Several Muslim organisations have called for an “immediate investigation and urgent action on the continued hate mongering against the Muslim community,” in a letter addressed to the acting Inspector General of Police amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

“We wish to state that it is also important to investigate whether any organized group is supporting, aiding and abetting the spread of racial and religious hatred to destabilize the country at a time when the Government’s fullest attention is on controlling and eliminating the deadly COVID-19 here in Sri Lanka,” added the letter.

British Tamils across the UK sent Prime Minister Boris Johnson wishes for a speedy recovery as he was discharged from hospital this week.

Photographs posted on the Conservative Party’s official social media pages garnered thousands of likes last week, as the prime minister spent two nights in intensive care after contracting coronavirus.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted Puthandu wishes yesterday, as Tamils around the world celebrated the new year.

“Happy New Year to all celebrating Puthandu,” tweeted the official Prime Minister’s page.

“This year's celebrations may be slightly different from usual, but we must remember why we are staying apart,” it added. “So stay home, protect the NHS and save lives this Puthandu.”

<p>Seven people have been arrested in Sri Lanka over the last two days under allegations of spreading false news on the coronavirus.&nbsp;</p> <p>In total 16 people have been arrested under the charge of spread false information of the coronavirus. However, it follows Dr. Ramesh Pathirana an MP for the&nbsp; Sri Lanka Freedom Party encouraged individuals to drink black tea 3-4 times a day to help fight the coronavirus and other respiratory issues despite the lack of credible evidence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar, editor in chief of the Tamil Guardian, responded to Pathirana’s claim stating;</p> <blockquote><p>

Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister, released a message sending Puthandu wishes to the Tamil community celebrating the New Year. 

"Today, Tamils in Canada and around the world celebrate Puthandu, and welcome the beginning of a new year," he wrote in a statement today. 

<p>Special Rapporteurs are calling on the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the order for compulsory cremations for coronavirus victims.</p> <p>In a letter to Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Special Rapporteurs explained that they are “concerned that the amendment is inconsistent with the Infection Prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19 guideline provided by World Health Organisation.”</p>

The head of the Sri Lankan army, accused war criminal Shavendra Silva, toured the military’s bases in the occupied North of the island this week, as he praised the armed forces for leading the government’s coronavirus containment strategy.

Today marks the first Easter Sunday since the suicide bomb attacks last year that killed 359 people and injured 500 more, in a series of explosions targeting churches and luxury hotels.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed confidence in his government’s ability to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, reiterating the 2009 military defeat of the LTTE in which the Sri Lankan military massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, in a public address earlier this week.

With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.