Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya said that anyone who puts themselves forward as a common Tamil candidate for Sri Lanka’s presidential polls this year, must uphold the need for an independence referendum to fulfil the Tamil demand for self-determination. 

The Tamil families made the remarks as they held a vigil outside the Vavuniya main post office to mark the 43rd anniversary of the burning of the Jaffna Public Library. 

A Sri Lankan parliament panel has “summoned” representatives from the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, chief of all three forces, and attorney general, over fears the country may be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its massacre of the Tamil people in 2009.

The hosting of a documentary and panel discussion on the destruction of the Jaffna Public Library was muzzled by threats from the Sri Lankan intelligence service say organisers, who attempted to  mark the 43^rd anniversary of the arson attack.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested four Sri Lankan Muslims last month, over suspected links to the Islamic State (ISIS) after they travelled to India from Colombo.

According to reports, Indian security services discovered an ISIS flag and three loaded pistols among their belongings.

Tamil residents have been barred from entering their lands located at Tellippalai in Jaffna after it was revealed that nearly 55,000 square feet of the land that was reportedly “released” by the Sri Lankan government, is still laden with landmines. 

The Sri Lankan government recently released 234 acres of land in Tellippalai, however, the District Secretariat issuing a communique has warned residents not to re-enter the lands since it was not cleared of landmines. 

Tamil activists and politicians in Eelam have slammed the sale of a slipper by Sri Lankan company DSI, which is imprinted with the karthigai poo, or Gloriosa Lily - the national flower of Tamil Eelam.

The leader of the Tamil National Green Movement Ponnuthurai Aingaranesan told reporters that having the design on the sole of the flip flop was an insult to the Tamil homeland.

Tamils gathered in front of the Jaffna Public Library this week to commemorate the 43^rd anniversary of the treasured institution being set ablaze by Sri Lankan security forces and state-sponsored mobs.

Ahead of Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election, the Tamil People’s National Front, has begun its campaign to call on Eelam Tamils to boycott the elections.

TNPF commences campaign in Jaffna calling on the Eelam Tamil nation to boycott Sri Lanka's Presidential election. pic.twitter.com/CRHYobya43

Recent weeks have seen several senior politicians from the two leading opposition parties in the UK, reiterate the importance of ensuring Sri Lanka is referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Keir Starmer, the man widely tipped to become Britain’s next prime minister, called on the ruling government to push through a referral two years ago. Support for such a move has since grown. As Starmer released a statement to commemorate the Tamil Genocide, Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats committed his party to sending Sri Lanka to the ICC, “so at long last there can be accountability for the genocide committed against Tamil people”. No matter who occupies Downing Street next month, steps must be undertaken to ensure the situation in Sri Lanka is swiftly sent to The Hague. Justice for atrocities must finally be delivered.

A senior Sri Lankan official told reporters in Colombo that several US Congress members have been “bought over with money” by the Tamil diaspora and called for an extension of a ban on several US-based groups.

Sarath Weerasekera, the Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security and former Public Security Minister told reporters in Colombo that members of Congress had been “bought” after a resolution was introduced calling for self-determination for Eelam Tamils and a democratic independence referendum.