Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dinesh Gunwardena rejected the notion that his government was caught in a Chinese ‘debt trap’ and instead praised Beijing for standing by Colombo “to overcome terrorism”.

“Sri Lanka, as I mentioned, has always respected, trusted, and committed to development with China. China’s help, and assistance have been for our development,” he told Chinese media last month.

Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to the North-East was marked by protests from Tamils who continue to demand justice for enforced disappearances and the release of military occupied land.

A “Sri Ramayana Trail” project was launched in Colombo last month, with the backing of the Indian High Commission and the chief treasurer of the controversial Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The initiative is part of an Indian government backed move to expedite connectivity and bolstering ties between India and Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan government is in the process of establishing a small arms ammunition manufacturing unit within the island, as the state shows no sign of stopping the rampant militarisation that has taken place over years.

Responding to a documentary, by Germany’s DW, detailing human rights abuses committed by UN peacekeeping officers from Bangaldesh and Sri Lanka, United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, noted that he was aware of the abuses and reaffired the UN's commitment to proper vetting.

The human rights crimes committed include allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings.

Tamils across the world marked the 15th anniversary of the massacres at Mullivaikkal last week. Thousands gathered, en masse in public commemorations and in private ceremonies at homes, to pay tribute to those who were killed by the Sri Lankan state. As they did so, they were clear in who they paid tribute to – the victims of a deliberate and systematic genocide.

In a statement released to mark the “15^th year Mullivaikkal Genocide Remembrance Day,” Labour leader Keir Starmer paid tribute to the tens of thousands of Tamils killed in 2009.

“As Tamil communities across our country pause and reflect upon this solemn day, the Labour Party reaffirms our commitment to work towards lasting peace, reconciliation and a long-lasting political solution for the Tamil people,” said Starmer.

The 2024 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by the South Korean May 18 Memorial Foundation has been awarded to Tamil women's rights activist Suganthini Mathiyamuthan Thangaras.

Suganthini, who is with the "Amara" organization , has been fighting for the rights and empowerment of war-affected women in Tamil Eelam against the repression and suffering caused by the Sri Lankan government and its security forces. 

Following the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Human Rights Watch has issued a statement condemning the crackdown on memorials by Sri Lanka's security forces and called international prosecutions and other accountability measures to address tens of thousands of Tamils who were subject to enforced disappearances.