Due to increased demand, the passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) in Tamil Eelam will now operate four times a week starting from September 21, 2024.

Initially launched with daily sailings, the service had been reduced to three days a week due to lower-than-expected bookings. However, with rising demand, an additional Saturday sailing has been added, signalling improved connectivity between Tamil Nadu and the Tamil homeland in thr North-East. The ferry will now run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

This increase in frequency reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime links between Tamil Nadu and Tamil Eelam, creating greater opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange. It also underscores India's deepening business interest in the Tamil homeland.

To further support the service, the Indian government has committed financial assistance of over LKR 25 million per month for one year to cover operational costs at Nagapattinam port, ensuring the success of this initiative.

According to the Indian High Commission, the resumption of this ferry service is "a testament to the broader effort to enhance maritime connectivity between India and Sri Lanka." The financial assistance from the Indian government aims to ensure the smooth operation of the ferry and bolster cross-border connectivity.

“Connectivity undoubtedly is the central pillar of our emerging partnership,” said Santosh Jha, the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka.

“When I speak of connectivity, I mean all its dimensions—air, maritime, trade, digital, energy, and people-to-people connectivity. Daily flights between Jaffna and Chennai, along with the launch of ferry services between India and Northern Sri Lanka, are some of the latest steps in this direction.”

The Sri Lankan government has lodged a protest with the UK Home Office after British Tamils demonstrated against the Sri Lankan cricket team in London this week, demanding a sporting boycott over the genocide of Tamils.

Demonstrators gathered outside the Oval as fans entered the ground on Sunday, urging the British government and sporting bodies to ban Sri Lanka from international cricket over its human rights record. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Sri Lankan team, go back," "Don’t hide Tamil genocide behind cricket matches," and "International Cricket Council, ban the Sri Lankan team!"

The Sri Lankan government however has reportedly lodged a complaint with the UK Home Office, highlighting the use of the Tamil Eelam national flag. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London, Rohitha Bogollagama, reportedly said it was an “emblem of the LTTE,” and he raised it with the Home Office.

Contrary to the High Commissioner’s remarks however, the Tamil Eelam flag remains entirely legal to fly across the world as the national flag of Eelam Tamils.

On repeated occasions the British Home Office itself has recognised the difference the Tamil Eelam flag and the symbol of the LTTE, the latter which remains a proscribed organisation in the UK.

Sri Lanka is pressing ahead to send nearly 2,252 agricultural workers to Israel, to make up for vacancies that were previously occupied by Palestinians, after Israel enforced sweeping revocation of Palestinian worker permits in several sectors.

The decision comes after more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched a war against Gaza in October 2023. 

A group of 69 Sri Lankans received airline tickets from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, with their departures scheduled for September 12 and 18. These individuals are part of an agreement that allows Sri Lankan workers to be employed in Israel for 5 years and 5 months. The selection process for this program is carried out through a lottery system run by Israel’s FIBA organization, with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. 

This initiative comes despite Sri Lanka repeatedly highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands of civilians have been killed. Sri Lankan officials have pointed to the situation in Gaza as an example when calling for international attention on global humanitarian issues. Despite these statements, Sri Lanka has maintained its labor relationship with Israel, especially in the agricultural sector.

Israel’s farms, particularly in the central and southern regions, have traditionally relied on thousands of Thai and Palestinian workers to cultivate the land and bring in harvests. However, following the Hamas assault on October 7, many Thai workers fled the country, and Palestinian workers have been largely banned from the workforce. This shortage of labor has led Israeli farms to issue urgent calls for workers to help with the harvest.

The deepening of trade and diplomatic ties comes even as Sri Lanka claimed that it has demanded an immediate ceasefire and a supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

Sri Lanka has seen a spike in election-related violence as presidential polls draw closer, according to data released by Election monitors People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), the Sri Lankan Elections Commission and Sri Lankan media outlets.

The statistics which are updated routinely show that more than 20 such incidents have been formally reported to the Sri Lanka police, who have increased their presence in districts that have reported an increase in election-related violence. In addition to the formal reports, approximately 60 individuals have reportedly been arrested, while some are to be produced before the courts.

One such arrest was that of a Tamil youth who was found to have a bullet during a rally of Ranil Wickremesinghe in Batticaloa. The bullet was found inside the wallet of the arrested 24-year-old, during a security screening, police said. However, the youth had claimed that he picked up the bullet after finding it on the roadside around 2 years ago.

Meanwhile, according to the Sinhala press, PAFFREL said that they have received 556 complaints regarding the promotion of the candidates that violate the election commission rules out of which 321 of them had been verified and confirmed. 93 other complaints were with regards to hosting of election rallies, 188 were to do with abuse of state resources and 50 were acts of violence. 

The latest official update released by PAFFREL, counting numbers from July 26 until September 10, shows reports of hundreds of incidents.

Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Asanka Karawit told reporters that the police were monitoring the situation and were making every effort to ensure that it was violence-free.

Sri Lanka’s Election Commission also said that a special security program was in place for September 21 – the date of the presidential polls.

_____

This article has been edited to reflect the updated numbers.

PAFFREL said, "As a Sri Lankan election observation organization, our clear objective is to keep an eye on the overall electoral process and encourage citizens and related entities to hold free and fair elections".

Ahead of the upcoming presidential election, more than 200 of Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians have been armed with two repeater shotguns each, issued by the Defence Ministry.

This decision follows supposed concerns for personal safety raised by the parliamentarians themselves after the 2022 Aragalaya protests, during which several MPs' homes in the Sinhala south were set on fire. According to reports, ten MPs have yet to receive their firearms, which they had requested months ago.

Repeater shotguns, capable of firing multiple rounds before reloading, have been issued to replace the previously distributed Chinese-made pistols, many of which are now malfunctioning. Each shotgun holds up to ten cartridges, offering increased security for lawmakers. The Defence Ministry has specified that the MPs are allowed to retain them even after leaving office, raising obvious security concerns. 

The holding of firearms by Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians has a troubled history. State Minister Lohan Ratwatte came under fire for threatening eight Tamil prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and holding them at gunpoint. Ratwatte, under the influence of alcohol, allegedly stormed Anuradhapura prison, forcing the prisoners to kneel at gunpoint and verbally abusing them in Sinhala. He claimed to have the authority, granted by the President, to either release or execute them under the PTA. The law, which has long been criticized for enabling arbitrary detention and abuse, remains a powerful tool for suppressing dissent and silencing political opposition.

Sri Lanka's enduring legacy of war and its corrupt political system have fostered an environment where impunity thrives. Earlier this year, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles recently encouraged police to engage in extrajudicial killings, claiming that “eliminating criminals from the country is not a sin,” further fuelling a culture of impunity. This statement highlights the broader issue of unchecked state violence, which has persisted long after the end of the country’s armed conflict. 

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) will formally announce its decision on whom to support in the upcoming election on the 14th or 15th of this month, senior leader Mavai Senathiraja told reporters, adding that the party will issue an official statement confirming its stance.

This news comes amidst internal crisis and infighting within the party, as two factions are at odds. The faction led by Sumanthiran has declared its support for Sajith Premadasa, while the majority of the party backs the common Tamil candidate. Senathiraja made these comments after an ITAK meeting in Vavuniya this week.

"Regarding how Tamils should vote in this election, our party has always supported self-determination for the Tamil homeland. Our policy is that the ethnic issue needs to be resolved. All of this is outlined in the manifesto of the common Tamil candidate. These matters have been discussed and agreed upon. Nevertheless, we will formally announce our stance on the 14th or 15th of this month," he said.

When asked if he had provided conflicting reports on the party's support for Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa, he clarified that he was not present at some of the meetings where those decisions were made. "It's wrong for the press to take my comments out of context," he said. "We will have our discussions and come to a unanimous decision."

The split within the party has left its members in disarray, and the latest developments highlight the ongoing division, which has contributed to a steady decline in the party’s popularity.

The ITAK, also known as the Federal Party, has a rich history dating back to S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, who is fondly remembered as the father of Eelam Tamil nationalism. In 2001, with the overt backing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the party led the newly formed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) coalition.

The government of Sri Lanka has once again rejected Human Rights Council Resolution 51/1 at the United Nations Human Rights Council, claiming the report exceeds its mandate on human rights and that the Council should focus on more pressing humanitarian crises that require urgent attention.

Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, noted in her statement that the resolution was adopted without Sri Lanka’s consent through a divided vote. "We disassociate from the report for the reasons stated in our detailed response, available on the OHCHR website," she said.

Arunatilaka herself is embroiled in controversy, as an Australian Federal Court has ordered her to pay $543,000 in unpaid wages and interest to a domestic worker who served her during her time as Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner in Australia. Speaking at the session, she expressed surprise that the report ventured beyond its human rights mandate to comment on macroeconomics, financial, and budgetary matters, which she said fall under sovereign parliamentary jurisdiction. She also criticized the report for projecting a negative outlook on Sri Lanka’s future, contrary to the views of other international partners. Arunatilaka further pointed out that the report failed to mention the "brutal acts of terrorism and human rights violations" committed by the LTTE, including child recruitment, suicide bombings, and the assassination of democratically elected leaders in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Arunatilaka, a staunch loyalist of the Sri Lankan regime, has consistently sought to deflect accusations of war crimes and genocide committed against Tamils during her tenure in Geneva. She stated that the mechanism was unproductive and unwarranted, exceeding the Council's mandate. "The selective and disproportionate focus on handpicked developing countries while ignoring critical situations elsewhere is unacceptable. We urge the Council to avoid politicization and double standards and to focus on urgent humanitarian crises to maintain its credibility."

Sri Lanka continues to deflect attention from its obligations under the resolution, often referencing humanitarian issues in other countries while downplaying its own. Recently, Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, who was the lawyer for war criminal Gotabaya Rajapaksa, urged the Council to shift its focus to Gaza.

In October 2022, the UNHRC adopted Resolution 51/1 on Sri Lanka, which aims to "extend and reinforce the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to collect, consolidate, analyze, and preserve" evidence that may be used in future war crimes trials. The resolution states that evidence collected could be used in "relevant judicial and other proceedings," including courts around the world, to prosecute those accused of violating international humanitarian law.

Since the massacres during the Mullivaikkal genocide in 2009, where tens of thousands were killed, Tamils have consistently called for an independent international accountability mechanism to prosecute those responsible for rights abuses. However, no prosecutions have taken place to date.

Tributes were paid to the revolutionary Tamil poet Subaramani Bharathi in Vavuniya today on the 103rd anniversary of his death.  The event involved floral tributes laid on the iconic Bharathi statue in Nallur, the poet's songs sung by Tamil students and coconut saplings distributed in the poet's honour.

Born in Thoothukudi in British India in 1882, Bharathi is popularly known as Mahakavi or great poet for his pioneering influence on the Tamil literary landscape.

The Bharathiyar poem Thamil Thaai Vaazhthu was traditionally sung in Tamil schools across the North-East, and is still sung to inaugurate Tamil cultural events, as an alternative to the Sri Lankan national anthem.

India has granted 65 million USD for the development of Kankesanthurai (KKS) port, Sri Lanka's Minister of Aviation and Shipping, Nimal Siripala de Silva. reportedly told a rally in Jaffna. 

The project includes the construction of a new breakwater, dredging the port to a depth of 30 meters to accommodate deep-draft vessels, and a full renovation of existing port facilities.

This project will increase direct trade between Indian and the Tamil homelands, following in the footsteps of the reinstated ferry ‘Sivagangai’, run by IndSri Ferry Services, and now two airlines; IndiGo and Alliance Air, operating the daily Chennai to Jaffna route.

This investment comes on the back of multiple Indian projects. India has been working on the development of the North-East, including improving connectivity via air and sea; taking control of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm to integrate Sri Lanka into India's national energy system; and plans to invest over $1 billion in two wind energy projects in Mannar. India is also taking steps exploring an ‘India-Sri Lanka Land Connectivity Corridor’, which would connect Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka via a bridge over the Palk Strait.

The redeveloped KKS port, with a 16 acre spread, is smaller than major Sri Lankan ports like Colombo or Hambantota, but will have a unique and strategic role in the country's port network. Unlike its larger counterparts that focus on container shipping or bulk cargo, KKS Port is being developed as a tourist and passenger port, enhancing connectivity between the Tamil homeland and India. While it won't compete with larger ports in cargo handling, KKS Port will be essential to the development of tourism, trade and the economic development of the North-East.

Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has alleged that over 80 government ministers and parliamentarians are planning to flee the country on September 21, the date of the upcoming presidential election, over fears of a massive defeat.

Speaking at a press conference, Rahman claimed that members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), who initially backed incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, are now in a difficult position. “They supported him thinking it would lead to an electoral victory, but they now see his unpredictable behavior, comparing him to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Rahman stated.

According to Rahman, many SLPP members are beginning to withdraw from Wickremesinghe’s campaign, with some distancing themselves from his public events. He further revealed that Wickremesinghe has been forced to cancel 22 campaign rallies as key figures are no longer willing to participate.

“Wickremesinghe’s true motives are becoming clearer, and now over 80 ministers and frontbench MPs have secured visas to leave the country on September 21st. They realize they are being used, and many believe this is to create an opening for Anura Kumara Dissanayake to come to power,” Rahman said.

The MP also noted that members of the United National Party (UNP) are abandoning their support for Wickremesinghe, aligning instead with Sajith Premadasa of the SJB. "The UNP’s true legacy now rests with the SJB, and communities across Sri Lanka are rallying behind Premadasa,” Rahman added.

Sri Lanka police have launched an investigation into a wedding pre-shoot, after a couple had taken photos inside the Sri Dalada Maligawa, angering the island’s Sinhala Buddhists. 

^{A photograph from the offending pre-wedding shoot.}

Sri Lanka police have launched an investigation into a wedding pre-shoot, after a couple had taken photos inside the Sri Dalada Maligawa, angering the island’s Sinhala Buddhists. 

The Kandy police said they have launched an investigation into a pre-wedding photoshoot involving actor Devnaka Porage and musician Hashini Wedanda at the temple.  

It was reported that a pre-shoot had taken place at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, which according to the temple and the Sri Lankan police is a ‘form of disrespect’.  

Police officers at the temple had reportedly advised the crew to stop the shoot, but a person claiming to be a senior figure had arrived and instructed them to continue. The pre-shoot had reportedly taken place in various parts of the temple and temple grounds. Images of the couple were shared on social media, with many Sinhala Buddhists users calling it an “insult”.  

The custodian of the temple, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara claimed that he informed the police after learning about the incident. Reports also suggest that the police had advised the photographer to visit the Kandy police station to give a statement. Several Buddhist organizations expressed concern, warning that such actions ‘could offend and are a sign of disrespect’, adding that legal action must be taken against those involved. 

This is not the first time that Sri Lankan police have launched such investigations over ‘disrespecting Buddhism’. 

 A few years ago, a British tourist was denied entry into Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of Buddha, while on another occasion two men were arrested for selling T-shirts that reportedly had the motif of the Sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. On another occasion, Sri Lankan police detained an Indian citizen from Tamil Nadu who was on a family holiday on the island for wearing a dress with the image of Buddha on it. 

Sri Lanka’s constitution continues to give “first and foremost” place to Buddhism as a religion. 

Days after plunging the Ilankai Arasu Tamil Katchi (ITAK) into crisis following an announcement by the central committee of the party of their support Sajith Premadasa, leader-elect S Shritharan addressed a rally stating that the Kilinochchi branch of the party has decided to unanimously decided to support common Tamil candidate  Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran.

Shritharan took to his Facebook page to state that that Kilinochchi members of the party had met and decided to vouch their support for the common Tamil candidate unconditionally.

The news comes days parliamentarian Sumanthiran announced that the party was in favor of backing Sajith Premadasa at the Sri Lankan presidential polls. Sumanthiran took to Twitter this week to state that "hat is the position of every member of our party including myself".

"There is absolutely no confusion with regard to that position," he claimed. Yet the party's leader-elect Shritharan has repeatedly called for Tamils to back Ariyanenthiran at the upcoming polls.

The latest announcement demonstrates the split that has been prevalent in the party, which has seen a steady decline in its popularity.

Many felt that supporting a Tamil candidate was the only way to demonstrate to the international community that a united Tamil voice in the North-East is still demanding self-determination and liberation from Sri Lankan oppression. The only other Tamil demand had been from the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) to boycott the elections entirely, stating that it was the “only option” left for the Tamil people.

Sri Lankan police have arrested a Tamil school principal in Mullaitivu for photographing his ballot after voting for the Tamil common candidate.

The principal was one of thousands of postal voters who cast their ballots ahead of the upcoming Presidential election on September 21st. A total of 712,319 voters were eligible to use postal voting to cast their vote in the 2024 presidential election.

The principal, whose name has been withheld, was voting at a school in Puthukudiyiruppu when he took a photo of his ballot paper on his mobile phone to show his vote for the Tamil common candidate. A station officer reported the incident to the Mullaitivu Elections Officer. Upon inspecting the phone and finding the photo, election officials determined that photographing a ballot paper violated election rules and constituted an offense. He was later released on police bail.

Officers from Sri Lanka's Army were seen taking photographs and intimidating Eelam Tamils who were in the process of plastering a new plaque at the memorial dedicated to the Saththurukondan massacre, which states that the military was responsible for the killings. This year marks the 34th commemoration of the massacre of 186 civilians in the areas of Sathurukondan, Panichchaiyadi, Kokkuvil, and Pillaiyaradi.

