The battle to elect the next leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) has begun to heat up, as S Yogeswaran threw his support behind S Shritharan in Batticaloa last week, with the embattled political alliance set to choose a new head this weekend.

Speaking alongside Shritharan at a press conference in Batticaloa, Yogeswaran did not declare himself out of the race but did back his fellow ITAK member against the other candidacy of M A Sumanthiran.

The commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of the Pongu Tamil Declaration took place at Jaffna University, marking a significant event in the region's history.

The leaders of the three main political parties in Canada, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, released statements to send their Thai Pongal wishes to the Tamil Canadian community this week.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, issued the following statement.

“Today, Tamil communities in Canada and around the world will mark the beginning of Thai Pongal, also known as the harvest festival.

Tamil farmers rallied through Batticaloa today on Patti Pongal to highlight their ongoing plight as illegal Sinhala settlers continue to destroy their livestock and grab their lands. 

Patti Pongal, also known as Maatu Pongal, is a festival celebrated by Tamils to give thanks to cattle for allowing farmers to cultivate and harvest their crops. Cows are often bathed and adorned with flower garlands and bells. 

Today marks 31 years since the death of Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993.

Watch live as as hundreds of British Tamils are joined by politicians and other members of the public to celebrate to celebrate Thai Pongal, the secular Tamil festival that gives thanks to the sun and for the harvest and to mark Tamil Heritage Month.

British Conservative MPs joined the UK Prime Minister in sending their Thai Pongal wishes to the Tamil community in the UK. 

In his Thai Pongal message, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent a "huge thank you" and stated that the community has made an "amazing contribution" to the country.

^{Image courtesy of Lankanewsweb}

A Sri Lankan police officer from Mannar, stationed at the Kopay Police Station, was arrested in Trincomalee in possession of 50 grams of methamphetamine, commonly known as the drug "ice."

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent a "huge thank you" to British Tamils in a message released to mark Thai Pongal today, stating the community has made an "amazing contribution" to the country.

Marking Thai Pongal, Britain's Leader of the Opposition, alongside numerous other MPs have issued statements celebrating the contribution of British Tamils to life in the UK and reaffirming their commitment to supporting Tamils in their struggle for self-determination, truth, justice and accountability.

His full statement is reproduced below: