The United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances has been urged to conduct a thorough inquiry into the recently unearthed mass grave in Matale.

The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), an independent regional non-governmental organisation, suggested in a written statement, that the United Nations working group should conduct an independent inquiry into the remains of 200 or more persons found in Matale.

Sri Lanka has announced that it has decided to ban the sale of all state and private land to 'foreigners', according to Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

The move was approved by Sri Lanka's cabinet and will be brought to Parliament. It will also see the ban on transfer of land on a freehold basis to foreigners, including land which is already owned by foeigners.

Tamil teachers continue to face continued discrimination with documents being provided in Sinhala only, rather than in Tamil, charged the Ceylon Teachers Union.

India will vote against Sri Lanka, in support of a US backed resolution at the UN Human Rights Council Session (UNHRC) in March.

In an article published on Sunday in The Independent, former BBC journalist and author of Still Counting The Dead, Frances Harrison, details how two witnesses have come forward to state how they saw slain Tamil political leaders surrender to the Sri Lankan military during the infamous 'white flag incident'.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Russia, the Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alexander Karchava, assured Sri Lanka that Russia will take every possible opportunity to secure the support of the UNHRC member countries against a possible resolution on Sri Lanka, that will likely be tabled at the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions.

A Tamil political prisoner in Colombo has undertaken a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners.

T Prabhakaran, who is being held in the Welikada prison, started a fast unto death on Wednesday.

DMK president M Karunanadhi, criticised Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's comments in his address to Parliament on engagement with Sri Lanka.

Karunanidhi said in a statement:

The main Muslim clergy body in Sri Lanka, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, has asked stores to sell halal products to Muslims only, after Buddhist protests a

A 37 year old British Tamil man has been reported missing in Colombo, reports Uthayan.

The Sri Lankan Navy has confirmed that they will be providing pilgrims with 'assistance' for the upcoming St Anthony's Church annual feast in Kachchativu.

Protests in India against UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya have forced him to return to Sri Lanka, cutting his trip in India short.

Protestors from various organisations, including DMK, BJP, MDMK, PMK, VCK, Naam ThamizharIyakkam gathered outside the hotel where Jayasuriya was staying and chanted slogans demanding that he leave India immediately.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee claimed that India was 'making progress in our engagement with Sri Lanka' on the issue of equality for Tamils, when addressing the Indian Parliament on Thursday.

Speaking to Parliament, Mukherjee said,

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalitha has said that the state will not host the Asian Athletics Championships, due to be held in July, because of the participation of Sri Lankan athletes.