A Tamil woman tearfully called on the Northern Province Governor Jeevan Thiyagarajah to release her husband, who was detained by Sri Lankan authorities under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) more than 12 years ago.

“My children are living without a father for 12 years now,” she told reporters.

“They have reached the age of marrying,” she added, calling for the release of her husband so that he could at least attend their son’s wedding.

Newly built statues of Swami Vipulananda and Bharathiyar were unveiled in Jaffna earlier this month.

The inauguration ceremonies for the opening of the statues were attended by local figures including Mayor of Jaffna, Viswalingam Manivannan and Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna Professor S. Srisatkunarajah.

A commemoration event was held to commemorate the victims of 1987 massacre by the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in Jaffna.

Makkal Needhi Maiam party leader Kamal Haasan met with Tamil National Alliance MP Sivagnanam Shritharan, where the two discussed the Sri Lankan military occupation of the North-East and the prospect of autonomy for Eelam Tamils.

According to a press release from the actor-turned-politician’s party, the two discussed how Tamils in the North-East are still fighting for autonomy at their meeting in Tamil Nadu earlier today.

Shritharan also spoke of the Sri Lankan military’s ongoing occupation across the North-East.

The US Department of Defense has donated medical equipment to the Sri Lankan Health Ministry to support the urgent medical needs of the country.

US Ambassador Julie Chung participated today in the donation from the U.S. Department of Defense to the Ministry of Health at the Base Hospital in Panadura after meeting with the Minister of Health Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella. 

Tamils from the Polikandy area of Jaffna who continue to live in a refugee camp in Mannar have slammed the ongoing Sri Lankan military occupation of their land.

As they attended an event where dry rations were being distributed to the displaced, the families called for their land to be released.

“We are displaced since the war and been living here as orphans,” said one representative. “Our lands are occupied by the army and they are harvesting fruits.”

Bangladesh remains hopeful that Sri Lanka will repay a debt of US$200 million that it owes to the country by March 2023, even as the economic crisis on the island continues and Colombo defaults on other loans.

The Governor of the Bangladesh Central Bank Abdur Rouf Talukder said he was “assured” by Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe that the debt would be repaid after the pair met in Washington.

In a rare catch on Sunday evening, fishermen in Jaffna caught a group of 14 sharks.

The total weight of the catch was estimated to be over 2,000kg, with the fish being valued at several thousands dollars.

Several people have been arrested in recent weeks having found to be in possession of illegal drugs, as illicit drug usage continues to plague the North-East.  

Last week, at least two persons were arrested by Sri Lankan police for possessing 2 grams of ice (methamphetamine), one gram of heroin and several syringes.

Earlier today a further four people were arrested with 2 grams of heroin.

British authorities have come under fire for placing the lives of Tamil refugees, including children, at risk by enabling those stranded in Diego Garcia to travel onward in vessels that lacked basic safety equipment.