January 3

US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp will visit Sri Lanka Sri Lanka from January 6-11, 2014, the State Department Spokesperson announced. During his visit Ambassador Rapp will meet with a broad cross section of Government officials and political and civil society leaders on a range of issues focusing on Sri Lanka's justice, accountability, and reconciliation processes.

The US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp was arrived in Colombo on a six-day visit to hold discussions with Sri Lankan officials on allegations of war crimes.

The Presidential Commission to probe disappearances will commence sittings on January 18. The inaugural sitting of the Commission is scheduled to be held in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts from January 18 to 20.

US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of States Stephen J. Rapp said that the US will move a third resolution against Sri Lanka at the upcoming UNHRC session in Geneva in March calling for an international probe into the war crimes allegations during the final phase of the war.

Army rejected US claim that the Army shelling had killed hundreds of families at St Antony's Ground in Mullaittivu District as completely 'baseless'. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo on January 9 in its official Twitter account posted a photo captioned as "St Antony's Ground - site of January 2009 killing of hundreds of families by army shelling".

India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said "Our concern is that the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should be respected. The Sri Lankan Government sought our help, and, in response to that, we were promised that there would be devolution of power from the centre to states - like it is in India."

Secretary to the External Affairs Ministry Karunatilaka Amunugama said that the Government will question the US Embassy in Colombo over the allegations made by US diplomats in social media that army shelling killed hundreds of families in the North during the final stage of the war.

The display of a wreckage of a passenger airplane that was shot down by the LTTE 16 years ago at the public park grounds in Jaffna District drew a large crowd on January 12. The debris of the ill-fated aircraft along with some recovered personal items of the passengers including a National Identity Card of a passenger, clothes, and shoes, were on display to the public.

US pressed Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses by its Army through independent and credible investigations after a top American diplomat recorded eyewitness accounts of serious "abuses" during the final stages of the civil war with the LTTE.

TNA says the Government is not properly collecting data on the material and human losses incurred in the Northern Province during the period of the war.

EPDP, a group of Tamil party allies of governing party decided to submit proposals on behalf of the Tamil people to the PSC appointed to address the national problems and propose the necessary constitutional amendments.

The Premier of Ontario Province of Canada, Kathleen Wynne had a friendly meeting with a former spokesman, Nehru Gunaratnam for a LTTE front organization, WTM in Toronto. The Premier and Gunaratnam along with city councilor Michelle Berardinetti and Liberal MPP Lorenzo Berardinetti attended the event at the Kanthasamy Hindu Temple to celebrate Pongal.

Tharmalingam Jeyanthan (35) of the defeated LTTE and sought by Interpol for terrorism arrested by the French Police in Paris when the man walked into the Police Station to lodge a complaint. A Red Notice issued by Interpol on Tharmalingam says he is wanted by the judicial authorities of Sri Lanka for prosecution and to serve a sentence.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the Government is dedicated to implement justice to everyone in the country and everyone should live with equal rights.

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem urged the US to reconsider its position on the island nation and support efforts towards achieving reconciliation in the country.

Reacting to the possibility of being sent to a Government-run rehabilitation camp meant for LTTE detainees, a TNA woman councillor of the NPC said she would resist the move. Ananthi Saseetharan said she was never a member of the LTTE but wanted justice for her husband and several others who had disappeared during the three-decade ethnic conflict.

The Government requested the French authorities to hand over Tharmalingam Jeyanthan arrested by the French Police in Paris when he walked into a French Police Station to lodge a complaint.

President's Special Envoy for Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in Kandy city said the Government will face all the challenges it may encounter at the upcoming UNHRC session in Geneva in March. The 25th session of the UNHRC is scheduled to begin on March 3.

Murugesu Chandrakumar, a parliamentarian of governing party ally EPD said at an event in Jaffna District that the Government is trying to expedite the resettlement of IDPs in the North in their original homes.

Forensic experts said a mass grave found in North-eastern, the scene of pitched battles between Government forces and LTTE in 2009 is said to contain several layers of bodies.

Mahinda Samarasinghe, Plantation Minister and the country's Human Rights envoy said the country was ready to face another resolution in the UNHRC over alleged war crimes during decade's long civil war against the LTTE.

A survey conducted by the TID found that over 2,900 children and youth abducted by the LTTE had perished in the war. The LTTE had abducted the children and youth from their homes and forcibly recruited to its ranks to fight against the Government SFs at frontlines.

Issuing the quarterly update to the 2012 Human Rights and Democracy Report covering the October-December 2013 period, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London said that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka did not improve during the last three months and UK's concerns over the culture of impunity in Sri Lanka continue.

HRW on in its World Report 2014 released in New York said 'Sri Lanka made little progress in 2013 in accountability for serious human rights abuses committed during the country's three-decade long war against LTTE that ended in 2009.'

President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson during a bilateral discussion at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka has made a remarkable transformation since the end of the conflict.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris said that repeated resolutions in the UNHRC in Geneva are counterproductive because of their polarizing effect and exert excessive pressure on the country.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga said that the Government has done all that was "humanly possible" to implement the NAP for the implementation of the LLRC, since its approval by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2012.

Skeletal remains of three more people have been unearthed from the unmarked grave site found in Mannar District. With the latest discovery, skeletal remains of 42 people have been unearthed so far from the site that was under the control of the LTTE until the SFs liberated Mannar District in 2008.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that both the Sinhala and Tamil languages should be given equal status.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs MP Mark Simmonds said that anticipating a tough time at the UNHRC sessions in March, 2014 and mounting a diplomatic offensive to against another resolution sponsored by the US, the UK is working hard to garner support to move the US resolution against Sri Lanka.

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that a lot of military camps that were in North during the war have been removed now and only the ones essential to national security remain at strategic locations. He further explained that maintenance of law and order in the North is handled entirely by the Police.

The Army during a brief ceremony returned 23 houses it occupied in Jaffna District in the Northern Province during the conflict to the rightful owners. The programme was implemented under the directions of Major General Udaya Perera, Commander, SFHQ - J.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga in Washington, US said that an international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka would bring "chaos," and the Government's national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work.

The Army while claiming that within the last two weeks reduce the military presence in Jaffna District by relocating 214 static guard positions occupied by troops within the peninsula rejected claims that the Army had stepped up monitoring patrols in Jaffna District.

Three more dead bodies unearthed from the mass grave at Thirukethishvara in Mannar District raising the number of bodies recovered so far to 53.

Ministry of Defense in Colombo dismissed the media reports which alleged the SFs of using unconventional weapons in the war against the LTTE.

British Minister of State at the FCO Hugo Swire said in the UK Parliament in London that Sri Lanka's domestic LLRC appointed to address the reconciliation and accountability issues does not meet international standards.

To avoid hurting Tamil sentiment ahead of elections, the Indian Government in New Delhi refused to commit Sri Lanka any support against a US-sponsored UN resolution accusing its military of committing war crimes in the final assault on the LTTE in 2009.

Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.C.A. Gunawardena said that the report of the census on human death and property damages during the three-decade long conflict would be released next month.

Ally of governing party, the JHU called on the Government to dissolve the NPC over the resolution the NPC adopted recently to seek an international probe on alleged war crimes.

UNP charged that the NPC has overstepped its constitutional mandate by passing a resolution that called for an international investigation on Sri Lanka as a provincial council has no power over international affairs.

The 18th anniversary of the deadliest suicide bomb attack by the LTTE on the Central Bank in Colombo was marked. On January 31, 1996, the LTTE rammed a massive explosive-laden truck through the main gate of the Central Bank building killing 91 people including 41 bank employees.

Nisha Desai Biswal, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs arrived in Colombo for talks with Sri Lankan leaders ahead of a key UN vote on the country's human rights record.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony held in Kalutara District said that Sri Lanka is no longer a dominated nation and it will not cave to external pressure and betray its independence.

Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa lashed out at British Minister of State at the FCO Hugo Swire for making a statement in the UK Parliament that Sri Lanka's domestic mechanism for reconciliation was not according to international standards.

Sri Lankan Government refused a visa to US Ambassador at large for women's issues, Catherine Russell, forcing her to cancel a high-level visit scheduled for February 10-11. Her visa application was officially submitted on January 27.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal said the international community's patience is wearing thin over Sri Lanka's slow progress in achieving reconciliation and addressing accountability for alleged war crimes.

Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris said remarks by Nisha Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, at the end of a two-day visit suggested that she wanted to believe the worst of the regime in Colombo.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka rejected the statements made by US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, on human rights issues in Sri Lanka during her visit to the country.

Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram said that India assisted housing project to construct 50,000 houses for Sri Lanka's IDPs has completed 10,250 houses in 2013. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs 10,250 houses were completed by December 31, 2013 and another 27,750 houses will be constructed under the same scheme.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned the attempts to bring another resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC session in Geneva next month.

Presidential Commission to investigate alleged abductions or disappearances of persons resident in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the period 1990-2009 said that around 5,000 Muslims have gone missing in the country during the period of the war.

UN office in Sri Lanka in a statement said that Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator & Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific will be visiting Sri Lanka from February 9-12.

Military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya rejected the latest Australian report which claimed that the Sri Lankan armed forces had systematically destroyed evidence of alleged mass killings during the last stages of the war in the country. "Do you think we could have unearthed skeletal remains which are in the villages where people are also resettled now and destroy the evidence?" Wanigasooriya told.

Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem during a meeting with the South African High Commissioner Geoff Q.M. Doidge in Colombo said that passing proposals to conduct international investigations against Sri Lanka will have unexpected results and damage the sensitive reconciliation process.

A city court in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) acquitted 13 people accused of involvement with the banned terror group LTTE. The case relates to the arrest of some Sri Lankan Tamils in Chennai and seizure of communication devices, including satellite phones from them in April 2009.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Haoliang Xu arrived in Sri Lanka. Xu said that he looks forward to understanding the progress made in the first year of the UNDAF for 2013-2017.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told the Parliament that the Government has implemented 85 percent of the recommendations in the LLRC report. The Minister added that the Government will continue with the implementation work of the LLRC recommendations.

According to a report in The Divaina, the anti-Government activities of the NPC in Sri Lanka had come under Government scanner and the Government has decided to conduct a special investigation into the Council's recent measures.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that international conspiracies against the Government and the country are being formed in Geneva to build negative views among the people in the country and urged the public not to allow themselves to be misled by those conspiracies.

The Foreign Affairs Council of the EU at its meeting held in Brussels, capital of Belgium adopted the conclusion to actively support the accountability and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and address the current human rights situation in the country.

China lent its support to Sri Lanka and said it opposed "interference" in the country's domestic affairs, ahead of next month's (March) meeting of the UNHRC where the US is expected to put forward a resolution criticising the island nation's post-war rights record.

Defense Ministry informed the Lands Minister Janaka Bandara Tennako that the military has not been mandated to acquire private lands in the Northern Province. The Lands Ministry received some 7,566 complaints from residents in the Northern Province on land matters.

Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Colombo and discussed the progress of those programs and human development priorities of the country as well as the further support needs.

China strongly criticized the countries that are pressuring Sri Lanka on the human rights issue saying that people in Sri Lanka have the wisdom and capacity to manage their internal affairs.

Main opposition UNP blamed the Government for the anticipated UN resolution calling for an international investigation into the alleged war crimes during the last phase of the war against the LTTE terrorists.

UNP in a statement demanded the Government to conduct a domestic investigation into war crimes allegations arising from the quarter-century civil war.

Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government has implemented 75 percent of the recommendations in the LLRC and the Government's reconciliation programme is constantly moving forward.

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran stressed the need to give 'dual nationality' to members of the Diaspora so that they could return to Sri Lanka and participates in post-war rebuilding work.

The Presidential Commission appointed to look into missing persons in the North and East during the period between 1990 and 2009 began its public hearings in Jaffna District. The hearings will continue till February 17, 2014. The Commission received 3000-4000 cases from the Jaffna District.

UNP MP and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kiriella said the media teams who covered the final phase of war should be held responsible for leaked images and video footage with regard to the alleged war crimes.

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay in a report called for an international investigation into war crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the final stages of its ethnic conflict. The report also mentions emergence of new evidence on what happened in the final stages of the armed conflict.

Russia and China declared their strong support to Sri Lanka against the US-sponsored resolution that will be brought against the country at the upcoming UNHRC session in Geneva next month. Several other countries including Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia and UAE have expressed their support to Sri Lanka.

The DMK passed a resolution in Tamil Nadu (India) urging the Centre to support a US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms said that the Government has taken measures to provide redress to persons injured or disabled due to the war as recommended by the LLRC.

The External Affairs Ministry in a statement said that a delegation headed by the Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, Nimal Siripala de Silva will tour South Africa on February 20 and 21 to hold discussions with South African officials on that country's procedures and experiences of Truth and Reconciliation.

Amirthalingam Baheerathan, the son of the former leader of TULF, who was assassinated by the LTTE, met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo and praised the country's development brought under the President's leadership.

