News
Shritharan praises Canadian Tamil Genocide Monument and slams Sri Lankan politicians
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP Shritharan recently condemned continued genocide denial by senior Sri Lankan politicians, the Tamil Guardian reported.
The lawmaker was addressing a remembrance event held in Neduntheevu to mark the 40th anniversary of the Kumuthini massacre.
“The Sinhala supremacists who claim that no genocide was committed against the Eelam Tamils are attempting to blind the eyes and conscience of the world,” Shritharan said, denouncing ongoing state-sponsored historical revisionism.
On the occasion, which commemorated the massacre of Tamil civilians aboard the Kumuthini vessel in 1984, Shritharan conveyed his gratitude to international actors who have supported Tamil efforts for justice and recognition.
In particular, he extended thanks to the Canadian Prime Minister and the Mayor of Brampton for their role in recognising the Tamil genocide.
Reflecting on the long arc of massacres carried out across the Tamil homeland, Shritharan stated:
“From the boat of Kumuthini, the seas of Gurunagar, Kokkilai, Chathurukondan, Vakarai, Navali, and Nagercoil, all the way to Mullivaikkal—massacres were carried out in waves, systematically annihilating Tamils one group at a time.”
He sharply criticised members of Sri Lanka’s current political leadership, stating:
“Even today, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, along with Namal Rajapaksa and Ali Sabry, continue to shamelessly deny that a genocide took place in Tamil Eelam.”
Such statements, Shritharan said, constitute a blatant insult to the world’s conscience and reflect the deep-seated Sinhala hegemonic racism embedded within the ruling establishment.
In contrast to this denialism, Shritharan hailed the recent unveiling of a Tamil Genocide Memorial in Brampton, Canada, as a landmark in the global recognition of Tamil suffering and resistance.
“Amid such open racism from Sri Lanka’s ruling establishment, the establishment of a Genocide Memorial in Brampton serves as international testimony to the undeniable truth that what happened in Eelam was indeed genocide,” he declared.
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.
The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.
Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
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