In a press conference held during the ongoing excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave site on September 6th, T. Raviharan voiced his scepticism regarding the credibility of the excavation and exhumation process. He emphasised the need for oversight by international entities, including the United Nations, to ensure that the investigation into the origins of this mass grave follows established protocols.

Earlier this week, Channel 4 aired a documentary in which high placed whistle blowers exposed high Sri Lankan government officials, including the Rajapaksa family, as being the masterminds behind the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. Following the British documentary carried out by Dispatches, Sri Lankan junior defence minister, Pramitha Tennakoon announced that a parliamentary committee would be appointed to investigate the allegations made in the British documentary.

Marc-André Franche, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, conducted a visit to Jaffna, where he engaged with various authorities, civil society organisations, and stakeholders to discuss pressing issues affecting the region.

Eastern University in Vantharumoolai, Batticaloa, marked the 33rd year of disappearance. This solemn event aimed to remember the 158 refugees from the Eastern University who were forcibly disappeared by the military.

The discovery of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave on June 29th by workers from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board while replacing pipes in the area. What followed were a series of developments and delays in the investigation.

Following the incident's report to the police, Mullaitivu Magistrate Court Judge T. Saravanan visited the site on June 30th to assess the situation. Upon his inspection, Judge Saravanan ordered excavations to commence on July 6th.

India will provide 450 million Indian rupees to fund Sri Lanka's digital identity project. 

During a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, key stakeholders, including Presidential Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, Indian High Commissioner, Gopal Bagley, and First Secretary of the Indian High Commission, Eldos Mathew and others engaged in extensive discussions on the project’s execution.

A protest was held yesterday in Iluppaikulam, Trincomalee, condemning the construction of a new Buddhist temple in an area predominantly inhabited by Tamil people. The protestors raised questions regarding the necessity and purpose of building a Buddhist temple in a locality where there are no Sinhalese residents.

Trade unions representing a substantial 23,159 families engaged in the fishing industry in the Jaffna district staged a protest in front of the Jaffna District Secretariat. The fisherfolk, whose livelihoods depend on the sea, demanded immediate action to address pressing concerns related to their industry.

The protestors demands were threefold:

After a series of hearings and deliberations on 31st August 2023, the Mullaitivu Magistrate Court has issued an order for the resumption of the exhumation and excavation of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave on September 5th, 2023. This significant development comes as a response to ongoing efforts to investigate the origins of the mass grave.

In an ongoing legal battle concerning Kurunthurmalai archaeological site, the Mullaitivu Magistrate Court issued a significant judgement on August 31st, 2023. This ruling has highlighted the failure of Archaeological Department officials to adhere to court orders, resulting in the Director General of Archaeology being held in contempt of court.