For the third day, Tamils across the homeland called upon Tamil politicians to push for the reunification of the North and East as a separate provincial unit.

Popular Sri Lankan YouTuber and social activist, Sepal Amarasinghe, has been arrested in Boralesgamuwa by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) following allegedly defamatory remarks he made towards the Buddhist Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (‘Dalada Maligawa’) in Kandy.

In his video, the YouTuber reportedly caused offence through his description of the Sacred Tooth Relic as a ‘labba’, which is often used in Sinhala as a euphemism for male genitalia.

Leader of the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam Siddarthan, has claimed that Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered for the immediate halting of land grabs in the North and East.

The reported order follows meetings between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sri Lanka’s president, during which the TNA pushed for the release of Tamil land seized by the Sri Lankan government and military and for the release of Tamil political prisoners.

Sri Lanka has announced that local government polls will be held before the end of February.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP MA Sumanthiran has announced that the party will need to rethink its strategy of engagement with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe unless his government produces “actual progress” before the next discussion on 10 January.

Sri Lanka has agreed to present a report on the steps it has taken to improve its human rights record under the fourth Universal Periodic Review Cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The review is to be held on 1 February. The Sri Lankan government has responded to the review stating:

Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum put out statements and tweets wishing the Tamil-Canadian community for Tamil Heritage month in Canada.

In his statement member of parliament (MP) Ahmed Hussen stated that “January marks the beginning of Tamil Heritage month in Canada, a time to reflect on the rich history, culture, resiliency, and strength of the Tamil communities across the country.”

Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre wished Tamil-Canadians a happy Tamil Heritage month in his statement. Poilievre emphasized that Canada will always remain an ally to the Tamil community.

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan at his residence, where the two discussed the issues faced by Tamils on the island.

Sri Lanka froze the hiring of civil servants and introduced new taxes and higher electricity prices in measures aimed at addressing its current economic crisis. 

Former exiled Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has applied to restore his US citizenship after renouncing this citizenship to be able to contest the 2019 elections, as dual citizens are unable to stand for the presidency.

In July, Rajapaksa was forced to flee Sri Lanka amidst mass demonstrations triggered by the country’s economic collapse. In his attempt to find a safe haven, Rajapaksa was refused asylum in the US.