Tamils held a protest in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu, today to condemn the attack by a Sinhala mob on a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan. 

Tamils from Thevipuram and Vallipunam chanted "do we not have the right to remember our loved ones?" during their demonstration. 

A Sinhala mob attacked and destroyed a memorial float dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan as it travelled through Trincomalee today. 

From his debut feature ‘Trisha Illana Nayanthara,’ Adhik Ravichandran established himself as the king of tastelessness. Successive films such as ‘AAA’ and ‘Bagheera’ were both critically panned and box office failures. Somehow, not only has the director managed to keep making films, but has doubled down on his style with his new film ‘Mark Antony.’ Even more surprisingly, the film manages to entertain its audience by sticking wholeheartedly to its ridiculousness. 

The excavation of the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave entered its eighth day on September 14th, uncovering additional evidence crucial to the ongoing investigation. 

Residents of Palaly, located in Valikamam North, continue to face significant challenges to get resettled, despite the allocation of lands for this purpose. The state's failure to provide the necessary support and permits for building houses and infrastructure on the released lands has left the affected residents in a difficult situation.

The seventh day of excavation at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave, carried out on September 13th, continued to yield crucial evidence in this ongoing investigation further deepening the complexity of the case.

Addressing the 54th UN Human Rights Council session, the European Union (EU) emphasised the need for uphold human rights, deliver on accountability, and suspend Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Whilst acknowledging the positive rhetoric from the Sri Lankan president on reconciliation and resolving land disputes, the delegation noted that they were still awaiting concrete actions.

During the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Deputy High Commissioner, Nada Al-Nashif, raised concerns over increasing military land grabs in the Tamil homeland; the failure to hold Provincial Council elections; crackdowns on memorial events; and the use of state forces to intimidate protesters and journalists.

Economic concern

Noting the financial crisis in Sri Lanka, Al-Nashif detailed how it was hitting the poorest and most marginalised communities the hardest.

Villagers from the Ponnaveli Grama Sevakar division in the Kilinochchi District entered the 41st day of their protest, firmly opposing land grabbing for the construction of a cement factory.

The protestors have been resolute in their stance against private companies that operate in the area, which have constructed approximately 40 tube wells. This excessive groundwater extraction has led to the near depletion of the water table, leaving the villagers grappling with acute water shortages.

The Kokkuthoduvai mass grave excavation reached its sixth day on September 12th. The excavation team have identified the skeletal remains of seven victims, with five sets of remains having been exhumed thus far.