The Sri Lankan navy deployed dozens of troops in response to a protest against a mass land-grab in the Vadduvakal area.

After efforts were stepped up to permanently seize 617 acres of Tamil-owned land for the ‘Gotabhaya Navy Base’, a process initiated with a gazette in 2017 but was stalled due to heavy local opposition and protest, land surveyors arrived in the area at 7am on Thursday morning.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne, defended the controversial Kotelawala National Defence University (“KNDU”) Bill stating it does not hinder the state’s free education. The Bill has drawn widespread condemnation across the island, in particular the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), for reasons including, the proposed militarisation of Sri Lanka’s education and its proposed enactment without extensive national consultation or debate.

Valaichenai District court issued an order on Tuesday to extend the remand of 10 Tamil men and women arrested under the widely condemned Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to August 13, according to JDS Lanka. 

The group was arrested on May 18, for holding a vigil to mark Tamil Genocide Day and commemorate the genocide of Tamils by Sri Lankan security forces at the end of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Academics across Sri Lanka withdrew from their teaching and administrative responsibilities on Wednesday to protest the government bill intended to “militarize” education.

The Federation of University Teachers Association is campaigning against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (or KDU) Bill. Its main claim demands “that the government keep military and civilian education separate.”

“The Bill is not just about the university, it is essentially a model of private education, subsidised by the government and run by the military. It is an assault on the country’s public education system,” said Professor Rambukwella. 

^{Sam Tarry - MP for Ilford South} 

Sam Tarry, Labour MP for Ilford South released a video statement commemorating the 'Black July pogrom', highlighting how the pogrom led to a 'brutal war of oppression' being waged by the Sri Lankan government which led to 'many being murdered' by state forces. 

The shadow minister went on to reflect on the current situation in Sri Lanka and the difficulties Tamil people still face within the island. 

Sri Lanka’s ruling party has blamed the Tamil Tigers for the recent surge in protests and strikes across Sri Lanka despite over a decade passing since the end of the armed conflict.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) general secretary S. Kariyawasam told reporters on Monday, “the same groups who tried to prevent the war victory have come out today to create a wave of protests and strikes in the country.”

Commenting on the unrest in Sri Lanka the Economist has highlighted the wide-reaching discontent with the current government

Basil Rajapaksa, the newly appointed Sri Lankan Minister of Finance and the fourth Rajapaksa brother to enter the Cabinet instructed state officials to refrain from committing corruption and burdening the public despite difficulties amidst the pandemic.

During a meeting with Governors, Provincial Chief and District Secretaries and others, Rajapaksa asked officials to make significant changes to reduce fraud and corruption in all sectors.

The United Kingdom has admitted to failing to carry out an assessment of Sri Lanka’s compliance of human rights in its trade agreements. 

_{Protesters in Mannar}

Tamil protesters across the North-East staged demonstrations demanding justice and the arrest of the perpetrators for sexually abusing a 16-year-old domestic worker that had committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

The 53 Tamil political prisoners massacred in Welikada prison 38 years ago were remembered in Trincomalee yesterday despite a police ban. 

Attendees, including MP for Batticaloa Govindan Karunakaran, defiantly laid flowers for the victims of the massacre, as a Sri Lankan police officer attempted to obstruct the service.