China donated 4.3 million Sri Lankan rupees to the University of Jaffna this week, as it continues to build engagement with the island’s Tamils.

Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, received the grant from Qi Zhenhong, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, at the Chinese Embassy in Colombo.

Departing Canadian ambassador, David Mackinnon, and French ambassador, Eric Lavertu, held separate meetings with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka is seeking the support of its allies at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for a vote on the upcoming UN resolution as the session comes to a close this week. 

Mahatma Gandhi's birthday was marked by the Consulate General of India in Jaffna with a cycle rally through the town.

The rally, part of ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ celebrations, started at the Gandhi statue in Jaffna Town and went to Jaffna College.

Today marks the birthday of Balachandran Prabhakaran, the third child of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who was executed by the Sri Lankan military during the final days of the Mullivaikkal massacre.

Balachandran, who was born on the 1^st of October 1996, would be 26 years old today.

Aged just 12 years old, he was one of thousands of children killed by the Sri Lankan military. Leaked trophy photographs taken by Sri Lankan soldiers, show the child in their custody sitting with a snack in his hand, sitting on a bench surrounded by sandbags, in what looks like a fortified army position.

‘PS1’ is a screen adaptation of the Kalki Krishnamurthy epic serialised from 1950 to 1954, following the rise of the golden age of the Chozha dynasty in the 10th century AD – touted as the greatest empire in Indian history. We witness the events unfold following a prophecy told once a comet appears in the sky. The Chozha rulers are warned of the spilling of Chozha blood, which sets off a plot of treachery, treason and double crossing. The film travels with Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan, portrayed excellently by Karthi, a trusted friend of the heir to the throne, Vikram’s Aditha Karikalan, who assumes the role of a messenger. Vanthiyathevan is the glue holding together the multiple concurrent stories in ‘PS1’, and the casting decision for the part was crucial for the success of the film. Karthi breezes through this role, playing the part as if it had been written with him in mind.

British Tamil actress Charithra Chandran, star of Netflix’s show Bridgerton and Amazon Prime’s show Alex Rider, has been announced as being cast in the lead role of a six-part adaptation of Australian Tamil author Shankari Chandran’s novel ‘Song of the Sun God.’ 

Less than a month after watching a film about an immoral set of twins in ‘Cobra’, Selvaraghavan’s ‘Naane Varuvean’ is released. Thankfully, this film is much better. 

A bipartisan letter to the US Secretary of State called on Washington to “use all diplomatic tools available, including sanctions,” to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes in Sri Lanka are held to account.

Tamil school students in Vavuniya staged a protest demanding local buses stop and pick them up to and from school this week, as the troubled public transport system is impacting on their education.

Following a spate of reported drug-related deaths in Jaffna, staff at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital held a rally through the town on Thursday, demanding action be taken to prevent substance abuse and addiction.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister was gushing with praise for China this week, calling the state a “true decisive global leader” and Sri Lanka’s “Kalyana Mitra” - a Buddhist concept meaning a special friend in times of happiness as well sorrow.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko urged the Indian government to change its foreign policy towards Sri Lanka and called for support on a referendum to establish an independent Tamil Eelam.

At a recent gig in London, ‘Cinnamon and Spice’, Pritt, an Eelam Tamil singer, performed alongside four female South Asian artists. Aligning with Pritt’s passions, the event aimed to celebrate underrepresented South Asian female talent and create a platform to share their music. As a part of BBC Asian Network Future Sounds in 2021, Pritt uses her platform to celebrate Tamil music and encourage artists in the UK and worldwide, particularly supporting underrepresented musicians.