Sri Lankan Justice Minister, Ali Sabry, has denied that there was a "racial motive" incident in Anuradhapura prison in which State Minister Lohan Ratwatte forced Tamil inmates to kneel before him at gunpoint.

Sabry maintained that he would appoint a committee to investigate the matter but so far the only consequence the Minister has faced is to resigned from his post as State Minister for Prison Management and Prisoners Rehabilitation. Despite this Ratwatte has been able to maintain different cabinet portfolio.

The Jaffna Magistrate Court issued a ban earlier today commemorating the 34th anniversary of Lt. Col. Thileepan’s hunger strike unto death.

Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Selvarasa Kajendren has been released on bail after he was arrested earlier today for paying his respects to Lt Col Thileepan, who sacrificed his life in protest against the failure of the Indian government to honour the pledges made to the Tamil people. 

Speaking at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa claimed a willingness to work with "all domestic stakeholders" but maintained that domestic institutions were "essential to achieve lasting peace".

"Fostering greater accountability, restorative justice, and meaningful reconciliation through domestic institutions is essential to achieve lasting peace" Gotabaya stated.

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the Nagarkovil massacre, where the Sri Lankan air force bombed a school in Jaffna killing dozens of Tamil school children.

On September 22, 1995, a SLAF aircraft bombed the Nagarkovil Maha Vidyalayam schoolyard crammed with 750 children on their lunch break, killing more than 30 – of whom 12 were six or seven-year-olds – and injuring 150 others. The overall death toll from the raids reached 71. The bombing occurred just hours after the Sri Lankan government imposed press censor­ship on the reporting of military events.

Leader of the Liberal Democratic party, Ed Davy, has called on the British Foreign Office to impose sanctions on Sri Lankan army commander, and alleged war criminal, Shavendra Silva.

“Now is the time for the government to prove its commitment to deliver justice for the victims of genocide in Sri Lanka” Davies said.

Sri Lankan polices officers attached to the Kodikamam police station in Jaffna have allegedly recovered claymore explosives that they claim to be "produced by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)" in a forested area in Varani.

Selvarasa Kajendran, an MP from the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), visited the Anuradhapura prison to meet the Tamil prisoners detained in it. Speaking to the press, he said that they are “suffering great mental distress” following the episode with former Prisons Minister Lohan Ratwatte who threatened to kill them and forced them to kneel.

Kajendran went to see the prisoners at the urging of their relatives who were worried about their family members’ plight during detention. 

_{Image Credit: HometoBilo}

The Tamil refugee family of four have been denied the ability to return to Biloela despite being granted a bridging visa as Australia's Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, has refused to grant a visa to the youngest child, Tharnicaa.

“The decision to reopen liquor shops has been taken without the consultation of the Health Ministry,” said Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath addressing the media, earlier today. 

He told journalists, “there is neither a logic nor a basis to the decision under the prevailing circumstances of the pandemic” adding, “a decision of this nature could drag the prevailing COVID situation to a dreadful level.”