The Sri Lankan military slaps a total exclusion zone on northern waters, paramilitaries join troops in cordon-and-search operations, and killings continue.

“We need structures that make them interdependent. By forming a Muslim regiment for the Muslim community, we are adopting the position that Muslims can only trust Muslims, Tamils can only trust Tamils and the Sinhalese can only trust Sinhalese. It is totally unacceptable.”

“Sighting of armed civilians claiming to represent Karuna is often reported to SLMM.”

Provocations and a demonising campaign. Some peace process.

Harsh new military restrictions on Tamil fishing communities amid stepped up paramilitary violence undermines Geneva pledges.

Renewed pressure by the international community, including the United States, is having no effect on the Sri Lankan government's support for anti-LTTE paramilitaries.

Why is consensus amongst Sinhala parties so elusive?

The [US] Government got it completely wrong about my client. He is a torture victim and the government just ignored immigration court’s decisions [in 2003] and kept him locked up.'

Expatriate Tamils mark International Women’s day.

“The ceasefire agreement now holding in Sri Lanka since February 22, 2002 has not guaranteed the security of Tamil media journalists.”

“The enemy has been given a serious opportunity to opt for peace. We are yet to see a clear choice favouring peace from the enemy. If they don’t disarm the paramilitaries, they don’t desire peace.”

“Our candidates are being subjected to threats and harassments by the paramilitary elements in the Sri Lanka Army controlled areas on a daily basis in the run-up to the local elections.”

The transfer is ostensibly to grow vegetables for the military garrison in the wholly Tamil-speaking region.

“This is disastrous. The respective political parties and the government should take immediate action to curb the violence.”