The NPC, at the council's sixth session held in Jaffna District, passed a resolution asking the Governments of Sri Lanka and India to take steps to introduce direct flights from Jaffna District and Trincomalee District to India for the benefit of Tamils living in the north and east of the island nation.

Civil Aviation Minister Pryankara Jayaratne said that the resolution of the NPC asking the Governments of Sri Lanka and India to take steps to introduce direct flights from Jaffna District and Trincomalee District to India for the benefit of Tamils living in the north and east of the island nation was "ridiculous".

The Government sent its response to the report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay rejecting her call for an international inquiry into the allegations of human rights violations and accountability issues during the latter part of the war.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa extended the mandate issued to the Presidential Commission to investigate cases of alleged disappearances of persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces by six months to August 12, 2014.

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin following an official visit to Jaffna District said in Colombo that Britain does not want to see the return of the terrorism unleashed in Sri Lanka by the LTTE again.

DMK, the Tamil political party in Tamil Nadu (India) urged the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to facilitate a separate resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC seeking an independent and credible probe into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

ALRC called for UN intervention into Sri Lanka's mass at Matale and Mannar Districts saying that the mass graves were dug with bulldozers and such methods are not conducive to proper handling of the human remains that are found in such graves.

The NPC adopted a resolution against the alleged 'Sinhala colonizations' carried out in the North. NPC Councilor T. Raviharan presented the resolution against the 'Sinhala colonization' in the Mullaitivu District and grabbing lands of people in the Northern Province. The resolution was seconded by Councilor M.K. Sivajilingam.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya announced that 150 young women would be recruited to Sri Lanka Army from Tamil dominated Northern Province and multi-ethnic Eastern Province.

The Government rejected the call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navnanethem Pillay's 'to establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of human rights and monitor any domestic accountability process in Sri Lanka'.

The Government under a programme initiated by the Rehabilitation Authority will distribute 40 million rupees as concessionary funds to the war-affected people in the Mullaitivu and Jaffna Districts of Northern Province.

Speaking at the debate in the UK Parliament in London, the British Minister of State at the FCO, Hugo Swire said Britain does not believe that the domestic processes set up by the Sri Lankan Government are adequate to address the humanitarian law violations and accountability issues.

Eighty skeletal remains were dug out of a mass grave in a former LTTE stronghold in Thirukatheeswaram area of Mannar District, fuelling speculation that the bodies are of Tamil civilians who disappeared during the war with the rebels.

Amnesty International said that the international community must act on a robust new UN report calling for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations and war crimes in Sri Lanka.

TNA said the report submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanetham Pillai is a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the serious human rights issues in the country.

The Department of Census and Statistics began the pre-processing of data of the island wide census to assess the human and property damages that occurred during the civil war.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry releasing the 2013 Annual Country Report Human Rights said that the Sri Lankan Government's failure to answer the basic demands for accountability and reconciliation has led the US to sponsor another resolution at the UNHRC in Geneva.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa denounced Washington's plan to move a UN human rights resolution against Sri Lanka, comparing the US move over alleged war crimes to a professional boxer taking on a schoolboy.

Expressing Sri Lanka's discomfort with the US-sponsored resolution to come up in Geneva in a month, President said "We are uncomfortable with the whole resolution. There is no evidence [of rights abuse or war crimes] at the moment… if there is any, we will look into it."

HRW has backed UN rights chief's recommendation for an international inquiry into alleged war crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the final phase of battle with the LTTE, the New York-based HRW said.

Welcoming the report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka, the British Government said that it supports the High Commissioner's call for an international investigation into Sri Lanka.

ICRC will conduct a survey in Sri Lanka to assess the needs of families of individuals who disappeared during the nearly three-decade war against LTTE terrorists. The survey would begin in April and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, ICRC's spokesperson Sarasi Wijeratne told.

According to a source in the Presidential Secretariat, 80 per cent of the complaints of forced disappearance made to the Presidential Commission of Disappearances blame the LTTE.

The Draft Resolution HRC25/1 "Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka" calling for an international independent and credible investigation into alleged humanitarian and human rights law violations tabled at the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay's report on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva and said he welcomes the High Commissioner's report on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh met President Mahinda Rajapakse after a resolution at the UNHRC condemning Sri Lanka's human record during its war against the LTTE and to underline the case of de-militarisation in the Jaffna Peninsula.

BTF, a separatist Tamil nationalist diasporas group in UK slammed the 'insubstantial' US-sponsored draft resolution on Sri Lanka tabled at the UNHRC session in Geneva on March 3.

The Census and Statistics Department issued its interim report on the nationwide census the Department conducted to assess the human and property damages occurred during the Civil War. The interim report contains details of the methodology, training, enumeration and supervision, and the processing of the census data.

The Presidential Commission investigating the alleged disappearances of persons in conflict affected areas has considered issuing a Certificate of Absence instead of a Death Certificate to the persons who went missing during the armed conflict.

Rejecting a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the country's post-war progress as "fundamentally flawed" in its entirety, Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris said judging the country by the initiatives of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is a "travesty of justice".

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay reiterated her call for the UNHRC to establish its own international inquiry mechanism into Sri Lanka saying the nearly five years after the end of the conflict, the Sri Lankan Government has failed to satisfy the Council's call for a credible and independent investigation into allegations of serious human rights violations.

External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris told the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay that the negative attention placed on Sri Lanka makes achieving reconciliation among ethnic communities' even harder.

Kapilan alias Nandhagopan, the 'second in command' of the LTTE's Nediyavan Group, was arrested by Iranian authorities at the transit passenger lounge in the Teheran airport. Thereafter, Nandhagopan was "seized" by Sri Lankan officials and transported to Colombo.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a rally held in Gampaha District said that Sri Lanka has strength to face any international challenge and will never give into imperialists or their followers in reference to the resolution tabled by the US at the UNHRC in Geneva.

Welcoming the draft of the US-sponsored resolution that seeks an international probe led by the UNHRC, the TNA said it looked forward to a resolution with stronger scope after revisions ahead of the voting day at the UNHRC in Geneva.

A new video clip showing Sinhala-speaking uniformed men celebrating over bodies identified as those of female LTTE fighters released by Channel 4 accused the Sri Lankan Armed Forces of having an "underlying culture of systematic brutality and sexual violence".

A TNA delegation led by R. Sampanthan met US and British envoys in Colombo and discussed the US-led resolution to be submitted at the ongoing UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

New Zealand Green Party human rights spokesperson Jan Logie asked the New Zealand Government to support the resolution on Sri Lanka tabled by the US along with four other countries at the UNHRC in Geneva when it comes up for vote on March 26.

The US, while calling for an international inquiry into human rights violations in Sri Lanka, called for another side event in Geneva on March 18 to lobby for support.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said "The war was not against the Tamils. We only fought a brutal terrorist outfit that was the LTTE. If our war was against Tamils how could the Tamils live happily and peacefully among the Sinhalese in the south of the country?"

Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President on Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe in Geneva said that Sri Lanka's decision to fight the resolution moved by the US, UK and a few other countries was a fight on a matter of principle and that Sri Lanka would not compromise on it.

A Sub Inspector of the Terrorist Investigation Unit was shot at and injured when a Police team including the officer went to a suspect's residence at Dharmapuram in Kilinochchi District to arrest him for his involvement in subversive activities. The suspect is a former Liberation LTTE intelligence officer.

Police arrested Tamil activist, Balendra Jeyakumari and her 13-year-old daughter Vidushika from Dharmapuram in the Kilinochchi District for allegedly sheltering the former LTTE 'intelligence officer'.

SLFP Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa, addressing an election rally in Colombo said that despite the military defeat of the LTTE, members of the LTTE Diaspora were still trying to establish an Eelam.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan dismissed the Government's stance blaming it for the stalled direct negotiations to hammer out a political settlement to the island's ethnic conflict.

TNA Parliamentarian Sivashakthi Anandan said that help from the international community is needed to address grievances of the people in the North and East as the real grievances of the Tamil people have not been addressed.

Northern Provincial Councilor Ananthi Sasitharan addressing the UNHRC in Geneva said "The children affected in any war spend a lifetime to recover from the impact. But, the Eelam Tamil children face a continued war with genocidal intent. Concrete actions are needed to safeguard our children from becoming permanent victims to the genocide."

Ananathy Saseetharan, a woman Northern Provincial Council member raised the issue of the arrest of Balendran Jeyakumari and her daughter Vithushaini in Kilinochchi District at the meeting of UNHRC in Geneva.

Two Human Right activists - Ruki Fernando, who works for Rights Now Collective for Democracy and a Catholic priest, Father Praveen - were arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Unit in Kilinochchi District under the PTA for attempting to create ethnic discord among communities and to promote separatism.

The Government explained to the UNHRC the investigations that led to the arrest and detention of three activists - Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari, Fernando and Praveen - suspected of supporting subversive activities in violation of the PTA in the conflict-affected North.

Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera said that the Government and the Defense Forces would not allow the re-emergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants.

The two human right activists, Ruki Fernando and Father Prveen detained under the PTA for questioning to ascertain the whereabouts of a LTTE suspect who shot a Police officer in Kilinochchi District was released.

External Affairs Minister G L Peiris claimed that most of the 47 member countries of the UNHRC are under pressure to back a tough US-sponsored resolution that has called for an international probe into alleged rights abuses during the country's war with LTTE.

TNA, which controls the Northern Province, said they were not averse to reviving talks if no pre-conditions were attached. The Northern Province has unanimously agreed to revive the stalled direct talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to find a political solution to the problems of the ethnic Tamils.

A group of pro-Government protesters staged demonstrations outside the UN Office and the Embassies of the US and Britain in Colombo to protest a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC over its alleged rights abuses during war with LTTE rebels.

Many shops in Trincomalee city of Trincomalee District were closed in support of protest carried out by Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims Organizations against the US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva.

The Government expressing displeasure over the statements made by the Northern Provincial Councilor Ananthi Sasitharan at the UNHRC requested the Minister of External Affairs to take immediate steps to counter the false allegations.

A report by the UK Bar Human Rights Committee and International Truth and Justice Project warned that the "highest levels" of Sri Lanka's Government were complicit in raping, torturing and abducting ethnic Tamils following the nation's ethnic civil war.

The Presidential Commission investigating the alleged disappearances of persons in conflict affected areas concluded its first public sitting in the Eastern Province. The Commission during the period 1990-2009 received submissions from 129 people from Chenkallady, Vakarai and Batticaloa in the Eastern Province.

Police announced a reward of LKR 1 million for anyone who is able to provide accurate information about LTTE suspect, Kajeeban Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi who shot and injured a Police Sub Inspector on March 13 in Kilinochchi District.

President's Human Rights Envoy and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe claimed that there was a "division" among members of the UNHRC over a US - backed resolution and termed it a victory for the country. He further said most of the member nations are clamped by the US pressure to vote in favor of the resolution.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he had secured the 'full backing of the European Union' for the UK co-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka next week at the UNHRC session.

The revised version of the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka was circulated to member states of the UNHRC in Geneva. The revised version requests the OHCHR to undertake a comprehensive independent investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka, during the period covered by the LLRC from February, 2002 to May, 2009.

A massive demonstration was held at the UNHRC headquarters in Geneva with the participation of over 5,000 expatriate Sri Lankan communities in Europe.

Chief Minister of Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran in a statement issued in Mannar District expressed concern over the possibility of increasing the military presence in the North due to search operations in the area.

Piratheepan Nadarajah (37), a Canadian LTTE operative extradited to the US to face charges of supporting the LTTE, has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York.

The final draft of the resolution on Sri Lanka sponsored by the US, the UK and three other countries was submitted to the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva.

Sri Lankan Army heightened security in the Northern Province through a host of measures, including vehicle checks. The precaution was necessary to nab a suspect still at large, after a recent incident of firing on a Policeman in Kilinochchi District.

The Government amended the time period for its Presidential Commission looking into cases of alleged disappearances in its Northern and Eastern Provinces to cover the 26 years from 1983-2009.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay presenting the report on Sri Lanka to the 25th session of the UNHRC in Geneva said that none of the various state mechanisms the Sri Lankan Government established during the five years after the end of the war had the independence to be effective or inspire confidence among victims and witnesses of human rights violations.

TNA Parliamentarian P. Selvaraja said that lands in the North and East are being grabbed by chauvinist forces. According to Selvaraja, private lands that belong to the Tamil people in the East, especially in the Batticaloa District are being taken over by the Government with the assistance of chauvinist monks and the Sri Lanka Army.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander of the SFHQ-KLN met the rehabilitated former combatants of the LTTE in Kilinochchi District and alerted the rehabilitated ex-combatants to external threats that would be directed at them by parties interested in sending them back to violent means.

US led resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva was adopted with a majority of 11 votes. Out of the 47 members of the UNHRC, 23 voted for the resolution and 12 opposed it while another 12 abstained from voting.

Sri Lanka rejected the UN resolution calling for an international investigation into alleged human rights violations as a conspiracy by interested parties "seeking a regime change".

