Commemorating the life of Maamanithar Kumar Ponnanmbalam, a prominent Tamil human rights lawyer and leader of the All-Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), the Tamil National People’s Front held a memorial at Kalladi, Batticaloa.

Kumar Ponnanmbalam was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on 5^th January 2000 whilst in his car on Ramakrishna Lane, in the Tamil area of Colombo, Wellawatte. His murder came only a few days after he had written an open letter to then-President Chandrika, condemning her anti-Tamil policies.

S. Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, has landed in Sri Lanka for a diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

During the visit, from the 5-7 January, Jaishankar is expected to “hold discussions with his counterpart and Sri Lanka’s leadership on the entire gamut of bilateral relations”.

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP for the Vanni district, Charles Nirmalanathan visited the Thiruketheeswaram temple in Mannar last week, after concerns were raised from the landowners that a Buddhist monk had occupied their land.    

The land, which extends to an area of 5 acres in Manthai, was granted to the Shaivite Trust on a 99-year lease and has long-been under the maintenance of the Thiruketheeswaram temple administration.

Former Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) member Visvalingam Manivannan, was elected as Jaffna mayor, in a closely contested mayoral election, last Wednesday.  

Former mayor Emmanuel Arnold, member of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), finished second by securing one vote less than attorney Manivannan.

The New-Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party led a protest in front of the Vavuniya hospital demanding the immediate release of political prisoners and insisting they be given presidential pardons. 

(Photos by Eshan Dasanayaka)

Excavaations have begun after skeletal remains have been found in a well on private grounds in Mulliyawalai, Mullaitivu.

A woman who visited cattle in the area noticed the human remains and informed local authorties, who then informed the Sri Lankan police regarding the matter.

Police arrived at the spot and inspected the skeleton, before posting officers in civilian clothes at the site.

Sri Lanka’s reputation will take a hit after its ultranationalist government is set to scrap two multimillion dollar investment projects funded by Japan, reports NikkeiAsia, as international debts continue to mount.

Sri Lanka’s Medical Association (SLMA) has concluded that the burial of COVID-19 bodies could be permitted in Sri Lanka following intense international and domestic protests in defence of Muslim religious freedom.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne, has denied that the military taking over state sector institutions as the army takes on responsibility for printing driving licenses.

In his statement, he maintained that the military’s actions were a “temporary measure following a cabinet decision to save state funds”. He further claimed the army was only involved in the printing process but that the Motor Traffic Department would function largely unchanged.