Today marks 33 years since the death of Annai Poopathy, a Tamil woman who fasted unto death in protest against the atrocities committed by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
India’s External Affairs Ministry has insisted that, despite speculation, Milinda Moragoda’s nomination as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India last November still stands.
Sri Lankan police have threatened the family of Annai Poopathi, warning that if they commemorated her death anniversary near her grave, they would be imprisoned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and media spokesperson, M.A. Sumanthiran has promised to take the necessary steps to help restore the full worship rights of Hindus in Kurunthur Malai, Mullaitivu.
Freelance Journalist Malika Abeykoon, who was assaulted and arrested by Sri Lankan police on April 7 has been granted bail after being held in detention.
The Sri Lankan government signed a US $500 million loan agreement with the state-run China Development Bank (CDB) last week, less than a month after it signed a currency swap deal worth USD 1.5 billion with Beijing, amidst rising concerns of the country’s ability to meet its debt payments.
Following concerns raised by opposition parties, civil society groups, and labour unions, over Sri Lanka’s “Colombo Port City Economic Commission”, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal has denied allegations that the government is transforming Sri Lanka into a “Chinese colony”.
Celebrated Kollywood actor and comedian Vivek passed away in the wee hours of Saturday aged 59. He was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Friday due to a sudden cardiac arrest and succumbed to it on Saturday.
Responding to concerns raised over a government Minister’s call for Sri Lanka’s President to act more like Hitler, government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella defended the Minister’s statement as a “personal opinion” and maintained that they should not be taken seriously.
Canadian parliamentarians, including their Prime Minister, have wished the Tamil community in Canada and worldwide a happy new year and thanked them for their contribution.
Several UK politicians, including the Prime Minister's Office, have shared their thanks to the British Tamil community and wished them a happy new year as well as highlighting the dire situation in Sri Lanka.
(Ottawa, 11 April, 2009. Photo Credit: 
