"Yes. Still believe that although progress been made, much remains to be done. Hope SL gov will work constructively."

"Essential that human rights defenders are free to speak out as we continue to make clear to SL authorities"

"there is freedom of speech but too many comments about intimidation to be ignored"

The Sri Lankan government will reject the US-sponsored resolution at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, said a member of the cabinet.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Daily News that Sri Lanka has fulfilled its obligations as a member of the UN.

"We will explain our human right standards and progress achieved in the sphere of national reconciliation in terms of the previous UN resolution,"

The opposition immigration spokesperson, Scott Morrison, said that if in power they would provide more data on asylum seekers arriving by boat to Sri Lanka.

Morrison said that "generic" information would be supplied, including location of where the boats departed from, where the asylum seekers are from and the name of the smuggler, reports The Australian.

He added that they would not disclose the names of aslyum seekers.

The increasing number of sexual assaults is causing concern amongst tourists, with rapes in Sri Lanka reported to occur 5 times each day.

Last week, a 25-year old German was attacked in broad daylight while sunbathing on a beach in Chilaw. She managed to escape after kicking the would-be rapist and fleeing into a hotel. A 28-year old suspect was arrested.

Dismissing Sri Lanka's celebration of Independence day on 4th February an act that sanctioned the state's genocide of Tamils, Australian Tamils came together in condemnation at the 65 years of genocide that has ensued.

Together with trade union activists, members of the Tamil Coordinating Committee - Australia, raised the Eelam Tamil flag in Geelong, Australia, to protest against what they described as the "international lie of independence in Sri Lanka".

Speaking to Tamil Guardian, Dominic Santhiapillai of the TCC-Australia said:

"Since Feb 4th, 1948 successive Sri Lankan governments have attempted to wipe out the Tamil nation through various pogroms and acts of genocide... The citizenship act in 1948, the Sinhala Only Act in 1956, the republican constitution of 1972 and the burning of Jaffna public library in 1981 are just a few key examples of the steps taken by the state towards this genocide."

Addressing the island for Sri Lanka's celebration of Independence Day from Trincomalee, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, rejected the possibility of Tamil autonomy, once again.

Despite mounting international pressure to ensure a political solution to the conflict is found that respects the rights of Tamils in the North-East centred around mere devolution of powers, Rajapaksa dismissed any notion of Tamil autonomy or devolution.