Almost ten years since the end of the armed conflict, Sri Lanka's military is planning to build a new army camp in Batticaloa, despite international calls for it to reduce its size and deployment in the Tamil homeland. 

Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has warned former LTTE cadre of the 'Rehabilitated Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam Party' against commemorating fallen cadre. 

The party leader, Kanthasamy Inbarasa told reporters at a press conference yesterday at the Jaffna Press Club that the TID had issued a written warning. 

^{Photograph: Forces Network}

Sri Lankan soldiers have finished a course at a British military school this week, becoming the first Sri Lankan women to graduate from the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, UK, despite concerns about rights abuses committed by Sri Lankan troops.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has condemned an incident involving the Sri Lankan navy which resulted in the drowning of an Indian fisherman.

In a statement, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said that fisherman K Muniasamy drowned when his boat capsized after being chased by the Sri Lankan navy. Eight other fishermen had also gone overboard but were rescued.

The Sri Lankan army continued with its militarisation of Tamil schools in the North-East, by teaming up with university students from Moratuwa and handing out school accessories to Tamil schoolchildren in Jaffna last week.

The Philippine president’s campaign against illegal drugs, which has been internationally condemned for its brutality, was praised by the Sri Lankan president yesterday.

Students and staff at the University of Jaffna today remembered the 18th anniversary of the 'Pongu Thamil' uprising. 

Gathering by the Pongu Thamil declaration monument on the university campus grounds, students and staff remembered the widespread uprising calling for Tamil self-determination. 

Residents from a border village in Vavuniya, Iranai Iluppaikkulam, protested yesterday against the authorities' failure to ensure a permanent doctor at the local hospital.  

Demanding that a permanent doctor be appointed, residents protested outside the Primary Medical Health Care Hospital in the village. 

^{British Tamils at the Houses of Parliament this week, celebrating Thai Pongal}