Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah has resigned from his posts and fled the island due to death threats and mounting pressure from the Sri Lankan government.
The threats and pressure stem principally from his involvement in the contentious Kurunthurmalai archaeological site cases. Judge Saravanarajah revealed that various individuals in government had been exerting immense pressure on him to alter his judgements in these cases. He specifically mentioned the threats made by MP Sarath Weerasekara during parliamentary debates and other public forums.
Tamil News
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Hoping to recreate the massive success of the Tamil film, Vasu has recruited Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut as Vettaiyan and Chandramukhi respectively. ‘Chandramukhi’ is the film which kickstarted the comedy-horror trend in Tamil cinema, and so it is fitting that Vasu joins hands with the biggest beneficiary of the genre.
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The air in Jaffna was filled with divine fervour as the historic Vadamaradchi Vallipura Alvar Temple hosted its annual chariot festival on Thursday. Devotees from far and wide gathered to partake in the spiritual celebrations that unfolded throughout the day.
The festivities commenced with special pujas in the morning, setting a sacred tone for the day. As the day progressed, the temple's deity Vallipurathan made his procession around the locality by chariot.
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In a vibrant celebration of spirituality and devotion, the Sappara festival at Chemmalai Manicka Pillaiyar Temple in Mullaitivu District unfolded with grace and fervour on the 27th of September. The temple witnessed a spectacular gathering of devotees who came together to partake in the festivities.
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In the summer of 2023, a group of 20 British Tamil students and graduates embarked on a transformative journey to the rural heartlands of the Tamil homeland. The trip encompassed activities in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Killinochi and Mullaitivu. Their mission was to make a positive and lasting impact on communities through volunteering in schools, orphanages, hospitals, and care homes. This two-week endeavor, known as the 'Aram Trip,' was organized by a group of recent...
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Tamil activist Balraj Rajkumar was subjected to prolonged questioning by the Counter-Terrorism and Investigation Department (CTID) in the Eastern Province. The activist was summoned to appear at the Trincomalee Regional Office on Thursday at 9 am, with no specific reason provided.
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Sri Lanka's announcement of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has sparked skepticism and criticism from various quarters, with critics arguing that it is merely a ploy to deflect international pressure and delay justice for the Tamil people who suffered a genocide under successive Sinhala regimes.
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Member of Parliament Selvam Adaikalanathan held a press conference today in Mannar, addressing the recent resignation of Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah. The judge's departure from his position and the country itself was prompted by death threats and mounting pressure from the Sri Lankan government, shedding light on the...
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Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanarajah has resigned from his posts and fled the island due to death threats and mounting pressure from the Sri Lankan government.
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Today marks 36 years since the death of Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE who fasted to death, in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people.
Thileepan began his fast on the September 15, 1987, with 100,000 people gathered around the historic Nallur Kandwaswamy Temple in Jaffna.
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Multiple attempts have been made by the Sri Lankan state to suppress the commemoration of Lt. Col. Thileepan. While these ongoing efforts to suppress Tamil people’s right to remember our heroes has been an implicit state policy, it manifests itself overtly during such landmark commemorative events.
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On September 24, Thayaga Arasiyal Thurai conducted a commemoration in Theravil, Mullaitivu, to honour Thiyagi Thileepan as this year marks the 36th anniversary of his death.
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Tamil music composer Santhosh Narayanan paid tribue to Lt Col Thileepan at a memorial in Nallur, Jaffna today as the Tamil nation marks 36 years since his fast unto death.
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Meeting with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, MA Sumanthiran, US Ambassador Julie Chung to discuss concerns over the proposed anti-terrorism bill; the discovery of mass graves in the North; and reconciliation.
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On September 22nd, the 28th anniversary of the Jaffna Nagerkovil Maha Vidyalayam massacre was solemnly observed. The event was attended by the school's Principal, teachers, students, staff, and members of the general public.
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On September 15th, the 24th anniversary of the tragic Puthukudiyiruppu aerial bombing massacre was solemnly commemorated. This devastating event unfolded as a result of aerial bombings conducted by the Sri Lankan Air Force, claiming...
