Addressing the public, Sri Lankan President, and accused war criminal Gotabaya Rajapaksa, criticised the previous administration for spoiling the future of its citizens and threatened the opposition that “we can abolish all the rights of those who are shouting”, reports NewCentre.lk.

The trial has begun of the 25 men accused of planning the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, which killed nearly 270 people and injured about 500 people when churches and luxury hotels were targeted by members of National Thowheed Jamath -(NTJ), a homegrown extremist Islamic group.

The suspects are facing over 23,000 charges in total.

Police Scotland has informed the UK High Commission in Sri Lanka that they will not extend their training contract with Sri Lanka’s police force in March 2022, when it is set to expire, due to ongoing human rights concerns.

Making this announcement Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, told Scottish authorities:

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The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has raised concerns over the continued deterioration of human rights in Sri Lanka which they maintain as one of their priority countries.

Earlier today at least four schoolchildren and two others died after a makeshift ferry capsized in Trincomalee.

Enraged locals attacked the home of a local parliamentarian, furious at construction delays of a new bridge that is supposedly being built in the area which led to the makeshift ferry being used.

These photographs from Kanapathipillai Kumanan capture scenes of the aftermath in Trincomalee.

Senior United States’ government officials continued their meetings with Tamils in Washington this week, with the State Department tweeting “the US joins Sri Lankan Tamil people in search for lasting peace & full voice in deciding their country’s future”.

At least four schoolchildren and two others are amongst the dead after a makeshift ferry capsized in Trincomalee earlier today, sparking anger from local residents in the region who attacked the home of a local parliamentarian. 

Sri Lankan police confirmed that the makeshift ferry in Kinniya was carrying mostly schoolchildren and teachers who were travelling to school, before it capsized around 0730 local time. 

Sri Lankan soldiers in Jaffna continued their intimidation of Tamils ahead of Maaveerar Naal this week, as they photographed and harassed locals before seemingly joining them in cleaning efforts in Koppay this week. 

Despite ongoing criticism of their involvement in civilian affairs in the North-East, the Sri Lankan military responded to flooding in Jaffna, by photographing soldiers giving handouts to Tamil children and women in the region.