Since his start in the Telugu film industry and Tamil debut with 2011’s ‘Siruthai’ starring Karthi, Siva has unabashedly aimed to provide nothing but mindless entertainment for his audience. If you are looking for leave-your-brain-at-home, escapist cinema, Siva will provide by the bucket.

 

 

 

Polls have closed across the island with a voter turnout lower than expected in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections. Initial figures suggest lower participation in polls today compared to September’s presidential polls. There are 17.1 million eligible voters, including 1 million first-time voters, who will elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. In the Tamil North-East, more than 2,000 candidates are standing for the 28 seats on offer.

The polls closed in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections on Thursday, with a 65% turnout across the island and an even higher turnout in many regions across the North East. 

Millions of voters across the island are heading to the polls today, as Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls get underway.

There are 17.1 million eligible voters, including 1 million first-time voters, who will elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term.

Why the election?

The Indian Navy submarine INS Vela completed a three-day visit to Sri Lanka this week, in a move that seems aimed at building closer ties between the two militaries.

Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and Republican politician of Tamil Brahmin heritage, has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to co-head a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

^{Photograph: Gage Skidmore}

The United States has sanctioned India-based Shaurya Aeronautics Private Limited (Shaurya), part of a consortium with Russia’s Airports of Regions Management Company to oversee Sri Lanka’s Mattala Rajapaksa Airport.

 In a move that has raised concerns over government scrutiny of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has signed an agreement to expand the exchange of information on investigations and prosecutions involving money laundering, terrorist financing, and related activities connected to NGOs.

Hundreds of fishermen from Tamil Nadu staged a roadblock on the Pamban bridge in Rameshwaram, demanding the immediate release of 23 local fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. This protest, amidst growing tensions, was coupled with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s written request to the Indian central government to intervene and curb the recurring arrests of Tamil fishermen.