58,000 Sri Lankan refugees are still living in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, India. An additional 34,000 live outside of them. Most of the camps were built in 1990 and are falling apart. Last month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin ordered officials to identify the refugees’ needs and there will now be an overhaul of them. They have identified water supply, housing, roads, and sanitation areas.

Along with refugees who still haven’t returned home, Sri Lanka has many disappearances. They have the second highest cases in the world. In the past 40 years, between 60,000 to 100,000 people have disappeared. Those of all religious and ethnic identities have been tortured, abducted, and killed by forces working for the government. Current government officials such as Parliament Leader Dinesh Gunawardena have denied the disappearances and said those people have probably just secretly moved to other countries.

Covid death tolls continue to rise as the country reached its highest death toll of 198 last Friday, August 20. As a result, a company is now making cardboard box coffins, which can hold up to 220 lbs and take 30 minutes to assemble. They also cost $22. A cheap wooden coffin is around six times more than the cardboard ones.

As previously reported, a new burial site has been chosen because Oddamavadi’s capacity of 300 had already reached its limit. Irakkamam to the east will be able to hold 2,400 of those who died to Covid-19.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an advisory board for the Prevention of Terrorism Act which would suggest recommendations and rulings for detainees. Containing three members, it would be led by retired Chief Justice Asoka De Silva. Retired High Court Justice AAR Heiyanthuduwa and former Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath are also on the board. The purpose of the board would be to help provide legal action, work with releasing detainees, granting bail, and other duties. Having an advisory board would speed up court cases, Presidential Secretariat, Harigupta Rohanadeera said.

As the Sri Lankan government works on PTA reforms as opposed to repeals, Hejaaz Hizbullah has spent his second birthday detained. He celebrated his 41st birthday behind bars, which was his 500th day imprisoned.