<p>The human rights situation in Sri Lanka was “mixed” in 2018, a UK government report stated, citing key concerns including increased inter-communal tensions, the slow delivery of key reconciliation commitments, delays in introducing new human rights compliant counter terrorism legislation and a stalled transitional justice process.</p> <p>&nbsp;The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual report, ‘Human Rights and Democracy in 2018’ said that “throughout the year, human rights defenders in the North and East raised increased concerns of surveillance and harassment.”</p>

A roadside Christian shrine in Jaffna was vandalised and its statue smashed by unknown attackers on Sunday night.

The shrine to the Virign Mary in Maniyam Thoddam was one frequently used by local worshippers.

Police said they were investigating the incident.

Sri Lanka on Saturday released 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen following over two months of detention for alleged illegal fishing. 

Sri Lanka's prime minister, Maithripala Sirisena held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin on Saturday, on strengthening bilateral relations. 

Sinhalese people from the South were brought to Mullaitivu in three buses on Sunday to hold another protest against a Tamil temple.

The latest protest outside the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple, due to the removal of a Sinhalese road sign, follows a protest on June 5 calling on the Sri Lankan president to intervene and reprise the temple’s land to the occupying Buddhist monk.

Four Batticaloa residents who took part in a protest against the acquisition of Tamil land for ilmenite mining were arrested on Thursday and released on bail later that day.

Vakarai police said the four had been arrested following complaints from the ilmenite factory’s staff that the protesters had damaged its entrance and had rioted within the premises.

The Sri Lankan army held a Buddhist ceremony in Mullaitivu on Wednesday, where the 68 Division announced it will be constructing its new headquarters as militarisation expands in the Tamil homeland.

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested five men who were deported from Saudi Arabia earlier today on suspicion of terrorism, including a man reported to have been behind the murder of two policemen in Batticaloa last year.

“These are the five remaining leaders of the April 21 terrorist group,” police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told reporters, referring to the Easter Sunday attacks that killed more than 250 people.

Amongst those arrested was a man identified as Hayathu Mohamed Ahmed Milhan, who Sri Lankan police claim was a senior member of the National Thawheedh Jamaath (NTJ), the group behind the Easter Sunday attacks.

The former mayor of Harrow, a London borough which is home to the largest population of Tamils in the UK, has been formally censured after she was found to have brought the council into disrepute by posing for photographs with senior Sri Lankan military officials.

India's National Intelligence Agency yesterday arrested a man over his reported links to one of Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday suicide bombers, Zahran Hashim. 

The suspect, 32-year-old Mohammad Azharuddin was arrested during a raid in Coimbatore. 

"One accused Md. Azharuddin r/o Coimbatore arrested by NIA in connection with ISIS in Tamilnadu.
Earlier, toady morning, NIA had conducted search at his place," the NIA tweeted. 

Hashim, the leader of the now proscribed National Thowheeth Jama'ath and bomber responsible for the attack on the Shangri-La hotel, was supportive of Islamic State (IS)