Sri Lanka’s former Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera reportedly warned the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) “not to test the patience of Buddhists” earlier today, in a chilling address in Sri Lanka’s parliament.

Speaking to ABC Australia, UNICEF spokesman Bismarck Swangin issued an urgent appeal warning that families in Sri Lanka are being pushed to the brink by the current crisis.

Following reports of the Sri Lankan army opening fire on those queuing for petrol, US Ambassador for Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, has urged for an investigation into the excessive use of force tweeting:

As petrol lines & power cuts increase, tensions are naturally rising too. But boiling over will not address SL’s urgent needs. I urge authorities to exercise restraint under these difficult circumstances. Any excessive use of force should be quickly investigated.

On Sunday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, met with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs minister, Professor G.L. Peiris, whilst Tamil families of the disappeared and civil society actors burned effigies of the minister and called on the UN for international justice.

The Prime minister has noted that the food crisis could directly affect four to five million people in the near future.

During a meeting of the Committee on Food Security, Wickremesinghe stated that MP's would be asked to take charge of food security programmes in their respective divisions. The Prime minister also appointed Parliamentarian Nimal Lansa to look into mitigation efforts to address the food crisis and has asked for a plan to be drafted in two weeks. 

After Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department harassed the family of the Tamil National People’s Front’s spokesperson, he posted a public message on social media stating it was “unacceptable” and vowed to continue with his political activism.

“It is in no way acceptable for to go to my home when I am not in the country and threatened and interrogate my family,” posted Kanagaratnam Sugash.

^{File photo: Australian authorities stop a boat of asylum seekers.}

Australia’s newly elected prime minister doubled-down on an asylum policy of not allowing any arrivals by boat to settle in the country, as authorities intercepted a third boat of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka since his election last month.

Sri Lankan security forces arrested at least 21 anti-government protesters today, as officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held key talks with senior government officials in the southern capital Colombo.

Dozens of exacerbated locals staged an impromptu protest in Vavuniya on Sunday, with the Sri Lankan army deployed as tempers flared amidst a worsening fuel shortage and economic crisis on the island.

Amnesty International has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure that human rights are “central to any future economic reform program” negotiated between the organisation and the Sri Lankan government. 

In a letter to the IMF’s representative in Colombo, the rights organisation raised its concerns over the impact financial assistance from the IMF will have on human rights in Sri Lanka.