Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) officers assaulted and injured four Vavuniya residents who were clearing their land on Saturday.

The officers dressed in civilian clothing entered the land in the Maraiyadiththakulam, Vavuniya while the residents were clearing the underbrush that had overgrown on their land. They had received permission from the National Housing Development Authority to clear out the land of the overgrowth.

The Athi Lingam consecrated to Lord Siva in Vedukkunaari hill in Nedunkeni, Vavuniya has been reported to be destroyed and discarded in the shrubbery surrounding the temple. Additionally many idols such as the idols of Pillaiyaar, the Mother Goddess Amman, and village deity Bhairavar were stolen from the temple as well.

The construction of a Buddhist shrine on the island of Katchatheevu, a notable place of pilgrimage for Tamil Catholics, has raised fears around the possibility of Sinhala colonisation. The shrine has been erected in a section of land cordoned off, around 500 meters away from the historic St. Anthony’s Shrine. Additionally, security has been put in place to prevent pilgrims from entering the Buddhist shrine. Locals are suspicious that the shrine has been erected in an attempt to encourage Buddhist pilgrims in the future.

The British government has sent five Tamil refugees, who have attempted suicide on the British-held island of Diego Garcia, to Rwanda for medical treatment despite their pleas for resettlement, reports the New Humanitarian.

According to the New Humanitarian, one asylum seeker attempted suicide by swallowing the blade of a broken pencil sharpener, whilst another broke a sewing needle and swallowed both parts. This was also attempted by three Tamil men stationed on the island on 13 March.

A passenger ferry service between Kakesanthurai (KKS), Jaffna, and Tamil Nadu is set to be launched by the end of April this year.

According to the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister, Nima Siripala de Silva, the Indian authorities will be handling ferry services, whilst the Sri Lankan government will be facilitating the process. 

Speaking to the Sunday Times, de Silva stated that over Rs 100 million has been spent for the construction of a customs and immigration area.

On Thursday, FIFA’s congress upheld its decision to suspend Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from voting during its elections.

In January it was announced that the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has been suspended, barring FFSL representatives and the national team from participating in international competitions. The Ministry of Sports introduced a raft of regulations that reportedly compromised the autonomy and independence of national sports bodies, including the FFSL.

The International Monetary Fund said Monday that its executive board has approved a nearly $3 billion bailout program for Sri Lanka over four years to help salvage the country’s bankrupt economy.

An IMF statement said about $333 million of the funding will be disbursed immediately and the approval will also open up financial support from other institutions.

The Tamil Students Initiative held their inaugural International Women’s Day Brunch showcasing up-and-coming female performers at The Cottons in Shoreditch on 19th March 2023. The exclusively female event looked to celebrate and empower women. Featured acts included Mathura, Vinika Vara, Vyshna, Thanu and Kingston Tamil Society. 

The event was hosted by Shangavi - a talented model and dancer. Shangavi has participated in both Kings of Gaana and Mega Maalai 2023, as well as recently leading her first Bharathanatyam dance workshop with Queen Mary's Tamil society. 

Speaking at the Progress Review Meeting on Aluth Gamek, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, slammed trade unions and claimed that their “vengeful demands” were undermining the rights of workers, the right to unionise and workers’ bargaining power.

His statement follows mass protests by public and private workers which saw half a million people on the streets at the start of this month, in defiance of the government’s ban on strikes for “essential services”.