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A government-backed community mobilisation programme has emerged as a political flashpoint in Sri Lanka's Northern and Eastern Provinces, with elected officials, political parties, and civil society groups warning that the initiative undermines constitutional governance and threatens to erode Tamil political representation at the grassroots level. The Praja Shakthi (People's Power) programme, launched by the National People's Power (NPP) government and presented as a poverty alleviation initiat

Two Members of Parliament from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) have raised serious concerns in Parliament and parliamentary committee meetings over the implementation of the Kivul Oya Irrigation Project, alleging that the scheme would lead to the submersion of Tamil villages, the destruction of traditional irrigation systems, and potential changes to the demographic composition of Tamil areas in the region. The objections come as the government prepares to resume the long-stalled project

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (dTNA)—a grouping formed by parties that broke away from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)—have decided to jointly prepare a political document which they describe as reflecting the aspirations of the Tamil people. The two sides have also invited other Tamil political parties operating within the Tamil national political space to participate in the process. Addressing a joint media briefing alongside EPRLF Leader

By: Dr Shane Halpe Batticaloa Teaching Hospital sits in the middle of a busy town—surrounded by roads, markets, schools, and the restless rhythm of everyday life. It is a place where ambulances arrive with breathless urgency, where families sit on benches holding reports and hope, where staff move quickly because delay has consequences. And yet, as Dr Mythily Barthelot—Deputy Director of the hospital—says with striking simplicity, the biggest challenge is not always the most dramatic one.

By: M.R. Narayan Swamy Even as many Tamils who fled Sri Lanka to escape the ethnic conflict want to settle down in India, those who seek to return to their homes are facing numerous governmental challenges in the island nation, a leading NGO based in India says. An estimated 58,000 Tamil refugees are spread across 105 camps set up by Indian authorities in 29 districts of Tamil Nadu, while another 30-40,000 live on their own in the southern state separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip