Sri Lanka has announced that local government polls will be held before the end of February.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP MA Sumanthiran has announced that the party will need to rethink its strategy of engagement with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe unless his government produces “actual progress” before the next discussion on 10 January.

Sri Lanka has agreed to present a report on the steps it has taken to improve its human rights record under the fourth Universal Periodic Review Cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The review is to be held on 1 February. The Sri Lankan government has responded to the review stating:

Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum put out statements and tweets wishing the Tamil-Canadian community for Tamil Heritage month in Canada.

In his statement member of parliament (MP) Ahmed Hussen stated that “January marks the beginning of Tamil Heritage month in Canada, a time to reflect on the rich history, culture, resiliency, and strength of the Tamil communities across the country.”

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan at his residence, where the two discussed the issues faced by Tamils on the island.

Sri Lanka froze the hiring of civil servants and introduced new taxes and higher electricity prices in measures aimed at addressing its current economic crisis. 

Former exiled Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has applied to restore his US citizenship after renouncing this citizenship to be able to contest the 2019 elections, as dual citizens are unable to stand for the presidency.

Colombo High Court have issued a court order summoning former Northern Provincial Councillor M K Shivajilingham for commemorating Lt Col Thileepan. 

Last week, Valvettithurai police went to Shivajilingham's home to serve him the court order which calls Shivajilingham to be at Colombo High Court on January 11. 

Viswalingham Mannivannan resigned as Mayor of Jaffna last week after his 2023 budget for Jaffna Municipal Council was defeated by seven votes.

Mannivannan wrote to the Jaffna Municipal Commissioner and Local Government Commissioner to inform them of his decision to resign.

Former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during a private visit to Sri Lanka, where he reportedly extended his best wishes to the president for the new year.

China’s deputy envoy to Sri Lanka, Hoo Wei, slammed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) claiming that on three occasions they had asked to meet with Tamil Leader R Sampanthan and were refused.

Speaking to Virakesari newspaper, former peace envoy for Norway, and current international climate advisor for Sri Lanka’s president, Erik Solheim asserted that there is no need for “third party mediation” as the issues raised by Tamil can be solved domestically.

Former Northern Provincial Councillor M K Shivajilingham commemorated five Tamil students who were summarily executed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF). 

On this day 17 years ago, five Tamil students were summarily executed by Sri Lanka's Special Task Force, whilst they spent an afternoon on the beach in Trincomalee.

To date no one has been held accountable for the murder.