US welcomed the passage of resolution and said it sends a "clear message" to the Rajapaksa Government that the international community is committed to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the country.

TNA opposed India for its decision to abstain from the US sponsored resolution in UNHRC which was passed on March 27. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran told that India had cheated the Sri Lankan Tamils by the stance it had taken with regard to the resolution.

External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris blamed "unbelievable" US pressure on member states led to the UN adopting a resolution censuring Colombo on its human rights record after a vote at the UNHRC session in Geneva.

Wimal Weerawansa, Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities in a news conference in Colombo said that military personnel stationed in the Northern Province will not be withdrawn.

D.B.S. Jeyaraj, a well-known Canadian Sri Lankan journalist in an article posted on his website revealed a plot to assassinate Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa or his brother Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by the LTTE.

A joint statement put out by several organizations of Sri Lankan Tamils living outside the country expressed disappointment over India's abstention at the UNHRC.

The Government proscribed LTTE and 15 other alleged front organizations - TRO, TCC, BTF, WTM, CTC, ATC, GTF, NCCT, TNC, TYO, WTCC, TGTE, TEPA, WTRF and HQ Group.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Sri Lankan Government to constructively engage and cooperate with the OHCHR on the implementation of the resolution adopted on March 27 by the UNHRC.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Sri Lankan Government to constructively engage and cooperate with the OHCHR on the implementation of the resolution adopted on March 27 by the UNHRC.

Army Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said that more than 1 million land mines had been unearthed so far in the de-mining process and the lands with landmines in the North had been reduced to 82 square kilometers from 2,064 square kilometers.

101 resettled IDP families in Keppapilavu area of the Mullativu District will receive houses constructed by the Government. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary of Defense and Urban Development will hand over houses to the displaced families.

Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha addressing the Foreign Correspondents' Association in Colombo said "Early progress on devolution and political settlement crucial to Sri Lanka to tackle mounting international pressure.

TNA called on the Government to lift the ban imposed on 16 Tamil Diaspora organizations. According to TNA Northern Provincial Councilor, M.K. Sivajilingam, the organizations have not in any way aided terrorists or terrorist organizations in Sri Lanka or elsewhere.

HRW said that the Sri Lankan Government's decision to label 16 overseas Tamil organizations as financers of terrorism is so broad that it appears aimed at restricting peaceful activism by the country's Tamil minority.

Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris said that Sri Lanka will not participate in any investigation carried out by the OHCHR. He told "Nobody can come here without the cooperation of the Sri Lankan Government. The country would however continue with its national process and remain engaged with the UN."

Government handed over 98 acres of paddy lands that were occupied by the SLAF to 29 resettled families for cultivation in Vellamullivaikkal East of Mullaitivu District in the presence of the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Military Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya said foreign terrorist groups and several overseas organizations banned over suspicion that they were LTTE supporters could go to Courts and get their name cleared.

Four people including an Army Lance Corporal and three LTTE leaders were killed in a clash between SFs and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District in a search operation for the wanted LTTE suspect Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi.

TID of Police interrogated Kapilan alias Nandhagopan, an overseas leader of LTTE arrested when he entered the country on March 6. He was in charge of LTTE's media division and fled from Sri Lanka when the war ended.

Police media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that Police arrested 65 persons in the past month (March) under suspicion of attempting to resuscitate the LTTE. Investigations are underway to arrest several local leaders of the LTTE who clandestinely work to reorganize the terror movement.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, William Hague said that the OHCHR will soon begin the process of establishing an investigation on Sri Lanka's alleged violations of human rights and assessing the evidence.

Army spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that the three LTTE leaders who were killed by the Army during the clash in Vavuniya District on April 10 are Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.

Justifying for maintaining troops in the former war zones, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's special envoy on human rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said "We were asked and criticized about the presence of the military in the north at the UNHRC in Geneva. We explained to them the need to keep the military going as it was a decision for a sovereign Government to take in view of the national security needs."

Senior Police and Military officials denied that a soldier had also been killed in the clash between SFs and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10. They said the soldier died in friendly fire during a military exercise on the same evening.

Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohan said that law enforcement authorities will seek Interpol's assistance to arrest LTTE leaders operating from foreign countries to revive the defunct terrorist outfit in the island.

Canada decided to suspend voluntary funding to the Commonwealth while the chair of the secretariat is occupied by Sri Lanka because of human rights concerns.

H.W Gunadasa, Secretary to the Presidential Commission inquiring into cases of alleged disappearances in the North and Eastern Provinces said that Commission will provide counseling to the kin of those disappeared.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that Police has launched an investigation on the people who had links with former LTTE leaders Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.

TRAC named the BBS, an extremist Sinhala Buddhist organization in Sri Lanka, as a terrorist organization. The BBS is understood by the TRAC to be an organization which uses terrorism as a means to an end.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government is open for discussion with the organizations that were recently proscribed for allegedly having links with the LTTE.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking at the 14th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference held in Puthrajaya (Malaysia) said that though there was no more terrorism in Sri Lanka, the LTTE's global network continued to function largely unhindered and that some nations seemed to have chosen to turn a blind eye to these front organizations.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the Interpol is reported to have issued 40 'Red Notices' against the LTTE operatives living abroad.

External Affairs Ministry together with the Defence Ministry decided to brief the diplomatic community in Colombo next week on banning 16 Tamil diaspora groups including LTTE.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said reconciliation in Sri Lanka after a three-decade long war cannot be achieved overnight.

A LTTE suspect who was undergoing treatment at Vavuniya District Hospital under prison custody escaped. Police said the suspect a 28-year-old resident at Kudirippu in Vavuniya District was arrested on November 4, 2013 over an incident of having bombs in his possession.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that there is no room for any community to suppress another community on the grounds of religion or ethnicity and assured that no injustice will be done to any ethnicity.

External Affairs Ministry Publicity Division Director General A.M. Saddiq said that the External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris will request the cooperation of the diplomatic community when he meets the ambassadors and high commissioners in Colombo on April 24 on the recent proscription by the Sri Lankan Government of 16 organizations that have links with the LTTE.

The anti-terrorist division of Kilinochchi Police arrested a 63-year-old woman, a resident of Uruthipuram in Kilinochchi District for providing land in the North to suspected LTTE supporters.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, the secretary of the BBS, Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero said that BBS had no plans to topple the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The extremist Sinhala Buddhist organization, BBS surrounded the Ministry of Industries to protest the alleged resettlement of Muslims in Wilpattu National Park.

Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris briefed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to give the diplomatic community authentic information regarding action taken by the Government against 16 organizations that have links with the LTTE and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism.

A man, suspected to be a close associate of the slain LTTE leader Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeeban alias Gobi, was arrested by the TID in Jaffna District.

Interpol issued a Red Notice for the arrest of Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan, who is believed to be the leader of the LTTE organization in Norway.

TNA senior leader R. Sampanthan said that the Government decided to ban select Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals to thwart a free and transparent international probe into the 2009 Civil War.

NPC passed several resolutions demanding that the ban of 16 overseas Tamil groups be withdrawn forthwith.

The Bureau of Counterterrorism of the US Department of State in its Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 said that although no arrests related to terrorism were made in 2013, the Sri Lankan Government remained concerned of the LTTE's international network of financial support.

A Sinhala daily newspaper reported that 18 Intelligence Officers had been sent to 18 countries as part of an international operation against the LTTE rump organizations.

The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development denied that Intelligence Officers being sent to other countries to educate officials of those countries as part of an international operation against the LTTE rump organizations.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that almost all of the UN agencies praise Sri Lanka's achievements on all fronts since the war victory.

The Resettlement Ministry Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa said that the Government will revise the list of remaining IDPs in the country by adding another 400 long term IDP families.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Army, Navy and the Police have launched an extensive search in the general area of Ichchilampattai in Trincomalee District after the recovery of a T56 weapon with several rounds of ammunition in a bag at Lanka Patuna beach near a Naval detachment.

Defence sources revealed that one of the former prominent LTTE cadres, identified by the Indian Police as K. Thayapararaja, said to have been tortured and killed by the SFs in 2009 as claimed by many local and international NGOs, was among the arrested persons by the Tamil Nadu Police in Dhanushkodi in India when they entered India without valid documents.

The outgoing Consul General of India, Venkadasalam Mahalingam during his farewell speech in Jaffna District said that nobody can deny India's instrumental role in creating PCs in Sri Lanka, especially the Northern Province which has an elected Chief Minister and other Ministers holding different portfolios.

President of the UNGA, John W. Ashe acknowledged the progress of the country in the recent past after the nearly 30 years of civil war ended in 2009.

Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella said that there is no change in Government's stance on achieving a sustainable final solution to the ethnic problem through the PSC despite TNA's refusal to participate in the PSC.

Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that organized events of any form to commemorate LTTE terrorist killed in battle in the Northern Province or any other part of the country will not be allowed as it is illegal since LTTE is a banned organization.

Army commenced recruiting Tamil youth from the war-torn Northern Province for the first time at Maritime Divisional Secretariat in Mullaitivu District in which more than 50 Tamil youths have applied and the interviewers will move to Oddusuddan, Puthumattalan, Mullaitivu and other areas to conduct interviews until June 30, 2014.

The Naval troops attached to the SLNS Gotabhaya of the Eastern Naval Command recovered the largest stock of LTTE pistol ammunition containing 120,000 of 9 x 19 mm KOPP ammunition, 2,750 of SG 12 Bore ammunition and 5,600 of 357 Magnum (Blazer) ammunition buried at Vellamullivaikkal area in Mullaitivu District in Northern Province.

Sri Lanka and China have finalized a treaty between the two countries on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters after two countries have held negotiations on the treaty from May 6 to 8, 2014 in Beijing.

NPC said that it is saddened the Government's decision to prohibit any public commemoration in the Northern Province with expressing its opposition to the occasion being used by political parties and separatist groups in the North to glorify the LTTE.

British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire said in the UK Parliament that the proscription of diaspora Tamil organizations that are suspected of having links to the LTTE by the Sri Lankan Government is not conducive to a successful reconciliation process in the island nation.

Sri Lankan Government's Anti-LTTE operations in Tamil areas in the country create fears of refugee outflow from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu, India.

A source said that the ban on Tamil Diaspora organisations has begun to split these organizations and scare away individuals from them. It also added that there is a "remarkable drop" in public participation in the activities of the designated organizations.

As Sri Lanka is getting ready to commemorate the defeat of the LTTE, the Ministry of Home Affairs, India extended its ban on the LTTE for five more years.

Norway based IDMC, in a report released on stated that IDPs in Sri Lanka is estimated to be up to 90,000 persons five years after the end of the war in 2009.

NPC members, identified as M.K. Sivajilingam and Ananthi Sasitharan had attempted to light camphor at the entrance of the closed building of the Council in Jaffna District to commemorate slain militants of the LTTE during the war. Police, however intervened and prevented the attempt to light camphor at the entrance to the Council.

CTD of the Malaysia Police's Special Branch arrested three men suspected to be members of LTTE for allegedly attempting to revive the Sri Lankan separatist group at the international level. Malaysian Police also have seized LTTE propaganda material, media equipment and currencies from 24 countries worth MYR 20,176.53 (approximately US$ 6,280) from the arrested LTTE members.

Hundreds of Sri Lankans marched on the Norwegian embassy in Colombo to protest against Oslo''s support for remnants of the LTTE living abroad.

According to the BCGR sources, five years since the defeat of terrorism, Government has successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated most of the LTTE cadres who had surrendered to the SFs or were arrested by the authorities. The BCGR under the leadership of Major General K.J. Wijetillake has so far rehabilitated and reintegrated 11,947 ex-LTTE cadres out of a total of 12,303.

Special Detection Unit led by North Central Province Senior DIG, Ravi Wijegunawardana arrested an individual suspected to be an Indian intelligence agent who had impersonated himself as a Sri Lankan using a false name (Hamza Jamaldeen) for nineteen years from Koliyabenda Wewa area in Anuradhapura District, North Central Province.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while addressing the nation at the fifth anniversary Victory Day celebrations in the southern town of Matara District, Southern Province said that Sri Lanka today is not celebrating the victory of war, but a victory of peace achieved through sacrifice of lives.

The Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Rathnayaka said that Army is ready to face any threat against the country and its national security with the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the SFs under the guidance of the Defense Secretary can defeat the attempts to revive terrorism. He noted that Sri Lanka rehabilitated and socialized a large number of ex- LTTE cadres and it is an example for the whole world.

Mohamed Muzammil, the media spokesman of NFF, urged the Government to take stern action against the MPs of the TNA, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Pon Selvarasa, P. Ariyanethran, S. Yoheswaran, Shivasakthi Anandan and Deniswaran for commemorating the deaths of LTTE cadres last week.

The main opposition party UNP in Parliament renewed its call for the prosecution of LTTE's chief weapon procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP or to hand him over to India for legal action for his alleged involvements in crimes committed there.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka remains fully committed to implement a domestic procedure to look into alleged violations that may have taken place during the civil war. He rejected any international inquiry into the alleged violations by indicating the contradictions in UNHRC resolution.

