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!

The president of Sri Lanka released a Thai Pongal message to "Hindus" in Sri Lanka and across the globe declaring it a “special religious” festival exclusively for “Hindu devotees”.

While world leaders and government officials extended their Thai Pongal wishes to Tamils across the world, the Sri Lanka president’s message failed to mention the word “Tamil” once. Historically, Thai Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival celebrated by Tamils of all religions, not only Hindus.

_{MP Francesco Sorbara, MP Majid Jowhari and MP Gary Anandasangaree celebrate Thai Pongal at the Richmond Hill Hindu Temple}

Several Canadian Parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have released messages wishing Tamil Canadians a Happy Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month. 

Writing in the Daily Mirror in advance of his visit to Colombo, Jaffna and Trincomalee, Britain’s Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad, stressed the importance of dealing with Sri Lanka’s past to create a “lasting peace and building an inclusive future”.

His visit comes numerous diplomats are expected to visit the island this month. This includes Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea, Park Byeong-seug and Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Amidst a surge in food prices and shortages of basic necessities such as medicine and fuel, Sri Lanka recently launched a  luxury inner-city train circling from the tip of the North Jaffna Peninsula, Kankesanthurai, to Colombo’s Mount Lavinia suburb with the assistance of India’s credit line.

Meeting with British Tamils, the BBC provided special coverage of the ancient Tamil harvest festival, Thai Pongal.

In their coverage, they noted the efforts of Tamil Studies UK to have Tamil reintroduced into the curriculum of the South Oriental and African Studies University. The piece further dove into Tamil culture, food and heritage.