Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Sri Lanka, Emma Brigham, issued a statement with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health praising the current regime’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic despite grave human rights concerns and the imposition of discriminatory legislation.

Minister of Public Security, Sarath Weerasekara attended the inauguration of a police station in Mullaitivu where he announced that 190 new police stations will be built in Sri Lanka, adding to the existing 494 police stations.

Maradankeni and Iyankkankulam located in the North were selected to build the first two police stations under the government programme, with the construction of Iyankankulam police station in Mullaitivu being completed on the 2 April. Weerasekara noted that the construction of the police stations was a measure taken to “create a society free of fear and suspicion for the people of this country”.

Following the deportation of over 30 Tamil asylum seekers by Germany on 30 March, the People’s Council of Eelam Tamils has written to express their deep shock and disappointment at the government’s “incomprehensible decision”.

This week marks 12 years since thousands of British Tamils began a 73 day long continuous protest at Parliament Square in London, as the Sri Lankan government ramped up a military offensive that had already massacred tens of thousands.

Writing in Middle East Eye, Strategic Advisor to People for Equality and Relief in Sri Lanka (PEARL), Mario Arulthas highlights the deterioration of Tamil and Muslim rights in Sri Lanka as President Rajapaksa appears “committed to seizing any opportunity to hurt non-Sinhalese communities”.

^{File photograph: British Tamils protest outside the Houses of Parliament in 2009.}

As the former Bishop of Mannar and beloved Tamil activist Right Reverend Dr Rayappu Joseph was laid to rest in Mannar on Monday, vigils have been held in his honour across the Tamil homeland.

The former Catholic Bishop of Mannar and prominent Tamil activist Right Reverend Dr Rayappu Joseph was laid to rest at the St. Sebastian Cathedral in Mannar on Monday.

Thousands had visited to pay their respects to the former Bishop lying in repose since his passing on Thursday, April 1. On Sunday, his body was moved from the Bishop’s house to the cathedral in a procession of thousands, including clergy, civil society, students and members of the public.

In line with a call to mark Monday as a day of mourning across the Tamil homeland, businesses in the Mannar district remained shut, whilst homes and streets bore black and white flags.

Following the funeral service, a statue of Rev. Joseph was unveiled in Mannar Town.

Following the passage of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka, the European Union (EU) has stated that they will monitor the human rights situation in light of their GSP+ agreement.

With Tamil Nadu Assembly elections set to take place on April 6 and electioneering underway in full swing across the state, Tamil Guardian spoke to Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) State Youth Wing Coordinator, Dhuruvan Selvamani. Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), is a Tamil nationalist party that formed following the genocide that took place in Mullivaikkal in 2009. We asked Selvamani about a number of issues including the NTK’s strategy for the elections, its stance on the intensifying Sinhalisation and colonisation of the Tamil homeland and its views on India-Sri Lanka relations. 

Tamil civil society networks have called for a day of mourning for the late Rt. Rev. Dr Rayappu Joseph.

Tamil civil society organisations across the North-East called for homes and businesses in the homeland and in the diaspora to mark Monday, April 5, as the Tamil nation’s national day of mourning for Rt. Rev. Joseph.