Over 2,000 students, teachers and other staff of Jaffna University observed Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day at the Kailasapathi Hall in Jaffna District despite the ban by the Army on the observance of the day which marks the killing of thousands of Tamil civilians in the Civil war.

A high ranking Chinese military delegation, headed by Chief of the CAPF Lieutenant General Niu Zhizong offered training opportunities for Sri Lankan officers in China in the fields of anti-terrorism, anti-high jacking and disaster management. Sri Lankan Army Commander, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake in response has also invited Chinese officers to join different training courses, conducted in Army training centers in Sri Lanka.

CM of NPC, Justice C.V. Wigneswaran, has declined the invitation extended by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to accompany him to the swearing in ceremony of Indian PM- elect Narendra Modi.

C.V. Wigneswaran criticized that Sri Lankan Government was ignoring the verdict of the Northerners and acting on its own in militarizing the Province.

Suresh Premachandran, a MP of TNA, said that around 84,000 families in the North and East had lost their breadwinners during the war and he also claimed that the TNA has continuously requested the Government to provide adequate livelihood assistance to the war victims in the North and East, but the Government is more concerned about building houses for army personnel and is focused on their welfare.

JHU General Secretary and Minister, Champika Ranawaka demanded Norway to immediately hand over Oslo-based LTTE leader Perinbanayagam Siwaparan alias Nediyavan to Sri Lankan authorities. He accused that Nediyavan who is believed to have financed the terrorist activities of LTTE, lives freely in Oslo despite the Interpol arrest warrant against him.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan condemned the Government's measure to designate several Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals as having links to the terrorist group LTTE. He asked the Government to review its decision to proscribe 16 Tamil organizations and over 400 individuals under the PTA and remove from that list organizations and individuals against whom there is no evidence of engaging in or supporting any 'terrorist acts' under the Act.

Malaysian Police following the arrest of three LTTE members have launched an operation to hunt down more members of the group who are believed to be hiding in the country.

SLN discovered the debris of a SLAF helicopter believed to have crashed some time ago in the seas off Chalai in Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province, a stronghold of LTTE. The Navy however did not confirm if the debris belonged to a helicopter which might have been shot down by the LTTE during their military campaign.

UNHCR Spokesperson Yante Ismail said that a close and full examination of all facts is needed following the detention of three members of LTTE bearing the commission’s cards in Malaysia.

Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said that the three most wanted LTTE leaders, identified as Sandalinga Raja Dushanthan, Mahadevan Kiribakaran and Selvthurai Kiribavan arrested by the Malaysian Police have been brought to the country and are now in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.

Police identified the three suspects as active members of LTTE before they fled to Malaysia. According to the Police one of the suspects Sandalinga Raja Dushanthan had joined the LTTE Political Wing in 1994 and later had extended his full support to the revival of the LTTE outfit. The second suspect, Mahadevan Kirubaharan, had joined the LTTE Music Band before he fled the country and the third suspect, Selvathurai Kirubananthan, had joined the Intelligence Network of Pottu Amman alias Shanmugalingam Sivashankar and had fled the country in 2006.

SLAF, in a statement said that wreckage of a helicopter found in northern sea and recovered by the SLN off Chalai in Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province has been identified as belonging to the SLAF Mi 24 Helicopter CH 614 which went missing in March 1997. It also said that "the helicopter crashed with all on board and was believed to have been shot down by enemy fire. This was later confirmed by Intelligence Sources."

When the new Indian PM Narendra Modi met President Mahinda Rajapaksa for bilateral talks at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, he requested Sri Lankan Government to expedite the process of national reconciliation by fully implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and going beyond.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva while responding to Indian PM Narendra Modi’s request to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment and go beyond said that it was only the PSC that could decide on the matter and Government would cooperate with India always but no one should interfere with the internal affairs of the country.

The fisherman engaged in fishing about one kilometer away from the shore off Moragolla area in Aluthgama, Kalutara District in the Western Province found the rim of a wheel, believed to be of an aircraft. SLAF Wing Commander Gihan Seneviratne said that an expert would be consulted regarding the wheel and the Air Force has sent a team to inspect the debris.

Senior security official said that an urgent review of UN procedures was necessary in the wake of the recent arrest and deportation of three LTTE cadres registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. The official said that two of the LTTE cadres had received refugee status, while the third was in the process of securing the same and Sri Lankan government had never been consulted as regards the applications made by them, therefore an inquiry was necessary.

Daniel Painter, the head of the political team at the British High Commission in Colombo said that UK will continue to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to respect human rights, promote meaningful reconciliation and agree a political settlement with the Tamil and other opposition parties.

Jaffna Mayor Yogeswari Pathgunarajah prevented attempts by the TNA to commemorate the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran at Mullivaikal in Mullaitivu District, Northern Province. The Mayor said, "Tamil leaders like Alfred Doraiappa and A. Amirthalingam served the people of the area and they were murdered by the LTTE and TNA should commemorate the deaths of such leaders instead of commemorating the terrorist leader”.

PSC, headed by Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva, has requested the Tamil party, TNA, to make submissions on its stand if it cannot attend regular sessions.

The Retired Senior Police Officers' Association members have urged the 'Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons' to pursue the matter regarding the murder of 600 Policemen by LTTE in Ampara District in Eastern Province in June 1990.

Deputy Home Minister of Malaysia, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that Malaysians who gave donations to refugees may have unknowingly helped LTTE raise enough money to buy warships and weapons.

UNP rejected Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's call for a referendum among Tamils in Sri Lanka including those currently living abroad to decide on the establishment of a separate state (Eelam).

UNP MP Eran Wickremeratne criticized the Government by saying that "It was this tragic state of affairs that has led to foreign countries and international organizations telling us to put our house in order. It has reached a stage where the UNHRC is about to commence a war crimes probe into the conduct of the Rajapaksa Government and the LTTE."

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris said that it is not the policy of the Sri Lankan Government to provide Police powers to any provincial council in the country. He said in the Parliament that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has clearly pointed out to India during his discussions with the Indian Government that adverse effects will result in the country by devolving such powers.

BCGR said it has almost completed the rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 former LTTE cadres who either surrendered or were taken into custody following the end of the civil war in 2009. According to the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke, there are 132 former LTTE cadres currently undergoing the one-year rehabilitation program that is jointly conducted by the Army and BCGR at the Poonthottam Rehabilitation Center in Vavuniya District of Northern Province. Following a recommendation by LLRC a special committee was also appointed to study the cases of detained LTTE suspects and expedite legal action where necessary.

Police arrested an individual, identified as Nandarasa Saundranayagam in the possession of nearly 15 kilograms of TNT explosives in the Madhu area of Mannar in Mannar District in Northern Province. According to Police media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana, a second suspect believed to be an explosive expert of LTTE, identified as Gunasekara Mudiyanselage Nilanka Jude Anthony alias Cyril Nilangam Jude Anthony alias Villango had escaped during the Police operation and remains at large. Rohana added that the suspect has knowledge of the landmines buried by the LTTE during the war in the area between Madhu and Kanagarayankulam as a protective barrier.

The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke said that about 40 former members of LTTE, who have successfully undergone rehabilitation under a Government programme, are likely to get employed in a construction firm in Singapore.

The Chairman of the 'Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons', Attorney Maxwell Paranagama said that most of the complaints on missing persons from Batticaloa District, Eastern Province held LTTE responsible for the disappearances and there were no allegations against SFs.

The Director General of Sri Lanka CAA, H.M.C. Nimalsiri said that the debris found recently at Moragolla area in Aluthgama, Kalutara District in the Western Province was not parts of an aircraft as suspected earlier. The Authority now suspects that the debris may be a part removed from a ship.

Former Norwegian Minister and Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, said he is willing to be a witness at any recognized international tribunal on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lanka during the war. He explained that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's refusal to accept federalism and the constant infighting, between the two main political parties, the SLFP and the UNP were the two main obstacles to the Norway-brokered peace process.

Sri Lankan MEA rejected the appointment of a team by UN-OHCHR to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged human right violations committed by the both sides during the last seven years of civil war.

The Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons concluded its public sittings in the Batticaloa District, Eastern Province and received 216 new complaints. The Commission also recorded evidence in relation to the Kurukkalmadam massacre where the LTTE allegedly killed 163 Muslims in 1990s.

Government decided to hold a debate in Parliament on the international investigation mandated by the UNHRC to probe alleged human rights violations during the last seven years of the civil war. SLFP has taken this decision during its central committee meeting held at Temple Trees under the patronage of the President.

MP of TNA, M.A. Sumanthiran warned that the country will have to face serious problems if a decision is taken in Parliament to bar the team appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to investigate alleged human rights violations committed in Sri Lanka during the last seven years of civil war.

A legislator of UNP, Wijedasa Rajapakshe said that a vote on a debate on the matter may show to the international community that there is at least a minority of MPs supporting such an international investigation since TNA may vote in favor of the international probe.

NFF praised the main constituent party's decision to debate in parliament on the international investigation mandated by UNHRC and said the party totally supports the initiative.

Defence Ministry Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that those making false accusations from European and North American countries that deported Tamil asylum seekers are subjected to rape and sexual abuse at the hands of SFs wanted to avoid being deported to Sri Lanka. He stressed that these allegations are part of a massive campaign launched by the asylum seekers along with over 7 per cent of the Tamil Diaspora members who are desperately trying to carve out a separate state in the country.

Representatives of the Retired Senior Police Officers' Association requested to the Chairman of the Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons, Maxwell Paranagama to investigate matters regarding the murder of 600 Police officers by LTTE in the Eastern Province in 1990. Over 600 Police officers served in Batticaloa and Ampara Police Divisions in the Eastern Province surrendered to the LTTE under the orders of the then President R. Premadasa who had agreed to a ceasefire with the rebels. Shortly afterwards their surrender on June 11, 1990 LTTE killed all the officers.

The UNHCHR Navi Pillay has appointed the team as mandated by the UNHRC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged war crimes committed by the SFs and LTTE during the last seven years of the civil war. Senior UN official Ms. Sandra Beidas will be the coordinator of the OHCHR investigative team which comprises 12 members, including two forensic experts, a legal analyst, a gender specialist and investigators.

SR on the Human Rights of IDPs Chaloka Beyani told the 26th Session of UNHRC in Geneva that the Sri Lankan Government has undertaken positive efforts to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed during the conflict and the demining in return areas, post conflict reconstruction and development but still needs to focus on building livelihoods linked to durable solutions for IDPs. He undertook an official mission to Sri Lanka from 2 to 6 December 2013 at the Government's invitation and visited Colombo, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. Beyani.

A Local Court in The Hague ordered five LTTE suspects to be imprisoned for collecting funds for the organization in Netherlands. The five men are believed to be front-liners of the LTTE in Netherland and they were given sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody announced that Parliament will debate the comprehensive international investigation mandated by UNHRC to investigate alleged War Crimes on June 17 and 18.

A special Police team led by North Central DIG Ranjith Padmasiri arrested a suspect from a location close to the clock tower in the Anuradhapura Town, North Central Province while he was allegedly transporting 10 kilogrammes of explosives, 500 detonators and 40 meters of fuse cord. The suspect was a 52-year-old man from Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura District and the explosives were being transported to Trincomalee.

Main opposition parties of Sri Lanka have decided to abstain from voting for the motion to be taken up for debate in the parliament next week condemning the UNHRC probe on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Pro- LTTE candidate for Scarborough-Rouge River, Neethan Shan, despite his alliance with the Tiger rump failed to win at the recently concluded Ontario provincial election in Canada. He was a staunch LTTE supporter who had taken part in all LTTE heroes' day celebrations in Canada. Shan had publicly criticized the Canadian Government for banning the LTTE front, World Tamil Movement. He had also participated in TV talk shows during the last phase of the humanitarian operation in 2009 which wiped out the LTTE in Sri Lanka. He spoke on behalf of terrorist leaders, and maintained that they were fighting for the liberation of Tamils.

The Minister of Land and Land Development, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, said that Government has decided to bring a Prescription (Special Provisions) Act to Parliament for the benefit of the people of the Northern Province displaced due to war. He said the new act will benefit 500,000 people who resided in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the period between May 1, 1983, to May 18, 2009.

Former TNA MP and NPC member M.K. Sivajilingam in a letter to Indian PM Narendra Modi said that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka cannot expect a political solution from Sri Lankan Governments without the direct and active intervention of India. He sought the PM's help in reaching a solution which can, at the minimum, offer a true federal autonomy to the Tamils in a single merged North-East special region. He also sought help to the medical and educational needs of the Tamil people in the region.

Rupert Colville, the Spokesman at the UN-OHCHR said that UNHRC mandated international investigation into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka is ready to begin this month (June).

Violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in Kalutara District of Western Province has left three people dead and at least another 78 injured. Clashes erupted between the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the area after the extremist Buddhist group BBS held a demonstration in the town to denounce the attack on a Buddhist monk and his driver by a Muslim youth.

