Our Reporter

Our Reporter

‘Our Reporter’ is a collective byline representing a team of Jaffna- and Sri Lanka-based journalists and editorial staff who contribute to Jaffna Monitor.


Elephant Incursion in Jaffna Fuels Claims of Engineered Land Seizure

Elephant Incursion in Jaffna Fuels Claims of Engineered Land Seizure

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 26 — A herd of wild elephants that suddenly appeared in farmland in the Vadamarachchi East area of Jaffna this week has ignited fresh accusations that Sri Lanka’s wildlife authorities may be using animals to strengthen claims over disputed territory. Residents and a local Catholic priest said the elephants destroyed at least 36 coconut trees in the Kattaikadu–Keavil area earlier this week, describing the incident as unprecedented in a region with no historical record o


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Velnampy Assumes Office as Jaffna University’s 11th Vice Chancellor.

Velnampy Assumes Office as Jaffna University’s 11th Vice Chancellor.

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 25 — Senior Professor of Accounting at the University of Jaffna, Prof. T. Velnampy, assumed office on Wednesday as the institution’s 11th Vice Chancellor, succeeding Prof. C. Srisatkunarajah, whose term concluded a day earlier. Prof. Velnampy, an academic known for his administrative experience, has in recent years been seen engaging in public forums associated with the National People’s Power (NPP), including attending some of its meetings. His appointment by Preside


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Anura Calls Modi as Iran Remarks Complicate Sri Lanka’s Position

Anura Calls Modi as Iran Remarks Complicate Sri Lanka’s Position

COLOMBO, — March 24 — Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke by telephone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, with both leaders emphasizing the need to keep vital global shipping routes open amid rising tensions in West Asia. According to India’s public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, the call was initiated by Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two leaders “reiterated the importance of keeping shipping lines open and secure in the interest of the whole world,” it said i


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Jaffna Lecturer Killed in Alleged Family Plot Laid to Rest

Jaffna Lecturer Killed in Alleged Family Plot Laid to Rest

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 22, 2026 — A senior University of Jaffna lecturer killed in an alleged family plot was buried Sunday, as new details from police investigations painted a disturbing picture of the crime. Dr. (Mrs.) Thayalini Thileepan, 54, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Siddha Medicine, was laid to rest following funeral rites held at her residence in Jaffna. Her 19-year-old daughter, one of the main suspects in the case, was permitted by court order to attend the funeral under


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Sri Lanka Fuel Prices Rise by Up to 30%, Adding Pressure on Cost of Living

Sri Lanka Fuel Prices Rise by Up to 30%, Adding Pressure on Cost of Living

March 21, 2026, COLOMBO — The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government sharply raised fuel prices from midnight on Saturday, with increases ranging from roughly 21 to 26 percent — a move expected to ripple through transportation networks, food supply chains, and household budgets across a country still struggling to recover from a crippling economic collapse. The price hike is likely to intensify pressure on ordinary Sri Lankans, whose incomes have largely stagnated and are unlikely to k


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

University of Jaffna Lecturer Killed; Daughter and Partner Arrested

University of Jaffna Lecturer Killed; Daughter and Partner Arrested

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 21, 2026 — A senior lecturer at the University of Jaffna, who was reported missing earlier this week, has been confirmed killed, with police arresting her daughter and the daughter’s partner in connection with the case. The victim, Dr. (Mrs.) Thayalini Thileepan, a Senior Lecturer (Grade I) attached to the Department of Samooga nala Maruthuvam (Community Health Medicine) at the Faculty of Siddha Medicine, was reported missing from her residence in the early hours of


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

At Jaffna Hindu College, a Former Student Returns With a Message on Resilience

At Jaffna Hindu College, a Former Student Returns With a Message on Resilience

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — March 20, 2026 — “They tried to silence this ground once… but tonight, listen carefully — it is still speaking.” With that line, Abethan “Abbi” Kanthasamy brought a hushed sports field to stillness on Friday evening, addressing students, teachers, and alumni gathered at the grounds of Jaffna Hindu College. Nearly four decades after he last stood there as a schoolboy, Abbi Kanthasamy — now a Malaysia-based entrepreneur and managing director of the Cinnamon Group — returned a


Our Reporter

Our Reporter

Sinhalese March in Jaffna Highlights Minority Concerns in Sri Lanka’s North

Sinhalese March in Jaffna Highlights Minority Concerns in Sri Lanka’s North

JAFFNA, March 19— A march and vehicle procession organised by a group of activists began in Jaffna on Thursday, aiming to draw national attention to the concerns of Sinhalese communities living in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The initiative is expected to travel along the A9 highway through several towns before concluding in Colombo, where participants plan to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and submit a memorandum. Organizers said the campaign seeks to highlight grievances related t


Our Reporter

Our Reporter