People are starving in Sri Lanka. The economy is in freefall as the cash-strapped government struggles to pay off its debts. The country has been forced to sell over half of its gold reserves and the prices of basic foods have skyrocketed. The pandemic has undeniably devastated Sri Lanka, but this is a crisis of the government’s own making. Instead of pursuing a “people-centric economy”, Sri Lanka’s insular policies have been military-driven, unaccountable, and detached from the struggle of citizens.

The Sri Lankan defence ministry announced that troops have begun the ‘restoration’ of yet another Sinhala Buddhist stupa in the Eastern province this week, an area that has come under intense Sinhalisation efforts in recent years.

Today marks 29 years since the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

The nine other cadres who passed away with Col. Kittu were:

- Lt.Col. Kuttisiri: Rasaiah Sri Ganesan from Suthumalai, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Captain Jeeva: Nadarajah Mark Jeyarajah from Pashaiyoor, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Captain Gunaseelan: Segan Cruz Michael Jeeva from Maniam Thottam in Jaffna

Sri Lanka has received a loan of €52 million from Hungary for infrastructure development, which includes the construction of a major flyover despite the country banning imports of cars in 2022. 

The state of Minnesota has declared January Tamil language and heritage month following a signed proclamation by the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.  

The proclamation which coincided with Thai Pongal, notes

"Whereas: Tamil is the longest surviving classical language in the world, with a traceable history exceeding 2,600 years and

Dozens of British Tamils gathered in Downing Street this weekend to protest against the 13^th Amendment in Sri Lanka – a provision within the constitution of Sri Lanka agreed with India that calls for limited devolution of powers – and instead, call for a complete end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland.

The protest comes as Tamil politicians have been engaged in discussions over the 13^th Amendment and devolution of powers in recent weeks. A joint letter is reportedly being prepared to be sent to the Indian government, outlining Tamil demands.

A joint letter that is to be signed by Tamil political parties and sent to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi comes following a request from New Delhi to formally ‘“place on record” Tamil demands for a “starting point”, according to a report in Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times.

According to a “government source” that spoke to the newspaper, the initiative from New Delhi is part of a strategy of “winning “outstanding demands” of the Tamils in Sri Lanka [to] further enhance its status” in Tamil Nadu.

“This is the rationale behind New Delhi calling upon Tamil political parties to place on record together the common demands so it could form the starting point,” it continued.

As Sri Lanka’s financial crisis worsens, economists on the island have called on the government to forego debt repayments and buy crucially needed fuel, food and medicine, with one former official warning riots may soon follow.

Sri Lanka is due to make a US$500 million payment as an international sovereign bond matures on January 18.

Economists on the island however said the government should default on the payment and focus on essential goods instead.

After almost a decade, a Sri Lankan court has sentenced a senior prison official to death over his role in the killing of at least 27 inmates in a massacre at the Welikada prison in 2012.

Sri Lanka’s Prisons Commissioner Emil Lamahewage was found guilty over his role in the killings, which was initially reported as a clash between Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) elite commandos and Sinhala prisoners. It emerged that at least 27 inmates were killed, and at least eight were called out by name and executed.

Marking Pongal, the US State Department and representatives issues messages to celebrate the Tamil harvest festival, Thai Pongal.

The Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs stated on Twitter:

CM @RepGregoryMeeks: This Thai Pongal, I extend my warmest wishes to Tamils and those celebrating the harvest, abundance and renewal around the world.

Pongal Nalvazhthukkal!