Tamils in Nochikulam launched a protest on Tuesday after a farmer survived being shot at, in what locals describe as the latest in repeated incidents of targeted gun violence.

Residents of Nochikulam blocked the Mannar-Medawachchiya main road, along Uyilankulam – Nochikulam.

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The Sri Lankan army has granted conditional access to seven temples out of 21 located within the high-security zone in Jaffna, mandating worshippers must use army transportation and provide their home address to reach the temples. 

TNA MP Nirmalanthan has opposed plans by the Sri Lanka Intelligence Service to build an office in Vavuniya.

It has come to light during the Vavuniya district coordination committee meeting that the Sri Lanka Intelligence Services (SIS) has sought land to establish an office along the parkway in Vavuniya, which the governor recommended. 

Tamil families of the disappeared in Kilinochchi are marking seven years of continuous roadside protests, as they demand to know the whereabouts of their forcibly disappeared family members.

 Tamil Nadu fishermen from the village of Rameswaram have launched landmark mass protest against the continued detention of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and have declared their intention to boycott the religious St Anthony’s festival.

A damning report released by the UN refugee agency has called for an “immediate relocation” of the 61 asylum seekers who have been stranded on the remote island for more than two years and have experienced violence, abuse and arbitrary detention.

Protests have been held in Thailaimannar in front of the Mannar Magistrate Court by residents calling for justice to be swiftly delivered in the case of 10-year-old Yasi Warnakulasuriya who was raped and murdered, 300 meters away from her home in Urmanani. 

Residents in Puthukudiyiruppu (PTK) protested over the alleged diversion of  Rs.1.7 million allocated for the development of Sunnampusulai Road which requires urgent repairs. 

Yesterday, the residents marched towards the PTK West Office Division demanding that the funds be routed back to the development of the road, adding that the decision to re allocate the funds was not done without their consent. 

File photograph - Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya call on the EU to engage with the Tamil community

Sri Lanka will continue to benefit from the GSP+ Scheme until December 2027 although it continues to use the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). 

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Galagodaaththe Gnanasara apologised “‘if he had caused distress,” according to a report in Ceylon Today, as the extremist monk was dragged to court over remarks he made in 8 years ago.