Tamil farmers from Mulliativu protested earlier this week against the continuation of illegal sand mining conducted by the Sri Lankan Forest Department in the farming lands of Puthukkudiyiruppu West. 

The protests took place last Friday in front of Puthukkudiyiruppu Police Station whence the protesters marched to the office of the Divisional Secretariat. 

Tamil fishermen from Vadamarachchi, Jaffna have taken to streets to call on China to resolve fishing disputes in the Indian Ocean.

Demonstrators complained against disruptive practices which they note have damaged their fishing nets and have called for other fishermen to abstain for fishing for a day in protest.

A Tamil man was granted indefinitely leave to remain after having lived in the UK for almost 40 years without formal immigration status. Ponnampalam Jothibala, 69, moved to the UK with a view to pursue his accountancy studies in 1983 and was instead left destitute due to a series of Home Office failures and delays. 

In a massive rally this morning, Eelam Tamils in Jaffna have come out to protest against the 13^th amendment and have demanded recognition of Tamil nationhood and sovereignty through a federal structure.

A candlelight vigil was held in Batticaloa yesterday to mark ‘Black January’, a day to commemorate the intimidation, murder and enforced disappearance of journalists in Sri Lanka.

TNPF campaign in Kokkuvil

Across the North-East the Tamil National People’s Front are continuing their campaign against the controversial 13^th amendment and maintaining their stance for Tamil nationhood and self-determination.

Puttalam High Court has refused to grant bail to Muslim human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah despite earlier claims from the Sri Lankan Attorney General that the Court of Appeal would consent to the granting of bail.

In their annual report, British ministers and MPs renewed their commitment to “fighting for truth, justice and accountability for Tamils” whilst highlighting the ongoing abuses suffered by those in Sri Lanka.

UNHRC

In an open letter, several global Tamil diaspora organisations have called on their respective governments to impose targeted travel bans and asset freezes on high-ranking Sri Lankan war criminals and their family members.

Despite Sri Lankan police officers attempting to halt commemorations in Batticaloa earlier today, the 35^th anniversary of the Kokkadichcholai massacre was marked in the district, paying tribute to the 87 people killed by Sri Lankan security forces.

Sri Lanka’s finance minister Basil Rajapaksa said Colombo was “trying all our options” to avoid defaulting on looming payments, as an economic crisis worsens on the island.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Rajapaksa said the government was “negotiating with everybody”.

South Korea’s Speaker of the National Assembly, Park Byeong-Seug, visited Sri Lanka amidst a flurry of diplomatic visits and a worsening economic crisis to explore employment, investment and training opportunities.

Brampton’s integrity commissioner has cleared Mayor Patrick Brown’s behaviour, noting that he did not break any codes, following a dispute over Tamil Genocide Day.