Protestors in Vavuniya held a hunger strike on Friday, demanding the Sri Lankan government release Tamil political prisoners held in jails across the island.

The protest joins others that took place across the North-East, supporting the over 200 Tamil detainees who have entered a fifth day of hunger strikes.

Skeletal remains of two women have been discovered in a former Sri Lankan military High Security Zone in Jaffna.

The remains were discovered in Mulli, a village in Ariyalai, Jaffna, alongside a pair of sandals, womens’ clothing and stationery including pens and pencils – suggesting that at least one of the bodies belongs to a student.

A protest was held in Jaffna today calling for the immediate release of Tamil political prisoners.

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe declared “there are no political prisoners in the country’s prisons,” as protests continue across the island.

Mr Rajapakshe, the government’s justice minister and minister of the Buddha Sasana, told reporters:

“The prisoners are ones who are held for aiding and abetting the activities of LTTE terrorists. They are not political prisoners.”

The Northern Provincial Council Minister for Rural Development P Deniswaran said that data collection had started in the Jaffna district to assess the needs of former LTTE cadres.

The data collection forms the first stage of a livelihood assistance programme for former Tamil militants, learns Tamil Guardian.

The NPC minister further data collection is expected to happen in Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu throughout this month said the NPC minister.

The news comes amidst several reports of on-going land appropriation and construction of Buddhist Stupas in the North-East.