Tamils in Mannar sent postcards to the newly elected Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake and prime minister Harini Amarasuriya as part of a campaign to call for an end to sand mining activities and a proposed wind power project. 

 

The Supreme Court has ordered the remand of Immigration Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya pending the resolution of his contempt case. Ilukpitiya faces accusations of failing to adhere to an August 2, 2024 court order that required the restoration of the previous expedited Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.

C. Prem Kumar’s debut feature film entered the pantheon of the greatest romantic dramas produced by the Tamil film industry; 2018’s ‘96’ starring Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha is a delicate film told by a first-time director with an assured and gentle tone.

Former director of Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), retired SSP Shani Abeysekara, has called for the immediate release of two commission reports concerning the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which claimed the lives of over 250 people. Speaking to reporters Abeysekara stressed the need to make the commissions’ findings public so as to further investigations and uncover the truth. He made these statements at the launch of a book written by journalist, Sunanda Deshapriya, which alleges that Sri Lanka’s military intelligence deliberately misled the CID during their investigations and raises serious concerns over the intelligence service’s financial ties with the attackers.

Following a meeting with Sri Lanka's security forces, Sri Lanka's newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification calling on the three divisions of Sri Lanka's armed forces to maintain public order, under Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinace, effective from 27th September 2024. 

The maintenance of public order by the Armed Forces will be for all of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s new president Anura Dissanayake has been in power for less than a week but already has brought about a range of changes. From his appointment of Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister to his rapid stripping down on unnecessary government expenditure and pledge to stamp out corruption, many on the island have been pleasantly surprised by his seemingly progressive early moves. But it has not all been positive for the newly crowned president. For the Tamil people, the few steps he has taken so far have been disappointing.

More than a year after a set of skeletons presumed to be those of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters were unearthed from a mass grave in Kokkuthoduvai, their details are finally to be made public after repeated delays and accusations of a cover-up.

The World Bank has extended its congratulations to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while reaffirming its commitment to support Sri Lanka as the country embarks on resetting its economy. In a letter signed by Martin Raiser, Vice President for the South Asia Region, and Riccardo Puliti, Vice President for Asia and the Pacific at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank reiterated its readiness to assist as Dissanayake leads the nation forward.

Jaffna MP C VWigneswaran has confirmed that he will withdraw from the running in the upcoming General Election, which is to be held on November 14th, stating that the opportunity should be given to Tamil youths to enter parliament instead.

In a statement released to the media, he says that he has decided not to contest so that this space could be given to the youth instead. He said he would continue to stay in Jaffna and engage in political activities in his capacity. 

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'RD' (Restricted Default) and its Long-Term Local-Currency IDR at 'CCC', citing concerns that the recent election of Anura Dissanayake as president, adds "uncertainty to the country’s policy direction".