At a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake, U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), as he celebrated increasing military cooperation between the two countries.

“The United States and Sri Lanka are doing more together as professional militaries than ever before,” said Admiral Koehler.

At a ceremony held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake, U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, officially handed over a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), as he celebrated increasing military cooperation between the two countries.

“The United States and Sri Lanka are doing more together as professional militaries than ever before,” said Admiral Koehler. “Today, we are growing our relationship with the Sri Lanka Air Force.”

“The Beechcraft King Air 360ER we transfer to Sri Lanka will bring key capabilities to the Sri Lanka Air Force,” said Koehler. “It is equipped with cutting-edge technology, maritime patrol sensors, radar, and cameras...  And it is just one part of a long-term collaboration between the U.S. and Sri Lanka, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program.”  

“There is so much more we can do together to build on the momentum we have achieved in 2024.  Let this aircraft give wings to our bilateral relationship and lift us to new opportunities.”  

US Ambassador Julie Chung said it was “a great honor to be here today to celebrate our partnership” at the ceremony, which saw accused war criminal Sampath Thuyacontha – Sri Lanka’s new Secretary of Defence – also present.

“The United States is a long-standing friend and prtner to Sri Lanka,” said Chung. “President Dissanayake has rightly articulated Sri Lanka’s vital role in the region’s security architecture.  Our cooperative programs reflect the United States’ commitment to supporting his vision… Our partnership will continue to be a force for peace and progress in the region for years to come.”

The King Air, funded by the US Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, was manufactured by Beechcraft Textron Aviation and completed in 2022, with maritime surveillance upgrades added in 2024. Sri Lanka Air Force personnel received specialized training in Kansas and Florida to operate the aircraft, and further training will be conducted by US government personnel over the next three months. The King Air 360ER will undergo final preparations at the Ratmalana Air Force Base before joining Sri Lanka’s Maritime Patrol Squadron 3 at its occupying base in China Bay, Trincomalee.

While this move signals stronger ties between the US and Sri Lankan military forces, it raises significant concerns, particularly for Tamils who have long suffered from Sri Lanka’s history of human rights abuses.

The SLAF, alongside other branches of Sri Lanka’s military, played a direct role in the brutal conflict that culminated in the genocide at Mullivaikkal in 2009, where tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed. The Air Force played a key role in the massacres.

The SLAF was actively complicit in indiscriminate aerial bombardments that targeted hospitals, schools, and as “No Fire Zones” in the final stages of the war, killing thousands of civilians, including women and children. Numerous eyewitness accounts, along with investigations by international organizations, have documented how the Sri Lankan military, including the Air Force, violated international humanitarian law by deliberately targeting civilians.

Even today, Tamils continue to suffer from the military’s pervasive presence in the North-East, with the SLAF continuing its occupation of Tamil lands.

The gifting of military equipment to Sri Lanka, especially its Air Force, comes at a time when the country has made little to no progress in addressing the war crimes and human rights violations committed during the war.

On Wednesday, just a day before the handover ceremony, The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution that mandates the continued collection of evidence to be used in war crimes trials, despite the continued opposition of the new Sri Lankan government earlier.

The United States was part of the Core Group that presented the resolution.

"The ultimate aim is to combat longstanding impunity which has prevailed in Sri Lanka for far too long," the Core Group said in Geneva on Wednesday.

The gifting of the aircraft is the latest move in which Washington has been deepening its military ties with Sri Lanka. Recently the Montana National Guard along with Sri Lanka's Air Force conducted a joint military exercise, and before that, it conducted joint anti-terrorism security exercises in Trincomalee.

The US government has also gifted air mobility equipment and cutters in response to Sri Lanka's participation of Sri Lankan Naval forces in the Red Sea Operation against Houthi rebels. 

The legal battle involving Mullaitivu Media Association President and Mullaitivu District Journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan continues in Sri Lankan courts, with the next hearing scheduled for January next year. During the most recent court case, the navy officer who was summoned to appear and testify failed to show up. 

