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Sri Lankan government moves to seize Tamil lands in Mullivaikkal
The Sri Lankan government has issued a Gazette notification announcing the mass appropriation of lands across the Tamil homeland, including large coastal areas from Pudumatalan to Mullivaikkal—site of Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils in May 2009.

Tamil Affairs

Tamil Affairs
16 years today - Horrendous act of genocide
Tamil Affairs
Retro - A mad experiment
Tamil Affairs
Sri Lankan government scrambles to delete photograph of president
Tamil Affairs
Jaffna memorial held for victims of Pahalgam shooting

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Sri Lankan government moves to seize Tamil lands in Mullivaikkal
The Sri Lankan government has issued a Gazette notification announcing the mass appropriation of lands across the Tamil homeland, including large coastal areas from Pudumatalan to Mullivaikkal—site of Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils in May 2009. The March 28 Gazette gave notice under Section 4 of the Land Settlement Ordinance. It stated that any party with claims over the lands identified for acquisition should notify Assistant Settlement Officer, Suvinda S. Singapupuli., before June 28 2025. The  Gazette stated that the lands will subsequently be declared as state property under Section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
UK in talks with France and Saudi Arabia on recognition of Palestine
  (Photograph: Ben Dance / FCDO) UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed on Wednesday that the UK is in discussions with France and Saudi Arabia over the recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of a UN conference in June. Speaking at the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, Lammy said that the UK intends to support recognition of Palestine when it would have an impact on the ground rather than serve as a symbolic moment. He added that recognition by some European countries had not changed much. 
Sri Lankan government scrambles to delete photograph of president
A photograph of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake taken during the government’s May Day rally in Colombo has swiftly been removed from official platforms at the request of authorities. The image, captured by Lahiru Harshana, a staff photographer for a Colombo-based daily newspaper, depicts Dissanayake mid-speech with both hands raised and his gaze directed skyward, with a sickle and hammer symbol in the backdrop. It is unclear why authorities wanted to photograph removed. No reason for the removal was officially cited. In a social media post, Harshana commented on the reaction to the image, emphasising that photographic interpretation is inherently subjective. He posted in Sinhala:
Jaffna memorial held for victims of Pahalgam shooting
A memorial event was held in Jaffna to honor the 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam shooting, with dignitaries and community members paying heartfelt tributes
Mullivaikkal survivor tops district in A-Level biology stream
Vigneswaran Narthika, a student from war-affected Mullaitivu, has secured the top district ranking in the Biology stream of Sri Lanka’s General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) examination, marking an extraordinary academic achievement despite the adversity she has endured.
Sri Lankan intelligence officers harass Tamil woman in Mullaitivu
During a media briefing at the Mullaitivu Press Club on 28 April, Chandramohan Sandhiya, a Tamil woman residing in Thiyogunagar, Silawathai, Mullaitivu District, alleged that she and her children are being subjected to ongoing harassment and intimidation by Sri Lankan intelligence officers.
Sri Lankan Archaeology Director visits illegal Buddhist structure in defiance of court order
The Director General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology, Professor Thusitha Mendis, conducted an inspection of a newly constructed Buddhist temple in the Kurunthurmalai region of Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu District - despite a court order explicitly prohibiting further construction at the site.
Tamil families of the disappeared accuse Sri Lanka of suppressing truth through bureaucracy
Amalanayagi Amalraj, President of the Association of Families of the Forcibly Disappeared in Batticaloa District, has accused the Sri Lankan government of deliberately suppressing the struggle of Tamil families searching for their disappeared loved ones, by shifting the issue into bureaucratic obscurity.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan hold defence talks amid rising Indo-Pakistani tensions
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, met with Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Islamabad this week on the sidelines of the 5th Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue, the Sri Lankan government announced. The meeting took place on Tuesday 29 April, the second day of the three-day dialogue, which aims to enhance defence cooperation between the two South Asian nations. According to a statement issued by Sri Lanka’s Department of Information, “these high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration.”
Nainativu residents protest against Sri Lankan police bias following worker dispute
Residents of Nainativu staged a protest in Iranguthurai, accusing the police of bias after eight workers were arrested following a dispute at the jetty

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16 years today - Horrendous act of genocide
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Tamil News

Sri Lankan government moves to seize Tamil lands in Mullivaikkal

May 03

The Sri Lankan government has issued a Gazette notification announcing the mass appropriation of lands across the Tamil homeland, including large coastal areas from Pudumatalan to Mullivaikkal—site of Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils in May 2009.

16 years today - Horrendous act of genocide

 

To mark 16 years since the Sri Lankan military onslaught that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils, we revisit the final days leading up to the 18th of May 2009 – a date remembered around the world as ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day’. 

Retro - A mad experiment

Spoiler-free review. Spoiler review below.

Sri Lankan government scrambles to delete photograph of president

A photograph of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake taken during the government’s May Day rally in Colombo has swiftly been removed from official platforms at the request of authorities.

Jaffna memorial held for victims of Pahalgam shooting
A memorial event was held in Jaffna to honor the 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam shooting, with dignitaries and community members paying heartfelt tributes
Mullivaikkal survivor tops district in A-Level biology stream
Vigneswaran Narthika, a student from war-affected Mullaitivu, has secured the top district ranking in the Biology stream of Sri Lanka’s General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) examination, marking an extraordinary academic achievement despite the adversity she has endured.
Sri Lankan intelligence officers harass Tamil woman in Mullaitivu
During a media briefing at the Mullaitivu Press Club on 28 April, Chandramohan Sandhiya, a Tamil woman residing in Thiyogunagar, Silawathai, Mullaitivu District, alleged that she and her children are being subjected to ongoing harassment and intimidation by Sri Lankan intelligence officers.
Sri Lankan Archaeology Director visits illegal Buddhist structure in defiance of court order
The Director General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology, Professor Thusitha Mendis, conducted an inspection of a newly constructed Buddhist temple in the Kurunthurmalai region of Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu District - despite a court order explicitly prohibiting further construction at the site.
Tamil families of the disappeared accuse Sri Lanka of suppressing truth through bureaucracy
Amalanayagi Amalraj, President of the Association of Families of the Forcibly Disappeared in Batticaloa District, has accused the Sri Lankan government of deliberately suppressing the struggle of Tamil families searching for their disappeared loved ones, by shifting the issue into bureaucratic obscurity.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan hold defence talks amid rising Indo-Pakistani tensions

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, met with Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, in Islamabad this week on the sidelines of the 5th Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue, the Sri Lankan government announced.

Nainativu residents protest against Sri Lankan police bias following worker dispute
Residents of Nainativu staged a protest in Iranguthurai, accusing the police of bias after eight workers were arrested following a dispute at the jetty
Dissanayake pledges land restitution and 'reconciliation' during Vavuniya rally
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed a campaign rally in Vavuniya this week, making a series of pledges ranging from land restitution to “national reconciliation”, ahead of local government elections next month.
Families of the disappeared protest in Kilinochchi, marking 2,984 days of unanswered grief
Families of the forcibly disappeared protest in Kilinochchi, demanding justice after 2,984 days of unanswered grief
Mullaitivu landowners call for return of Navy-occupied lands
Landowners in Mullaitivu’s Vadduvakal area urge the Sri Lankan government to return lands seized by the Navy, reclaiming their livelihood and heritage
Journalists protest to mark 20 years since Sivaram’s assassination 

Sivaram memorial commemoration

Journalists and civil society members gathered in Jaffna today to mark the 20th anniversary of the assassination of renowned Tamil journalist and editor Dharmeratnam "Taraki" Sivaram, amid reports of intimidation and surveillance by Sri Lankan police and intelligence services.

Sri Lankan minister’s driver assaults Tamil fisherman during visit
A Fishermen's Association chairman in Mullaitivu was assaulted by a driver accompanying Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran during a campaign visit on April 24th
Heavy security as Sri Lankan president pledges land release in Mullaitivu
Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to Puthukudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu yesterday for local election campaigning saw an intense security clampdown across the district, with heavy deployment of armed forces and police.
Sri Lankan government announces reconstruction of Vadduvakal Bridge
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, announced this week that the design phase for a new bridge across the Nandikadal Lagoon in Mullaitivu has been completed, with construction due to commence soon.
Jaffna Teaching Hospital demands release of Sri Lankan military-occupied land
The Acting Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, C. Jamunanantha, has issued a renewed appeal for the release of 1.4 acres of land under Sri Lankan military occupation in the Kottady–Meenatchipuram area, stressing the urgent need for the land to support the hospital’s expansion and development.
Sri Lankan police officer remanded for unlawful entry into Tamil woman's home in Jaffna
A Sri Lankan police officer stationed at Jaffna Police Station has been remanded after allegedly forcing his way into a young Tamil woman's home and acting in an unruly manner, in yet another troubling incident highlighting ongoing concerns over police misconduct in the Tamil North-East.

