Residents from a border village in Vavuniya, Iranai Iluppaikkulam, protested yesterday against the authorities' failure to ensure a permanent doctor at the local hospital.  

Demanding that a permanent doctor be appointed, residents protested outside the Primary Medical Health Care Hospital in the village. 

^{British Tamils at the Houses of Parliament this week, celebrating Thai Pongal}

Thai Pongal celebrations took place across Britain this week, with parliamentarians and other politicians from across the political spectrum praising the contribution of the British Tamil community and pledging to continue work towards justice in the Tamil homeland.

<p>A Tamil man has been arrested in Germany over accusations he was involved in the 2005 assassination of Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/01/17/world/europe/ap-eu-germany-…">AP </a>reports.&nbsp;</p> <p>The man, 39-year-old Navanithan G, was also allegedly a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).&nbsp;</p> <p>He was arrested on Wednesday in southwestern Germany.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sri Lanka's senior Buddhist clergy, known as the Maha Sangha, have urged the government to make sure it seeks their blessings and approval prior to make any constitutional changes.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite the UNP led government's repeated assurances to the Buddhist clergy that Buddhism would continue to hold the foremost position in the constitution, clergy members cast doubt over the government's intentions in making any alterations. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The international community must “press the government” in Colombo to ensure action is taken on justice for abuses, said Human Rights Watch (HRW), stating that stalling reforms had been further threatened by political instability on the island.</p> <p>“The many victims of Sri Lanka’s three-decade long civil war have seen their diminishing hopes for justice further delayed by presidential politics,” said&nbsp;Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, commenting on the turmoil that Colombo was plunged into with the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami announced his decision at a Tamil Nadu legislative assembly earlier this month to carve the Kallakurichi district out of the Villupuram district, effectively creating the 33rd district of the state.</p>

The Sri Lankan president signed a series of deals including on military exchange with the Philippines on Wednesday.

The deals were signed during bilateral talks in Manila with the president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte.

<p>Officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are to visit Sri Lanka next month in view of talks to resume its program.&nbsp;</p> <p>“We agreed that a strong policy mix, with effective implementation of that agenda, is key to strengthening confidence, while putting Sri Lanka on a sustainable, high-quality growth path that would benefit its people," the IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde said in a statement following a meeting with Sri Lanka's finance minister, Mangala Samaraweera in Washington.&nbsp;</p>

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya held a rally on Tuesday urging the United States and European Union to push the Sri Lankan government to provide answers over the whereabouts of their loved ones. 

Holding the US and EU flag, protesters urged action, highlighting that their demonstrations have been ongoing for 694 days. 

The Tamil festival of Thai Pongal was marked in parliament in Denmark on Monday with the minister of culture joining Danish Tamils to celebrate. 

Celebrations included dances and the making of traditional pongal (sweet rice).