Earlier this year, Sri Lankan police in Mankulam summoned Thavaseelan for interrogation, an indication that harassment of Tamil journalists by the security forces continues. On August 7, police officers visited Thavaseelan’s home when he was not present and handed the summons to his family, instructing him to report to the office of the Assistant Superintendent of Police at Mankulam Police Station to provide a statement for an investigation. Thavaseelan has faced harassment, intimidation, and violence on multiple occasions due to his work.

This court case, which has been ongoing for several months, centers around dubious allegations made by the Sri Lankan naval intelligence officer from the Gotabaya Naval Base in Mullaitivu. On April 7, 2019, Thavaseelan was covering a rally held by Tamil families of the Disappeared in Mullaitivu. During the protest, an unidentified individual was seen filming and threatening the families of the disappeared and members of the press.

Thavaseelan intervened, questioning the individual about his identity and his reasons for recording the demonstration on his phone. Following this confrontation, the individual fled but was later apprehended by protesters, at which point he admitted to being a naval officer. Despite requests, Sri Lankan police did not arrive at the scene. Subsequently, the naval officer filed a complaint with the Sri Lankan police in Mullaitivu against Thavaseelan under false pretenses, leading to Thavaseelan's arrest. He was later released on bail after a public outcry.

Previously the case has seen multiple hearings, with the naval officer failing to appear. Despite summons, the officer remained absent, leading to a warrant for both the officer and his witness.  Locals described the case against Thaavaseelan as “frivolous and devoid of merit and nothing but an act of vendetta”.

British MP Uma Kumaran has called on the UK government to prioritise the “safety and dignity” of Tamil asylum seekers who are stranded on Diego Garcia. 

The Stratford and Bow MP’s statement follows an agreement by the UK government to offer 56 Tamil asylum seekers a temporary move to Romania, before potentially being moved to the UK. 

The UK government decided to move the Tamil asylum seekers after it agreed to  transfer sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to Mauritius last week. 

In a statement, Kumaran said she is “actively in touch” with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and UK government ministers to ensure the rights of the Tamil asylum seekers are upheld. 

“While the government has taken steps in the right direction, it is essential that any further action addresses the complexities of their situation and what they have been through,” Kumaran added. 

The group of Tamils fled in October 2021, attempting to reach Canada to claim asylum before their boat came into trouble near Diego Garcia. 

The asylum seekers were kept in worsening living conditions, with escalating mental health challenges, and allegations of abuse.

See Kumaran’s full statement below: 

“The situation faced by the Tamil migrants in Diego Garcia has been desperate for too long, with many enduring harsh living conditions, fear for their safety and health and uncertainty about their future. 

As the UK Government seek long-term solutions, it is crucial that their safety and dignity is prioritised. 

I remain steadfast in advocating for their wellbeing and am actively in touch with the FCDO and Ministers to ensure that their voices are heard and their rights are upheld. 

While the government has taken steps in the right direction, it is essential that any further action addresses the complexities of their situation and what they have been through. Ensuring meaningful support and protection for those at risk remains a pressing concern that must not be overlooked.”

The Tamil Youth Conference 2024, organized by the International Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), was held in Ennepetal, Germany, over the past weekend, bringing together over 200 Tamil youth from across Europe.

Attendees from countries such as Germany, Norway, France, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom gathered to address key issues impacting both the Tamil diaspora and the Tamil homeland.

The Tamil Youth Conference 2024, organized by the International Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), was held in Ennepetal, Germany, over the past weekend, bringing together over 200 Tamil youth from across Europe.

Attendees from countries such as Germany, Norway, France, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom gathered to address key issues impacting both the Tamil diaspora and the Tamil homeland.

Aimed at promoting leadership and solidarity among Tamil youth, the conference opened with a keynote address by the director of Anaithulakat Thodarpakam, who outlined the event's goals and emphasized the ongoing significance of the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.

