The nine Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) members, including lawyer Kanagaratnam Sugash, were released on bail today after the were arrested for protesting the illegal construction of a Buddhist temple in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna.

TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendren was arrested alongside them but was released on the spot while the others were taken into police custody by Palaly police.

Tetley and Lipton among other major tea manufacturers are investigating the working conditions on tea plantations in Sri Lanka following a Guardian investigation which revealed that workers were unable to pay for food and were living in unsanitary conditions.

The investigation also revealed that estate owners provided workers with no support during the island's economic crisis. Workers reported that supervisors denied them pay.

Tea pickers have stated that they have had to skip meals and send their children to work to compensate for their inadequate earnings. 

Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington and the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT) has urged the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to investigate the arrest of TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendren. 

As Chair of the APPG for Tamils, I am deeply concerned about the reports of Tamil MP, Mr Kajendran, being subjected to brute force and arrest by Sri Lankan Police. I urge the FCDO to investigate and raise with Sri Lankan officials.

Photograph courtesy of Virakesari

Ten people, including Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) MP Selvarajah Kajendren were arrested earlier today as they protested against the illegal construction of a Buddhist temple in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna.

On 18 May, Canadian politicians across all spectrums marked the newly recognized ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day' and renewed calls for accountability. 

Photograph: Canadian High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka and Maldives 

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh over the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. 

In a statement, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said that Trudeau's statement was "politically motivated" and "was issued for domestic political consumption in Canada." 

Proud to stand with the Tamil people. pic.twitter.com/6yILzKkxMO

— Rep. Wiley Nickel (@RepWileyNickel) May 19, 2023

On the 14^th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, US Congressman, Wiley Nickel, has released a statement acknowledging the Tamil genocide and reaffirming his commitment to stand by the Tamils in their fight for justice.

All photographs: Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lankan riot police were deployed to Borella after Sinhala extremists disrupted a commemoration event which was dedicated to the victims of the Tamil genocide at Mullivaikkal 14 years ago. 

For this anthology, Amazon Prime made the intelligent decision of passing the mantle of Creative Producer to one of Kollywood’s best: Thiagarajan Kumararaja. The result of this is a collection of short films at least a few leagues above the standard witnessed in previous attempts.

Marking the 14^th anniversary of the genocide at Mullivaikkal, Swiss MPs have released statements calling for the establishment of an international investigation into war crimes committed during the final stages of the armed conflict.

Fabian Molina MP, of the Social Democratic Party stated on Twitter: