A group of Sri Lankans are amongst hundreds of migrants being held by Turkish security forces, accused of attempting to cross the border into Europe. 

Anadolu Agency reports that a total of 558 migrants were arrested in total across the country in raids conducted by security forces.

The Sri Lankans were held in Turkey’s western Edirne province.

A protest was staged in Batticaloa last week with locals calling for an ambulance service to be provided to the Mavadivembu Divisional Hospital as healthcare continues to suffer in the region.

A Sri Lankan soldier was killed and another injured after being hit by a lorry in Mullaitivu on Tuesday.

The two military police personnel were hit by a Canter, a small lorry, which swerved into a sentry point on the road from Mullaitivu town to Mulliyavalai. The lorry had swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming motorbike.

The driver of the lorry was arrested by Mulliyavalai police pending further investigation.

Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, released a message of support to the Tamil community this week as many around the world celebrated New Year festivities.

British counter terrorism police have released four men that they arrested at Luton airport last week, under “suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation”.

The men were all described as “Sri Lankan nationals” in a press release from the Metropolitan Police earlier today.

Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum released statements to praise the country’s Tamil community this weekend, as many Tamils around the world celebrated Puthandu.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his statement to mark the occasion,

“As Tamil Canadians celebrate, let us all take time to learn about the rich heritage of their communities and recognize their important contributions to our country. Our diversity is a source of strength, and helps make Canada one of the best places in the world to call home”.

The Sri Lankan army said that soldiers who deserted the military and are accused of “malpractices or criminal acts” may still be able to receive an amnesty, in an announcement made last week.  

“Absentees who have been charged for indiscipline or accused of other malpractices or criminal acts could also receive a discharge in accordance with existing Army legal procedures and regulations,” said the announcement in an appeal to deserters to hand themselves over to the military.

A returned refugee from Tamil Nadu is campaigning to retrieve her land from a Buddhist monastery after she was blocked from accessing it by Sri Lankan army personnel.

The woman, who returned to the island after fleeing to Tamil Nadu in 2006, said that although she was a beneficiary of a house-building programme, she could not rebuild her house as she had returned to find two buildings used as lodgings for Buddhist monks built on it, and that army personnel stationed nearby had blocked her from accessing the land with threats of aggression.

The Mayor of London praised the city’s Tamil community in a message released on Sunday morning, as many celebrated Puthandu.