UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak extended his wishes to the Tamil community celebrating the new year and thanked them for their 'tremendous contribution' to the country. 

Tamil families of the disappeared in Vavuniya marked 2611 days of continuous protests on Tamil New Year as they continue to campaign to know the fate of their forcibly disappeared relatives. 

“We have been fighting for 2611 days to find our missing children,” they said. “We are grateful for the recognition of our struggle from politicians from the USA and EU in their pursuit for accountability and truth.”

Last week, the leader of Sri Lanka’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and National People’s Power (NPP) coalition undertook a tour of the Tamil homeland. Though the party trumped up the visit, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s speeches lacked substance. His explicit ruling out of political solutions to the decades-old ethnic conflict will have done little to enthuse Tamils to vote for him. Instead, his remarks have done the opposite, reaffirming to many that there is little to differentiate him from the other Sinhala candidates. Dissanayake’s electioneering has fallen flat.

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has pledged to work on lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and push for a referendum on establishing Tamil Eelam in its manifesto as elections in India are set to take place later this month. 

A memorial float dedicated to Annai Poopathy travelled through Jaffna today and will make its way to Batticaloa to mark 36 years since her fast unto death. 

Speaking to the press in Jaffna, former Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council, C.V.K Sivagnanam, maintained that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) would not field a common candidate ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential elections.

Sivagnanam noted that whilst some parties had called for a Tamil candidate at the polls, with some having suggested "names and published pedigrees of persons who could be the presidential candidate" this would not be the position of the TNA.

The Indian High Commission organised an event in Colombo last week where it showcased weapons for sale to senior Sri Lankan officials, including those accused of war crimes.

Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) interrogated prominent Eelam author Theepachelvan from Kilinochchi, in connection with a book launch event deemed to promote the revival of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Theepachelvan, known for his poignant Tamil literary works, was involved in organising the launch of author N. Yogendranathan's book 'The River of Fire We Swam Across' on February 10th at the Kilinochchi Divisional Council community hall. As the chair of the Tamil National Arts and Literature Council, Theepachelvan played a key role in the event.

The son of former LTTE cadre and social activist who was recently arrested, has demanded to know the reason behind his arrest and called for the swift release of his father who is being held without charge. 

On March 27, Selvanayagam Aravinthan was summoned to Colombo by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) and was later arrested for allegedly supporting the LTTE. 

Muslims in Amparai, Mannar and Vavuniya celebrated Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.