Speaking to the Tamil Guardian in New York last week, Tamil civil society leader and human rights activist, Velan Swamigal reiterated his call to the international community and India to support a referendum in Tamil Eelam, so that Tamils on the island could determine their own political future.

As his first official visit as Sri Lanka’s Acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe visited an army hospital in Narahenpita, Colombo where he met with two dozen soldiers injured during the protests in the city’s capital.

<p>Tamil participation in the Sri Lankan anti-government protests, known in Sinhalese as the 'Aragalaya', has been low as the movement has failed to take up their demands and is still dominated by Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism, Tamil Solidarity has said.</p> <p>The UK-based left-wing group has put forward the following demands to the movement:</p> <ul> <li>Rajapaksa’s family committed heinous crimes against all communities. They are also responsible for war crimes committed against the Tamils. This family and their allies in the military high command who stand accused of war crimes should be brought to justice.</li>

A formerly staunch Rajapaksa ally, Dullas Alahapperuma has declared his intention to run for president of Sri Lanka as Sinhala politicians have begun announcing their bids following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

We take a look at Dullas Alahapperuma’s record.

Whilst firecrackers were let off in Colombo to celebrate Rajapaksa’s resignation, he must not, however, be allowed to leave office without facing any consequences. The former defence secretary should be taken and tried at The Hague over his command responsibility for war crimes and genocide.

In a statement released to mark the resignation of Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party praised him for “ending terrorism” and blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for the current economic crisis.

In his role as defence secretary, Rajpaaksa oversaw the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils in what is becoming increasingly recognised as a genocide. However, the statement released in Sinhala only earlier today said the accused war criminal had “played a crucial role in bringing peace to the motherland by ending the terrible terrorism of thirty years”.

“We salute you for your service as a war hero,” it added.

Lawyers for former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa informed the Sri Lankan Supreme Court that they will not flee the island until the Fundamental Rights petition filed against them has been heard.

A petition has been filed seeking an order restraining several figures from the Rajapaksa regime from fleeing the island. Among those listed are Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, former Central Bank governers Ajith Nivard Cabral and W D Lakshman, and former secretary SR Attygalle.

As the credibly accused war criminal Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted his letter of resignation as President, the announcement triggered jubilation in Colombo, as protestors gathered outside the presidential secretariat, defying a city-wide curfew to celebrate. 

Crowds of protestors in the south set off firecrackers, shouted slogans and danced at the Gota Go Gama protest site, named in mockery of Rajapaksa's first name. 

Amidst the chaos in Colombo, Sri Lankan war criminal and army commander Sarath Fonseka has claimed he is ready to become President if supported by the majority and may be supported by the formerly Rajapaksa-aligned Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

The Mullaitivu court has ordered the removal of all new constructions, including an illegally built Buddhist shrine, on Kurunthurmalai, a hill-top site of an ancient Tamil temple in the district’s Thannimurippu area.

Despite an ongoing court injunction against altering the hill, Sinhala Buddhist monks with the support of the Sri Lankan military and archaeology department carried out the construction of a Buddhist shrine on the temple’s land. During the construction, Tamils were also barred from accessing the Athi Aiyanar temple for worship.