^{Naravane with Shavendra Silva}

A Sri Lankan court has once more extended the remand of 10 Tamil men and women arrested under the widely condemned Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), for a memorial ceremony they held on May 18 to commemorate the thousands of Tamils killed by Sri Lankan security forces.

Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be travelling to the United Kingdom for the first time since taking office to attend the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26 in Glasgow next month, with protests expected to greet his arrival.

Foreign affairs minister G L Peiris told the Daily Mirror that Rajapaksa would be attending COP26 “at the invitation of the British Prime Minister”.

This would be Rajapaksa’s first high profile public visit to the United Kingdom, with British Tamils across the country already planning demonstrations and protests.

Amidst a state of economic crisis, Sri Lanka has joined countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Kenya in refusing to sign the US-backed global minimum tax.

British Tamils from across the country have paid tribute to Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, who was stabbed to death whilst meeting with his constituents at a church in Leigh-on-Sea. 

In response to his tragic death, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed the country's sorrowing stating  "our hearts are full of shock and sadness" at the loss of "one of the kindest" people in politics. He further added that Amess had an "outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable".

A Sinhala mob reportedly attacked Tamil families in Watapothu in Sabaragamuwa last night, leaving at least four Tamils injured. 

A garage owned by a Tamil youth was the reported target of the mob of Sinhala youth, after an alleged argument had occurred between the owner and the group earlier during the day.

Sri Lankan authorities have reportedly dropped all charges against former navy commander Wasantha Karannagoda, a man who was wanted over the abduction and possible murder of 11 youth, in a case that drew worldwide scrutiny.

^{File Photo.}

Three fishermen from Point Pedro, Jaffna were injured in a clash with Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu after an alleged cutting of fishing nets.

As tensions either side of the Palk Strait continue to escalate between fishermen in Tamil Nadu and the North-East, Tamil fishermen in Jaffna have written to the Indian Consulate, calling on authorities to ensure the situation is resolved.

Thurairasa Ravikaran, a former member of the Northern Provincial Council, expressed his frustration over the perceived inaction of the Sri Lankan Fisheries Ministry and the Sri Lankan navy regarding the reported incidents of incursions into Mullaitivu waters by Tamil Nadu fishermen. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted her office’s work on transitional justice and enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka as part of an update delivered to the UN General Assembly earlier this week.

Locals in Jaffna have apprehended two Sri Lankan soldiers who were reported to have been driving their vehicle suspiciously in the Araly area on Saturday.

When approached by locals, the men identified themselves as soldiers, but they remained wary, and the suspects were handed over to police. The suspects were released on bail after police confirmed they were off duty soldiers on holiday.

The Sri Lankan army has allegedly ordered a probe into the incident.

A Sri Lankan police officer entered a Hindu temple in Jaffna with his shoes on earlier today, sparking widespread condemnation as the officer broke centuries of temple rules and tradition.

The officer, who was photographed with his shoes on at the Selva Sannidhi Murugan Temple in Thondaimanaru, is reportedly a senior superintendent of the Sri Lankan police in charge of the Kankesanthurai area.