India offers Sri Lanka $450 million in credit for development and security despite concerns over the newly appointed President’s human rights record.

This announcement follows President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s first foreign visit to India, where this agreement was reached. $400 million is offered in terms of development and infrastructure and a further $50 million for national security.

In a statement released by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, he claimed that ‘security and development of our two countries are inseparable’. 

Hundreds of Tamils gathered at a destroyed LTTE cemetery in Amparai to mark Maaveerar Naal on Weednesday, joining Tamils across the North-East and around the world in remembering those who gave their lives in the Tamil struggle.

See footage from the event below.

Tamils in Trincomalee commemorated Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday, alongside the rest of the Tamil nation across the North-East and around the world. 

See footage from the Sampur Thuyilum Illam - an LTTE cemetery that has been destroyed by the Sri Lankan military - below.

British Tamil university students commemorated the Tamil fighters that fought and lost their lives in the liberation struggle, this Wednesday across the country.   

Some universities also held events to educate university students on the history of Maaveerar Naal and the self-determination struggle for Tamil Eelam. 

Essex University 

In an official statement, the Embassy of Switzerland issued a set of clarifications regarding the abduction of a local employee in Colombo.

To stop false information circulating, the embassy issued the following clarifications:

Vaiko, leader of Tamil Nadu Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party, has been arrested for protesting against the three-day visit of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, from November 28-30.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Britain's Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth, the United Nations and South Asia spoke to the British Tamil Conservatives (BTC) and emphasised the need to stand up for "important aspects of reconciliation" as well as "accountability and justice" in Sri Lanka.

Thousands of Tamils attended Maaveerar Naal at thuyilum illams (LTTE cemeteries) in the Kilinochchi district on Nobember 27.

Kanagapuram, where in 2016 one of the first public commemorations since the end of the armed conflict was held, once again saw massive crowds despite heavy rain.

Efforts to hold commemorations at as many thuyilum illams as possible around the Tamil homeland meant that other cemeteies in the district also attracted large turnout.

Despite the Sri Lankan army having destroyed preparations the night before, Tamils across Vavuniya gathered at the Eechchankulam Thuyilum Illam on Wednesday to mark Maaveerar Naal.

Preparations were completely rebuilt within a few hours at the destroyed LTTE cemetery, as Tamils from across the gathered to remember fallen fighters.

See video from the event and photographs from another remembrance event at the Vavuniya Urban Council below. 

Maaveerar Naal was observed by thousands of Tamils across Europe, where they gathered in various cities to pay tribute to the fallen. 

Oberhausen, Germany

Antwerp, Belgium