A Tamil political prisoner who has been imprisoned for over 26 years was allowed to briefly attend the funeral of his mother who had passed away after campaigning tirelessly for his release, before being escorted back into Sri Lankan detention.

Vigneswaranathan Parthiban was arrested aged just 19 years old, over his alleged involvement in the 1996 Central Bank Bombing. He has spent more time in prison than outside it.

Mallavi police summoned Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan who was assaulted earlier this week for an inquiry but failed to arrest the assailant. 

On Friday, Thavaseelan went to Mallavi petrol station in Mullaitivu to report on the long fuel queues that had built up outside the petrol station where he was attacked by an unidentified man while Sri Lankan police officers reportedly looked on. 

Families of the disappeared, civil society members and local Tamils held a protest in Jaffna on Sunday, decrying Sri Lankan foreign minister G L Peiris' remarks at the United Nations Human Rights Council and calling on the United Nations to not dismiss calls for international justice, as Sri Lanka deals with a worsening economic crisis. 

As Tamils who were injured after Sri Lankan soldiers fired shots in Mullaitivu last night continue to receive treatment, the army has claimed that a “drunk” mob was responsible for the “melee” and shrugged off responsibility for the violence.

Tamil journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan was attacked by an unidentified man at Mallavi petrol station while reporting on a story on the fuel shortage on the island. 

Thavaseelan went to Mallavi petrol station in Mullaitivu on Friday, to report on the long queues that had built up outside the petrol station but was attacked by an unidentified man while Sri Lankan police officers reportedly looked on. Thavaseelan has filed a complaint at Mallavi police station. 

Sri Lankan soldiers have reportedly opened fire at a petrol station in Mullaitivu.

At least two Tamils are reported to have been injured at Visvamadu petrol station, after shots were fired.

As schools continue to be a focus of militarisation for the Sri Lankan state, the army further entrenched its occupation of the Tamil-inhabited North-East under the guise of a badminton training programme for young Tamil students. 

The badminton training programme was to “popularize the game of badminton among the youth in the Jaffna peninsula.” 

Sri Lanka is left with fuel stocks for five days, as the country urgently awaits a new credit line from India for fuel. 

Sri Lanka is unable to make $725 million in overdue payments to suppliers and also struggling to open letters of credit for future shipments, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. The minister then went on to note that the country only has five days worth of petrol and diesel in stock and that supplies could run out faster if non-essential travel was not cut back on. 

The Sri Lankan army announced it was undertaking a “gigantic project of national and timely importance” by sending in soldiers to farm fruit and vegetables across the island, as a food crisis hits.

The military, which admits to already running at least 16 farms, will now take on an even greater role in the agricultural sector, said the army.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a two-week shutdown, encouraging all public sector employees to work from home, as a fuel shortage amidst the island’s economic crisis has brought many forms of transport to a grinding halt.

A circular from the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry announced directive for all but the most essential workers.