According to Jaffna-based newspaper Uthayan, pistol carrying intelligence officers from the Sri Lankan army have increased their presence in Jaffna university. The paper reported that students were threatened with pistols and warned against partaking in events to commemorate National Heroes Day. On Monday evening students at Jaffna University reportedly posted several posters commemorating National Remembrance day which were taken down by military personnel immediately. See the report from Uthayan here .
Updated 22 : 10 GMT Tens of thousands of Tamils poured into the Excel centre today, to mark the Maaveerar Naal - the Eelam's national day of remembrance - and honour those who died for in the struggle for freedom. Decorated in the nation's colours of red and yellow, the venue had a replica Thuyilum Illam in front of the stage, with a wall of photographs of Maaveerar along either side. A trio of life size tombstones with a flame flying in the centre, was ceremoniously draped with the national flag. At the back, a huge revolving column mosaiced with the faces of the nation's Maaveerar was...
Photographs Uthayan The Sri Lankan military and intelligence personnel raided the Balasingham hostel and Ananthakumaraswamy hostel at Jaffna university, after students lit a lamp of sacrifice to commemorate Maaveerar Naal, reports Uthayan. According to the newspaper, the military had been roaming the university through out the day since students celebrated the birthday of V. Prabhakaran on Monday. At 6:05pm, as the students lit the lamp of sacrifice, military personnel, armed with guns and batons stormed the two boys' hostels attacked everyone they came across.
Speaking at the recently held " Y o uth Maaveerar Naal " in London, Imperial College London s tudent Visakan Balakumar called on his fellow university students to intensify the struggle against genocide during a speech on behal f of his university's Tamil Society. The speech has been reproduced in full bel ow. " Dear ladies and gentleman. We gather here today to remember those brave souls who gave their lives. Those brave souls who gave their lives for us, for our homeland and our nation. Their selfless acts of bravery in the line of duty mark some of the greatest achievements in the history of the Eelam Tamil nation, our Eelam Tamil nation.
Published 00:32 GMT Tamil students across Canada came together to remember the nation's great heroes on 25th November and mark the commencing of Tamil Eelam Heroes Remembrance Week. The remembrance event started at 6pm local time. Watch the event live here .
The Sri Lankan government has issued a statement calling on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to “display restraint and avoid civilian casualties” earlier this week. See the full statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs below. “Sri Lanka is deeply concerned and disturbed at the recent serious escalation of violence in Gaza and deeply regrets the loss of lives and the great suffering experienced by the people of Palestine. Sri Lanka strongly believes the use of force and militaristic threats should be halted and that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the...
Photographs Uthayan In another bold act of defiance by Tamil students in the North-East, posters commemorating Tamil Eelam National Remembrance Day were seen posted around Jaffna University's campus on the eve of November 27th.
The Sri Lankan Students Association of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA, organised an awareness event on Sri Lanka’s conflict and ‘post-conflict developments’, reported Colombo page. The president of the society, Kasun Frenando, said that the event was organised to combat “ a malicious propaganda campaign carried out by the Amnesty International against Sri Lanka .” The Sri Lankan society event screened the film “Freedom Speaks – Thee unspoken ground realities of Sri Lanka’s Conflict” The organisation also released a press statement, that disapproved of Amnesty International’s...
The newly built memorial stone to mark the grave of Murugathasan Varnakulasingham - the Tamil youth who, outraged at international apathy and inaction in the face of the genocide of Tamils, self-immolated in protest outside the United Nations in Geneva on 12th February 2009 - was unveiled formally on Sunday by his mother, Mrs Varnakulasingham.
The Sri Lankan President’s visit to Malaysia has been cancelled following strong discontent surrounding the initial announcement of the visit . The Malaysian Sri Lankan High Commission’s, media affairs counsellor, Rizvi Hassen, confirmed that , “ President Rajapaksa will not be coming due to unavoidable circumstances .” Rajapaksa was invited to attend the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIFE) in Malaysia. The invitation caused several protests, from various leaders in the Malaysian Indian Congress community, who also held positions as ministers in parliament. Commenting on the Malaysian Prime...