A fire broke out on a container ship docked at Colombo which then led to an explosion near the accommodation block of the 18-year-old vessel.

Events took place across the North-East today, to mark 18 years since the Sencholai massacre, where four Sri Lankan air force jets flew over the Vanni and dropped sixteen bombs over the Sencholai children's home for orphans, killing 53 school girls and 3 teachers.

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls by the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the massacre of 53 school girls by the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

On August 14 2006, four Sri Lankan air force jets flew over the Vanni and dropped sixteen bombs over the Sencholai children's home for orphans, killing 53 school girls and 3 teachers. 

Tamil parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran said he was against the concept of a proposed Tamil common candidate for next month’s presidential elections and would only consider backing a “main candidate” from the Sinhala South.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) lawmaker told reporters in Vavuniya that he was in favour of the devolution of powers based on a unified North-East and would support a southern candidate that backs it.

The Office of Missing Persons (OMP), a government-run initiative, conducted its final registration process at the Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat. Despite being 15 years since the end of the armed conflict, the OMP has faced criticism for its inability to locate even a single forcibly disappeared individual. Tamil families in the North-East have consistently rejected the OMP, labeling it an ineffective institution.

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Tamils in Mannar staged a protest in front of the Mannar District General Hospital, as hundreds of demonstrators demanded justice for the tragic death of 27-year-old Sinthuja. Sinthuja had been admitted to the hospital and subsequently lost her life, allegedly due to the negligence of doctors and staff.

The Sri Lankan government’s representative in Toronto has formally written to the Mayor of Brampton, in a bid to try and halt the construction of a monument dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide.

Speaking at the announcement of a common Tamil candidate to contest in Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential elections, political analyst Nilanthan outlined the rationale behind such a move, stating that it was to unite Tamils across the island.

Read more of his remarks, translated into English, below.

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Two Tamil youths were injured when a Sri Lankan Air Force vehicle crashed into their motorbike in Vavuniya. One of them is said to be seriously injured and is being treated at the Vavuniya hospital. 

Bystanders in the vicinity said that the motorbike which was heading towards Vavuniya attempted to avoid an oncoming car but was hit by the air force vehicle. 

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam rejected the need for a common Tamil candidate at the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election telling reporters:

“There is no need for a common candidate. The Tamil people have no interest in supporting one. One of the current candidates will inevitably become President. There is also speculation that this common candidate was introduced to serve the interests of another candidate, to prevent votes from going elsewhere”.