Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum released statements to praise the country’s Tamil community this weekend, as many Tamils around the world celebrated Puthandu.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his statement to mark the occasion,

“As Tamil Canadians celebrate, let us all take time to learn about the rich heritage of their communities and recognize their important contributions to our country. Our diversity is a source of strength, and helps make Canada one of the best places in the world to call home”.

The Sri Lankan army said that soldiers who deserted the military and are accused of “malpractices or criminal acts” may still be able to receive an amnesty, in an announcement made last week.  

“Absentees who have been charged for indiscipline or accused of other malpractices or criminal acts could also receive a discharge in accordance with existing Army legal procedures and regulations,” said the announcement in an appeal to deserters to hand themselves over to the military.

A returned refugee from Tamil Nadu is campaigning to retrieve her land from a Buddhist monastery after she was blocked from accessing it by Sri Lankan army personnel.

The woman, who returned to the island after fleeing to Tamil Nadu in 2006, said that although she was a beneficiary of a house-building programme, she could not rebuild her house as she had returned to find two buildings used as lodgings for Buddhist monks built on it, and that army personnel stationed nearby had blocked her from accessing the land with threats of aggression.

The Mayor of London praised the city’s Tamil community in a message released on Sunday morning, as many celebrated Puthandu.

Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force (STF) announced that it had arrested a man in Kilinochchi this weekend, accusing him of possessing 2.4 kilograms of cannabis.

The man, who remains unnamed by Sri Lankan security forces at present, was arrested following a joint raid between the Sri Lankan navy and the STF on Saturday. 

He remains in Sri Lankan custody at present.

The Indian military is likely to transfer a Dornier reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka as it looks to build closer ties to Colombo, having just completed a joint military training exercise on the island.

Toronto’s mayor John Tory met with members of the Tamil community last month and pledged his office’s support behind a drive to create a cultural and recreational hub for Tamil-Canadians.

At least four “Sri Lankan nationals” have been arrested at Luton airport this week on suspicion of membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation announced Britain’s counter-terror police on Friday.

According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, British authorities “were made aware of the men” who had arrived in the UK on an international flight on the evening of Wednesday, 10 April.

The next day the police stopped them under Schedule 7 of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 at Luton airport. 

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture has completed its first field visit to Sri Lanka earlier today and will now look to submit a confidential report on its findings to the government.

“The delegation visited police stations, prisons, remand prisons, military camps, rehabilitation centres, mental health institution, a rehabilitation centre for children, and held meetings with the Government representatives, Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission and civil society representatives,” said a UN press release.

Sri Lanka’s former defence chief, accused of overseeing the massacre of thousands of Tamils, announced he had taken steps to renounce his American citizenship as he arrived back in Colombo on Friday.