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.

In a recent development, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has released a statement concerning the 13th amendment in Sri Lanka. The JVP has called upon President Ranil Wickremesinghe to clarify his position on the implementation of the 13th amendment.

Tamil families of the disappeared rallied across the North-East today to mark the International Day of the Disappeared and demand to know the fate of their forcibly disappeared loved ones. 

Photo courtesy of @JeeraThambi on Twitter.com

A racist mob has gathered in front of the private residence of Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam for the second consecutive day. The protestors have been openly chanting racist slogans, demanding the arrest of the MP.

Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of China's CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has reaffirmed China's commitment to aiding Sri Lanka in tackling its financial debt challenges and reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.

"Sri Lanka remains a reliable strategic partner," Wang Yi, director of China’s Foreign Office, claimed.

Sri Lankan Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella refused to issue an apology for the government’s internationally condemned policy of forced cremations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

This policy was widely rebuked by international community and health experts which maintained that this was a violation of Muslim and Christian burial rights.

Several villages in Batticaloa have been facing a shortage in drinking water due to the ongoing drought in the region. 

Virakesari reported that over 2,000 families in the Manmunai West division have had to travel long distances to get drinking water. 

Some of the villages affected by the drought include Karavetti, Nediyamady, Thandiyadi, Gandhinagar and Unnichai. 

The drought has also affected agriculture in the area, causing a depletion in crops and livestock productivity.