Responding to "clarifications" made by Peel School in Canada, which withdraw a statement recognising Tamil genocide, Tamil activists launched the viral "I am Tamil" campaign which garnered hundreds of posts from around the work this week and raised awareness of the genocide whilst also supporting Bill 104, which will enable a Tamil Genocide Education week.

Australian State MP Hugh McDermott thanked Tamil Nadu politician, Thol. Thirumaavalan for support following calls for international recognition of the Tamil genocide. 

"I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. The acts of the Sri Lankan Government were genocide. It is important for governments around the world to recognise this and bring justice to the Tamil people," he wrote in his letter to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president.

See full text of the letter below: 

In his reply, Thirumaavalan wrote:

Speaking to Tamil Net, Jaffna-based Attorney, academic and civil society activist, Kumaravadivel Guruparan, warned that the appointment of two Presidential task forces further emboldened the Sinhala Buddhist nationalist project and threatens to silence to internal dissent.

Sri Lanka is in ‘firm protest’ against Bill 104 which advocates for Tamil Genocide Education Week in Ontario, Canada.

In a statement, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa said:

“Sri Lanka’s firm protest against the blatantly false claims being made in the Bill including the grossly exaggerated number of casualties at the conclusion of the conflict in Sri Lanka and allegations of ‘genocide’ have been conveyed.”

<p>UK Minister said that the British government is following the current political situation in Sri Lanka closely.</p> <p>Lord Ahmad, Minister of State for South Asia answered a written question posed by The Marquees of Lothian, a Conservative Peer.</p> <p>He asked the government “what further information they have on the current political situation in Sri Lanka in view of fears of a constitutional crisis, further to the government of Sri Lanka’s announcement of its intention to rule without parliamentary oversight,” to which the minister responded:</p> <blockquote><p>

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed alarm at the clampdown on freedom of expression in Sri Lanka during the coronavirus pandemic.

The UN Chief said that “arrests for expressing discontent or allegedly spreading false information through the press and social media” were reported in Sri Lanka, a press release stated.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on ‘Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province’ is to conserve all archaeology heritage sites in the East irrespective of religion, says Kamal Gunaratne, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary.

 

Former Chief Minister of Northern Province in Sri Lanka and Secretary-general for Thamizh Makkal Thesya Kootanii (TMTK), C.V. Wigneswaran, has written an appeal for the 91 Tamil political prisoners who have been detained for the past 10-15 years under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

<p>The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted Sri Lanka £3 million, financed from the Japanese government, in response to the coronavirus pandemic despite concerns over the island’s human rights record.</p> <p>This grant was approved on 2 June for the purchase of test kits, diagnostic reagents, personal protective equipment, and further essential medical supplies.</p> <p>Chen Chen, ABD’s Country Director for Sri Lanka, warned that:</p> <blockquote><p>

<p>Former SriLankan Airlines manager, Rajeewa Jayaweera, has been found dead at Independence Square, Colombo this morning.&nbsp;</p> <p>He was also a well known freelance journalist who exposed corruption at SriLanka Airlines.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Colombo Gazette <em><a href="https://colombogazette.com/2020/06/12/body-found-near-independence-squa…">reported </a></em>that a pistol and note were also found with the body.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>