A Sinhala Buddhist monk who recently purchased 6 acres of land in Chunnakam, Jaffna has applied for permission to build a Buddhist temple on the site. Tha land, purchased from a private owner, is near Kantharodai which is currently under the control of Sri Lanka's archeology department. The monk has written to the archeology department requesting permission to build a vihara - a Buddhist temple - on the land. While the monk has expressed his willingness to expedite the necessary permissions for building a temple, he has made it clear that the archeology department’s permission is paramount.
Following multiple reports of students being denied transport services on the A9 road in Sri Lanka, the head of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has issued a statement guaranteeing that no student will be refused transport and will be given priority in the future. The SLTB was summoned to the Human Rights Council after journalists highlighted reports of students in the Mullaitivu district, Mankulam, Panikulam, Kizhavankulam, and Thirumurukandi facing issues in attending school due to lack of transport services. Despite the SLTB's initial orders to give priority to students, reports...
15 Prisoners were released from the Vavuniya Prison on a General Pardon. The Department of Prisons Sri Lanka announced that 988 prisoners were to be released on a General Pardon by order of the President on Vesak. Prisoners are annually released on important Buddhist holidays in Sri Lanka. The 15 prisoners that were released were from impoverished families and were unable to pay their respective fines for petty crimes. Additionally, visitation hours were extended on May 5th and 6th so that relatives of the prisoners could visit their loved ones in prison. The release of prisoners comes as Sri...
Celebrations were held in Vavuniya to commemorate the earliest Tamil epic poet, Ilango Adigal, and his contribution to Tamil literature. On the full moon day in May, near the Cinnaputhukulam Sivan Kovil, a statue of Ilango Adigal was garlanded, and guest speakers spoke about how he had shaped Tamil literature. Ilango Adigal, who is attributed as the author of Cilappathikaram, a Tamil epic poem that follows the life journey of Kannaki and Kovalan, was probably authored between the 5th and 6th Century, in the Sangam era, which was the flourishing of Tamil literature and consciousness. Although...
Jaffna University’s student union are serving Mullivaikkal kanji in Jaffna today as the Tamil nation remembers the massacres committed by the Sri Lankan state 14 years ago. Kanji - a porridge of rice and water - was the only food available to Tamils trapped in the Sri Lankan government declared 'No Fire Zones' as food, medicines and other necessities were heavily restricted from entering the Vanni during the final phase of the armed conflict. The spokesperson for JUSU said during a press conference that the kanji distribution program is an act of solidarity with the civilians caught in the...
Three parents of fallen Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are fasting unto death to demand the release of the Alampil Thuyilum Illam which is currently being occupied by the Sri Lankan army's 23rd Regiment. A father and two mothers stated that the occupation of the destroyed Thuyilum Illam prevents them and other families from remembering and mourning their relatives who gave their lives in the Tamil struggle for liberation. Thuyilum Illams – Resting Places – were constructed by the LTTE in the 1990s for their fighters. Thuyilum Illams across the Tamil homeland were destroyed both...
Journalist Jegan recently conducted a literary research and produced a documentary that highlights the historicity of the ferry service that used to run between Talaimannan and Rashmeshwaram. The documentary advocates for the restoration of the ferry service to help develop the Mannar region's economy. Mannar was once a thriving cosmopolis, enjoying economic, cultural, and social prosperity. However, several factors have contributed to the region's recent decline. According to Jegan's research, the port city was once bustling with business and trade, which greatly benefited the local economy...
A family of five Eelam Tamils and a boat driver were arrested and released on bail after attempting to flee the island and seek refuge in India over the weekend. The family, consisting of children aged 7, 14, and 16, with their parents aged 38 and 37, were arrested at Pallimunai beach in Mannar as they tried to head to India via boat. The family and boat driver were later produced at Mannar Magistrate Court where they were released bail. Over the weekend, 10 Eelam Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu. The three families who arrived in Dhanushkodi were then taken to Mandapam police station before being...
Ultra Nationalist Sarath Weerasekara and his team visited the Athi Lingeswaran Temple on the Vedukkunaari Malai on May 6th to examine the site following the recent vandalism of the Siva Lingam and other idols at the temple. The temple administration has alleged that the vandalism was carried out by the archaeological department. The temple has become yet another victim of ongoing land grabbing for the construction of Buddhist temples in the North-East of Sri Lanka. Previously, the Archaeological Department had obstructed worshippers and priests from entering the temple and filed a case...
A Sri Lankan Naval officer has been summoned by the Mullaitivu magistrate court over the threatening of leading Tamil journalist, Shanmugam Thavaseelan. On 7 April 2019, Thaavaseelan was covering a rally held by the Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Mullaitivu. During the protest, an unidentified individual was filmed and threatened the families of the disappeared and members of the press. The Families of the Disappeared have continued to protest and demand an account for their loved ones, many of whom were last seen in military custody during the final stages of the armed conflict. In the...