The National Investigation Agency of India (NIA) carried out raids in Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli this week, as they detained two men over suspected links to the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Colombo and Batticaloa that killed hundreds of people.

The two men are reportedly linked to accomplices of Zahran Hashim, the alleged mastermind behind the Easter bombing attacks.

Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa dismissed accusations that he had played a role in the thousands of abductions that took place through infamous ‘white vans’, claiming that they were all “bogus allegations”.

Rajapaksa spoke with The Hindu’s Suhasini Haidar and also said that he was against devolving police powers in accordance with the Sri Lankan constitution’s 13th amendment, instead claiming he was "willing to discuss alternatives”.

Tamil activists arrested by Malaysian authorities have complained of mistreatment, torture and intimidation from security forces, which includes forced confessions and threats to their families.

A lawyer for one of the arrested men, 57-year-old grocery store owner B Subramaniam, said “during the arrest and subsequent detention for 21 days, he was tortured and forced to say ‘I am an LTTE member’”.

The Sri Lankan army put up road-blocks in Batticaloa to prevent people from going to Vakarai for Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday and intimidated Tamil journalists who were reporting on the commemorations.

Journalists reported that they were stopped en route to Vakarai Thuyilum Illam (LTTE cemetery) by a Sri Lankan army road-block and turned away by the troops stationed there.

<p>State Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka, told the&nbsp;Sunday Observer, that “as a sovereign state, we cannot let the UNHRC or any other organisation take us for a ride.”</p> <p>Commenting on Resolution 30/1 that Sri Lanka co-sponsored in 2015, Wickramanayaka said:</p>

Canada announced that it will provide $8.3 million to support mine-affected communities, including $2 million to the North-East for de-mining work.

File photograph: Tamil women carrying out de-mining work in Thunukkai, March 2010 (Russell Watkins / Department for International Development)

<p>Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Kamal Gunaratne,&nbsp;said that military bases in the North-East will remain as they are for "national security" purposes, <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_19B/Nov30_1575125445CH.php"><em>Colombo Page</em> </a>reports.</p>

India offers Sri Lanka $450 million in credit for development and security despite concerns over the newly appointed President’s human rights record.

Hundreds of Tamils gathered at a destroyed LTTE cemetery in Amparai to mark Maaveerar Naal on Weednesday, joining Tamils across the North-East and around the world in remembering those who gave their lives in the Tamil struggle.

See footage from the event below.

Tamils in Trincomalee commemorated Maaveerar Naal on Wednesday, alongside the rest of the Tamil nation across the North-East and around the world. 

See footage from the Sampur Thuyilum Illam - an LTTE cemetery that has been destroyed by the Sri Lankan military - below.

British Tamil university students commemorated the Tamil fighters that fought and lost their lives in the liberation struggle, this Wednesday across the country.   

Some universities also held events to educate university students on the history of Maaveerar Naal and the self-determination struggle for Tamil Eelam. 

 

Essex University 

In an official statement, the Embassy of Switzerland issued a set of clarifications regarding the abduction of a local employee in Colombo.

To stop false information circulating, the embassy issued the following clarifications:

Vaiko, leader of Tamil Nadu Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party, has been arrested for protesting against the three-day visit of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, from November 28-30.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, Britain's Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth, the United Nations and South Asia spoke to the British Tamil Conservatives (BTC) and emphasised the need to stand up for "important aspects of reconciliation" as well as "accountability and justice" in Sri Lanka.