The latest official figures from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Sri Lanka reveal that authorities have failed to provide drinking water to the country’s worst drought-hit northern region – in particular Jaffna and Mannar – for over three months, according to JDS Lanka. 

The report states the total number the number affected by the dry weather in the North is 115,542 as of 28 July 2020 and emphasises “it is nearly half the drought affected in the whole island.” The report also highlights the districts of Jaffna and Mannar as among the worst-affected and Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya also among the drought-hit areas.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in its manifesto has again promised to spend the next parliamentary term demanding a federal political solution for the Tamil people and a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces. Touching on key Tamil issues such as militarisation, land return, political prisoners and accountability, the TNA also warned that international pressure was needed now more than ever.

The militarisation of the Tamil homeland continues as an army farm was set up last week in Vavuniya - part of the a project led by the war crimes-accused Sri Lankan army commander, Shavendra Silva. The farm in Andiyapuliyankulam in the Cheddikulam division is expected to cultivate coconuts, mangoes, and other crops, and is anticipated to increase in cultivation size to 1000 acres. According to the Sri Lankan army’s official website, the crops will be produced on ‘state-owned land’.

The Sri Lankan election commission has confirmed that all election laws will come into effect at midnight on Sunday 2^nd August (48 hours before the elections); after which all campaign actions for the 2020 parliamentary elections must come to an end.

Activities such as canvassing, visiting houses, giving out leaflets and displaying posters will be prohibited, from then on.

Priya Murugappan, a Tamil asylum seeker detained by the Australian government who was urgently evacuated to Perth for urgent medical treatment, was unexpectedly transferred back to Christmas Island without any prior notice on Wednesday.

Mrs Murugappam had called the Tamil Refugee Council on Wednesday in distress when border force guards suddenly arrived to take her to the airport.

Kamal Gunaratne, an accused war criminal and Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary stated that new ‘vigilant committees’ are to be formed in schools as a step to fight Sri Lanka’s drug menace.

Earlier this year a Presidential Task Force (PTF) was set-up allowing Sri Lankan officials increased authority to undertake the alleged threat of drugs without little scrutiny. 

The families of the disappeared staged a demonstration in Vavuniya urging for “international justice for their loved ones” and insisted they would only help elect politicians that will “solve all Tamil problems” in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Journalists, colleagues and family of a budding Tamil journalist who was murdered 13 years ago held a memorial event in Jaffna today, as they continued their struggle for justice over his killing.

Sahathevan Nilakshan, an up and coming journalist was shot and killed by suspected Sri Lankan military intelligence personnel on August 1st, 2007.

At a time when the Jaffna district was on lockdown due to a military-imposed curfew, and the city’s streets were heaving with troops, so-called unidentified gunmen were able to approach Nilakshan’s home in Kokkuvil, a busy suburb less than 5km away from town.

The perpetrators forced a friend of the journalist to accompany them to Nilakshan’s home and call him outside, before gunning him down.

A paramilitary leader who is accused of rights abuses and is a staunch backer of the Rajapaksa regime has reportedly been “assured a ministerial post,” if he wins a seat in next week’s parliamentary elections.

The Students’ Union of Jaffna University called on the Tamil people to continue the struggle for self-determination through political means ahead of the upcoming Sri Lankan parliamentary election. 

Speaking in Kandy, Sri Lankan President and leader of the SLPP, Mahinda Rajapaksa, attacked the 19^th amendment of the constitution claiming it violated the rights of people and was introduced with the aim of “taking revenge from the Rajapaksas”.

Lord Naseby, a controversial British politician who has been persistently criticised for his partiality for Sri Lanka has once again emerged to condemn the political aspirations of the Tamil people by denouncing efforts of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) to remove the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Eleven international human rights organisations have cautioned the Sri Lankan government in a statement demanding that they end targeted detention and the intimidations of lawyers, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists in Sri Lanka.

According to the joint statement, signed by organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists, and CIVICUS;

Unknown attackers have smashed the door of the inner sanctuary of Kusalaanamalai Saiva Kumaran temple and destroyed the main deity statue, as vandalism attacks on places of worship have increased across the North-East in recent weeks.