Families of the disappeared in Kilinochchi continued their protest for the 80th day, to a backdrop of Wesak celebrations by Sri Lankan soldiers in the area.

Civil society groups slammed the Sri Lankan cabinet’s approval of the new Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) last week, stating that it has failed to meet full compliance with international standards and “leaves the door open for future abuse”.

The newly passed act builds on the “draconian” Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1978, which "has been used by successive Sri Lankan governments to quash dissent and penalize resistance", said the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research, the International Truth and Justice Project , People for Equality and Relief in Lanka, Sri Lanka Campaign and the Tamil Civil Society Forum in a statement last week.

Sri Lankan military forces based in Jaffna held ‘war heroes day’ in Palaly today.

Over the past few days, multiple military officials have harassed a civil society worker helping memorialization efforts of Mullaivaikal.

Residents of Irainativu protested for the 6th day today, demanding the return of their lands from the Sri Lankan navy.

Families of the disappeared at the Kilinochchi protest said that they would not go home without knowing where their loved ones are, as their protest reached its 75th day yesterday.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister accused the previous administration of using its embassies abroad as “safe houses” for murderers accused of perpetrating human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s armed ethnic conflict, reports Agence France Presse.

Speaking in parliament on Friday Mangala Samaraweera said,

“Many of our embassies had become safe houses for criminal s involved in killings as well as grave human rights violations at home. They were rewarded by giving places in our embassies abroad.”

Participants at the Tamil National Peoples’ Front May Day rally this week faced intimidation by Sri Lankan police officers, who photographed attendees as they marched through Jaffna.

The rally, which took place in Chavakachcheri, saw dozens of people march through the town.

The Consulate General of India in Jaffna persistently harangues Tamil media and politicians to downplay Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) atrocities in Sri Lanka, a TNA MP has said.

Speaking at the memorial for the two murdered Uthayan journalists, E. Saranapavan MP who is also the founder of the Uthayan newspaper, said that the Consulate General, R Nadarajan, constantly demands that they refrain from calling the Jaffna hospital massacre as a ‘massacre’ and to stop holding memorials for the victims.

Media freedom can only be assured by prosecuting past crimes against journalists and media workers, the Jaffna Press Club has stressed.