Officers from Sri Lanka's Army were seen taking photographs and intimidating Eelam Tamils who were in the process of plastering a new plaque at the memorial dedicated to the Saththurukondan massacre, which states that the military was responsible for the killings. This year marks the 34th commemoration of the massacre of 186 civilians in the areas of Sathurukondan, Panichchaiyadi, Kokkuvil, and Pillaiyaradi.

Earlier today, when Tamils were plastering a new plaque on the old memorial, they were visited by Sri Lanka police and army officers who interrogated the Tamil residents on what the plaque read. The plaque states:

1990.09.09 We Remember the Massacre of 186 Innocent Civilians Brutally Killed by the Srilankan Armed Force, Muslim Armed Gangs And Paramilitary Groups who worked with the Srilankan soldiers

The military then threatened to remove the plaques if the Sri Lankan army name was retained.

Several army officers took photographs and questioned the Tamils in the area. One of the officers who arrived at the scene told the Tamils that the plaque stated that the army was responsible for the massacre, which according to him was an illegal act, and that no murder had ever taken place there. He had proceeded to argue with the Tamils and the rest of the organizing committee who had made preparations for the plaque. When residents tried to explain, the police officers had retorted by stating that they would inform their superiors about this and take appropriate action. 

The massacre

On September 9, 1990, the men, women, and children from Saththurukondan and surrounding villages, on the outskirts of Batticaloa, were taken to an army camp by Sri Lankan soldiers, where they were massacred.

The mass killings, which were carried out during the presidency of the UNP's Ranasinghe Premadasa, were investigated in a probe established by then-president Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1997. The probe identified three captains in the Sri Lankan army as being responsible for the killings. The retired judge who led the inquiry, K Palakidnar said that there was strong evidence for the massacre and urged Kumaratunga to hold the perpetrators to account, however, no action was taken by the government.

Amongst those who were killed in the Sathurukondan atrocities, were five children less than a year old, 42 children under 10, 9 pregnant women, and 28 adults over 68 years of age. 38 were from Saththurukondan, 37 from Panichchaiyady, 62 from Pillaiyaradi, and 47 from Kokuvil. Only one man survived the massacre and lived to tell his account to the ICRC and human rights groups.

Speaking to TamilNet in 1997, Mr K Krishnakumar, recounted what happened that day:

"The villages were cordoned off by the Army around 10 a.m. It was almost 7 p.m. by the time the villagers - including infants, women, pregnant mothers and the old - were herded to the Sathurukkondan camp and locked inside. Four masked men walked into the hall and selected me, T. Kumar, C. Sinnaththamby, and K. Jeevaratnam. Our shirts were removed and our hands behind our back with them. Then we were taken to the camp's back yard. We were dragged about fifty meters further, where we saw a pit about 20 ft by 5ft. There was a Cashew tree by the pit and well which was about 10 meters from it.

"In the dim light I saw 25 soldiers armed with long swords and cudgels standing round the pit and the well.

"I was hit with a cudgel and I fell face downward. When the other three screamed the soldiers stripped them and stuffed cloth into their mouths. One by one they were taken to the edge of the pit and hacked with swords and were pushed in.

"A soldier came up to me and slammed me against the Cashew tree, pulled out a long kris knife, and stabbed me through the chest. He then pushed me into the pit. He stabbed me again on my back. Though I was bleeding, I didn't lose consciousness.

"Four more men were brought there, hacked to death and were pushed in to the pit. The soldiers went again and brought two pregnant women. They were stripped naked and their breasts were sliced off. The soldiers then cut open the stomachs of these women with their swords and pushed them into the pit.

"Later they brought many girls stark naked. Sand was stuffed in the girls' mouths and all were raped repeatedly. Then the soldiers cut off their breasts with the swords. Three of these girls were pushed into the well. "As the area was dark, I was able to slowly crawl out while they were busy raping, killing and pushing bodies into the pit. When the soldiers left, I crawled towards the camp fence and hid in shrub jungle behind the camp. Later the soldiers brought tires and set fire to the bodies in the pit. The fires burned till 3 about a.m. in the morning. Once the pyre died out, the pit was filled with sand.  With the help of a passer-by I went to the hospital.

Sri Lanka has continuously repressed Tamil memorialisation activities in the North-East either by enforcing legal restrictions or by harassment and intimidation by the state's security forces.