Speaking at an event to mark Thai Pongal in Toronto last week, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for justice and accountability in Sri Lanka, as dozens of Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum praised the Tamil diaspora’s contributions.

Local villagers in Mullaitivu have documented how a Sinhala Buddhist monk has been leading increasing efforts to construct a large Buddha statute that encroaches on a generations old Hindu temple.

The construction, which is taking place in the Karaiththuraipattu division in Mullaitivu, is reportedly being supported by Sri Lanka’s archaeological department.

Human rights organisations in the Philippines and around the world have denounced Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena’s praise of the Philippine president’s campaign against illegal drugs, which has been internationally condemned for its brutality.

Residents of Paddalipuram, Trincomalee protested on Thursday over the lack of teachers at the village schools. 

The village, which falls under Muttur division, has experienced a shortage of teacher and educational support staff over a number of years, residents said. 
 

<p>A Tamil detainee at Vavuniya prison died at the local hospital yesterday.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kesavan Sasikumar, aged 41, had been receiving treatment for ill health.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was arrested for alleged drugs smuggling.&nbsp;</p>

Despite calls to end their involvement in civilian life in the Tamil homeland, Sri Lankan troops held a Thai Pongal service at Oddusuddan temple on January 15. 

Uniformed personnel from the 59th, 64th and 68th Divisions arranged the event and gave food and snacks to locals. 

<p>Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has arrested the deputy mayor of Akkaraipattu Municipal, Abdul Gaffoor Asmy on January 16.&nbsp;</p> <p>Asmy was reportedly arrested for failing to comply with a TID arrest warrant.&nbsp;</p> <p>Unverified reports suggest the TID was investigating him following an anonymous letter they received linking him to Islamic State and over his failure to repay debts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Mannar court has granted permission for a representative of the families of the disappeared to accompany a team transporting bone samples from the Mannar ‘sathosa’ mass grave for analysis in the USA.</p> <p>Following a petition filed by families of the disappeared, the Mannar magistrates court ruled that a representative of the families should be included in the team.</p> <p>Samples of bones from the mass grave, where over 300 skeletons have been excavated, will be taken to the US for carbon dating next week.</p>

<p>The French government is to meet with Sri Lankan authorities to clamp down on boat migration to Réunion, the Indian Ocean island which forms an overseas department and region of France.</p> <p>In ten months, four boats from Sri Lanka have landed at Réunion carrying a total of 80 migrants. Some have been returned.</p> <p>In the French Senate on Thursday, the senator for Réunion questioned the government on the issue and said, “beyond the human tragedy, the opening of this new migration route to Reunion is causing great concern among the population."</p>

<p>The former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa today assumed duties as a Opposition Leader, despite calls from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to not to allow him to take up the post.</p> <p>Rajapaksa commenced his duties following a religious ceremony with Buddhist monks.&nbsp;</p> <p>The TNA had said the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) “cannot be considered as a party in Opposition since the Leader of the UPFA is the Head of Government and the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers” and wrote to the European Union, the Commonwealth, the UN Secretary-General and the heads of Foreign Missions in Colombo over the issue.</p>