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The 9th day of excavation, conducted on September 15th, marked a significant development in the ongoing investigations at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, as the skeletal remains of 3 more victims were exhumed. -
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A contentious land dispute has erupted between residents of Kokkuveli and Karuppanichchankulam, triggering tensions and leading to a standoff between the two communities. The dispute revolves around an attempted land grab by Sinhala families from Kokkuveli, who seek to build a...
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A court in Vavuniya rejected an application filed by Sri Lankan police to ban a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan from travelling through Vavuniya.
The police reportedly filed the application after two people had made a complaint that the memorial float would "disrupt racial harmony".
On Saturday, a memorial float commemorating Lt Col Thileepan, a political wing leader of the LTTE, set off from Pottuvil and is heading towards Nallur to mark 36 years since his death...
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Politicians from the UK, Canada and Finland have condemned the recent attack on Lt Col Thileepan's memorial float by a Sinhala mob in Trincomalee.
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Tamils held a protest in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu, today to condemn the attack by a Sinhala mob on a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan.
Tamils from Thevipuram and Vallipunam chanted "do we not have the right to remember our loved ones?" during their demonstration.
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A Sinhala mob attacked and destroyed a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan as it travelled through Trincomalee today.
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From his debut feature ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara,’ Adhik Ravichandran established himself as the king of tastelessness. Successive films such as ‘AAA’ and ‘Bagheera’ were both critically panned and box office failures. Somehow, not only has the director managed to keep making films, but has doubled down on his style with his new film ‘Mark Antony.’ Even... -
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The excavation of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave entered its eighth day on September 14th, uncovering additional evidence crucial to the ongoing investigation.
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Residents of Palaly, located in Valikamam North, continue to face significant challenges to get resettled, despite the allocation of lands for this purpose. The state's failure to provide the necessary support and permits for building houses and infrastructure on the released lands...
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The seventh day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, carried out on September 13th, continued to yield crucial evidence in this ongoing investigation further deepening the complexity of the case.
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Addressing the 54th UN Human Rights Council session, the European Union (EU) emphasised the need for uphold human rights, deliver on accountability, and suspend Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Whilst acknowledging the positive rhetoric from the Sri Lankan president on reconciliation and resolving land disputes, the delegation noted that they were...
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During the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Deputy High Commissioner, Nada Al-Nashif, raised concerns over increasing military land grabs in the Tamil homeland; the failure to hold Provincial Council elections; crackdowns on memorial events; and the use of state forces to intimidate protesters and journalists.
Economic concern
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Villagers from the Ponnaveli Grama Sevakar division in the Kilinochchi District entered the 41st day of their protest, firmly opposing land grabbing for the construction of a cement factory.
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The Kokkuthoduvai mass grave excavation reached its sixth day on September 12th. The excavation team have identified the skeletal remains of seven victims, with five sets of remains having been exhumed thus far.
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The fifth day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, conducted on September 11th, marked another significant step in the ongoing investigation. the excavation team, led by the Mullaitivu Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), yielded the recovery of skeletal remains belonging to three more...
World News
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Thousands of ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday in lines of cars which stretched for kilometres after Azerbaijan took control of the breakaway region sparking fears of persecution.
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The United States has recognised the Cook Islands and Niue as “sovereign and independent” states and pledged to open diplomatic relations.
In a statement on Monday, Biden said “the history and the future of the Pacific Islands and the United States are inextricably linked...
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Justin Trudeau has said there is “credible evidence” India is responsible for the alleged assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Canadian Sikh leader.
The Canadian prime minister told the House of Commons of Canada on Monday that, in recent weeks, national security authorities had been...
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Testimonies from over 200 people accusing the Ugandan president, his son, and other senior officials of killings, torture, and other crimes against humanity have been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In total, there are 26 officials that have been accused of aiding the incarceration and systemic abuse of Ugandans who supported opposition leader Bobi Wine in 2021.
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Eighty Afghans may have been victims of summary killings by three separate British SAS units operating in the country between 2010 and 2013, lawyers representing the bereaved families have told a public inquiry.
One of the elite soldiers is believed to have “personally killed” 35 Afghans on a single six-month tour of duty as part of an alleged policy to terminate “all fighting-age males” in homes raided, “regardless of the threat they posed”.
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British MPs have been warned of the possibility of genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and urged to put pressure on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which has been accused of murder and arson attacks on minority groups in the area.
