Sri Lanka's president Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed retired general Aruna Jayasekara as deputy defence minister - a man who oversaw Sri Lankan troops as they raped minors in Haiti and was a platoon commander as the state crushed an insurgency led by Dissanayake’s party, the JVP.

Following a visit to the North, China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong visited Kaluvankerni, a Tamil village in the Eastern Province which he has travelled to previously, as he pledged further financial aid aimed at improving livelihoods in the region.

The Chinese embassy also announced an additional donation of 8 million LKR to support development efforts in the Eastern Province. Earlier this year, China contributed house units, fishing nets, and rice worth 1.5 billion LKR to the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala confirmed that restrictions would be put in place as Tamils look to observe Maaveerar Naal, or Great Heroes’ Day, on November 27, including the display of any photographs.

Speaking to reporters, Wijepala said display of logos, uniforms, or images associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) remain prohibited, as the group is a banned terrorist organization.

The parents of fallen Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were honoured in Kilinochchi yesterday as the Tamil nation marks Maaveerar remembrance week. 

The fourth day of Maaveerar remembrance week was marked in Jaffna today with events taking place in Velanai and Kodikamam.

Velanai

The Tamil National Action Group and the Island Memorial Committee organised a solemn commemoration in Velanai, Jaffna, to honour the parents and relatives of fallen heroes.

British Tamil children commemorated the tens of thousands of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for liberation. 

Tamil children studying at Dartford Tamil Knowledge Centre lit lamps and laid karthigai poo flowers at a makeshift gravestone at the school this week. 

The third day of Maaveerar remembrance week was marked by Tamils outside Koppay Thuyilum Illam which is now occupied by the Sri Lankan army. 

Students at the University of Jaffna marked day three of Maaveerar remembrance week on campus today. 

They laid flowers at a memorial that is dedicated to Tamil fighters that lost their lives in the armed conflict.