On the first day, discussions centred around career development, the objectives and initiatives of the International Tamil Youth Organisation, as well as Tamil history, politics, and geopolitics. Participants were encouraged to explore ways to advance their professional skills while staying connected to their Eelam identity and cultural heritage.

The second day featured expert speakers who addressed critical issues, such as the continued militarization and occupation of Tamil lands by the Sri Lankan state and the vital need for economic empowerment within the Tamil community. Interactive discussions between the speakers and participants fostered deep engagement and thoughtful reflection on these pressing concerns.

Throughout the two-day event, various exhibits and posters from the Tamil Youth Organisation were displayed, generating significant interest. Attendees actively engaged with the materials, taking notes, and expanding their understanding of the topics covered. The conference concluded with a formal closing ceremony, where participation certificates were distributed, marking the end of an inspiring and thought-provoking weekend.

Today marks thirty-seven years since the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle.

Across the world, the day is being commemorated as Tamil Women’s Day, an opportunity to honour women’s involvement in the fight for Tamil rights.

Today marks thirty-seven years since the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle.

Across the world, the day is being commemorated as Tamil Women’s Day, an opportunity to honour women’s involvement in the fight for Tamil rights.

^{The tomb of Maalathy at Koppay in Jaffna, which has since been destroyed by the Sri Lankan military.}

She was killed at the age of 20, on the 10th of October 1987, during a confrontation with the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in Jaffna.

The following account is told by a cadre that was by her side.

"We were in our bunkers firing at the (Indian) army. Hundreds of Indian troops had jumped out of their vehicles and were firing as they moved towards us. Mortar shells were exploding everywhere. We knew the army was advancing quickly. Maalathy was shot in both legs. She couldn't move and she was bleeding profusely. Realising that she was mortally wounded, she swallowed cyanide. A decision had been made to withdraw because we were heavily out-numbered. Myself and another girl Viji went over to carry Maalathy. Maalathy refused to come with us. She begged us to leave her and asked us to withdraw. Nevertheless, we lifted Maalathy and carried her and when we arrived at a safe place she was dead."

(Women Fighters of Liberation Tigers, Adele Anne Balasingham, 1993)

^{"Seeds of liberation: new roots will surely grow" - an LTTE poster marking 6th anniversary of Malathy's death}

Marking her death in 2003, the LTTE released a statement saying, 

“The struggle has freed people from the shackles of superstitious customs, infused new blood and taken the society in new directions... Liberation does not mean just freedom from foreign domination and tyranny, but also freedom from religious and gender discrimination and oppression of women.”

^{"Hands will extend anew" - LTTE poster on the 7th anniversary of Malathy's death}

Her namesake, the Malathy Brigade was one of the two brigades of the LTTE's women's wing. Speaking in 2008, Yalini, a Senior Member of the Malathy Brigade, described the achievements of the elite brigade. She told reporters,

“Our cadres, specially trained in anti-tank warfare, destroyed several tanks during the course of SLA's ill-fated Jayasikurui operation. In the second phase of Jayasikurui, Captain Thayawathy, destroyed an T-85 type tanker using an RPG while Captain Kalyarasi destroyed an APC-type tank."

“In the confrontation against American trained Special Task Force (STF) in Mannaku'lam battle, our brigade inflicted considerable destruction to the enemy. When the SLA troops attempted to surround our cadres in Mu'langkaavil on Jan 01, 2000, our fighters fought back and brought the situation under control. Again when the enemy attempted to land in Kudaarappu on Mar 27, 2003, our brigade once again successfully fought against a well-armed enemy."

“From Captain Gobi in Vatharavaththai-Jaffna on April 2nd, 1997, including Captain Inpakuyil, Lt.Oviya, 2nd Lt.Alaivaani in Mannaar- Uyilangku'lam on Dec.29, 2007, 1354 women cadres of this brigade has laid down their lives for the struggle.

A memorial statue was built commemorating Maalathy in 2004 and was later destroyed by Sri Lankan military forces upon taking over Killinochi.

Her death was commemorated widely amongst the Tamil community in the North-East and was marked as women's uprising day in the de-facto LTTE state.

^{A monument constructed in memory of Maalathy in Kilinochchi. It has since been destroyed by Sri Lankan security forces.}

The US Embassy in Colombo announced the visit of Admiral Steve Koehler, a 4-star U.S. Navy Admiral and Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, who is in the country today to "affirm the strong partnership between the US and Sri Lanka" adding that this visit is the highest-level US military visit to Sri Lanka since 2021. 

Koehler is in the country to discuss security matters related to the Indo-Pacific region and what the US wishes to have as a free and open space. He is expected to engage with senior Sri Lankan officials over some of the security challenges facing the region, on strengthening the maritime domain. The Embassy in Colombo cited that his meeting also affirms the US commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in combating transnational threats. 

Although this is the highest-level visit since 2021, the US has been keen on deepening its military ties with Sri Lanka. The Montana National Guard along with Sri Lanka's Air Force conducted a joint military exercise which according to the US mission in Colombo is to be better prepared and respond to "natural and man-made disasters". Before this, it conducted anti-terrorism security exercises in Trincomalee. The US government has also gifted air mobility equipment and cutters in response to Sri Lanka's participation of Sri Lankan Naval forces in the Red Sea Operation against Houthi rebels. 

Although it has been 15 years since the end of the armed conflict, the US has often reiterated its stance on “supporting Sri Lanka’s security and sovereignty”. The latest military donation comes despite ongoing human rights abuses being perpetrated by the Sri Lankan security forces.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) reiterated the need for international action in Sri Lanka to ensure justice for rights violations, after the extension of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka, which focuses on collecting evidence that could be used in future war crimes trials.

HRW underscored the importance of the resolution in addressing both past atrocities and ongoing violations in Sri Lanka.

“The Human Rights Council’s resolution on Sri Lanka is important for efforts to uphold fundamental rights in the country and to seek justice for past atrocities,” said Lucy McKernan, Deputy Geneva Director at Human Rights Watch.

“International action is needed in Sri Lanka so long as victims and their families are denied justice. The new government of President Dissanayake should reveal what happened to thousands of victims of enforced disappearance, end security agencies’ harassment of victims and human rights defenders seeking justice, and open credible investigations into alleged crimes that were blocked by previous governments.”

The resolution was passed without a vote on Wednesday, despite the continued opposition of the new Sri Lankan government earlier today.

Read more: UN resolution on Sri Lankan war crimes collection passes without vote despite government opposition

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath recently addressed reporters in Colombo, clarifying that his government has yet to make any decisions regarding Indian projects on the island, including the controversial Adani wind power project in Mannar.

This statement stands in contrast to a key pledge on the Adani project made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his presidential campaign, where he said “We will definitely cancel it as it threatens our energy sovereignty”.

However, when asked about the status of the Adani project or any other Indian investments during a press briefing, Herath denied any recent discussions on the matter.

The project had drawn some opposition from both environmentalists and Tamils communities in the region, following the signing of an MoU between the Sri Lankan government and Adani Energy earlier in the year. However, concerns centred around the sustainability of the project rather than the “sovereignty” aspect.

Herath clarified that no new decisions regarding ongoing or potential projects had been made, attributing this to the transitional phase following the election. “No decisions have been taken to halt or start new projects,” Herath said, as quoted by News First.

This shift in stance comes as Dissanayake's administration appears increasingly hesitant to implement certain campaign promises. For decades, Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had staunchly opposed Indian intervention on the island, but has sought to build closer ties once he took office last month.

Whether the Adani project will continue remains unclear, with parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in November.

A team of Sri Lankan police officers from Colombo was deployed to Mullivaikkal this week to excavate a section of the sports ground in the eastern part of the area, where they claim weapons used by the LTTE are still buried.

The police stated that their mission was conducted under a directive from the Colombo courts.

Similar past excavations have been futile, yielding no findings. In 2020, authorities excavated land in the Vadduvaakal area of the Mullaitivu District, following claims that LTTE weapons were buried there. With permission from the Mullaitivu District Court, a team comprising the Special Task Force (STF), police, army, and investigators conducted the operation. Despite their efforts, no weapons or materials were uncovered.

In another instance, a large-scale excavation in the Vilakkuvaithakulam area of Vavuniya also proved unsuccessful. This search was carried out after Sri Lankan police, acting on intelligence from Batticaloa, sought court approval to recover LTTE weapons. The operation, which involved heavy equipment to dig a 10-foot-deep hole, resulted in the discovery of only a crowbar used for cracking coconuts and an empty beer can.

These repeated excavations, which often turn up nothing, have led to accusations that the Sri Lankan state forces use such operations as a cover for continued repression and surveillance in the North-East.

Even 15 years after the end of the armed conflict in Mullaitivu, these searches persist, often without results, raising concerns among the local Tamil community about their true purpose.

Though the Sri Lankan state continues to hunt for LTTE weaponry, it has refused to investigate the genocide that took place in the area, where tens of thousands of Tamils were killed in 2009.

A schoolgirl died this week, after falling to death from the Lotus Tower in Colombo in what appears to be a suicide.

Image from Daily News lk

A schoolgirl died this week, after falling to death from the Lotus Tower in Colombo in what appears to be a suicide.

The female student, who was studying at an international school, plummeted to death in what police suspect is a suicide. The incident is believed to have been between 3.00pm and 4.00pm.

The student's name has not been released but she was identified to have been a resident of Kollupitiya and studying in Grade 11 of an international school in Colombo. Sri Lankan police state that the death is linked to the earlier suicides of two schoolmates at the Altair luxury apartment in Slave Island.

The Lotus Tower is reportedly the tallest tower in South Asia standing at 356-metres.

The state-owned project has been beset with accusations of corruption as one of the Chinese construction companies, Aerospace Long March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT), had reportedly disappeared along with Rs. 2 billion - worth more than $11 million.

The Lotus flower has been as a symbol of Sinhala Buddhist nationalist identity. According to a government released concept video about the tower; 

“In Sri Lanka, the Buddhist kingdom, with great desire of peace and development the lotus is considered as the flower which symbolises pure, clean and honest.”

Read more here

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution that mandates the continued collection of evidence to be used in war crimes trials without a vote, despite the continued opposition of the new Sri Lankan government earlier today.

Resolution A/HRC/57/L.1 extends the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for a further year so that it can continue collecting evidence of Sri Lanka's human rights violations that may be used in future war crimes trials. It marks a simple extending of an existing resolution that was due to expire this year.

Passed earlier today in Geneva, it requests the Office of the UN High Commissioner to present an oral update to the UNHRC at its 58th session and provide a comprehensive progress report on reconciliation, accountability, and human rights at its 60th session. 

According to UN documents, the adoption of the resolution will require $3,793,400, and would see staff travel across Europe, North America and to the island for “information collection” and “consultations with victims”.

Responding to the resolution, Sri Lanka expressed its ongoing opposition and urged member states to support them in addressing human rights issues through domestic mechanisms.  

"Domestic mechanisms and processes that deal with reconciliation, accountability and justice will be credible and independent within the Constitutional framework, and a truth and reconciliation process that has the people’s trust will be operationalised," Sri Lanka's ambassador told the Council. 

The Core Group, the penholder of the resolution which consists of Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, highlighted that through the Sri Lanka Accountability Project, the OHCHR is able to collect, analyse and preserve information and evidence of gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law.

"The ultimate aim is to combat longstanding impunity which has prevailed in Sri Lanka for far too long," the Core Group said. 

Speaking on behalf of the EU, Belgium said the Sri Lanka Accountability Project "focuses on ensuring that reconciliation and accountability are fulfilled".  They also noted that many stakeholders would have liked for the work of the OHCHR to be renewed for more than a year. Belgium explained the need to engage with the new Sri Lankan government "on how the project can best support them". 

Costa Rica called on Sri Lanka's new president to "embrace and inclusive national vision" which would address the "deep causes of ethnic conflict, of corruption and impunity."

Cuba and China expressed their opposition to resolutions that "do not have the support of the country concerned". China went on to add that it also opposes the notion of using human rights "as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries."

Japan said it hoped that the new Sri Lankan authorities will “further enhance its efforts for accountability and national reconciliation through the development of a transparent domestic mechanism.”

The adoption of this resolution follows a scathing report by the OHCHR documenting human rights in Sri Lanka between the adoption of UNHRC resolution 51/L1, in October 2022 and July 2024.

The report details the prevalence of sexual abuse and intimidation against Tamil activists by Sri Lanka’s security forces; as well as concerns over continued crackdowns on memorials across the North-East; and the introduction of legislation that could be used to stifle dissent. Commenting on the issues of accountability, the report highlights that Sri Lanka’s “entrenched impunity has also manifested itself in the corruption, abuse of power and governance failures that were among the root causes of the country’s recent economic crisis”. The report concludes by advising other states to consider using other international legal options to advance accountability and raises the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a potential avenue as well as prosecutions under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

The resolution will come as a disappointment to many Tamils who will have been hoping for stronger action from the global body, given more than 15 years have passed since the atrocities that killed tens of thousands in the Mullivaikkal genocide of 2009.

Though a new Sri Lankan president took office last month, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government has continued the policy of his predecessors to denounce calls from Tamils for an international investigative and accountability mechanism for war crimes. During his campaign, he pledged not to punish war criminals and has even met those accused of human rights violations in his early days in office.

Read more in our editorial: Rolling over

The increasing encroachment of farming lands in Pulmoddai by the Sri Lankan state has led to the arrest of two farmers, Nakeeb and Sadiq, by the Kuchchaveli Police. The farmers were detained on charges of farming in what has been deemed an archaeological area, a claim they strongly contest.

After their appearance in court, the Kuchchaveli Magistrate ordered their remand until October 14, accusing them of damaging archaeological ruins. The farmers had leased Tamil-owned land for cultivation, but the Sri Lankan Department of Archaeology recently placed a marker stone on the land, designating it as an archaeological site. This action has raised concerns over the state’s increasing use of archaeology as a pretext to seize land in traditionally Tamil areas.

Two farmers, named Nakeeb and Sadiq, from #Pulmoddai have been arrested by the Kuchchaveli Police on charges of farming in an archaeological area. pic.twitter.com/HszY1C5dCj

— Kumanan (@kumanan93) October 9, 2024

The arrests follow an incident last week when a Sinhala Buddhist monk was videoed disrupting the work of a Muslim farmer in Pulmoddai. The monk stood in front of a tractor being used to prepare land for farming, threatening the farmer and halting his activities. The farmer alleged that the monk, with the support of Sri Lanka’s Department of Archaeology, is attempting to occupy Tamil-owned land.

This case is just one of many where the state's archaeology department, often backed by the Buddhist clergy, is accused of using historical preservation as a means to seize land. These actions have intensified in recent years, particularly in the Tamil-majority North-East, where lands are being cordoned off and reclassified as archaeological sites. Many believe these efforts are part of a broader agenda of Sinhala-Buddhist colonization, aimed at displacing Tamil and Muslim communities from their ancestral lands.

The UK government has agreed to offer Tamil asylum seekers who have been stranded on Diego Garcia a temporary move to Romania, just days after it agreed to transfer sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to Mauritius.

After six months of stay in Romania, the Tamil asylum seekers could potentially be transferred over to the UK, a request that they have made for years.

There are currently 56 Tamils still on Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean that hosts a large US-UK military base. Five of the asylum seekers are currently in Rwanda for medical treatment.

