The discovery of a hand grenade in a drain in Kokkuvil, Jaffna on May 4 caused an altercation between army personnel. Tamil youths that had captured photographs of the removal, replacement and retrieval of the grenade were interrogated by officers of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), who then erased all evidence from their phones. 

After noticing an unexploded grenade in the drainage, locals informed officers at Jaffna police station.

US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien had a telephone call with Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week, where he “reaffirmed the long history of U.S.-Sri Lankan friendship and cooperation”.

A tweet from the US National Security Council  O’Brien also conveyed President Trump’s offer, on behalf of the American people, to provide needed ventilators to Sri Lanka.

“The strong bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Sri Lanka is an important part of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” it added.

The New Indian High Commissioner, Gopal Baglay, arrived in Sri Lanka today with 12.5 tonne gift consignment of medicine and medical equipment.

<p>Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has released 286 male prisoners and four female prisoners under a presidential pardon during the Vesak festival, which commemorates the death of the Buddha.</p> <p>Those released were arrested on minor charges and included those over 65 years old. They remained imprisoned due to an inability to pay their fines. The prisoners released were from 30 prisons across Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the borrowing of 15 billion Rs. from China’s Development Bank for the development of 105 kilometres of road.</p> <p>Ramesh Pathirana, a spokesman for cabinet, told reporters that the loan would be used to develop ten separate roads in different parts of the country.</p> <p>The Daily Mirror reports that the roads which are to be developed are the Akuressa-Kamburupitiya road; Beliatta-Kirinde stretch of road; Tangalle-Weeraketiya road; Wallasmulla-Weeraketiya road; Kotuwana-Uru Bokka road; and, Parandeniya-Hakmana road.</p>

An online petition is calling for the unconditional release of Ramzy Razeek and other activists who have been critical of the Sri Lanka's authorities. 

Infographic by Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice 

Ramzy Razeek, an online activist, who regularly writes about social and political issues was arrested over a month ago and remains in detention without any formal charges being brought against him. 

The children of slain Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam ‘Taraki’ Sivaram paid tribute to their father on the 15^th anniversary of his assassination, with a piece highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the Tamil people.

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of our father’s death and to this day, no one has been convicted for his murder,” wrote Vaishnavi Sivaram, Vaitheki Sivaram and Andrew Seralaathan Dharmaretnam on JDS Lanka.

<p>The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its deep concern over the increased targeting of Muslims in Sri Lanka during the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>In a statement, the OIC “expressed its deep concern over reports on escalating hate speech and hostility towards Muslims in Sri Lanka, the promotion of biased and rejected allegations holding members of the Muslim community responsible for the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country as well as reports that authorities cremated bodies of the Muslim victims of the pandemic and arrested community members who rejected these practices.”</p>

On this day 11 years ago, Stephen Sunthararaj, an activist who had exposed the trafficking of Tamil children into international prostitution rings, was abducted and forcibly disappeared in Colombo by armed men in military uniforms.

As part of his work he had told the then United States Ambassador in Colombo about prostitution rings run by government aligned paramilitaries in Jaffna. The paramilitaries were trafficking children into sex rings in India and Malaysia with the help of immigration officials.

<p>Sri Lanka has called upon state sector employees to donate their wages from May to reduce the government’s budget deficit.</p> <p>In a letter addressed to all state bodies, P.B. Jayasundara, the President’s Secretary, stated:</p> <p>“The government requires at least Rs 100 billion to pay the salaries and allowances of state servants”</p> <p>“For some donating their entire salary would be difficult. Therefore, I believe, that at least half, a week’s salary or a day’s pay can be contributed,”</p> <p>“It will also relieve the pressure faced by the country’s debt management process.”</p>