The slain journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan was remembered in a series of memorial events across the North-East today to mark the 21st anniversary of his death. 

Jaffna Press Club held a memorial service at their office which was attended by Jaffna Mayor V Mannivannan and Vali East Pradeshiya Sabha chairman Nirosh alongside journalists and social activists. 

Protesters gathered in Mannar from smaller villages, on Monday to condemn attempts of “outside forces” to appropriate farm land in Kovilmottai. 

Public Security Minister, Sarath Weerasekera has said that 'human rights charges' levelled against police officers in active duty would be dropped if charge sheets against them are not completed within a six-month time frame.

Speaking at a ceremony in Kandy, launching the community police promotional programme, the minister said that amendments would be introduced to the Establishments Code to "provide relief" to police officers who receive charge sheets for human rights violations in the line of duty. The proposed amendment effectively grants immunity to officers if human rights abuse cases are levelled against and the subsequent investigation does not progress within six months. Sri Lanka's judicial system routinely fails to hold state forces accountable with many investigations being delayed and convicted personnel released. 

The United National Party (UNP) pledged to continue “its rich tradition of obtaining advice from the Buddhist clergy pertaining to party matters and national issues,” in an event to launch an affiliated Buddhist organisation last week.

Fitch Ratings have downgraded Bimputh Finance PLC's National Long Term Rating to 'CC(lka)' from 'B-(lka)', denoting a high risk of default. The rating has also been removed from the Rating Watch Negative (RWN) list. 

"The downgrade reflects Flitch's view that Bimputh's liquidity and refinancing risk has risen significantly driven by a persistent decline in assets quality," said the ratings agency.

Controversial former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Subramanian Swamy concluded a visit to Sri Lanka this week, where he met with the war crimes accused Sri Lankan president and prime minister, as well as delivering an address to a military think tank on the island.

Swamy announced his intention to visit the island earlier this month after meeting with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in India, stating he was hoping to “meet my dear friends the Rajapaksa & family”.

Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused president announced that a new constitution and electoral system for the island “will be delivered within the next year”, in a speech he delivered to the Gajaba Regiment to mark the army’s 72^nd anniversary.

The Sri Lankan army announced the launch of a new “1 Corps” unit that would be based in Kilinochchi this week, as it continue to expand its militarised hold over the Tamil homeland more than 12 years since the end of the armed conflict.

Protests have been initiated across the North-East, the traditional Tamil homeland, drawing attention to the plight of farmers in the island. 

The Sri Lankan government has abruptly halted imports of chemical fertilisers in a drastic attempt to supposedly make a transition towards organic farming. This move deprived the farmers, an overwhelming majority of whom are dependent on chemical fertilisers, of an essential commodity in their agriculture. 

Religious extremists have reportedly forced a Christian woman’s funeral to be held under Hindu rites in Trincomalee, as caste and religious tensions continue in the region.

According to the Barnabas Fund, Grama Niladhari officials in Karukkamunai claimed that a Christian funeral was not permitted in the village cemetery and forced the woman’s daughters to hold the funeral under Hindu customs.

A Barnabas Fund contact added that in some cases “villagers have exhumed the bodies of Christians from temple-controlled burial grounds and discarded them”.