The Sri Lankan army handed out packets of milk to female former fighters, at a military arranged ceremony in Jaffna last week.

The programme was organised by the Sri Lanka Army 7th Battalion (7 SLAWC) and headed by Major Geetha Rankothge Commanding Officer.

A project is underway to create a cultural center for the Tamil community in the city of Toronto, reports Tamilculture.com.

The aim is, “To create a cultural landmark for the Tamil Canadian community and serve as a state-of-the-art community hub for the residents of the City of Toronto,” said organizers.

Victims of the massacre by Sri Lankan police at the 1974 World Tamil Conference, held in Jaffna, were remembered today.

Nine civilians including a teacher, three students and a doctor were killed when police violently attempted to break up a cultural event at the conference.

A memorial service was held at the massacre’s remembrance monument in Jaffna.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party called for the retention of the island’s executive presidency, alongside the continued demerger of the Northern and Eastern provinces and the foremost place on the island to be granted to Buddhism, in a series of decisions regarding constitutional reform, at a meeting of minister last week.

The Sunday Times reported that during the meeting, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva briefed his colleagues on the latest developments regarding the constitution, after which it was decided,

"The unitary status of Sri Lanka should be protected and no changes should be made to that provision."

The Jaffna Library recorded an increased number of new members in 2016.

The public library's head librarian, Mrs S Sathasivamurthy, reported that membership had increased in all areas except in the children's section.

The library has for decades been at the centre of Tamil cultural life, leading to it being set ablaze by state security forces and state-sponsored mobs in 1981. It has often hosted foreign dignitaries visiting the North-East.

Special action will be taken to guard Buddha statues in Trincomalee, the Uthayan reports.

The Eastern Province's governor, Austin Fernando, led a special discussion with Buddhist monks from Trinco's viharas, stressing the need to place special protections on the Buddha statues around the district.

The decision comes after unidenitified persons carried out co-ordinated vandal attacks on Buddha statues in four different spots in Trincomalee.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam wrote another letter to the prime minister, Narendra Modi, seeking the release of ten fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka navy on Monday. 

The renewed call for action comes just days after Sri Lanka agreed to release 51 fishermen who are currently detained. 

Sri Lanka's foreign affairs minister, Mangala Samaraweera left on Monday for the UK to commence a five day official visit. 

This is the first such visit since the current British prime minister, Theresa May was appointed. 

Buddha statues at four locations in Trincomalee were found vandalised on Sunday morning.

The statues at Moraveva Junction, Pulmoddai, the Velgam vihara and Thiriyai junction were smashed and vandalised by unknown persons.

The incidents are being investigated by police.

The founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) called on the Indian government to push for an international war crimes tribunal to be held in Sri Lanka, following Colombo’s repeated refusal to allow in international investigators.

In a statement released this week, Dr S Ramadoss said “with the Sri Lankan government refusing to agree to an international war crimes investigation, there will be no justice to Tamils who suffered under the Sri Lankan government armed forces”.

“All those who committed war crimes on innocent Tamils will go scot-free,” he added. “The Indian government has a responsibility to stop this from happening.”