High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Mr. Santosh Jha and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Hiniduma Sunil Senevi jointly announced the naming of the Cultural Centre in Jaffna as ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’, in honour of the great Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, at a ceremony held on 18th January 2025. 

The event was also attended by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Hon’ble Ramalingam Chandrashekhar, Governor of Northern Province Hon’ble Nagalingam Vethanayan, Municipal Commissioner of Jaffna Mr. S. Krishnendran, Secretary to Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Atapattu, Consul General of India in Jaffna Sai Murali, along with other dignitaries and cultural artists from Jaffna.
Built with Indian grant assistance of USD 12 million, the Center provides a space where the rich traditions, arts, and aspirations of the people of the Northern Province could thrive. The iconic structure is a state-of-the-art facility consisting of multiple facilities such as a museum of two floors; an advanced theatre style auditorium for more than 600 people; an 11-storeyed learning tower; a public square which could also act as an amphitheater; etc.

The foundation stone for the Cultural Center was laid by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his historic visit to Jaffna in March 2015. The facility was subsequently inaugurated in March 2022 and dedicated to the people of Sri Lanka in February 2023.

High Commissioner – Mr. Santosh Jha, during his address at the naming ceremony on 18th January, said that the initiative not only served to pay tribute to the great Thiruvalluvar, it was also a celebration of a shared history, a shared culture, and the unique and unbreakable bond between India and Sri Lanka. He remarked that the occasion marked the beginning of a journey guided by the wisdom of Thiruvalluvar, towards a future rich in culture, collaboration, and shared prosperity. The High Commissioner urged the people of Jaffna and the Northern Province to make the center a living, breathing embodiment of Thiruvalluvar’s teachings.

Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Sunil Senevi said that an ideal name had been chosen for the Cultural Center in Jaffna. He added that Thiruvalluvar’s teachings remind us that our actions should always be rooted in compassion and righteousness, and that his masterpiece, the Thirukkural, guides us in the pursuit of a just and harmonious society. In a special gesture, Hon’ble Minister gifted the High Commissioner of India a copy of the first ever edition of translation of the Thirukkural into Sinhala.

On behalf of the President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, the Minister thanked the Government of India for the generous gift of the cultural center, and said that he looked forward to working with all stakeholders towards making it a hub of vibrant cultural activity.

The US Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a law that could ban TikTok in America has disappointed millions of users across the country – many of whom earn money through its use.

But lawmakers argued the social media app’s links to China posed a national security threat.

TikTok challenged the legislation in court, arguing it would violate free speech protections for the more than 170 million users it says it has in the US.

The nation’s highest court rejected this claim unanimously, meaning TikTok must now find an approved buyer for the US version of the app or face removal from app stores and web hosting services.

One TikTok user told BBC News that the ruling was like “going to work and your office building’s just vanished”.

While the ban is legally slated to begin Sunday, the Biden administration said it would leave the enforcement of the matter to the incoming president, Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday.

Trump, who pushed for a sale or ban of TikTok in 2020, has vowed to make a decision regarding the platfrom in the “not too distant future”. Since his election win, he has indicated that he would like to preserve the shortfrom video app’s presence in the US – which has seemingly left TikTok’s future openended.

(BBC News)

Popular Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has undergone surgery and is out of danger after he was stabbed by an intruder in his home overnight, his team has said.

The attack took place early on Thursday morning in an upscale neighbourhood in the Indian city of Mumbai, where Khan lives with his family.

City police told BBC Marathi that the actor was injured after a scuffle broke out between him and an unidentified man who entered his house sometime after midnight.

Police have formed teams to investigate the matter.

“Khan has come out of surgery and is out of danger. He is currently in recovery and the doctors are monitoring his progress,” Khan’s team said in a statement.

Speaking to reporters after the surgery, Dr Nitin Dange of Lilavati Hospital, where Khan is admitted, said that the actor “sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine”.

“A surgery was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and one other on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team,” he said.

Khan is married to Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan and the couple have two children. His team said they were safe.

His wife said afterwards on Instagram stories that it had been “an incredibly challenging day for our family”, and that they were still “trying to process” it.

She “respectfully and humbly” asked the media and paparazzi to “refrain from the relentless speculation and coverage”.

“While we appreciate the concern and support, the constant scrutiny and attention are not only overwhelming but also pose a significant risk to our safety,” she added.

“I kindly request that you respect our boundaries and give us the space we need to heal and cope as a family.”

The exact details of the assault are not clear yet. Police have said that “an unknown person” had entered the actor’s home.

“After that, an argument broke out between Khan and the intruder,” Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police Dixit Gedam told BBC Marathi.

Khan’s team said it was a case of “attempted burglary” but did not share more details.

“We request the media and fans to be patient. It is a police matter,” they said.

(BBC News)