Today marks 50 years since the death of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, the first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle. 

Following the 15th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, Sri Lanka’s UN Resident Coordinator, Marc-André Franche, undertook a tour of the North-East and visited the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave in Mullaitivu. He was accompanied by Mullaitivu District's Families of the Disappeared President, Mariyasures Iswari, and lawyer K. Ganeswaran.

The visit follows Franche's meeting with Mullaitivu District Secretary, A. Uma Maheswaran, where they discussed the challenges facing those in Mullaitivu. 

A family of six Eelam Tamil have fled Mannar to arrive at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, where they are being held at the Police Station and having their statements recorded by the Indian police. 

It is learnt that the family undertook a journey by boat to arrive in Rameswaram on Tuesday (4). The family of six includes three children along with their parents. The family is seeking asylum in Tamil Nadu over the economic hardships that they are facing in Sri Lanka. 

Marking 50 years since the death of Pon. Sivakumaran, the first Tamil martyr to die in the liberation struggle, several Tamil political leaders and politicians paid tribute to him in Urumbarai, Jaffna.

The CONIFA's Women's World Cup has kicked off with the inaugural game between Tamil Eelam and Székely Land. 

Tamil Eelam showed heart to twice come from behind to draw the game 2-2 against Székely Land.

The first half saw Tamil Eelam working both wings to pressure the opposition. Passing the ball well Tamil Eelam were unlucky not to go ahead in the first 35 minutes. Tamil Eelam pressed well as a team, Székely Land could not consolidate play in the first half with Tamil Eelam closing down the centre. However, it was Székely Land to score first with a lofted free kick just before the end of the first half. Defensively Tamil Eelam held well  in open play, Szekely Land had few chances. Though trailing now going into the second half Tamil Eelam had to dig deep.

The head of Sri Lanka’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security said “brainwashed Muslims” must be forcibly rehabilitated, adding that the government can no longer “please” the community by appeasing their demands. 

Sarath, the former Public Security Minister, told reporters in Colombo that though Muslim organisations have raised objections against the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, which was passed last year and gives the security forces the authority to run so-called rehabilitation centres, it must be forcibly implemented.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila criticised the head of Amnesty International after she visited the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day commemorations at Mullivaikkal last month.

Another Buddhist temple has begun being built in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna despite the lack of permission from local authorities, as the Sri Lankan state continues to colonise the Tamil North-East.

Residents who have recently witnessed the construction of the building have been protesting against it, with reports that it is being constructed on private land that has been illegally acquired.

An event was held to remember scholar and community leader Reverend Father David, who reportedly died from shock just days after his beloved institution the Jaffna Public Library was destroyed by Sinhala mobs.

Library staff and local students joined the commemoration, which was led by Jaffna Municipal Council Commissioner S Krishnendran., the chief Librarian Sivakaran Anusiya, and attended byy staffers, students, and visitors.

Floral tributes were laid, and candles were lit to memorialize the incident.

Vavuniya District Development Committee Chairman and Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) parliamentarian Kulasingam Thileeban claimed that local government officials were preventing occupied land from being released to Tamils in the district.

Speaking to reporters, the MP claimed that Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured officials that occupied lands would be released back to their rightful owners, after a visit to Vavuniya last week.