The livelihoods of Tamil farmers has been affected by severe drought in the district as persistent dry weather has led to few crops. 

The water levels in Mannar district have been depleted due to the lack of rain over the last six months. Small ponds and canals have also completely dried up. 

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have reiterated their refusal to accept the 13th Amendment as a starting point to the Tamil national question in a letter to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

In the letter, signed by TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnamablam and the general secretary Selvarajah Kajendren, they stated that:

Nelson's sudden downfall may have been due to mishandling a Tamil industry heavyweight, Vijay, for ‘Beast,’ leading to a bland action film, where the humour takes a back seat. He decides to double down by signing on an even trickier assignment with Rajinikanth, which has turned out to be an uneven venture. 

Excavations at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave site in Mullaitivu are expected to resume on August 21 after a field visit was conducted today. 

Sri Lanka has proposed the launch of a Climate Justice Forum (CJF) at COP 28 which will be held in the United Arab Emirates, 

Speaking at the Presidential Media Centre Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed stated that Sri Lanka has proposed the establishment of a CJF with the common objective of ensuring greater climate justice and accelerating the financing of losses and damages and providing an alternative and non-traditional approach. Naseer's comments come as the Sri  Lanka state has refused multiple call

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry, decried calls for devolution whilst speaking to journalists in Colombo on Wednesday evening, claiming it would lead to greater politicisation.

Noting concerns over Sri Lanka’s abusive police force, Sabry claimed:

The Tamil National Alliance has released a statement reiterating their commitment to a federal solution and urging the Sri Lankan government to immediately hold provincial elections and provide for meaningful devolutions.

Foreign ambassadors met with Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Colombo today where they were pressed to launch an independent international investigation into the crimes committed during the final stages of the armed conflict and the fate of their loved ones.

Sinhala journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara was detained and arrested whilst covering a union-led protest in Colombo last Friday.

According to AidData, Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka remains a top option for China’s next naval base within the next few years, raising security concerns for the US and India.

Given its “strategic location, the popularity of China among elites and the population, and Sri Lanka’s alignment with China in UNGA voting, Hambantota is our top candidate for a future base” AidData reports.

The report adds:

“China’s single largest port investment anywhere is at Hambantota, and Beijing exercises direct control over the facility,”