at 230 per dollar, from its previous fixed rate of 201, effectively weakening the currency. 

Thousands of opposition protesters broke out in Colombo, with demonstrators attempting to storm the President’s Secretariat office, as the country’s economy continues to plummet.

A senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official is set to visit Sri Lanka on Monday and Tuesday to brief President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the country continues to struggle with its economic crisis and refuses to request a bailout from the IMF.

Sahithya Rajith's performance on the Veena

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) marked International Women's Day by hosting a virtual event discussing "gender equality and breaking the bias for a successful tomorrow" and showcasing several talented Canadian Tamil women. 

The Facebook live event included a keynote speech from Canada's Minister of National Defence, honourable Anita Anand, several dance and singing performances, and a guided discussion between four accomplished Tamil Canadian women.

The Sunday Times LK has accused India of “diplomatic blackmail”, following India’s statement at the UN Human Rights Council that Sri Lanka must meet “the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community” and implement “meaningful devolution” through the 13^th Amendment.

A number of restaurants have been forced to shut down in Mannar this week due to Sri Lanka's cooking gas shortage.  

Restaurants and bakeries across the island have taken a massive hit in recent weeks as the economic crisis has left the island struggling to pay for imports including fuel, medicine and food, causing prices to soar. 

Sri Lankan opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa said the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) "cannot be tinkered with" and joined calls for the legislation to be repealed.

In a letter to Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran, Premadasa criticised the legislation and the proposed amendements the government announced earlier this year. 

Tamils held a massive protest in Vavuniya rejecting the 13^th Amendment and demanding recognition of their nationhood, self-determination, and sovereignty.