The British royal family undertook its first visit to the Tamil homeland earlier today, as Princess Anne visited the Jaffna Public Library, an iconic centre of Tamil literature that was set ablaze by Sri Lankan security forces and state-sponsored mobs in 1981.

In a solemn commemoration, the 50th-anniversary event to honor those who were killed in the 1974 World Tamil Research Conference was held on January 10th in Jaffna. The ceremony unfolded at the memorial courtyard erected to remember the massacre.

Today marks 34 years since the passing of Major Sothiya, the commander of the LTTE's first female unit. 

Maria Vasanthi Michael, known by her nomme de guerre ‘Sothiya’, was born on 20 September 1963. She first joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1984.

A formidable fighter, Sothiya took part in many battles, as female cadres began to take part in combat operations from 1986 onwards.

In a remarkable archaeological revelation, human remains dating back approximately 3400 years have been uncovered in the Velanai area of Jaffna, a discovery that stands as a testament to one of the oldest prehistoric human civilizations on the island.

Meeting with Sri Lanka’s justice minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie J. Chung, claimed to be “extremely happy” with Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and "peaceful environment" despite growing alarm over Sri Lanka’s human rights record.

Sri Lanka's political and social instability has been cited as a key reason for limited Japanese investment in the island.

Following a survey by the Japan External Trade Organisation, 93.5% of firms noted that "political and social instability" created a disadvantaged environment for investment on the island. 

The next most cited disadvantage was unclear policy management by local government (77.4 %) and currency volatility (58.1%).

Britain’s current foreign secretary claimed he visited the controversial Chinese-backed Port City Colombo as a “friend of Sri Lanka,” as the former premier sought to bat off allegations of ties with Beijing.

Appearing before the foreign affairs committee, Cameron denied that he was a “friend of China” as he drummed up investment for a controversial multibillion-pound Chinese project in Colombo. 

Democratic People's Front (DPF) and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan charged Princess Anne “to accept historical responsibility” over the plight of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, as the royal landed in Sri Lanka earlier today.

In a statement released as the British official embarked on her tour of the island, the parliamentarian said “I find no better time to raise this issue”.

Sri Lanka’s parliament has voted through a bill to establish yet another mechanism to look examine “Unity and Reconciliation” on the island, despite a range of Tamil parliamentarians voting overwhelmingly against the move.

The bill mandates the establishment of the ‘Office for National Unity and Reconciliation’ which would consist of 11 members approved by the Sri Lankan government.

Three victims of the Easter Sunday bombings, which occurred on 21 April 2019 and claimed the lives of over 260 people, have filed a Fundamental Rights petition before Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court seeking an order restraining Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon from accepting any further appointments as Acting Inspector General of Police.

The petitioners named Tennakoon as a senior official displaying serious neglect on part of Sri Lanka’s police and recommended taking disciplinary action him and other senior officials.