The Kayts magistrate declined to issue a ban on Maaveerar Naal commemorations at Chatty thuyilum illam although ordered a ban on LTTE flags or images with LTTE uniform being displayed.

Kayts police had filed a petition requesting a blanket ban on commemorations at the destroyed LTTE cemetery by Chatty beach on Velanai island.

Final preparations at Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam, the major LTTE cemetery in Kilinochchi, have been completed in advance of Maaveerar Naal.

Almost four years into the ‘good governance’ government, Sri Lanka’s image of stability and progress unravelled last month in a day. President Sirisena’s sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa followed by the dissolving of parliament and call for fresh elections, ended any semblance of stability. Revealed instead was disregard for the country’s constitution and rule of law, bribery, violence and an entrenched racism which habitually blames Tamils for the state’s woes. Sri Lanka’s latest descent into turmoil highlights once again the simmering crisis of unresolved ethnic conflict that remains at the island’s core. 

It is amid the island’s political uncertainty that Eelam Tamils look to commemorate Maaveerar Naal (Tamil Remembrance Day) tomorrow.

<p>Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena said Ranil Wickremesinghe would not be appointed prime minister, stating that he is “highly corrupt” and accused him of pursuing “an extremely liberal form of government that is not compatible with our culture".</p>

Jaffna University students embarked on their final preparations for Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil national remembrance day for fallen fighters, today.

Red and yellow flags marking Tamil national colours where hung across the campus, with the university's Maaveerar monument receiving fresh coats of paint and a newly constructed entrance gate.

<p>Sri Lanka's rupee fell to a new historic low today of 180.40 against the dollar as the country's political crisis continues.&nbsp;</p> <p>According to data published by Refinitiv Eikon the rupee has fallen 17.2 percent this year.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week the finance ministry sought to reassure lenders that debt repayments would be made amid increasing concern of economic collapse.&nbsp;</p>

Tamil students in Berlin held an awareness exhibition last week, as part of commemorative events to mark Maaveerar Naal this month.

North-East newspapers carried features on the birthday of the LTTE leader V Prabhakaran today on their front pages this morning. 

 

Sri Lankan authorities have reportedly arrested at least 4 Tamil youth outside LTTE leader V Prabhakaran’s home earlier today, amidst a heavy security presence in the region.

<p>Sri Lanka's Chief Justice, Nalin Perera today appointed a seven member bench under him to hear the fundamental rights petition filed against the president's dissolving of parliament.&nbsp;</p> <p>The appointments follow the Supreme Court's decision earlier this month to temporarily stay the president’s order and fix a court date for December 5.</p>

Sri Lankan police this morning arrested the former Northern Provincial Council member M K Shivajilingham for attempting to mark the birthday of the LTTE leader V Prabhakaran at his ancestoral home in Valvettithurai. 

Officers confiscated a cake and other items. Shivajilingham was later released. 

<p>The Sri Lankan army has said it occupies only 1300 acres of private land in the North-East, contradicting even conservative estimates of land occupation from other sources.</p> <p>In October, the Mullaitivu district secretariat said that almost 5000 acres of privately-owned land was under military occupation, although this figure referred to the ‘tri-forces’ i.e. the air force and the navy, as well as the army.</p>

Tamil journalists in Batticaloa laid the foundation for a memorial to be built in remembrance of fellow Tamil journalists that were killed during and after the war.

At least 41 Tamil journalists have been killed by Sri Lankan state and paramilitary forces.

The Sri Lankan military is set to hold an exhibition and symposium on cyber warfare later this month, as the commander of the army warned of improving technology in order to fight “future enemies”.