Four fishermen from Rameswaram were apprehended on Sunday near Kachchatheevu by the Sri Lankan Navy who also allegedly damaged 50 boats, reports the Press Trust of India.

According to T Sesuraja, the president of the local fishermen's association, the Sri Lankan Navy approached the fishermen in eight boats and detained four fishermen, taking them to Kankesanthurai along with their boats.

Pictures: Presidential Media Unit

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to visit the island, to “assess the situation” since his last visit.

The secretary general congratulated Rajapaksa on his leadership and “acknowledged the progress” Sri Lanka has made in the past years, adding that he was optimistic that remaining challenges will be overcome with “this type of political leadership” according to the government’s official media portal.

More than 20,000 demonstrators protested in solidarity with Eelam Tamils in Chennai this week, calling for economic sanctions on Sri Lanka.

Protestors from over 150 organisations gathered by Egmore Rajaratnam stadium with placards and banners, chanting slogans calling for an independent Tamil Eelam.


V Prabhakaran from the Tamil Youth and Students Federation told the Tamil Guardian,

“The protest delivers a strong message to the international community that  Tamil Nadu is in full support with Tamil Eelam.”

Picture: Uthayan

Students at the University of Jaffna held a memorial event on the 27th death anniversary of hunger striker Lt Col Thileepan.

The event was held at a secret location, reported the Jaffna based daily, Uthayan