India's central government this week extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by another five years, citing continued concerns from the group and the Eelam Tamil diaspora. 

Locals in Mullaitivu came together on Tuesday to clear up the Mullivaikkal memorial grounds in preparation for May 18.

Commencing with cross-faith prayers at the memorial stand in the grounds, the works were overseen by Hindu and Christian religious leaders.

Tamil genocide remembrance week continued across the North-East with vigils today in Chemmani and Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna district.

The United Nations Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and Responsibility to Protect, Adama Dieng and Karen Smith, released a statement of concern in response to widespread anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka last weekend.

The experts warned that the recent violence was pushing Sri Lanka back towards a  period of armed inter-ethnic conflict.

People that fail to accept Sri Lanka as a Sinhala Buddhist country should not remain in the country, claimed the Mahanayaka (Chief Prelate) of the Kotte Chapter, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent Buddhist chapters.

Sri Lanka's army commander, Mahesh Senanayake made clear the army would not hesitate to use any level of force, including opening fire in response to the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists and the recent days of anti-Muslim violence. 

Condemning the anti-Muslim violence taking place over recent days in Sri Lanka, the United Nations called on the government to ensure the situation did not escalate. 

A former LTTE cadre, known as Ajanthan, who was detained for six months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with the murder of two police officers in Batticaloa was formally cleared of his charges by Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, S Sritharan told parliament that the former defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the real "master" behind the Easter Sunday bombings. 

His comments come amid widespread reports of close association between Gotabhaya and the now banned Islamist extremist organisation, National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ), which was one of the groups responsible for the attacks. 

Batticaloa's Zion church held its first Sunday service under Pastor Roshan Maheshan this weekend following the Easter Sunday bombings. 

The Mullaitivu Magistrate's Court has ruled in favour of the Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple, confirming its longstanding existence in old Semmalai. 

A Sri Lankan army officer was arrested in Mullaitivu for being in possession of illegal drugs. 

The officer, who has not been named, is understood to be from the Sri Lankan army's Special Forces Regiment and was on duty in Kompavil, Kokkuthoduvai when he was arrested. 

When police officers visited the army camp on April 30, they found him to be in possession of 35mg of drugs.