Responding to a question posed on the current political and security situation in Sri Lanka, Britain’s Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations, and the Commonwealth, stressed that “fundamental rights including the right to peaceful protest, must be protected”.

From May 22 until May 27 in 1958, Sinhala mobs began to attack, rape and murder Tamils across the island, in what was to become another in a series of deadly anti-Tamil pogroms.

Estimates range from between 300 and 1,500 Tamils murdered in the days of violence which resulted in many more injured and the arson, looting and destruction of Tamil homes and businesses.

The Sri Lankan military continued its militarisation of Tamil schoolchildren in the North-East with at least two further public events this last week.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Tamil culture and language in a speech delivered in Chennai today, as he also spoke on how his government was assisting Sri Lanka.

"It is always special to come to the state of Tamil Nadu,” he began his address at the Nehru stadium in Chennai. “The land is a special one. The people, culture, language are all so good."

^{R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo (Harshadewa Ariyasinghe)}

Despite repeated long-lasting power cuts across the island, Sri Lanka has reportedly confirmed that a series of floodlit day/night cricket matches with the Australian team will still be going ahead.

The Sri Lankan navy reportedly detained 67 people who had attempted to flee the island by boat in Trincomalee on Monday.

Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused army chief Shavendra Silva claimed that the participation of troops in United Nations peacekeeping missions was “an endorsement of the acceptance of your professional capabilities,” as he saluted off another contingent of soldiers to Mali this week.  

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would look to strip government expenditure down to its “bare bones” this week, but did not comment on Colombo’s massive military budget which continues to dominate spending.

Australia’s cricket players have reportedly raised ethical concerns over a scheduled tour of Sri Lanka, with an economic crisis and political turmoil still raging on the island.

The Chief of Staff for Sri Lanka’s army, Vikum Liyanage, is set to replace the current war crimes accused Commander of Sri Lanka’s army, Shavendra Silva, who will take on the post of Chief of Defence Staff.

Liyanage, of the notorious Gajaba Regiment, had previously served as Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

In an interview with Sky News, Ranil Wickremesinghe joked that tourists can come to Sri Lanka for an “exciting time” can join the anti-government demonstrations.

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund has blamed “mismanagement” in Sri Lanka for the ongoing economic crisis, which has seen the prices of basic goods soar and a shortage of essential medicines.

Immediately following the week of Mullivaikkal commemorations, the Sri Lankan Navy continued its occupation of the Tamil-inhabited North-East under the guise of a mangrove planting drive.