The Sri Lankan government’s move to lift a ban on a handful of Tamil diaspora organisations whilst hundreds of political prisoners remain imprisoned is a “deceitful drama”, according to human rights activist and Anglican pastor Rev. Marimuthu Sakthivel.

Speaking to reporters this week, Rev. Sakthivel stated the plight of political prisoners as well as the continued use of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) by the Sri Lankan state as reasons as to why the limited de-proscription of some groups was “a sham”.

Indian navy helicopters were seen conducting sorties and flying low across the Palk Strait this morning, as they stepped up surveillance in the Rameswaram area, following the docking of a Chinese ship in Sri Lanka yesterday.

Training exercises were seen being carried out by the navy, with a reported increase in navy and coast guard patrol ships and helicopters in the region.

The Sri Lankan government de-proscribed a handful of Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals in a move dubbed “cynical” and “a farce” by activists, as it continues to have hundreds more banned under a terrorist designation law.

Under the latest update from Sri Lankan authorities, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), British Tamils Forum (BTF) and Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) have been removed from the Sri Lankan government’s list of banned organisations. Though a few organisations and individuals have been removed, major diaspora organisations such as the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) which has branches across the globe and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) remain listed.

We spoke to some of those impacted by the latest move.

Sri Lanka’s war crimes accused former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to return to the island on 24 August, claims former Sri Lankan ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga.

The former president fled the country in July amidst mass protests over Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. Whilst initially seeking shelter in the Maldives, the president has been country hopping in the hopes of avoiding prosecution. Following the Maldives, he left for Singapore and has since gone to Thailand, where officials have advised him not to leave the hotel for security reasons.

The Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event which takes place every four years, landed in Birmingham for 2022, a UK city well-known for its diverse population with many communities with roots in the Commonwealth. The city’s South Asian cultures were represented in the games’ opening and closing ceremonies, and for the first time in the history of the games, Tamil representation also gained pride of place at the closing ceremony with an upbeat Kuthu folk dance.

The dance entitled ‘Dia Dia Dole’ was choreographed and performed by French Tamil dancer Usha Jey, and Swiss Tamil dancers Janusha and Mithuja.

The Sencholai massacre - whereby 53 school girls were subject to merciless bombing by Sri Lankan air forces - was paid tribute to by Tamils yesterday in France. 

The commemorative event in France was organized by the French Tamil Women’s Organization and Mrs. Puspa.  

In a post on Instagram, British activist and tourist, Kayleigh Fraser, details a harrowing experience of sexual assault and an attempted cover-up by Sri Lanka police.

After reporting her rape to the tourist police, Fraser received a call from Weligama police that requested to speak in person. “They marched me into a room where they told me to sit down. As I walked into this room, the four men who had assaulted me were standing in that room. I was told to write a letter saying that my statement was untrue. I refused”.

War crimes accused former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly been advised “not to leave” the hotel he is currently staying at in Thailand for “security reasons” according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

Tamils gathered in Amparai this week to mark 32 years since at least 55 Tamils were killed by the Sri Lankan military and Muslim home guards, part of a series of killings that left hundreds dead in just weeks.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Thavarasa Kalaiarasan was amongst those gathered in Amparai, as mourners lit a flame of remembrance before a monument that had ben constructed in memory of those killed.

Sri Lanka’s anti-terrorism police interrogated Tamil activist V S Sivakaran for over 4 hours at their headquarters in  Colombo this week, as the security forces continue its campaign of intimidation.

Sivakaran, based in Mannar and head of the Tamil National Right to Life Movement, had been summoned by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) earlier this month.