Local media reports said the communal violence was spreading to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, as an unidentified gang attacked a pharmacy in Dehiwala area.

UN-OHCHR said that it had developed extensive methodologies to deal with situations where access had been denied. OHCHR Spokesman Rupert Colville said that "The investigation will take place either way. It will be better to have access, but it is still possible to do a full and thorough investigation without it."

41 people have been arrested in the aftermath of the violence between Buddhists and Muslims in which three people dead and several injured at Aluthgama and Beruwala areas in Kalutara District of Western Province.

A group of journalists of Sunday Leader and Irudina newspapers complained that a group of unidentified men threatened and attacked them when they went to report the communal violence in Beruwala electorate.

Sri Lankan Government has proposed to hold a referendum regarding the UN investigation on human rights violations in Sri Lanka. The proposal was made in the Parliament by ruling UPFA MP Janaka Priyantha Bandara.

Sri Lankan PM D.M. Jayaratne said that Police with the support of STF and Army has taken all measures to maintain law and order in the affected towns and stern legal action will be taken against the persons who are responsible for atrocities.

The southern coastal towns still remain under siege of violence and sporadic attacks have been reported from the areas despite a curfew imposed by the Police.

UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma was attacked by a mob at Welipenna in his Matugama electorate (Kalutara district, Western province) as he was involved in rescuing Muslims who were under siege from the Sinhala nationalist mob. The mobs attacked the MP and damaged his vehicle whilst the MP escaped from the mob without harm.

A massive protest was held in Kattankudi Muslim town of Batticaloa District in Eastern Province over the atrocities committed against the Muslims in towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala. The protestors chanting slogans demanded the government to ban the Buddhist militant group BBS and grant security for the minority communities.

The Police obtained a court order from the Mawanella Magistrate's Court to stop the BBS from holding a rally in the Muslim-dominated Mawanella Town in Kegalle District of Sabaragamuwa Province.

Police curfew imposed in Aluthgama and Beruwala areas have been lifted temporarily for 4 hours from 8 am to 12 pm.

LTTE 'Intelligence Unit' member Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran was arrested when he was hiding in Raigamwatte in Horana, Kalutara District of Western Province. SSP Ajith Rohana said that he is being detained for questioning. Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran had joined the LTTE in 2002.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to take stern action against the perpetrators of the communal violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala areas in Kalutara District of Western Province. He visited the affected areas of Beruwala and Aluthgama and guaranteed to conduct an impartial investigation into the incidents and to definitely bring all culprits to the book. The President also instructed the District officials to make arrangements for compensation and to repair the damaged property. He said measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in future by certain extremist groups.

The founding leader of extremist Buddhist movement BBS Kirama Vimalajothi Thero said that the organization he founded was beyond his control now. He said he would not approve the language, BBS secretary Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero used to speak about the President and the other politicians and the hateful words were not suitable for Buddhist monks.

The sources say that Thero who is accused of instigating communal violence against Muslims has gone underground. The organization is on the verge of split and a legal battle regarding the property is expected.

Sri Lanka Parliament passed the motion submitted against the comprehensive international investigation mandated by the UNHRC to probe alleged war crimes during the civil war. The motion passed in with a majority of 134 votes with 144 voting in favor and 10 against. However, the main opposition UNP abstained from voting.

Head of Sri Lanka Police, IG, N.K. Ilangakoon said that Police arrested 55 people suspected of instigating the clashes that took place in Beruwala, Aluthgama, Welipenna and Matugama in Western Province and 35 of them have been remanded. He said Police received 138 complaints relating to the recent skirmishes and an extensive investigation will be conducted into the communal clashes.

Facebook has suspended the profiles of Sri Lanka's Buddhist extremist group BBS and its monk leader Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera. A large number of individuals have reported to the Facebook administration that the two account holders are engaged in spreading racism and hatred.

Minister of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka accused that similar to how the US nurtured Taliban, which later targeted strategic locations in New York, US Ambassador Michele J. Sison is nurturing the Sri Lankan Jihadist groups thus jeopardizing the security of not only Sri Lanka and the US but of the entire world.

Sri Lankan Parliament gave approval to extend the period granted to the PSC responsible for recommending and reporting on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation till December 21, 2014.

A LTTE 'Sea Tiger Force' member, Thirunagarasu Pradeepan was arrested at the Katunayake Airport in Western Province when he was to take a flight to Qatar.

Sri Lanka briefed the UNHRC of the measures that have been implemented by the Government to prevent further deterioration of the situation and to bring back normalcy to the areas affected by the communal violence in the Beruwala and Aluthgama areas in Western Province.

Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, the secretary of Sri Lanka's Buddhist extremist BBS said that they had stopped violence and urged the Muslim extremists also to stop. He rejected that the BBS had any connections to the communal violence in Beruwala electorate and other places.

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana announced that no permission would be given in the future to hold religious or ethnic rallies inciting hatred and tension among communities in the country.

SI Nimal Piyatissa attached to the Sri Lankan President's Security Division arrested three LTTE cadres while they were filming the official residence of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Independence Avenue, Colombo on their mobile phones. Police recovered photographs and video clips of LTTE suicide cadres on the suspects' mobile phone. Later, the three suspects were remanded.

Sri Lanka strongly rejected a statement made by the Canadian delegation at the ongoing UNHRC sessions in Geneva that referred to the military presence in the conflict affected zones in Sri Lanka contributing to the vulnerability of women and girls in the areas. Sri Lankan delegation stated that the references made by the Canadian delegation remains at the level of 'allegations unsubstantiated by verifiable data'. They further went on to state that no evidence has been directly brought to the attention of Government authorities by any claimant, to enable the conduct of credible investigations and prosecutions.

A Sri Lankan court in Kalawanchikudi of Batticaloa District in Eastern Province ordered to exhume a large number of grave sites in the Eastern Province following claims that the grave sites contain the bodies of scores of Muslims massacred by LTTE in 1990. The court, after examining a motion submitted by Abdul Majeed Mohammed, a resident of Kalawanchikudi, ordered the exhumation of the graves to begin on July 1, 2014. Mohammed in his complaint said LTTE kidnapped more than 100 Muslims in the area and subsequently killed them and buried in mass graves near the coast off Kurukkalmadam.

The Vavuniya High Court Judge convicted top LTTE cadre Kanagaraja Ravishankar in connection with three cases of illegal transportation of arms and missiles into the country from abroad. Ravishankar, a resident of Kilinochchi of Northern Province was sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment. Ravishankar, had joined the LTTE in 1992 and was trained overseas by the organization as a ship's captain. According to police he had left Sri Lanka in 2005 and is now known to reside in Canada.

SSP Ajith Rohana said after the reorganization attempts of the LTTE led by Gopi, Appan and Thevian were exposed on March 8, 2014, the Police had arrested 51 suspects in connection with LTTE activities and there had been five females among them. He said as of today (June 25), a total of 110 suspects with LTTE links are in jail.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay announced the names of three distinguished experts who have agreed to advise and support the team set up to conduct a comprehensive investigation of alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, as mandated by the UNHRC in March. Former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, Dame Silvia Cartwright, former Governor-General and High Court judge of New Zealand and Ms Asma Jahangir, former President of Pakistan''s Supreme Court Bar Association and of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan are the three experts appointed to the team.

US welcomed Navi Pillay's announcement of the appointment of three distinguished experts to the international team to investigate Sri Lanka''s alleged human right violations and called on the government to cooperate.

Sri Lanka banned visas on arrival for Pakistanis after investigations showed that jihadist groups targeting India were using Sri Lanka as a transit point. Indian officials confirmed that Sri Lanka and Maldives have been red-flagged by Indian security establishment for some time.

The Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathy ordered to further detain two former militants of the 'Missile Brigade' of LTTE for bombing of a military aircraft 14 years ago, till July 22, 2014. The two LTTE cadres, Jegan alias Kulawan and Vallami alias Sinnathilakan, both residents of Irasathurai in Jaffna are suspected of shooting down an Antonov-34 aircraft flying from Palaly to Ratmalana on March 30, 2000 over Anuradhapura, North Central Province killing at least 40 people including 4 Russians. According to the Police, the two arrested two years ago in Kilinochchi in Northern Province had revealed that the rebels had fired missiles towards the aircraft from Wilpattu forests.

Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris said in Colombo that Sri Lanka's victory in war against LTTE-backed terrorism and the resulting peace and stability benefitted not only the island nation, but also the entire South Asian region and it is only right and proper the magnitude of these benefits should receive recognition.

The Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathi permitted the CID of Police to indict four militants of LTTE for the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base and massacre of soldiers. They are accused of killing 14 Air Force and Army personnel, completely destroying 10 aircraft and partly damaging another six. Tamil Tigers launched an air and ground attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base on October 22, 2007. The Judge also permitted the CID to amend the charges of one accused, Rasalingam Thaboruban.

The Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathi permitted the CID of Police to indict four militants of LTTE for the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base and massacre of soldiers. They are accused of killing 14 Air Force and Army personnel, completely destroying 10 aircraft and partly damaging another six. Tamil Tigers launched an air and ground attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base on October 22, 2007. The Judge also permitted the CID to amend the charges of one accused, Rasalingam Thaboruban.

Police media Unit said that Sri Lankan authorities have postponed the excavations of a suspected mass grave site at Kaluwanchikudy in Batticaloa District, believed to be of Muslims massacred by LTTE terrorists in the Eastern Province in 1990. Excavation of the mass grave site was to begin today (July 1).

The Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka announced that it will conduct its fifth round of Public Sittings in Mullaitivu District of Northern Province from July 5 - 8, 2014. Sittings will be held at the Puthukudiyiruppu Divisional Secretariat on July 5th and 6th, and at Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat on July 7th and 8th.

Police arrested four Sri Lankan Tamils, including a LTTE cadre, on charges of illegal entry when they clandestinely landed at Arichamunai, off Danushkodi, in Tamil Nadu. The police identified them as S. Sathish (39), who had worked as an 'accountant' with LTTE, S. Ravindran alias Ravi (38), who had worked in EPDP, J. Santhi (38) and Malar (55). Enquiries revealed that Sathish, who had studied BA (Accounts) at the Jaffna Hindu College, had served in the LTTE as an accountant from 2004 until the final phase of the war in 2009.

Sri Lanka Army troops, now engaged in restoration of damaged properties in the violence-hit southern coastal towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala in Western Province since June 27, expect to complete the phase of the reconstruction project within few weeks. According to Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander of SFHQ-West many groups of Sinhalese and Muslim social workers have enthusiastically extended their support to the troops.

CID of Sri Lanka Police questioned the leader of the extremist Buddhist organization BBS Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero over the hate speech he delivered in Aluthgama earlier last month.

Sri Lanka Police have requested the assistance of the INTERPOL to trace the absconding suspect who had maintained close links with LTTE. The suspect, Kathirwel Dayabaran Raj, is believed to be in India. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he had escaped to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu on May 4 with his wife and three children. An Indian magazine has reported that Dayabaran Raj was killed by the SFs but the Sri Lanka Police denied the allegation. Sri Lanka Police said they have evidence that the suspect had escaped by boat to Rameshwaram.

Australian PM Tony Abbott rejected the international criticism of its handling of Tamil asylum seekers and justified sending them back to Sri Lanka as the country is now at peace. Abbott said it was no secret that Australia was turning back boats on the high seas but Australia always acted legally and morally at sea.

Australian media reported that 50 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board one boat were asked just four basic questions by immigration officials via a teleconference, as part of a screening process. Another boat with 152 Sri Lankan asylum seekers including 32 women, and 37 children has not been contactable since the weekend, indicating it may have been intercepted by the Australian Navy and handed over to the SLN.

Australian government has refused to confirm the media reports that the asylum seekers have been handed over to Sri Lankan authorities.

Australian government has refused to confirm the media reports that the asylum seekers have been handed over to Sri Lankan authorities.

The Sri Lankan Government reiterated its stance on the UN investigation that it is not ready to accept an investigation mandated by the UNHRC.

Government Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella said that some rehabilitated former LTTE combatants are now in the main stream politics while some others have also been recruited to the SFs. He also stressed that the Government is not ready to accept TNA as the sole representative of the Tamil community in the country.

Malaysian Police arrested four former LTTE leaders accused of trying to revive the organization using Malaysia as a base. The arrestees suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka were arrested by the Malaysian Police in a series of anti-terrorism operations in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur and the four are being detained by the SB-CTD. Malaysian Police said one of the suspects was wanted for his involvement in the assassination attempt on the then Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1999. Police IG, Khalid Abu Bakar said that the suspects "were planning to reactivate the group by making Malaysia as their base of operations". Some activists, he said, had exploited their status as refugees to pursue illegal activities. According to the Malaysian Police one of the suspects was an explosives expert, and another is alleged of facilitating planned attacks on Sri Lankan consulates in India. The fourth man is accused of gathering intelligence for the group. The Police confiscated counterfeit passports of multiple nations, counterfeit rubber stamps of the Immigration Department and foreign embassies and other documents.

