With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.

The Sri Lanka government has made cremations compulsory for all coronavirus victims, disregarding advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and going against Islamic tradition as racist false rumours against the island’s Muslim community continued to circulate.

Mulliyavalai Youth Club association members set up a free home gardening initiative, with the Institute of Regional Development and Governance, for Mulliyavalai area residents.

The project called “Namakku Naamay” (We For Us), was launched by the youths on Thursday (9^th March) to ensure that every household has plants in their home’s garden, in an effort to prepare for the impending food crisis and poverty looming in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

At least one person was killed after a mini cyclone struck Vavuniya this week, as villagers struggle with a military enforced curfew in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has suspended a local council member who was arrested and remanded for molesting a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl, along with four other perpetrators.   

The Sri Lankan president announced the lighting up of Colombo's Lotus Tower was to pay "tribute to" the Sri Lankan armed forces, as well as to healthcare workers, in the midst of a miltiary enforced curfew on the island as part of coronavirus counter-measures.

A popular Tamil journalist has passed away in London this week after contracting coronavirus aged just 30-years-old.

Thillainathan Ananthavarnan, a former newsreader and editor with TTN, passed away yesterday.

^{Photograph: Thamarai Connect}

Tributes have been paid to a British Tamil doctor who died from coronavirus whilst on the frontlines and caring patients last week.

The European Union (EU) announced it would provide a grant of €22 million to Sri Lanka to help support its struggling economy in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak after ambassadors met with Basil Rajapaksa this week.

“Sri Lanka’s very low number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far is impressive,” the EU said in a statement. “To support Sri Lankan efforts further, the European Union is targeting three sectors: health, agriculture and tourism.”

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it would donate $1.3 million USD to Sri Lanka to help support coronavirus prevention efforts, which are currently being led by a commander who is barred from travel to the US.

“The lack of civilian oversight over Sri Lanka’s militarised COVID-19 response raises some very serious human rights concerns,” the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said in a press release.

“Sri Lanka has an alleged war criminal heading its COVID-19 response, who served in the same army regiment as the President, raising questions about transparency, accountability and oversight,” Yasmin Sooka, ITJP’s Executive Director said.

The Sri Lankan police have arrested three Tamils in Jaffna this week, alleging that they are members of the ‘Aava gang’ responsible for various acts of violence in the region.

The Office on Missing Persons (OMP), has urged the Sri Lanka government to ensure that families of the missing and disappeared are included as beneficiaries for rations and other state assistance schemes, to help with the difficulties of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

A letter addressed to Sri Lanka’s President, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force was sent out by the OMP chairman, Saliya Pieris yesterday (7^th April). 

With healthcare workers across the globe working to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, we look at some of the Tamils on the frontlines of the battle to save lives.

From nurses and doctors to our paramedics and porters, every single contribution is invaluable. And alongside thousands of other workers, the Tamil community has been actively involved in efforts to fight the pandemic.

We will be highlighting stories of healthcare workers around the world who are working to keep us all safe.