‘Varisu’ is mostly successful in what it wants to be: a wave of nostalgia for Vijay fans and a safe ‘masala’ film. It can be enjoyed with the family, and Vijay has certainly played his cards well to ensure Pongal success. 

Ajith Kumar teams up with H. Vinoth once again following their moderate success with ‘Nerkonda Parvai’ and moderate failure with ‘Valimai.’ Now, the duo return with their take on the heist film, ‘Thunivu.’

Responding to landmark sanctions announced by the Canadian government on former Sri Lankan presidents Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, General Secretary of the Rajapaksa-dominated Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sagara Kariyawasam, condemned the move by applauding the action of the Rajapaksa to end the war.

Following the announcement of the Canadian government of sanctions on the Rajapaksa brothers, and other Sri Lankan state officials, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister has summoned the acting High Commissioner of Canada,Eric Walsh, “to raise concerns”.

Responding to the announced sanctions by the Canadian government on former Sri Lankan Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as two other state officials, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has hit back claiming that these actions are a “violation of the rights that Canada claims to uphold”.

Rival political parties, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have agreed to form an alliance and contest the local elections together.

Following weeks of disappointing negotiations with Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has put forward a seven-day ultimatum to meet three key demands.

The three demands are:

Responding to the Canadian government imposing historic sanctions on the former president and prime minister of Sri Lanka, British MP Gareth Thomas has slammed the British government for its failure to follow suit.

With the announcement of local elections across the island, the Tamil National Alliance, the largest alliance representing Tamils in the North-East, is in flux over divisions between and within the constituent parties.

US-based advocacy organisation People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) welcomed Canada's targeted sanctions against the Rajapaksa brothers and other Sri Lankan military officials but urged the international community to go further to ensure justice and accountability for Tamils. 

Canada’s foreign minister Mélanie Joly has announced targeted sanctions against Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as Sunil Ratnayake and Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi for “gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka”.

V Mannivannan with TMTK leader C V Wigneswaran

Viswalingham Mannivannan has joined the Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) party ahead of the island's local elections. 

A remembrance event was held in Jaffna today to mark the 49th anniversary since the killing of eleven Tamils by Sri Lankan police officers at the 1974 World Tamil Research Conference. 
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Captain Pandithar, a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was commemorated on the 38th anniversary of his passing at his residence in Valvettithurai, Jaffna yesterday.