Yesterday in Nedungeni, Vavuniya, in the northern province, Tamils gathered for the 96th day of a 100-day protest to call for a dignified political solution.

"We are not asking for partition or independence; we are calling for a political solution with dignified rights within Sri Lanka", protesters told journalists.

Cleaning was underway at Uduthurai Thuyilum Illam this morning as the Tamil nation prepare to mark Maaveerar Naal later this month. 

Women and children will be the worst hit by Sri Lanka’s economic crisis warns the head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, Mikiko Tanaka.

She made these remarks during a special discussion held at the Ministry of Industries with Minister Ramesh Pathirana.

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) commemorated S. P. Thamilselvan, the head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who was assassinated by the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF) 15 years ago. 

Despite the alarming human rights record of Sri Lanka’s navy, the US has donated a colossal naval vessel, the second 'Hamilton Class- High Endurance Cutter'.

On Twitter, US Ambassador for Sri Lanka Julie Chung, affirmed US support for “Sri Lanka’s maritime sovereignty stating”.

Today marks fifteen years since S. P. Thamilselvan, the head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was assassinated by the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF).

University of Jaffna's Art Faculty students held a memorial service yesterday to mark the 14th year death anniversary of former student union leader Sellathurai Purusothaman, who was killed along with another Tamil youth during a clash with the Sri Lankan Army.

The students paid tribute to Purusothaman as a popular and courageous student leader, leading the arts faculty students union at Jaffna University between 2006 and 2007, during the height of Sri Lankan military hostilities against Tamil students.

Jaffna University students are protesting through Tellippaalai this morning demanding the return of land to villagers in Valikamam which is currently occupied by the Sri Lankan Army.

Protestors held  placards that read: “Give back our lands, stop the encroachment on our Homeland, Vali North is our native land!” 

Following a whirlwind tour of Sri Lanka, where she met Sri Lanka's political leaders, the Deputy Managing Director of the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) Asia and Pacific division, Paola Pampaloni reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka during this “difficult period” but stressed the need to see progress on accountability and the protection of democratic freedoms.

The interviews come as news breaks that Sri Lanka’s Presidential Envoy to Europe and Commonwealth, Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya (Nirj Deva), is reportedly seeking for Sri Lanka to join the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), expand concessions for Sri Lanka under the GSP+ agreement with the EU, and to strike a free trade agreement.

Plainclothed Sri Lankan military officers took photographs of Tamils preparing for Maaveerar Naal at Koppay Thuyilum Illam. 

Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day - remembers those who sacrificed their lives in the Tamil liberation struggle, and is marked on November 27, in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadre, Lt Col. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982.