4

Tamils in Mannar staged a protest in front of the Mannar District General Hospital, as hundreds of demonstrators demanded justice for the tragic death of 27-year-old Sinthuja. Sinthuja had been admitted to the hospital and subsequently lost her life, allegedly due to the negligence of doctors and staff.

The Sri Lankan government’s representative in Toronto has formally written to the Mayor of Brampton, in a bid to try and halt the construction of a monument dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide.

Speaking at the announcement of a common Tamil candidate to contest in Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential elections, political analyst Nilanthan outlined the rationale behind such a move, stating that it was to unite Tamils across the island.

Two Tamil youths were injured when a Sri Lankan Air Force vehicle crashed into their motorbike in Vavuniya. One of them is said to be seriously injured and is being treated at the Vavuniya hospital. 

Bystanders in the vicinity said that the motorbike which was heading towards Vavuniya attempted to avoid an oncoming car but was hit by the air force vehicle. 

With Sri Lanka’s presidential hopefuls tussling to announce their candidacy this week, there was a familiar name back in the headlines - Rajapaksa. The latest candidate in the lineage, Namal, the son of the former president who oversaw the slaughter of countless Tamils, has formally been put forward to stand by his ultra-nationalist party backers.

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam rejected the need for a common Tamil candidate at the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election telling reporters:

Ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Tamil lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran met with candidate for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, Namal Rajapaksa, to discuss issues facing the North-East.

The SLPP’s Politbureau member, G. Cassilingham told reporters that Namal Rajapaksa had claimed he was willing to address the grievances of those in the North-East and provide a better livelihood.

Tamil journalists, hailing from the North-East of Sri Lanka, recently found themselves barred from a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Their purpose was clear: to present a letter demanding justice and accountability for numerous crimes committed against their fellow Tamil journalists—many of whom were killed or remain missing.