Image of UNHCR camp by UKAID

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) has announced that it will close its offices in Colombo before the end of this year, leaving hundreds of refugees uncertain over their future.

The UNHCR is the internationally mandated body that is responsible for processing refugees for resettlement to third countries and provides vital support to enable refugees to access basic essentials in their country of asylum.

In a historic court case, the Appeal Court of Sri Lanka issued a notice to the Sri Lankan army to appear before the judge on March 28th for intentionally concealing information on the number and names of the LTTE cadres who surrendered during the final phase of the war. 

The case was prompted by a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by a former journalist in 2019. The Sri Lankan army despite having the information detailing the figures, the names, the gender, and to whom these surrenders were handed over or where they were sent, has maintained silence over the details. Tamil families of the disappeared have repeatedly demanded the release of these details during their years-long protests.

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Batticaloa district organiser Kanapthipillai Gukakumarajah and his son have been released on bail after they were arrested for trying to commemorate Maaveerar Naal. 

Sri Lanka is aiming to negotiate a debt restructuring with holders of its defaulted US dollar bonds within “a couple of months”, the bankrupt south Asian nation’s central bank governor said, despite complaints by private creditors that no "substantive engagements" have occurred and that there is a "lack of transparency" with government creditors.

Five Eelam Tamils including three children from the same family reached Dhanushkodi yesterday, after undertaking a journey by boat from Mannar to seek refuge in Tamil Nadu. 

The family who were sent to Mandapam Camp were originally from Vavuniya and had paid a sum of Rs.150,000 to the owners of the boat and crew so they could be taken to Tamil Nadu.

Tamil fisherfolk in Jaffna have been protesting for three days over alleged attempts by the Department of Fisheries to obstruct the usage of Savalkattu Fisheries harbor, demanding that their incomes and livelihoods have been severely impacted. 

The fishermen who staged a march towards the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat obstructed the entrance of the Secretariat demanding that an immediate solution be provided to them. 

The UK have raised their concerns over the recently gazetted Online Safety Bill's impact on the "freedom of expression" on the island. 

In a written question to the UK government, Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, asked about the potential impact the bill will have on freedom of expression and religion in Sri Lanka, 

Anne-Marie Trevelyan the Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responded:

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Days after Sri Lanka's president Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a statement citing that the island was “gradually” emerging from its worst economic crisis in generations, the cabinet of ministers has decided that the government is in a position to allocate Rs. 10 Billion for presidential and general elections this year. 

Daya Sandagiri, the 14th Naval Commander of Sri Lanka has pledged his support for the Opposition Party Samagi Jana Balawagaya (SJB) headed by Sajith Premadasa today, becoming at least the third senior Sri Lankan military figure to join the party.

The Suwa Seriya 1990 free ambulance service, which has been a lifeline across the island, has been suspended in Mankulam for three months, leaving residents in dire situations during emergencies.