_{File photo: R. Thurairatnam - Tharakai/Wordpress}

^{_{Photo reproduced from Tamilwin - Families of the Disappeared protest in Vavuniya}}

The families of the disappeared staged protests in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi last week, seeking justice from the international community.  

<p>President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's blanket ban on the import of spices, intended to strengthen Sri Lanka's economy, has led to a growing black market.&nbsp;</p>

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, met with senior members of the Sinhala Buddhist clergy last week, as he discussed the implementation of a USD $15 million grant for the “promotion of Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka”.

During a virtual webinar, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary, and accused war criminal, Jayanth Colombage expressed concern over the US-backed Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Alliance (QUAD), asking:

“Do we really need a QUAD? Will QUAD not give rise – not to a cold war – but at least a cool war in the Indian ocean?”

^{Fishermen in Batticaloa (Anton Croos)}

Sri Lankan police made several arrests across the East in the past week, with illegal weapons allegedly recovered across the province.

In Amparai district, seven people were arrested last week, allegedly in possession of eight firearms during a police raid in Thirukkovil.

An individual was also arrested in connection with locally-made firearms and ammunition found in Thirukkovil as well as in Hikkaduwa in the South-West.

Sri Lankan police warned Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) members and activists that they will be "taken away" if they commemorate Brigadier S P Thamilselvan today. 

 

Coastal flooding has severely disrupted the lives and livelihoods of villages on the north-western coast of Kilinochchi district, and some parts of Jaffna.

“Around 25 boats have come ashore and have been wrecked by the flood on Thursday” confirmed a fisherman from the village of Pallikuda, just south of Poonakary.

The fishermen said that their fishing nets, crucial to their livelihood were also damaged.

Today marks thirteen years since S. P. Thamilselvan, the head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was assassinated by the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF).

On November 2, 2007 Sri Lankan air force jets carried out a strike on a residence of members of the LTTE's political division. Five other LTTE officials - Lt. Col. Anpumani (Alex), Major Mikuthan, Major Nethaaji, Lt. Aadchiveal and Lt. Maavaikkumaran - were killed alongside Brigadier Thamilselvan, in the attack.

The assassination came as the Sri Lankan government ramped up its military offensive in the Tamil homeland. 

Former Air Force commander, and accused war criminal, Sumangala Dias has been appointed to become Sri Lanka’s high commissioner to Canada.

Dias’s appointment follows a worrying trending of appointing former military officials, accused of human rights violations, to senior diplomatic positions.

_{Ambassador Qi Zhenhong}

New Chinese ambassador, Qi Zhenhong, for Sri Lanka arrives in Colombo on 30 October 2020, and will take office after 2 weeks of quarantine. Ambassador Qi is a senior diplomat and former President of China Institute of International Studies.

 

The locals of Neduntheevu, Jaffna have complained about the heightened illegal occupation efforts by Buddhist monks and the archaeology department - in particular the encroachment of the Vedi Arasan fortress in the Neduntheevu area.

The Buddhist monks claimed the Vedi Arasan fortress belonging historically to a Tamil Buddhist King and then went on to assess the archaeological details of the area with the archaeology department