Clearing of LTTE cemeteries takes place across the North-East

Tamils across the North-East have begun cleaning Thuyilum Illams - resting homes - this week in preparation of Maaveerar Naal. Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heroes Day- is marked on November 27, in memory of the first death of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre, Lt Col. Shankar who died in combat on November 27, 1982. . The LTTE built Thuyilum Illams across the North-East to vury the bodies of LTTE cadres who had died during the armed conflict. However, all of these cemeteries were razed to the ground by the Sri Lankan military after the armed conflict ended in May 2009. In some...

Palaly-Achchuveli road reopened after 34 years but Sri Lankan military continues to occupy Jaffna peninsula

The Sri Lankan government reopened the Palaly-Achchuveli road in Jaffna yesterday after 34 years but the peninsula and the rest of the North-East remains occupied by the Sri Lankan military. In a press release , the president's media division stated that the road was reopened after residents "had long called for the road’s reopening to facilitate greater mobility and regional development." Whilst the military have opened up the Palaly-Achchuveli road, Tamil residents have reportedly been denied access to visit the roadside temples. Other roads in Jaffna also remain closed by the Sri Lankan...

TNPF remember Thamilselvan 17 years on

The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) commemorated Brigadier Thamilselvan today to mark 17 years since he was killed by the Sri Lankan air force. TNPF leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and party members observed a minute's silence and laid flowers for Thamilselvan at party's Jaffna office. On November 2, 2007 Sri Lankan air force jets carried out a strike on a residence of members of the LTTE's political division. Five other LTTE officials - Lt. Col. Anpumani (Alex), Major Mikuthan, Major Nethaaji, Lt. Aadchiveal and Lt. Maavaikkumaran - were killed alongside Brigadier Thamilselvan, in the...

Thuyilum Illam clearing begins in Batticaloa

Tamils began clearing Mavadi Munmari Thuyilum Illam in Batticaloa yesterday as preparations begin across the North-East to mark Maaveerar Naal. On November 27, the Tamil nation will honour the LTTE cadres that sacrificed their lives in the fight for liberation. Similar preparations have taken place at Koppay Thuyilum Illam yesterday and at Vannivilankulam Thuyilum Illam last week.

Remembering Thamilselvan

Today marks 17 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).

UN awards Sri Lankan peacekeepers with medals despite sex ring scandal

The United Nations has awarded Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving in South Sudan with medals although they have a history of egregious human rights abuses at home and abroad. On October 17, 17 officers and 48 Other ranks from the Sri Lankan contingent received medals "in recognition of their dedicated service." In 2007, over 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers were implicated in a child sex ring in Haiti. Sri Lankan troops were accused of exchanging food and money for sex with girls and boys as young as 12. While most of the accused were repatriated, none have been criminally prosecuted. The Sri Lankan...

Sri Lankan government launches investigation into High Commissioner in UK

The Sri Lankan government confirmed it has launched an investigation into its High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Rohitha Bogollagama, after allegations of financial misconduct in London. Sri Lankan foreign minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that an investigation would take place, but claimed that allegations a car was purchased for Bogollagama by the government were not true. Earlier this month, unconfirmed reports by Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror claimed that British police also visited the official residence of Bogollagama, with claims that a domestic worker there was being harassed...

Koppay Thuyilum Illam cleaning begins ahead of Maaveerar Naal

Tamil residents and members of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) began cleaning Koppay Thuyilum Illam today as the Tamil nation prepares to mark Maaveerar Naal which falls on November 27. Maaveerar Naal - or Great Heores Day - is observed annually by Tamils in the homeland and across the diaspora to remember the LTTE cadres who gave their lives in the struggle for liberation. November 27 marks the death anniversary of Lt. Shankar, the first LTTE cadre to die in combat in 1982. The LTTE built Thuyilum Illams across the North-East but these were destroyed by the Sri Lankan army following...

US Ambassador discusses importance of justice and accountability with Tamils during visit to the North

US Ambassador Julie Chung was on a visit to Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya last week where she met with the Tamil families of the disappeared, civil society activists and politicians to discuss the importance of justice, accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. In Mannar, Chung met with the Tamil families of the disappeared who have been campaigning to know the whereabouts of their forcibly disappeared relatives. "Their stories, along with those I have heard from members of the families I have met in the north and east, and the south of Sri Lanka, demonstrate the heartbreak of those still...

Dozens more Sri Lankans leave to work in Israel and replace Palestinian roles

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) announced that another group of Sri Lankans are leaving to work in Israel today, to make up for vacancies that were previously occupied by Palestinians, after Israel enforced sweeping revocation of worker permits in several sectors. SLFEB spokesperson Madushan Kularatne said that in spite of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza and Lebanon, Sri Lankans working in Israel would be “safe”. A total of 61 persons would be leaving for Israel today and in the coming weeks. All will be working in the agriculture sector. Israel’s farms, particularly in the...

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