Tamil residents in Mannar have voiced their concern as a Sri Lankan army checkpoint, previously removed several years ago, has been reinstated at the Mannar Main Bridge.

The checkpoint’s return comes after a period of unrestricted access through the Mannar bridge. Sri Lankan authorities claim that it returned after a shootout in the Athurugiriya area of Colombo, which resulted in two fatalities and several injuries.

A three-day “Tamil Economic Future Summit'' was held in Davos, Switzerland last month with Tamils from around the world attending to discuss advancing the interests and causes of the global Tamil community.

“I will make my people ungovernable!” Rajavarothiam Sampanthan exclaimed, banging on the table.

The legal battle involving Mullaitivu Media Association President and Mullaitivu District Journalist Shanmugam Tavaseelan has continued in Sri Lankan courts, with the naval officer who accused Thavaseelan of assault finally appearing in court.

In a desperate bid for safety, an Eelam Tamil mother and her two young children, sought refuge in Dhanushkodi, India this week, fleeing from Thalaimannar. 

Yoga Valli, aged 34, along with her children Anuja (8 years old) and Mishal (5 years old), made the journey to India by boat paying Rs.275,000. They were apprehended by Indian authorities when they reached Dhanushkodi. 

Gopalakrishnan Gokul Prem Kumar, a former cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and talented artist, died last week under mysterious circumstances. 

It is being reported that he died in a car accident just a few steps away from his home. The incident occurred late on Friday night in the Adampan area of Mannar-Mantai West Divisional Secretary Division.

More than 50 prominent Tamil diaspora organizations from 15 countries have thrown their weight behind US House Resolution 1230, which calls for an independence referendum to provide Eelam Tamils with a political solution to the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka. The resolution, introduced in Congress on May 15, 2024, has garnered widespread support and is now gaining momentum.

Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra, a vocal member of Sri Lanka’s Opposition Party Samagi Jana Balawegaya, has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment for her involvement in the abduction and assault of a youth.

The sentencing was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja on Friday 28th June. Premachandra was found guilty of 18 charges, and the court ordered a fine of Rs. 20,000 for each charge.

Tamils in Jaffna have protested against the transfer the newly appointed Medical Superintendent of Chavakachcheri Base Hospital, after he claimed that there was corruption occurring at the medical facility.

A memorial was held to honour the memory of the more than 140 Tamils who were killed in the Navaly Church Massacre on July 9, 1995, at St Peter’s Church in Navaly.

Several Tamils gathered to pay floral tributes and light candles at the same church this week.