The Sri Lankan army have intensified their presence in Jaffna as Maaveerar Naal approaches.

The military have been patrolling the roads, particularly the areas around Koppay Thuyilum Illam. Earlier this month, plainclothed military officers attempted to intimidate Tamils who were clearing the Thuyilum Illam by taking their photographs. 

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has touted a ‘productive virtual dialogue’ with the European Union, reporting that the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the island and that they discussed the GSP+ arrangement, which sees favourable trading concessions to Sri Lanka.

The virtual meeting was held last Thursday and was the first dialogue to take place between the two Parliament since the last in-person meeting in November 2017 in Colombo.

Responding to a visit from Sri Lanka's president, Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Vavuniya staged a protest outside the Vavuniya District Secretariat office.

The protest comes as Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe was set to inaugurate the Northern Province Coordination Sub-Office.

Tamil students from Aalborg University in Denmark marked the first day of Maaveerar remembrance week, the week leading up to the Tamil national remembrance day of Maaveerar Naal.

Over the next week, Tamils in the homeland and diaspora will commemorate those who gave their lives to the Tamil liberation struggle. 

Plain clothed Sri Lankan military officers watched over Tamils marking the first day of Maaveerar remembrance week at Chatty Thuyilum Illam yesterday. 

A memorial was unveiled in Nallur, Jaffna yesterday, to mark the first day of Maaveerar remembrance week. 

Parents of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres inaugurated the event by uncovering 34 plaques which listed the names of all those who gave their lives to the Tamil struggle for self-determination. 

A flame was lit in remembrance of the Maaveerar who gave their lives to the Tamil struggle for liberation at Pandivirichan Thuyilum Illam today. 

Families of fallen LTTE cadres, activists and parliamentarian Charles Nirmalanathan all paid tribute to the Maaveerar before they began cleaning the Thuyilum Illam to prepare for Maaveerar Naal.

More than 250 Maaveerar families gathered in Palai, Kilinochchi today to remember their family members who sacrificed their lives for the Tamil struggle for self-determination. 

The Sri Lankan police disrupted locals as they cleaned Kanchikudiyaru Thuyilum Illam in Amparai last week. 

Despite their interference, locals and parliamentarians S Kajendren and T Kalaiyarasan continued to clean the former cemetery in preparation of Maaveerar Naal.