Tamil activists in London February 2019

Following a landmark Upper Tribunal ruling, the Home Office has been forced to amend its country policy guidance to reflect the threat of torture peaceful Tamil activists face in Sri Lanka.

Following the passage of a scathing resolution in European parliament, condemning Sri Lanka’s human rights record, UK Minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad, has met with Sri Lanka’s to discuss deepening bilateral relations.

12 Sri Lankan political parties joined a virtual conference hosted by China’s embassy to celebrate diplomatic ties with China on the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Tamil National Alliance and the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) did not attend the virtual conference. 

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, and accused war criminal, Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked China for its contribution's during the war.

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, has met with India’s Prime Minister and the leader of the main opposition party, Sonia Gandhi, to put forwards the demands of Tamil Nadu.

A key demand of which is for:

“Eelam Tamils to have equal civil and political rights”

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Vino Noharathalingam signed a letter on Wednesday (June 16th), urging Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide relief assistance to COVID-19 affected families in the North East.

The body of a man, who was quarantined in his home in Vavuniya, was recovered from a well last Tuesday.

Ganesan Ilankumaran, and his family were in isolation, due to the current COVID-19 measures in effect, when he went missing. His family had been searching for him until the body was discovered the next day. Police rushed to the place of the incident and are conducting investigations. 

Tributes were paid across Canada, UK and Jaffna following the death of the mother of slain Tamil journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan, last Sunday.

80-year-old, Lily Theres Mylvaganam, who fought relentlessly seeking justice for her son, passed away in Canada, last Sunday (June 13^th). Known as “Mother Courage”, she received tributes from Tamils and journalists across the world.

India’s High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, met with the Tamil National Alliance and pledged support for the right to self-governance through the 13^th Amendment.

On Twitter the High Commission tweeted:

Eelam Tamil refugees are on their 9-consecutive day of protest against continued detention in a state-run camp situated in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

78 Eelam Tamils were present at the protest, calling upon Tamil Nadu’s recent elected Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to meet their demands.

Demonstrators were seen chanting:

"Freedom , freedom is needed!" and "Stalin sir recognise us.... and issue amnesty".

Speaking in parliament, MP for Carshalton and Wallington raised concerns over the deterioration of human rights in Sri Lanka.

He asked Nigel Adams, Minister for Asia at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development: