Fishermen in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, have initiated a day-long strike demanding the release of 22 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. The detainees are accused of trespassing in waters near Jaffna.

The Mullaitivu Press Club (MPC) has called for an international monitoring mechanism to investigate the oppression and intimidation faced by journalists, following a recent arson attack on a Tamil journalist in Jaffna. 

Earlier this month, Tamil freelance journalist Pradeepan Thambithurai was attacked by masked assailants at his home in Achchuveli, Jaffna. The assailants, arriving on motorbikes, vandalised his property, including setting fire to his motorbike and damaging a three-wheeler belonging to a relative. Leaflets were left at the scene with a message about transgender representation. 

Ahead of Britain’s general election on 4 July, representatives from the Conservatives, Labour and Green Party addressed the first-ever British Tamil hustings, as they all pledged to work towards justice and accountability for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka.

The event, hosted by the Tamil Guardian and British Tamil Alliance, took place in Westminster, London last week, as party representatives laid out their vision for the country and shared commitment to the British Tamil community.

Making a statement at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Core Group on Sri Lanka called on the government to "address the suffering caused by enforced disappearances" following a report by the UN High Commissioner last month. 

A spokesperson for the Sinhala extremist National Patriotic Movement (NPM) warned that a recently proposed US Congress resolution calling for an independence referendum was “far worse” than Canada placing sanctions on the Rajapaksas for war crimes, as he demanded the Sri Lankan government take action.

NPM spokesperson Wasantha Bandara demanded the Sri Lankan government “explain how it intended to counter the powerful Eelamist lobby… with the help of the US, a self-appointed world policeman,” according to a report in The Island.

The first-ever British Tamil community hustings is set to take place in London tomorrow, with senior figures from the UK’s major political parties set to speak directly to British Tamils on the issues that matter to them most, ahead of next month’s general election.

Representatives from the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party are scheduled to speak and answer questions on Thursday 20 June at 6.30PM, at The Abbey Centre in Westminster, London.

More US Congress members have signed up to back a landmark resolution, calling on the United States to work towards an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and recognize the genocide committed against them by the Sri Lankan state.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron said his party’s commitment to British Tamils was “unwavering”, as he praised the community for their “invaluable contribution to the life of our country" and pledged to “support truth, justice and accountability for all”.

“Britain's Tamil community is a huge success story,” said Cameron, in a video message released just weeks before the UK General Election.

The International Monetary Fund has approved Sri Lanka’s program review allowing the disbursement of 330 million US dollars, while cautioning that Sri Lanka’s path to debt sustainability remains ‘knife-edged.’

Despite pre-election bluster and high hopes, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a resounding defeat in Tamil Nadu, failing to gain a single seat. Even constituencies such as Coimbatore and Dharmapuri, where the party’s state leader, K. Annamalai was confident of a victory, was swept by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).