The UK government had previously refused to allow the asylum seekers into the UK, insisting that BIOT did not provide a direct route for migrants seeking asylum in Britain. However, according to letters shared with the asylum seekers by BIOT and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), they have now been offered the possibility of relocating to the UK after spending six months in an UN-run transit center in Romania.

"Within those six months, the UK will continue to develop a durable solution for you in line with international standards. You can choose to accept any solution presented to you during this time. If you do not wish to accept any offers made during those six months, you will be brought to the UK," letters from the BIOT administration, seen by the BBC, say.

"Some people will receive offers to go to another safe country and others will receive an offer for voluntary return," said BIOT’s acting commissioner Nishi Dholakia. However the Tamils, who still face persecution in Sri Lanka, have persistently declined offers to return to the island.

"I want to reassure you that this announcement does not mean anyone will be leaving the island immediately,” added Dholakia. “You will all have time to consider the offer and next steps."

The situation in Diego Garcia has become increasingly dire, with the asylum seekers enduring deteriorating living conditions, mental health crises, and allegations of abuse.

The offer follows a request made in July by Paul Candler, then-commissioner of BIOT, to bring all 64 asylum seekers to the UK due to the worsening situation, including multiple suicide attempts among the group. However, the UK government has instead chosen to provide different options to different groups, with some being offered relocation to other countries or voluntary return to Sri Lanka, while others, like Krishnamoorthi, have been given the chance to move to the UK.

The group of Tamils fled in October 2021, attempting to reach Canada to claim asylum before their boat came into trouble near Diego Garcia. The UN refugee agency UNHCR had released a damning report finding violence, abuse and arbitrary detention of the migrants in Diego Garcia. Allegations of sexual abuse against women and children were also presented to the UN inspectors. The UN report called for "immediate relocation" due to concerns of safety. Many of them are Tamil, fleeing persecution by Sri Lankan authorities, including allegations of torture and sexual abuse.

Earlier this year in April, the British Supreme Court had ruled in favour of Eelam Tamil children held in Diego Garcia and found that key protections in the UK's Children's Act also applied to them. 

The decision to admit some of the asylum seekers comes at a time of political change, as the UK finalises an agreement to cede control of BIOT to Mauritius. Under this deal, Mauritius will take responsibility for any future migrants who arrive on the islands, effectively shutting down the possibility of the Indian Ocean becoming a route for illegal migration to the UK. The impact of this handover on the remaining asylum seekers is yet to be determined.

For the Tamils though, the news came as "a very big relief," according to one of the men in Rwanda. Another migrant there told the BBC it was the "happiest day in three years".

Tamil asylum seekers have been protesting for 87 days in Melbourne, Australia, as they continue to demand permanent visa protection. 

Protests began outside the Department of Home Affairs in Melbourne on July 15 2024 as thousands of asylum seekers are living on temporary visas which are required to be renewed regularly. 

Without permanent residency, asylum seekers do not have access to Medicare - Australia’s universal health insurance scheme, they do not have the right to work, study or travel and must report to the visa office every week. 

The Labor Government pledged to abolish temporary protection visas. Whilst the government did grant permanent visas to most of the 19,000 refugees previously on temporary protection visas, it has failed to afford the same protections to those who claimed asylum after February 2023. This has left 9,500 asylum seekers living in uncertainty.

“We have lived in uncertainty for over 12 years,” says Harini Rathnakumar, a leader of the protest. “Our children have been born into this limbo, denied basic rights like education, healthcare, and work opportunities. We are calling on the government to fulfil its promises and end this inhumane treatment."

“We are not asking for handouts; we are asking for the chance to live with dignity and contribute to the society that has been our home for over a decade,”added Rathnakumar. “We fled war, persecution, and oppression, and sought safety here. It’s time for the government to show compassion and act on its promises.”

In August, Mano Yogalingam, a young Tamil man, self-immolated after waiting 12 years for a permanent visa and constantly fearing the threat of deportation. 

The asylum seekers said they will continue their protests until their demands are met by the Australian government. 

Read more here.