The Bank of Bangladesh has approved in principle a $200-million currency swap with Sri Lanka, as Sri Lanka continues to struggle with its foreign exchange reserve.

The army has been heavily deployed in Jaffna to surveill the streets as restrictions on travel imposed last Friday came to end in the district today. 

Sri Lankan police have been reported to have barred Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Shanakiyan Rasamanikam, from visiting a Brandix apparel factory in Batticaloa yesterday and threatened to arrest him.

Rasamanikam was reported to be on a fact-finding mission as he was informed that the factor was operating in violation of health guidelines put in place to curb the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. 28 garment employees at the complex have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Basel, Switzerland

Photos from Switzerland by Phoenix TNG.

Following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which killed at least 248 people, including 66 children and injured 1,900, Tamils in Britain, Canada and Switzerland gathered in solidarity with Palestinians.

Tamil parliamentarians signed a letter on Tuesday, urging the United Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to acknowledge the destruction of the Mullivaikkal monument. The letter, which was signed by over 10 cross-party MPs, described the destruction of the monument by the Sri Lankan armed forces as “nothing but shameful”.

The Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) opened fire on four men in a vehicle, for alleged involvement in sand smuggling activities in Kudathanai, Vadamarachchi East.

The incident, which occurred last Friday, led to a suspect from Thunnalai being arrested and three other passengers escaping. Local police are currently looking for the other passengers and have seized their Hunter vehicle they left at the scene of the incident.

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested four Tamil fishermen from Pulmoddai, Trincomalee on Thursday, for allegedly being involved in illegal fishing activities in Mullaitivu.

Tamil journalists travelling to Mullaitivu have repeatedly been harassed, intimidated and blocked at checkpoints by Sri Lankan military officers, despite presenting travel permits.

The Smart Library of the Attorney General’s Department was declared open by Sri Lanka’s Attorney General Dappula de Livera and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong last Wednesday.

The plaque erected at the opening of the library was only in Sinhala, English, and Mandarin, excluding Tamil. This follows the passage of the Colombo Port City bill which has been widely criticised as undermining Sri Lankan sovereignty to serve Chinese interests.

The Tamil politician Peter Ilancheliyan was subjected to harassment and surveillance by the Sri Lankan army as he attempted to mark Tamil Genocide Day on May 18.

Ilancheliyan had earlier paid tribute to the victims of the Mullivaikkal massacres at Nandikadal with fellow politician M K Sivajilingam in the morning.