Sri Lanka Police by July 3 received over 400 complaints related to the recent Sinhala-Muslim communal violence that broke out on June 15, 2014 in Aluthgama, Beruwala and adjacent areas of Western Province. About 90 percent of the complaints were against unidentified persons burning houses, damaging building, vehicles and attacking people. Aluthgama and Beruwala police stations had reported to Kalutara Magistrate Court about over 200 cases in which the perpetrators have not been identified.

Initial interviews to recruit more Kilinochchi Tamil youth to the Sri Lanka Army as vocational tradesmen commenced in the past week at the Harmony Centre, Killinochchi District, Northern Province. Under Phase 2 of this program, Army expects to recruit as many as 500 young tradesmen who are vocationally skilled.

A Tamil political party in Sri Lanka, TNPF staged a protest at Kilinochchi town demanding Sri Lanka Army to withdraw from their lands. The protest was held outside the Kilinochchi District secretariat. They demanded the Army to withdraw to the barracks returning their lands to them. TNPF is a breakaway faction of TNA, the major Tamil party of Sri Lanka which rules NPC.

The Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons in Sri Lanka began public sittings to hear cases of missing in Mullaitivu District of Northern Province where the conflict between SFs and LTTE ended in May 2009. The Commission started its fifth round of Public Sittings at the Puthukudiyiruppu Divisional Secretariat in Mullaitivu District. In its session, the Commission has interviewed 25 out of the 60 complaints it invited for hearing while 152 new cases were registered with the Commission.

The Australian Government confirmed returning a group of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who attempted to arrive illegally by boat to Australia as part of a maritime people smuggling venture, back to Sri Lanka. Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison said the Border Protection Command West of Cocos (Keeling) Islands in late June, 2014 intercepted the suspected vessel carrying illegal asylum seekers. The Minister said the 41 Sri Lankans were transferred from an Australian BPC vessel to the SLN outside the Sri Lankan port of Batticaloa, Eastern Province.

SLN said that it's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Samudura is bringing 41 Australia-bound Sri Lankan illegal immigrants to the Galle Harbor in Southern Province. Sri Lanka Navy said it will hand over the group to the law enforcement authorities for further investigations when brought ashore.

UNHCR has expressed concern over the deportation of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Australia. A further 153 asylum seekers also from Sri Lanka have had their deportation blocked by the Australian High Court. UNHCR said it had been informed by authorities in Australia that enhanced screening procedures had been applied to determine whether those deported raised claims for protection which required further consideration.

A Sri Lankan court in Galle, Southern Province remanded five of the 41 asylum seekers handed over to the SLN by the Australian authorities after intercepting them at high seas. Galle Magistrate, U.S. Kalansooriya remanded five of the illegal migrants until July 14 and released 27 each on cash bail of LKR 5,000 and personal bail of LKR 100,000. The judge acquitted nine children, who were under the age of 16, among the asylum seekers. The released asylum seekers speaking to reporters outside the court, claimed that they did not receive any facilities in Australia and that Australian authorities even ignored the children.

UN-HCHR said it is deeply disturbed by the return of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Sri Lanka by Australian authorities without proper screening and called for a full judicial review on the matter. The High Commissioner said the international law requires that each and every case be properly and individually examined on its own merits.

Australia rejected allegations by Sri Lankan refugees returned to the island nation that they were mistreated and said their return sent a strong message to those thinking of following suit. Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said in Colombo that "I find those allegations offensive and reject them absolutely." He handed over two patrol boats to Sri Lanka to strengthen surveillance of people smuggling. Morrison rejected claims that Australia had breached international conventions by handing over the Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka said many asylum seekers are economic migrants, but human rights groups said Tamils seek asylum to prevent torture, rape and other violence at the hands of the military.

Two Police reports have been lodged against Malaysia's Penang Deputy CM II Dr P. Ramasamy over alleged links with LTTE. The reports were lodged by two NGOs at the Central Seberang Prai Police stations, Penang, Malaysia. One of the groups also alleged that Ramasamy was brave as he is "backed up by the Tiger Eelam separatist group from Sri Lanka". The NGOs also demanded Ramasamy be investigated and arrested.

The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons has completed taking evidence in the Mullaitivu area, Northern Province. Chairman of the Commission Maxwell Paranagama said the Commission recorded submissions from 129 people from 23 Grama Seva divisions during its sittings. He said the new complaints were registered and complainants will be given fresh dates to make their submissions. He also added that during submissions most of the people shared their own experiences during the last days of the conflicts and the hardships they had to face from LTTE while trying to cross the lagoon towards areas controlled by the SFs. People told the Commission that they were treated well once they reached army controlled areas and were being escorted to different welfare camps.

Malaysia has agreed to hand over to Sri Lanka four former leaders of the LTTE arrested during a recent operation. Sri Lankan Police sources said that four specially trained Policemen would leave next week for Kuala Lumpur to bring down the hardcore terrorists to Colombo. A senior Police officer said that the Malaysian police had assured to cooperate with their Sri Lankan counterparts to apprehend other LTTE suspects who have taken refuge in the South East Asian country with the help of the information elicited from the LTTE suspects arrested by them. The Malaysian Police have warned the citizens of that country with dire consequences if they provided refuge or assisted terrorists in any manner. Among the former LTTE cadres arrested by the Malaysian Police is a suspect wanted in connection with the abortive attempt on former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga's life at the Colombo Town Hall grounds during her 1999 presidential election campaign.

PM D. M. Jayaratna said in Parliament that It is a well known fact that several NGOs have exceeded their remits even to the extent of procuring weapons for terrorists.

Justice Minister and leader of SLMC, Rauff Hakeem said the arrest of Lankan Muslim Zakir Hussein in a Pakistani-sponsored espionage case in Chennai, India has contributed to the propaganda in Lanka that there are "Islamic terrorists" in the island nation. He said that "We are acutely aware of the ongoing propaganda in some quarters that there are terrorist elements or extremist groups that exist within the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. We suspect that vested interests are behind such propaganda - interests which are bent on seeing the emergence of terrorism in Sri Lanka, which we abhor by all means, in what we call a self fulfilling prophesy." Hakeem said that the propaganda is part of a "long term project" of some influential groups among the majority Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka to "annihilate" the Muslim community through a "virtual holocaust". The minister said the said "project" was initiated during Eelam War IV and it picked up after that with the establishment of extremist Sinhalese Buddhist organizations like the BBS.

CM of the Northern Province C.V. Vigneswaran was considering to resign from his post in protest of reappointing a retired Army officer Major General G.A. Chandrasiri to govern the Province. Ignoring the Tamil party's strong objections, President Mahinda Rajapaksa reappointed Chandrasiri, whose official term was slated to end July 12. TNA leader R. Sampanthan said the Government's move had indicated the careless attitude of the Government about the Tamils.

Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi claimed that US President Barack Obama and British PM David Cameron had secured votes from LTTE supporters to come to power. She claimed that now Obama and Cameron are working according to the agenda of the LTTE supporters against the Sri Lankan Government. However she said President Mahinda Rajapaksa will not allow the LTTE to raise its head in Sri Lanka with the support of any international force.

TNA agreed to denounce separatism and accept a united Sri Lanka for all communities. Lawyers appearing for the Secretary of TNA and its main constituent ITAK, Parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah and leader of TNA R. Sampanthan agreed to submit the affidavit to the Supreme Court that Sri Lanka is a unitary state.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has broadened the scope of the mandate of the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons and appointed a three-member international panel of experts to advise the Commission. Sir Desmond de Silva, Sir Geoffrey Nice and David Crane are the three members of the eminent panel.

Sri Lanka is urging US to avoid letting human rights concerns dominate the relationship between the countries five years after the end of a civil war that killed as many as 40,000 civilians. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, a lawmaker and Coordinating Secretary to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that reconciliation in Sri Lanka is occurring at a "rapid pace" and the Government is focused on strengthening its economy. Human rights issues shouldn't hinder closer economic ties with the US.

In a report, UK, FCO said that doing business in Sri Lanka is not without security risks but no threat from terrorism. The report highlighted information on key security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Sri Lanka. However, there is no threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka for businesses. The Government forces are strongly in control of the former conflict zones and there is little scope for insurgency, it said.

An Australian court has given Government lawyers until July 21 to file their defence in the case of the 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers. A government lawyer has told the court that the Commonwealth has no plans to send the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka without giving a three-day written notice.

The four LTTE militants arrested by the Malaysian Police on July 3 have been brought to Sri Lanka. Police media unit identified three of them as Edmond Singharaja alias Seelan, Angurukankanamlage Indika Sanjeewa alias Mohamed Sanjaya Abdul and Abdul Saleem Bin Mohamed.

Sri Lanka Controller of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera said that all overstaying foreign nationals including the Pakistan and Afghan nationals who had applied for refugee status would be deported. Parera said that last week, the government took steps to deport five Afghan nationals who had been overstaying in Sri Lanka. He further stated that there were 1,450 Pakistan nationals and 40 Afghan nationals overstaying.

The LTTE cadres arrested in Malaysia and extradited to Sri Lanka have spilled the beans on Tiger activists under questioning by the sleuths of the TID. They have told the interrogators that they had never thought that the LTTE would be defeated militarily in the North. They said the LTTE?had a lot of members in Malaysia. "We thought of rebuilding the LTTE organization. We commemorated the LTTE Heroes Day in Malaysia. Our efforts were all in vain. Our members are still in Jaffna."

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told visiting Portuguese PM Pedro Passos Coelho, that it will take time to heal the wounds of the 30 year-long war. Rajapaksa said "It will take time to heal the wounds of war because way many youth died from south and the north", even as he pledged Lanka's commitment to the process of reconciliation with the minority Tamils. He added that "The LTTE destroyed all infrastructure in the north, east and other parts of the country while the people lived in fear."

India has refused to grant visas to the UN team appointed by Navi Pillay (UNHRC) to probe the alleged human rights violations during the last seven years of three-decade long civil war in Sri Lanka. Commissioner of the SLHRC, Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa has said that India has rejected to provide visa to the investigations committee to enter that country to conduct the probe.

Reports said that the committee appointed by Navi Pillay will initiate its investigations from three different locations worldwide. Centers established in New York, Bangkok and Geneva will initiate the investigations connecting via Skype, and Satellite.

A document filed by the Australian Government in the High Court reveals that there are 157 asylum seekers on a boat that was intercepted off Christmas Island more than three weeks ago while it was previously stated 153. According to the document family members among 157 asylum seekers in separate rooms on a customs vessel are allowed out for meals and ''approximately three hours'' of daylight a day.

SLA said that it has gradually returned a large extent of land to the original owners after reducing the size of Army camps in Jaffna. Military Spokesman and Ministry of Defence, Media Center Director Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the land occupied by the Army now has been reduced to 6,500 acres from the original 26,000 acres. He noted that most of the returned land was earlier occupied by the LTTE for their military purposes after taking them over from the people by force.

The CB-CID wing of Puducherry police arrested two persons in connection with the trafficking of Tamil refugees, who travelled from the Puducherry coast to Christmas Island in June. Sources said the boat owners, Raja alias Sanjeevi of Kuruchikuppam and A Manjini of Vambakeerapalayam were arrested as per the information provided by Australian immigration officials.

An Australian Government source said that Australia will transfer 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers that it has been holding at sea to the mainland Curtin IDC, Kimberley in Western Australia, in a setback for PM Tony Abbott's tough policy on refugee boat arrivals.

With "security concerns" keeping President Mahinda Rajapaksa away from attending last week's opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the planned pro-LTTE demonstration opposite the Celtic stadium lost its steam. Sources said that "The number of activists expected to turn up for the demonstration dwindled as news spread that the President would not be coming for the event." The protesters openly waved Eelam flags, shouted anti-Sri Lanka slogans and were attired in T-shirts sporting Velupillai Prabakaran's photograph despite the LTTE listed as a proscribed terrorist outfit in the UK.

Ministry of Defence said that al Qaeda does not have a base in Sri Lanka nor does any other terrorist organization. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that the Sri Lankan authorities have not given any space for such groups to operate inside Sri Lanka. "Terrorism is terrorism no matter what form it is in. Like the way we defeated LTTE if Muslim or Islamic groups attempt to engage in terrorism from inside Sri Lanka we will not leave room for such activities," he said.

The Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in the North and East said that the LTTE was responsible for nearly 80 percent of the alleged abductions, of the cases already heard in four Districts except Jaffna. The LTTE was blamed for missing persons; 90 percent in Mullaitivu, 80 percent in Kilinochchi, 70 percent in Batticaloa and only 10 percent in the Jaffna District by the relatives of the deceased. A total of 19,284 written complaints had been received by the Commission so far.

A group of 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers including 37 children held on board an Australian Customs vessel for nearly a month have been taken to the Curtin IDC in Kimberley, Western Australia.