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Fighting has intensified in several areas of Khartoum after a ceasefire deal between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) expired on Saturday.
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Former Rwandan military police officer who fled to France after the 1994 genocide and started a new life under a false identity is going on trial in Paris charged with crimes against humanity.
Philippe Hategekimana, 66, fled to France five years after the genocide, under a fake name, Philippe Manier.
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Protests are ongoing nationwide, and at least one person has been killed, following the arrest of Imran Khan.
Mr Khan was arrested by security forces at the High Court in the capital, Islamabad.
Dramatic footage showed dozens of officers arriving and detaining the 70-year-old, who was bundled into a vehicle and driven away.
He was appearing in court on charges of...
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Airstrikes carried out by Myanmar’s military on a civilian crowd have sparked widespread condemnation.
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The military, which seized power in a coup in February 2021, has abolished 40 political parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD).
The military imposed the law and began compiling voter lists in preparation for promised elections....
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian premier, Vladimir Putin, for war crimes committed during his illegal invasion of Ukraine.
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In a speech on 21 February, Tunisian President Kais Saied made racist remarks about Black African migrants inciting violent anti-Black mobs.
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60 people including 12 children have been killed after a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast according to authorities. The crash occured in the early hours of 25 February near Steccato di Cutro.
The boat was sailing from Turkey and carried migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and several other countries.
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Dozens of Australia’s leading social justice and civil society bodies are launching a new partnership to support the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum.
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Uganda has stated that it will not be renewing the mandate of the United Nations human rights office, the Ugandan government argues that it has sufficient capacity to monitor rights compliance.
On 3 February, the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The letter cites Uganda's progress regarding developing a domestic...
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Former president Jair Bolsonaro should be investigated for genocide, Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has said, as she prepares an operation to drive illegal goldminers from the site of a humanitarian disaster on Indigenous land.
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Descendants of victims of the genocide in Namibia have called on Germany to “stop hiding” and discuss reparations with them directly, as they take their own government to court for making a deal without their approval.
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The Indian government has invoked emergency laws to block a BBC documentary examining the role of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002.
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Officials say about 1,500 people have been arrested following the storming of the National Congress in Brasília.
Supporters of the former president, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed Congress and other official buildings including the presidential palace and the Supreme Court on Sunday.
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The National Liberation Army (ELN), says it is not part of a ceasefire with the goverment that had been announced by the Presidient last week. -
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be sworn in as president of Brazil for a historic third term on Sunday.
The inauguration in Brasília, exactly two decades after the veteran politician first assumed office, is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people for a festival-style celebration with live music.
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A Vigil was held at Ahmet Kaya Cultural Centre where hundreds continue to pay their respects to the three Kurdish activists killed in Paris last week.
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Irmgard Furchner 97, a former secretary who worked for the commander of a Nazi concentration camp has been convicted of complicity in the murders of more than 10,500 people.
Irmgard Furchner, 97, was taken on as a teenaged shorthand typist at Stutthof and worked there from 1943 to 1945.
Furchner, the first woman to be tried for Nazi...
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Friday, 16th December 2022, Japan's cabinet approved a new national security strategy for the first time in nine years, which includes doubling the country's military budget.
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met with his national security council amidst rising tensions between authorities in Kosovo and ethnic Serbs.
Unknown attackers in Northern Kosovo exchanged gunfire with local police and threw a stun grenade at European Union officers.
Ethnic Serbs set up roadblocks in response to Kosovan police being deployed in a dispute over car license plates...
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Guinea’s former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara denied responsibility when he took the stand Monday at a trial of officials implicated in a 2009 massacre.
Camara and 10 other former military and government officials are accused of the killing of 156 people and the rape of at least 109 women by forces supporting the military government at a political rally in...
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The civilian death toll from what it calls a massacre by the March 23 movement, known as M23 rebel group, has risen to 272, said the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The increased death toll was announced at a press briefing Monday in Kinshasa by Minister of Industry and former governor of North Kivu province, Julien Paluku.
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A court in Argentina has sentenced Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to six years in jail and have disqualified her from holding public office after being found guilty in a $1bn fraud case related to public works.
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Al Jazeera Media Network has submitted a formal request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute those responsible for killing veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
