Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka’s chief of defence staff who remains banned from entry to the United States over his role in war crimes, sent his “compliments” to China this week, as he called for the strengthening of relations between the two governments.

The Financial Times looked at how Sri Lanka’s military “has so little to do that soldiers are running hotels and restaurants,” in a piece examining the ever-present militarisation of the island.

The Sri Lankan government may have the backing of just 6 member states at the United Nations Human Rights Council, according to the Daily Mirror, as it continues to grapple against another resolution on accountability for mass atrocities.

The Jaffna Tamil community has played an important role “in every facet of Malaysian society”, said the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, at a book launch in August.

A sports tournament was held in Netherlands last month to commemorate the 35^th anniversary since the death of the LTTE’s Lt. Col. Thileepan.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton, held a series of discussion in Mannar and Vavuniya today, as she embarked on a visit to the North-East.

Meeting with Sri Lankan President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, congratulated the Sri Lankan premier on his appointment and vowed that he would work to strengthen the bond of friendship between the two countries.

 As Tamils across the North-East marked Children's and the Elders' Day, local authorities in Mannar celebrated the life of Manuel Santhan, a resident who recently turned 100 years old.

Senthilkumaran Ratnasingam who self immolated in front of the United Nations in Geneva in 2013 was remembered last month. 

The Mannar Volleyball Premier League was inaugurated this week, marking the first time that it is taking place in the district, with as many as 96 club players and international standard referees taking part.

The league will see eight teams playing matches throughout October, and aims to showcase and uplift the standard of volleyball in the region.

A sports tournament was held in Switzerland to commemorate the life of Colonel Shankar, the pioneer of the LTTE’s air force wing who was assassinated 21 years ago by the Sri Lankan military.

Tamil fishermen in Poonakari carried out their third consecutive day of protest on Monday, as they continued to demonstrate against the construction of a sea cucumber farm which they say will adversely impact on local livelihoods.

In front of the Sri Lankan government’s fisheries and aquatic resources department’s office in Mullaitivu, Tamil fishermen have set up a camp to protest their illegal activities and demand a solution for the hardship they face.

The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay visited the Eastern province this week, where he met with locals and expressed willingness to increase Indian involvement in the region.

Bagal participated in a puja at the Koneswaram Temple in Tricomalee and reportedly “prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the people of [Sri Lanka] and [India]”.