The 12th anniversary of the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge was commemorated on Friday at the Batticaloa Media Centre under the chairmanship of V. Krishnakumar, Chairman of the Batticaloa District Media Organization.

A series of protests were carried across the North-East in several districts, last week on Tuesday (5^th January) demanding the release of Tamil political prisoners and for the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to issue amnesty to them. 

Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, called on Britain to play a leading role in the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session during a Global Britain Debate in UK Parliament today. 

Jaffna University students have made an urgent call to universities and students around the world, stating that the “structural genocide of Tamils continues even after almost 12 years since the end of the war”.

Detailing the military harrassment faced, the abductions and even murders of Tamil students at the university, the Students’ Union said , “we afraid for our lives and we cordially request your help to prevent this situation”.

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, and Leader of the Ontario PC party has issued a statement in solidarity with Tamil protesters in Jaffna following the destruction of the Mullivaikkal Memorial monument in Jaffna.

On Twitter he stated:

Jaffna University students and staff and the wider Tamil community have expressed scepticism over promises to rebuild the destroyed Mullivaikkal monument on campus. The monument was destroyed under cover of night on Friday sparking a wave of backlash and protest. A group of Jaffna University students undertook a hunger strike, demanding the monument be rebuilt. A hartal was called across the North-East, and businesses remained shut on Monday. Muslim leaders also lent their support, with Muslim businesses participating in the hartal in solidarity. Meanwhile outside the island, elected officials from Canada to Tamil Nadu expressed their outrage, and Tamils in Toronto, Berlin and Chennai held rallies, while social media campaigns from the Tamil community around the world went viral.

Today marks 31 years since the passing of Major Sothiya, the commander of the LTTE's first female unit. 

Maria Vasanthi Michael, known by her nomme de guerre ‘Sothiya’, was born on 20 September 1963. She first joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1984.

A formidable fighter, Sothiya took part in many battles, as female cadres began to take part in combat operations from 1986 onwards.

The Attorney General Department told Batticaloa High Court today that it will not be proceeding with the case against Pillayan over the 2005 assassination of Tamil National Alliance MP Joseph Pararajasingham. 

Farmers in Mullaitivu district have expressed concern that their livestock is at severe risk of starvation due to malnutrition and that they have been suffering from the lack of proper grazing land for livestock since the time of resettlement.

Dozens of Tamils protested outside the Sri Lankan embassy in Berlin today, as they condemned the destruction of the Mullivaikkal memorial at the University of Jaffna.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, a cross-party group of British parliamentarians, has condemned the destruction of the Mullivaikkal monument at Jaffna University.

Canada's Foreign Minister has joined several Canadian politicians in condemning the destruction of the Mullaivaikkal monument at Jaffna University.

Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne said on Twitter:

Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, has written to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner demanding an end to “senseless destruction” and for the government to “avoid further abuses”.

Approximately 1,000 people participated in a rally in Chennai earlier today, as political parties across the board rallied against the Sri Lankan government, condemning the demolition of the Mullivaikal monument at Jaffna University.