A protest was held outside the Immigration and Emigration Department in Colombo last month, as anti-Indian sentiment flared in the wake of controversy over VFS Global, a private firm tasked with issuing visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport. 

Marking the 15th anniversary of the Tamil genocide, US representatives of Congress have introduced a landmark resolution urging the United States to push for an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and members have issued a statement expressing their concerns over the crackdowns on genocide memorials.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, reaffirmed his party’s support for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) “so at long last there can be accountability for the genocide”.

“Today the Sri Lankan government is as bad as ever,” said Davey, in a video statement released to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.

A member of the opposition party Kabir Hashim, leveled accusations in parliament against the government for intentionally obstructing the process of opening financial bid proposals from companies vying for a contract to construct a 50-megawatt wind power plant. 

According to Hashim, this obstruction was an attempt to conceal the potentially lower electricity prices that could result from an open and competitive bidding process.

The philanthropic arm of telecoms giant Lyca celebrated the Buddhist festival of Vesak in Batticaloa last week, with extremist Buddhist monk Ampitiye Sumanarathana seen distributing ice creams for the charity.

Tamils gathered in front of the illegally constructed Tissa Raja Vihara Buddhist temple in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, demanding the return of land on which the site is encroaching.

Residents were joined by the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) as they demanded the return of the land, which is owned by 14 Tamil families that surround the illegal construction.

Britain’s Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Sri Lanka remains a “human rights priority” for her government, as she responded to a question regarding “reconciliation” on the island.

“We recognise the significant doubts expressed by affected communities regarding the credibility of reconciliation mechanism,” said  Anne-Marie Trevelyan, responding to a written question.

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The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed its “utmost outrage and horror” at the brutal assault of a young man from Medawachchiya last month, after he was forced to have a testicles removed due to assault perpetrated by Sri Lankan officers.

At least two police officers were arrested following the assault, which took place in Medawachchiya, a border town just south of Vavuniya.

Former Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim stirred criticism after he claimed “Northern Sri Lanka is at peace,” after he returned to the Tamil homeland for the first time in 20 years.

“This is first time I am back to Jaffna and Kilinochchi,” tweeted Solhiem. “Northern Sri Lanka is at peace and that is wonderful. Security is good. Noone want to go back to the war days (sic).”

A book chronicling the struggles and unique history of Eelam Tamils was launched in Jaffna last month.

The book, titled “Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils in Sri Lanka", is authored by Selvendra Sabaratnam the former president of the Valvettithura Citizens' Committee. He handed over the first copies of his book to former High Court judge and leader of the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootan (TMTK), C.V. Wigneswaran at the party office last month.