Writing to the UN High Commissioner, the Secretary General of Eezha Tameizhar Suadchi Kazhakam, Ananthy Sasitharan, and former member of the northern provincial council, M.K. Shivajilingam, urged the UN to take urgent steps to uphold the right self-determination for Tamils and to prevent the recurrence of patterns of violence.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Italy as a keynote speaker for the G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 has sparked protests with Tamil community groups condemning the invitation and placing posters to protest his visit, whilst Sinhala groups also gathered to demonstrate.

Writing to Police Scotland and Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Sarah Boyack, Member of Scottish Parliament for Lothian Region, raised concerns over Police Scotland’s training of Sri Lanka’s police force.

The Sri Lankan army handed over medical equipment to assist COVID-19 treatment at Mullaitivu District Hospital, District General Hospital Kilinochchi and the Jaffna Teaching Hospital throughout September.

Despite ongoing criticism of their involvement in civilian affairs in the North-East, the Sri Lankan state continues the expansion of the state owned large retail chain, Sathosa with the opening of a store in Batticaloa.

File Photograph: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin

^{Hashem Asjazadeh (pictured left) and G.L. Periris (pictured right)}

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris met with the ambassador of the Iran, Hashem Asjazadeh where discussions surrounding greater economic cooperation were held.

Freedom Now, a rights organisation dedicated to the fight against arbitrary detention and associated human rights abuses, has filed a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning Muslim poet, Ahnaf Jazeem. He has been under arrest for over 480 days under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without charges.

Last month, British Tamils participated in various sports events organised by the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC). The sports competitions commenced following tribute to the fallen freedom fighters and the hoisting of the Tamil National Flag. 

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, condoned the “vague” terrorism charges under which Sri Lankan Muslim human rights lawyer, Hejaaz Hizbullah, has been arbitrarily detained under. 

Photo of Ambassador Teplitz meeting with families of the disappeared

Speaking to reporters, outgoing United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B Teplitz stressed that the US will remain “full engaged” with Sri Lanka on the issue of reconciliation.