Indian consular officials are due to begin interviewing members of the group, whose boat was intercepted by the Australian navy several weeks ago after setting sail from India. While the group of Sri Lankans will be processed at the Curtin camp, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has stressed they will not be resettled in Australia and has released little information about them. India has agreed to take back any of its nationals among the group. They should first be interviewed by Australian authorities to establish any claims for asylum.

Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison says the 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers are economic migrants seeking to illegally enter Australia since they came from India, a safe country. Morrison said that since the group came from India, Indian officials will be determining their identity and residency and the measure was a result of the discussions he had last week with his counterparts in New Delhi. He dismissed the idea that the refugees will be persecuted if returned to India.

Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry while responding to a statement expressing concerns on media freedom in Sri Lanka issued by the US Embassy in Colombo charged that the actions of the US targeting a specific community in the island can seriously hamper the fragile reconciliation process.

TNA Northern Provincial Councilor Dharmalingam Sitharthan, during his European visit said that Norway, which facilitated the peace process between the then Government and the LTTE is now giving less emphasis to the peace building process in Sri Lanka. However, he added Switzerland keenly looking at Sri Lanka's situation.

Former cadres of the LTTE, undergoing rehabilitation, have recently visited the South. The Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms has organized the tour of the South as a goodwill mission for the ex-LTTE members who are scheduled to be released soon after completing their rehabilitation.

The Sri Lankan Government said recent influx of asylum seekers has burdened the country and the UNHCR has been slow to address their requirements for resettlement. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the asylum seeker and refugee population in Sri Lanka has witnessed a dramatic 700 percent increase during the period 2013-14 and as at June 30, 2014, there are 1,562 asylum seekers and 308 refugees.

The UNHRC in a statement criticized Sri Lanka for failing to follow international obligations and deporting Pakistani and Afghan refugees before the agency can assess their asylum claims. It said that Sri Lanka, in violation of its international obligations, has deported 18 Pakistani asylum seekers in the past two days and 10 more facing imminent expulsion.

Reports said that Pakistan is understood to have quietly withdrawn its official from its High Commission in Colombo following an allegation against him that he was involved in conspiracy to target the US and Israel consulates in south India at ISI's behest. Sources said that Counselor Amir Zubair Siddiqui had been withdrawn even before NIA's request under MLAT reached Colombo as his presence had become untenable to his diplomatic duties.

The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons will conduct public sittings next week in the Mannar District, Northern Province. Commission Secretary H.W. Gunadasa stated that the sittings will be held on August 8 and 9 at the Manthai Divisional Secretariat, Mannar Divisional Secretariat on August 10 and the Madhu Divisional Secretariat on August 11.

The term of the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces has been extended to February 15, 2015. The Commission, to date, has received 18,789 complaints, and approximately 5,000 were from relatives of missing SFs personnel.

The international investigation on Sri Lanka that will be conducted by the UN OHCHR as mandated by the UNHRC has officially begun in Geneva, Switzerland. The OISL will probe the period from 21 February 2002 until 15 November 2011, the period covered by the LLRC, from the day the ceasefire agreement was signed to the day LLRC presented its report to the President.

UNHCR expressed deep concern as Sri Lanka continues deporting the Pakistani and Afghan asylum seekers back to their own countries from where they fled. UNHCR said that it has learnt that a total of 36 Pakistani asylum seekers have been deported from Sri Lanka since last Friday (August 1). More could follow, including women and children.

Sri Lanka's Department of Immigration and Emigration said that Pakistani, and Afghan nationals visiting Sri Lanka will no longer receive tourist visas upon arrival at the airport and the asylum seekers who are staying in the country without visa for a long time will be deported. The Department said the process will commence with the deportation of 147 Pakistani, and 85 Afghan nationals arrested by Sri Lankan authorities.

During a meeting between Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and his Sri Lankan counterpart Kshenuka Seneviratne in Islamabad, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism, drug and human trafficking, handling asylum seekers and other transnational crimes and to continue the cooperation with renewed vigor, which includes training of security personnel.

Police Media Spokesperson's office said that a group of special officers from the TID arrested a second year student of the Management Faculty of the Sabaragamuwa University. Investigations have revealed that the youth, who is a resident of Jaffna, had maintained connections with the LTTE, for several years during the war. This student, who had been an active member during the final mission, has been sent for rehabilitation following the conclusion of the war.

Spokesperson of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that reports in the Indian media alleging that a Pakistani diplomat posted in Colombo is involved in planning attacks in Indian cities is an attempt to "create a wedge" between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Deputy Minister of Health Lalith Dissanayake said in Parliament that the Government had resettled 1, 50,202 IDPs by September 30, 2012. He said that, with the end of the Humanitarian Operations there were IDPs who had been forcibly held by the LTTE. The SFs provided them the basic facilities until they could be properly resettled in their former villages. Each family had been given SLR 25, 000 as a grant to commence constructing their houses. The sum total of funds given in this was SLR 2241 million.

The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka commenced its public sittings to hear cases of missing at the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat in Mannar District of Northern Province. The Commission attended to 48 of the 60 complaints it has received in that division and registered 27 new complaints. In total, the Commission recorded 75 complaints from the kin of missing persons.

At least nine Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who attempted to illegally ferry to Australia from the coastal town of Oriyur in Tamil Nadu, India were arrested by the Indian Police. Police said they had come from different refugee camps in the State and had been staying in rooms attached to St. Arulanandar Church at Oriyur for the past two days when Police zeroed in on them.

According to reports, International intelligence services have arrested four individuals who had allegedly attempted to carry out a plot to assassinate two VIPs of the Sri Lankan Government. The report said that the four, who were arrested in a foreign country, includes a former SLA captain and three activists of the defeated LTTE terrorist group. The suspects have requested money from LTTE diaspora to carry out the plot.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to nominate an Indian human rights and civil liberties activist, Avdash Kaushal to the panel of international experts appointed to advise the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka. The report however has said that Government of India was not officially associated with this nomination.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said that visiting Sri Lanka is not necessary for the UN to conduct an effective investigation into the alleged war crimes by both the Government and LTTE during the three-decade long civil war. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that there is a large amount of information available outside the country.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said that some sections of the Tamil media are trying to mislead the public with poisoned views in favour of certain political entities. He criticized that some sections of the Tamil media have placed politics above journalism.

The Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka, during the four days of hearing in Mannar District recorded a total of 314 complaints. The Commission has invited a total of 225 complainants, out of which only 157 have been interviewed. The Commission has received another 157 new complaints of missing persons during the sittings.

UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards in Geneva said the refugee agency is alarmed that recent deportations of asylum-seekers from Sri Lanka are growing in size and scope despite international calls to stop sending them back to a place where their lives could be in danger. UNHCR reiterated its call to the Sri Lankan Government to stop the deportations immediately and to grant access to asylum seekers in detention so that UNHCR staff can assess their needs for international protection.

Chairman of the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka, Maxwell Paranagama said that the numbers cited by groups on alleged disappearance of individuals have been grossly exaggerated. He said, "We have seen figures presented by various organizations which claimed that over 3,300 had disappeared from the Northern Province. But the number of complaints received by us does not confirm such claims."

External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris said that the Government has invited US Secretary of State John Kerry to visit Sri Lanka and see for himself what the country has achieved on the ground since the war ended in 2009.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said that in fighting terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, Sri Lanka has always believed in the need for its elimination in its entirety, given that it has fundamentally impeded progress in large swathes of the globe. He said, “It is ironic, however, that Sri Lanka, having eliminated terrorism for the benefit not only of the people of our country but a significantly wider region, is today having to contend with immense pressure exerted primarily through the use of human rights as a political tool.”

An Indian human rights activist, Prof. Avdhash Kaushal, who was nominated by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be part of the international panel of experts advising the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka, has accepted the offer after President himself called and made the offer.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that Sri Lankan Government has removed names of three people from the blacklist of those who are accused of conniving to revive terrorism in the country. The three persons who have been cleared are Karunanithi Thurairathnam a.k.a Thurai who resides in France, Sutharasan Kailayanathan who lives in India and Thanushkody Premani, a resident of Kilinochchi, Northern Province.

Sri Lanka Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said that the persons and organizations that have been blacklisted under a special gazette notification by Sri Lanka Government can apply for clearance. Government designated 424 individuals and 16 organizations including the LTTE as terrorists under the UN Act No 45 of 1968. These persons were blacklisted due to their involvement in terrorist activities of the LTTE.

Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that, Sri Lanka is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and thus is not bound by any obligation towards Pakistani refugees in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka charged that the outgoing United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay of seeking to influence the international investigation by her office, OHCHR into Sri Lanka's alleged war crimes.

A Sri Lankan court ordered the Government authorities to suspend repatriating Pakistani nationals who have sought refugee status in Sri Lanka. The Pakistani petitioner, Anila Imran, in her petition has told the court that Pakistani authorities persecute Christians and Shia Muslims in the Ahamandi region and they had arrived in Sri Lanka seeking protection.

Indian Consul General in Jaffna S D Moorthy said that under the Housing Project India assisted in building 14,514 houses for the Tamil IDPs in northern Sri Lanka, and at total of 19,703 houses will have been completed by the year end. Moorthy said that the flagship Housing Project targets to build 50,000 houses by the end of 2015.

Minister of Petroleum, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa accused European nations of assisting the LTTE to build its international network. He said Europe like America is not happy with the defeat of the LTTE as they could not achieve what they wanted in Sri Lanka.

Minister of External Affairs G.L. Peiris said that the relentless international pressure on Sri Lanka to probe alleged human rights violations is not only unhelpful, but is also absolutely harmful to the country. The Minister questioned the wisdom of ill-treatment towards Sri Lanka by some foreign powers while exerting relentless pressure on the country's forward-march.

Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed two more members to the panel of international experts advising the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons in Sri Lanka. The two appointees are Avdash Kaushal, a civil liberties activist heading a NGO called RLEK in India and Ahmer Bilal Soofi, an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and an international law expert.

Mahinda Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka will not allow the UN team investigating alleged war crimes committed during the last seven years of the three-decade long armed conflict with LTTE. He said the team of UN investigators appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will not be allowed into the country. He however, assured that Sri Lanka will fully cooperate with the other UN agencies.

External Affairs Minister G L Peiris said that the Government will not allow anyone to use its soil for terror elements to plan anti-India activities. Peiris said, "We have constantly assured India that under no circumstances will Sri Lankan soil be used for any acts against India."

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that since the LTTE’s defeat, some groups have begun to engage in activities that stem far beyond self-protection and there is information that some of these groups have even tried to link up with global Islamic terrorist organizations and so the situation requires careful monitoring.

The UN may become involved in the case of the Tamil asylum seekers who were detained on an Australian customs boat. A brief High Court directions hearing in Melbourne resulted in Justice Kenneth Hayne setting a date of October 14 and 15 for the full court case. The legal team representing the asylum seekers indicated that the UNHCR and the Australian Human Rights Commission were looking to intervene in the case.

A five-member TNA delegation, led by its leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan leave for India to hold discussions with the Indian PM Narendra Modi and other senior Indian leaders on a host of issues. The TNA delegation will meet PM Modi in New Delhi on August 23 and the delegation is expected to raise the issue of power devolution under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and host of other issues including the demilitarization of North.

A former LTTE cadre accused of assassinating the former SLA senior official Major General Janaka Perera and 28 others in a suicide bomb attack in 2008 in Anuradhapura pleaded guilty. The second accused of the case, Shammuganathan Sudaharan, a former colonel of LTTE pleaded guilty for the killings before the North Central Province High Court judge Sunanda Kumara Rathnayaka and the judge accepted his guilty plea. He was further remanded and the sentencing was postponed to September 5.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha, revealed that the LTTE are running “Madrassa type” indoctrination schools in EU countries. He said that the LTTE has established “Madrassa-type” schools called “Tamil Cholai” to “ferment the radicalisation of Tamil youth, and glorify terrorism and martyrdom.” He added that students of these schools are forced to participate in propaganda events organised by the LTTE and its front organisations. He also said that an estimated 20,000 Tamil students between the ages of 4 and 21 years are studying in more than300 “Tamil Cholai” schools functioning in Europe under different names.

According to a local newspaper report, India, Pakistan, and China have refused to provide information to the UN team appointed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to probe the alleged human rights violations during the civil war in Sri Lanka.

India urged Sri Lanka to "engage constructively" to find a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution, to the Tamil issue. Indian PM Narendra Modi stressed the need for a political solution for the ethnic problem when a six-member TNA delegation met him in New Delhi.

Commander SF Jaffna Major General Udaya Perera said that tense situation in Jaffna helps some factions of Tamil Diaspora to survive in those countries and they are spending plenty of money through extremist local political elements to create mayhem in Jaffna. He also said that whilst all those projects are carried out aiming at National Reconciliation, his troops are always alert on National Security.

PCICMP panel probing the disappearances of people during the nearly three-decade war with the LTTE will hold a second public hearing in the former rebel-stronghold of Kilinochchi next month. SD Gunadasa, an official of the commission, said the panel's hearing in Kilinochchi would take place from September 18 to 22.

