Sri Lanka’s president called on the Indian government to increase its training of the country’s war crimes accused military, as he met with India’s defence secretary in Colombo on Monday.

The UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture visited Vavuniya prison on Sunday as part of their trip to the island. 

Twenty-six Tamils were arrested in Kilinochchi accused of trying to flee Sri Lanka by boat to Canada. 

A Sinhala Buddhist monk is attempting to rewrite and erase the history of a Tamil Hindu temple in Mullaitivu, former Northern Provincial Council (NPC) member T Ravikaran has said.

A study by researchers from Britain’s  Anglia Ruskin University found that 58% of the northern population suffered from mental health disorders from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The study, which was based of interviews with around 1,000 displaced adults at 25 hospitals across the north, also revealed that despite the high prevalence of mental illness, 83% of people reported they had not seen a mental health specialist in the previous three months.

Dr Shannon Doherty, Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin and lead researcher in this project, said:

Locals, family members and political figures from the TNA and TNPF paid their respects to the mother of the senior LTTE commander, Major Pasilan yesterday at her funeral. 

His mother had lit the lamp at Mulliyavalai Thuyilum Illam for Maaveerar Naal the past two years. 

The European Union and several other governments released a statement on Monday, calling on Sri Lanka to halt steps towards reinstating the death penalty, stating it was an “unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”.

The statement, which was issued in agreement with the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Norway, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and the UK, called on the Sri Lankan government to “maintain its moratorium on the death penalty”.

Families of the disappeared in Mullaitivu held a demonstration yesterday calling on the international community to deliver justice. 

Tamil businesses showcased their products and services at the 5th London Tamil Market this weekend, attended by thousands of British Tamils. 

Families of the disappeared in Vavuniya held a protest on Saturday, marking the 777th day of their campaign.