Journalists a held a protest in Jaffna today to mark 'Black January' and to demand investigations into the numerous assassinations and disappearances of media workers on the island. 

Protesters hoisted black flags as they drew attention to the lack of impartial investigations into the murders and attacks on journalists.  

Sri Lanka's 40 billion LKR package to compensate farmers who have been impacted by the governments failed inorganic fertiliser ban, has been rejected by the All Ceylon Farmers Federation due to it being inadequate and discriminatory. 

A group of Sri Lankan politicians met in Colombo last week and urged the government “to protect the poor” as the island went through what parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran termed a “historically unprecedented” economic crisis.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Tamil National Alliance lawmaker said a group of “leaders from over half a dozen key political parties” met in Colombo last week to “brainstorm ways to tide over this crisis”.

Tamil farmers from Mulliativu protested earlier this week against the continuation of illegal sand mining conducted by the Sri Lankan Forest Department in the farming lands of Puthukkudiyiruppu West. 

The protests took place last Friday in front of Puthukkudiyiruppu Police Station whence the protesters marched to the office of the Divisional Secretariat. 

They submitted a petition to the Assistant Divisional Secretary detailing their grievances. The land in question has been used for agriculture since 1972 and the farmers still possess documents that give them the title to their land.

Tamil fishermen from Vadamarachchi, Jaffna have taken to streets to call on China to resolve fishing disputes in the Indian Ocean.

Demonstrators complained against disruptive practices which they note have damaged their fishing nets and have called for other fishermen to abstain for fishing for a day in protest.

A Tamil man was granted indefinitely leave to remain after having lived in the UK for almost 40 years without formal immigration status. Ponnampalam Jothibala, 69, moved to the UK with a view to pursue his accountancy studies in 1983 and was instead left destitute due to a series of Home Office failures and delays. 

In a massive rally this morning, Eelam Tamils in Jaffna have come out to protest against the 13^th amendment and have demanded recognition of Tamil nationhood and sovereignty through a federal structure.

A candlelight vigil was held in Batticaloa yesterday to mark ‘Black January’, a day to commemorate the intimidation, murder and enforced disappearance of journalists in Sri Lanka.

Demonstrators lit candles in remembrance of the journalists who had lost their lives in pursuit of democratic accountability and reiterated their demands for an independent international investigation into these murders.

TNPF campaign in Kokkuvil

Across the North-East the Tamil National People’s Front are continuing their campaign against the controversial 13^th amendment and maintaining their stance for Tamil nationhood and self-determination.

Puttalam High Court has refused to grant bail to Muslim human rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah despite earlier claims from the Sri Lankan Attorney General that the Court of Appeal would consent to the granting of bail.

The announcement comes as a disappointment to human rights activists who have tirelessly campaigned for his release. Hizbullah was initially detained by the Criminal Investigation Department on 14 April 2020 under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act under dubious allegations that he aided the Easter Sunday attack.