Minister for Small and Medium Industries and a Tamil MP from Jaffna, Douglas Devananda said that the TNA, which rules Sri Lanka's Northern Province, and whose leaders met Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 23, is not interested in finding a solution to the Lankan Tamil question. The Tamil leader, who heads the anti-LTTE EPDP, predicted that the TNA, which is now demanding the full implementation of the 13A, will change its demand the moment the government implements it.

Seven LTTE cadres who were rehabilitated at the Punthottam Rehabilitation Camp in Vavuniya, Northern Province were entrusted to their relatives. 11,970 LTTE cadres of the 12,298 who gave themselves up to the Army have so far been reintegrated into society.

TNA has sought India's help in the return of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India. TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah, who was part of the TNA delegation that met PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi said that, "There are over one lakh refugees in Tamil Nadu living in 115 camps. We have requested the Indian Government to pressure the Sri Lankan Government to release their [refugees'] land in the north which has been taken over by the Army."

A large cache of arms including spent shells of 245 grenades and 28 rockets, believed to have been used by the LTTE in the 1980s have been unearthed in a reserved forest at Kolathur near Mettur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is believed that LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and his cadres had used this Kolathur camp for training purpose during 1984-86.

Police arrested two Indian citizens for allegedly recording and possessing photographs and video footage of Parliament and the PM's residence. Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that acting on a tip off, they were arrested by the Police while travelling in a three wheeler taxi in Colombo. Rohana added that the two men were from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

A collective of international human right organizations has urged the Sri Lankan Government and the member states of the UNHRC to ensure protection for the witnesses at the UN mandated war crime probe against Sri Lanka. Six human rights organizations jointly expressed concern over the allegedly ongoing attacks against human rights defenders and other individuals from Sri Lanka who seek to engage with the UN human rights system.

TNA MP M A Sumanthiran said that TNA was ready to resume talks with the Government in search of a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis based on power devolution within a united Sri Lanka. He said that, "The Government is now saying it cannot hold talks with the TNA because we are representatives of the LTTE. The Government is trying to evade resolving the Tamil issue citing these false claims. We do not have any hidden agenda. We strongly believe a solution to the issue in a united country and we do not want a separate state."

A Sri Lankan court extended an order it issued earlier suspending the repatriating Pakistani nationals who have sought refugee status in Sri Lanka. The Court of Appeal Judge Upali Abeyratna ordered to extend the order for four more days when the case was heard before the court.

Facing international criticism for forcibly deporting Pakistani and Afghan nationals seeking refugee status in Sri Lanka, the Government has established two more centres to detain foreigners who are overstaying. One of the new detention centers is established in Boosa, Galle. The other has been established in Negombo, north of Colombo International Airport. Immigration officials said that the detention centers have been opened for those foreign nationals, who have registered with the UNHCR, seeking refugee status.

The arrest of four human traffickers while trying to transport six Sri Lankans to Australia through the Prakasam coast, Andhra Pradesh in India earlier this week has raised the suspicion among Indian investigators that the LTTE may be trying to revive in Australia. Report said that the officials from agencies including the IB, CBI and Tamil Nadu Police, conducting the investigations suspect that the LTTE is trying to regroup itself in Australia after lying low for five years since their defeat at the hands of Sri Lankan SFs. The illegal emigrants to Australia from Sri Lanka were from, among other places, Mullaitivu and Mattakalappu and are in the age group of 24 to 28 years.

According to a report, Sri Lanka will soon begin a probe on alleged war crime violations parallel to the investigations conducted by the PCICMP. Maxwell Paranagama, the Chairman of the PCICMP said that probe on the war conducted by them will begin soon parallel to the public hearings of the Commission. The inquiries will go hand in hand with the investigations being conducted by the PCICMP.

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in the UK, Chris Nonis said that the funds used by the rump of the LTTE to procure arms are now being diverted to fight the 'propaganda war' and the international 'propaganda war' has to be fought with the same focus and same strategy as the physical war that was fought and finished.

A Sri Lankan court withdrew the interim order suspending the deportation of Pakistani and Afghan asylum seekers allowing the Government to send them back to the countries where they fled from.

Pakistani asylum seekers, who had been detained at the Boossa detention camp in Galle, Southern Province pending court decision, have been released from the camps and sent to temporary accommodation in preparation for their deportation.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said that Army camps in the North would not be dismantled just because the Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Vigneswaran made such demands.

Following al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's announcement of the formation of an Indian branch of his global armed group, Government said it was taking the al Qaeda threat 'very seriously' and would review its visa restrictions to prevent extremists entering the island.

Anuradhapura High Court sentenced Shanmuganadan, a former LTTE cadre to 20 years in rigorous imprisonment for the assassination of retired Major General Janaka Perera and 28 others in a suicide bomb attack in 2008.

Military spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said "Only the central Government has the power to make decisions on the country's national security and it is not something that concerns the Local Governments, nor Provincial Councils or its councilors".

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin said, "Though Sri Lanka's Northern region is moving forward from its difficult past, some concerns still remained".

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan remarked that he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka led by the OHCHR while urging the Lankan authorities to cooperate with the investigation.

Chief Minister of Northern Province, C. V. Wigneswaran alleged that the members of Government intelligence services are spying on him as several persons posing as media men photographed him during a meeting with the German Ambassador on September 5 in Jaffna District.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed Government's willingness to conduct high-level dialogues with the UNHRC and invited OHCHR to visit Sri Lanka during 2014.

CM of Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran, speaking at the convention of ITAK in Vavuniya District urged Tamil youth to collect information on the deployment and activities of the Armed Forces in the Province and to use former women cadre of the LTTE in the ITAK's democratic movement

Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said "Sri Lanka will continue the ongoing domestic processes of accountability, justice, reconciliation, and nation building in the best interest of the Sri Lankan people."

Governor of the Northern Province, G. A. Chandrasiri said that the Government has allocated SLR 1.385 billion for the development in the Northern Province this year and will provide another SLR 6 billion next year.

The Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons announced that the next round of public sittings to hear cases of missing in Kilinochchi District will be held from September 27-30, 2014.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan sought an international observer's presence at talks with the Government on resolving the national issue.

UNHRC expressed grave concern about the 'resumption' of arrests, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Sri Lanka.

Six Human Right activists filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the deportations of the Pakistani and Afghan asylum seekers.

A special Police team led by ADSP Usha Rani safely detonated and destroyed explosive materials seized from LTTE in Nagapatinam in Tamil Nadu in 1985. The Police said the explosives were seized in the coastal areas of the District, particularly Vedarnayam and Kodiyakkarai. Police had seized 166 detonators and 250 hand bombs and had kept it under their safe custody.

Sri Lanka Police have uncovered vital information about individuals who were involved in giving LKR 202 million from the Kandy Trinity College funds to the LTTE. According to report, an old Trinitian Nishantha Priyalal Alwis in his complaint said that a sum of money had been donated to the LTTE during the tenure of a former Trinity College principal Rod Gilbert and Gilbert was deported after his connection with the LTTE was proven before the court. Alwis also said that a teacher and 11 students attached to Kandy Trinity College were arrested on suspicion of their connection with the LTTE. Police and CID are continuing further investigations.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Laura Davies said the Peace in Sri Lanka has brought many additional benefits, including opportunities for economic growth and political participation. The envoy also said that "UK continues to support Sri Lanka in its quest to further consolidate reconciliation, democracy and human rights in the country."

Sri Lanka expressed concern at the 27th session of the UNHRC in Geneva about the increasing use of remotely piloted aircraft or armed drones for countering terrorism violating other States' air space and causing civilian casualties.

The ITAK, the main constituent of TNA in an affidavit to the Supreme Court affirmed that neither the ITAK nor the TNA will seek a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka. The leader of ITAK parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah submitted the affidavit stating that the TNA and its leaders has consistently expressed publicly on the ITAK's position pertaining to a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka at several occasions.

The PCICMP has completed investigations into 1,000 complaints concerning missing persons, a commission spokesman said. The Commission has received 19,541 complaints and 5,000 among these are about missing service personnel. The rest of the complaints are from the public.

Calling the UNHRC investigation on Sri Lanka as 'intrusive' and 'unjustified' the Like Minded Group of countries (a group of 22 nations) delivered a joint statement through its chair, Egypt at the 27th session of the UNHRC in Geneva supporting Sri Lanka's stance on the probe. The Like Minded Group delivered the statement on behalf of Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, North Korea, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, The Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

An Indian tribunal headed by Justice G P Mittal that was set up to judicially scrutinize the ban on the LTTE recorded the evidence presented by the UMHA in support of a notification it issued proscribing the outfit for five years from May 14, 2014.

The LTTE was considering the surrendering of several of its key members to the SFs during the final stages of the war, Northern Provincial councilor and widow of former LTTE Eastern Political Wing Head, Velayutham Sasitharan alias S. Elilan, Ananthi Sasitharan said. Ananthi Sasitharan said that a few days before the war ended, Elilan had informed her that he would be meeting LTTE's 'political wing head', Balasingham Nadesan with regard to the surrendering of some key members.

The UPFA MP Perumpulli Hewage Piyasena, one-time TNA and Pradeshiya Sabha (local Government body) chairman, criticized the TNA for its pro- LTTE and anti-Government stance detrimental to the interests of Tamils. Piyasena said that instead of strengthening the hard-won peace for the Tamils, the TNA is on a deliberate course to destabilise it. Its open support to UNHRC investigations against the Government on human rights' issues and Tamil Nadu pro-LTTE campaigns are deplorable and intended to mislead the Tamils, he added.

The PCICMP is conducting public sittings to hear cases of missing persons in Kilinochchi District in Northern Province from September 27-30. The Commission is hearing cases of disappearances and abductions in Kilinochchi District for a second time due to the large number of complaints it received from the District.

SC dismissed a plea sought to stop the deportation of Pakistani and Afghan asylum seekers in Sri Lanka. Following the ruling by the Court of Appeals on September 1 which allowed the Government to resume deportations of the asylum seekers back to the countries they fled from, six human rights defenders petitioned the SC to challenge the deportations.

Civil society members and politicians at a campaign in Colombo demanded the release of Balendran Jeyakumari, who was arrested by TID in March 2014, and to repeal the PTA, under which Jeyakumari was detained.

The Cabinet approved a proposal made by the President to form a cabinet sub-committee on Social Reconciliation and Coexistence among Communities as recommended by the LLRC.

Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to the 65th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR called on the UNHCR and refugee receiving countries to expedite resettling of refugees and assist Sri Lanka with resources to provide facilities to asylum seekers until they are resettled.

The Chairman of the PCICMP Maxwell Paranagama said that the commission is expected to get statements from military personnel on disappeared persons in the coming days.

The trial against Sri Lankan-born Galleon hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam for allegedly funding the LTTE is expected to begin as early as 2015. In a seven-count complaint filed in the US District Court of New Jersey by the family members of those killed and survivors of bombings committed by the LTTE alleged that Rajaratnam and the family foundation headed by his father provided millions of dollars in funds used for terrorist attacks.

The Government has allocated SLR 300 million for 2014 alone to pay compensation to civilians of the North who were impacted by the war. The compensation is being granted to civilians who had lost their limbs and hands and also house and property due to the war. Out of the total amount allocated, SLR 110 million has already been paid and another SLR 130 million will be paid to 1,500 affected families in the North on October 12 by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a function to be held at Iranamadu in Kilinochchi District.

Amnesty International's Deputy Asia-Pacific Director David Griffiths said that Sri Lanka must stop making empty promises to the international community and the Sri Lankan people on improving the country's still desperate human rights situation. He said "More than a decade since the last Committee review of Sri Lanka's record in 2003, it's disturbing to see how many rights issues raised then still persist in the country and how the Government has ignored promises to address them. Sri Lanka still relies on draconian laws to silence dissent. Torture and enforced disappearances continue unchecked, as do violations of freedom of expression and association."

The UNHRC opened its 112th session at Palais Wilson, Geneva during which it will review the reports of Sri Lanka's human right record. The Committee of 18 international independent experts will review Sri Lanka's human right record on October 7 and October 8.

The Government has taken measures to establish a special Bureau for Reconciliation to facilitate the implementation of Recommendations of the LLRC. The Special Bureau for Reconciliation will function under the Secretary to the President to carry out tasks entrusted to it for the purpose of facilitating the Committee's work in monitoring the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. The proposal put forward by the President to establish the Special Bureau for Reconciliation, was approved by the Cabinet.

The HRCSL and the PCICMP have agreed to collaborate on the inquiries into the cases of missing and disappearances and share information in an effort to find a solution to the complaints regarding missing persons. The Chairman of the PCICMP Maxwell Paranagama and PCICMP Secretary H.W. Gunadasa met the Chairman of HRCSL, Retired SC Justice Priyantha Perera at the HRC office in Colombo and agreed to share the information they have in their possession from relatives of missing persons and work together in an effort to find a solution to the complaints regarding missing persons.