Tamils are protesting across Jaffna today as Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe visits the peninsula for Thai Pongal. 

Thai Pongal is being celebrated across the Tamil homeland, with festivities taking place amidst the economic crisis. 

Environmental organization, Poovulagin Nanbargal, has raised concerns that the Sethusamudram project will harm the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mannar. 

In a statement the organization stated that the project will do more harm than good.

Minister of External Affairs of India, S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for January 19-20. 

According to officials, the visit will consist of a full review of bilateral ties.

A new alliance of Tamil nationalist parties was formed yesterday as local elections are set to take place across the island. 

Nelson's Column, the iconic monument in central London's popular Trafalgar Square, was lit up with a projection celebrating Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month on Saturday.

Tirunelveli market in Jaffna was bustling today as Tamils prepare for Thai Pongal. 

Overall, the core concept of ‘Raangi’ could have made for an enthralling and morally conflicting drama. Instead, Saravanan botches the delivery and presents a sloppy shell of a great film.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked the Tamil community for their service in the National Health Service (NHS) in a video message released this morning to mark Thai Pongal. 

Marking the harvest festival Thai Pongal, British MPs have issued statements expressing gratitude for the contribution of British Tamils to the UK and renewing their commitment to justice and accountability in Sri Lanka.

British leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer has raised concern over the continued persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka in his Thai Pongal message and stressed the need for accountability and justice.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local governments, Neel Bandaranaike Hapuhinna, confirmed that Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the 75th Independence Day celebration taking place on 4 February at the Galle Face in Colombo. 

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a 614 million rupee community-based tourism development project in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee.

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for entering a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Korean Toursim Organization and the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to implement the tourism project. 

Responding to the announcement by the Canadian government on sanctions on former Sri Lankan Presidents Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa, and other state officials, US Congressman Gregory Meeks has stressed the need for Sri Lanka to “take meaningful action on issues related to justice, accountability and reconciliation”.