Mallakam District Court has summoned Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha chairman Thiyagaraja Nirosh and deputy chairman Kapilan over Maaveerar Naal commemorations as Sri Lankan police push for more bans across the North-East. 

The Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha chairman and his deputy have been ordered to appear in court on Monday 22nd November after the police sough a court order to ban any memorial events from taking place. 

Kokkadichcholai police officer hands court order to former TNA MP  P Ariyenthran. Photograph courtesy of Pathivu.

Seven individuals, including Tamil MPs, have been banned from participating in any commemoration events to mark Maaveerar Naal. 

Members of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have launched a palmyrah tree planting programme to commemorate Maaveerar week, with the aim of planting 100,000 Palmyra seeds in Jaffna. 

The environmental branch of the TNPF launched the programme today amidst an intensifying crackdown in the North-East. 

Sri Lanka's security forces have set up a series of new checkpoints in Mullaitivu ahead of Maaveerar Naal, as the state ramps up it's crackdown on Tamil memorialisation of LTTE cadres. 

The state's forces have beefed up their presence across Mullaitivu district, particularly in the areas surrounding Thuyilum Illams - LTTE martyr resting homes. 

The Tamil Rights Group filed a Communication to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week, seeking a preliminary examination into crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution committed against Eelam Tamils within the territories of state parties to the ICC.

The Tamil National Green Organization (TNGO) opened 'Karthika Vaasam' flower garden at Nallur Kittu Park in Jaffna on Saturday, as karthigaipoo flowers were pinned on participants including the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, ahead of Northern Tree Planting Month.

Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, a parliamentarian from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), addressed an audience of Tamil diaspora in Toronto, Canada, stating that the party was progressing towards a "permanent solution" to the ongoing ethnic conflict.

His speech comes following the meeting between a TNA delegation with the US State Department earlier this week. 

Writing in the Hindu, Meera Srinivasan highlights ongoing uncertainty over who will run the India-funded Jaffna Cultural Centre which currently remains vacant despite being completed in early 2020.

The towering structure is the tallest building in Jaffna town and is located next to the historic Jaffna Public library. It was built with an $11 million grant of India and stands at 11 floors which includes an auditorium that can seat 600 persons, a conference hall, an amphitheatre and a digital library.

Sri Lankan singer, Yohani De Silva, is to be congratulated in Sri Lankan parliament on 23 November following criticism over her repeated public praise of her father, army commander Prasanna De Silva who is credibly accused of overseeing war crimes.

Responding to Sri Lankan cabinet minister, Dullas Alahapperuma, leader of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Gajen Ponnambalam spoke out against the government's insistence on a "unitary state", arguing it has led to the "appalling situation to which this country has fallen".