World News

UK in talks with France and Saudi Arabia on recognition of Palestine

May 03

 

(Photograph: Ben Dance / FCDO)

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed on Wednesday that the UK is in discussions with France and Saudi Arabia over the recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of a UN conference in June.

DRC seeks to remove former president's immunity over alleged war crimes

Kabila standing at podium in front of flags

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are seeking to lift the immunity of former President Joseph Kabila so that he can face trial on charges of supporting a rebel uprising in eastern DRC. 

Houthi fighters down $200m worth of US drones

parked reaper drone

In recent weeks Yemen’s Houthi armed group has shot down seven US Reaper drones worth over $200m.

The drones destroyed between 31 March and 22 April mark Washington's most significant material loss. 

Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan following Pahalgam attack
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, which left at least 26 people dead.
Ex-South African Foreign minister urges global reform to enforce ICJ Gaza ruling

Naledi Pandor smiling

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency on Monday, Former South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor renewed urgent calls to reform the United Nations. 

Pandor was the foreign minister when South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.

'Together, we must uphold multilateralism,' says China's Ambassador to India

China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, signalled a renewal of China-India ties, in the aftermath of US-imposed tariffs on countries around the world.

Tunisian court hands prison sentences to opposition figures

President Kaid Saeid in front of books

On Saturday, a Tunisian court sentenced dozens of opposition figures on national security charges. 

Forty people were being prosecuted in the trial, which started in March. Over 20 have fled abroad since being charged and have been sentenced in absentia. 

Israel sacks deputy commander over killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza, denies cover-up

The Israeli military on Sunday announced the dismissal of a deputy commander following an internal investigation into the killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza on March 23 2025. The investigation found “several professional failures” but denied any attempt to conceal the incident.

Al-Shabab fighters attack strategic Somalia town

Somali Armed Forces standing

Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday. 

Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces.

Red Cross chief says humanitarian situation in Gaza is 'hell on earth'

Gaza

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has told the BBC that Gaza has become "hell on earth", as Israel's military assault and blockade of aid continues.

President of Kurdistan autonomous region to meet Macron

MB

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday marking his fifth official visit to France.

France could recognise Palestinian state in June

Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday France could recognise a Palestinian state in June.

Hamas launches legal challenge against UK terror designation
The Palestinian group Hamas has launched a legal challenge against the United Kingdom’s 2021 decision to designate it as a terrorist organisation, submitting a detailed 106-page application to the Home Secretary calling for the proscription to be overturned.
Ten British nationals accused of committing war crimes in Gaza

Israeli forces tank with israeli flag

A complaint against 10 British nationals accusing them of committing war crimes while serving with the Israeli military in Gaza will be submitted to the Metropolitan Police on Monday. 

Myanmar junta declares temporary ceasefire following earthquake, days after armed groups halt hostilities
The junta’s ceasefire declaration came several days after armed resistance groups across the country had already unilaterally paused hostilities to allow for humanitarian operations. The military had initially refused to reciprocate.
West Papua activists launch boycott Indonesia campaign
More than ninety West Papuan tribes, political organisations, religious and political groups have called for a boycott of products implicated in the Indonesian occupation, in the first major West Papuan boycott campaign ever announced.
'Friends forever, never enemies' - China's foreign minister in Moscow

China and Russia have reaffirmed their deepening ties during a high-level visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Israel killed 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers one by one, says UN
Fifteen Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers, including at least one United Nations employee, were killed by Israeli forces “one by one” and buried in a mass grave eight days ago in southern Gaza, the UN has said.
First direct talks between Congo and M23 rebels to be held on April 9

M23 forces standing beside house
Sources from both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have stated that the two are aiming to hold direct talks for the first time on 9 April. 

The meeting in Doha would be the first direct negotiations since M23 rebels seized eastern Congo’s two largest cities.

Republika Srpska adopt new constitution asserting the right to self determination
The federal entity of Republika Srpska has adopted a draft constitution which includes provisions for the formation of an army and asserts the entities right to self determination.
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