Ahead of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day, Jaffna Tamils have commenced observing "Black Week" in protest of the Sri Lankan government.

Responding to the arrest of Tamil civil society leader Velan Swamigal, US Congresswoman Deborah Ross expressed her deep concern over his arrest during a peaceful demonstration.

On Twitter Ross tweeted:

Last year, I had the opportunity to speak with Velan Swamigal and learn about his work on civil and human rights for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

I am deeply concerned by his arrest during a peaceful protest last week.

Ahead of the 75^th independence anniversary, six major Tamil American organisations have written to the US House of Representatives to demand an independence referendum and that the US push for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In their statement, the organisations emphasised that Tamils have repeatedly called for Sri Lanka to be referred to the ICC and that during the final stages of the armed conflict, the death toll could be as high as 146,679.

Speaking in a parliamentary event marking Thai Pongal, British MPs and councillors celebrated the contribution of Tamils to life in the UK and renewed their commitment to justice. The event was organised by the British Tamil Forum.

Ed Davey MP

FIFA has suspended Sri Lanka following "undue interference by a third party" during an election conducted by the federation. 

The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has been suspended, barring FFSL representatives and the national team from participating in international competitions. The Ministry of Sports introduced a raft of regulations that reportedly compromised the autonomy and independence of national sports bodies, including the FFSL.

India has committed to help ease the debt of Sri Lanka as part of a possible International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported program, Reuters reported this week.

The island is currently dealing with it's worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, causing prices to soar and making it increasingly difficult for people to access food, fuel and medicines. 

Tamils in Denmark marked the 30th death anniversary of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu this week. 

Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

Murdered Tamil journalist Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan was commemorated in Batticaloa this morning, to mark 17 years since his death. 

Lamps were lit and flowers were laid in front of a garlanded portrait of the slain journalist in Gandhi Park at a commemoration event organsied by Batticaloa District Tamil Jounralists Union and the Eastern Journalists Union. 

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of Sri Lanka and Ombudsman Institution of Turkey entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to protect human rights, despite ongoing human rights abuses.

Responding to the arrest of Tamil civil society leader Velan Swamigal, British MPs have expressed their deepening concern over the continued persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

On Twitter, Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, noted his concerns stating: