On Saturday, May 26^th the Human Rights Advocacy (HRA) council of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) launched the official website for Thazhambakam: Tamil Genocide during an event titled, The Macabre of the Silenced, in Toronto.

Increasing its reach within Hindu temples in the North-East, the Sri Lankan military on Saturday planted and coconut trees to devotees. 

At an event at Valipuram Aalvar temple, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi presided over the planting of 50 coconut trees. 

Thirty-six families were then given 5 trees each. 

Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi said he plans to plant 1 lakh coconut trees across the district. 

Displaced families in Maampirai and Mangkolai, Valikaamam North returned to their homes after 30 years of military occupation to find their houses destroyed beyong recognition. 

The military released 35 acres of land in the two villages to 85 families. Whilst all the land in Maampirai has been released, the military continues to hold onto several acres of land in Mangkolai, including the land where the Narasimba Vairavar temple is situated.

Two former LTTE cadres who are now members of the political party, Crusaders for Democracy, have been called for questioning by Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). 

The party's secretary, Kathir was called to the TID's 4th floor office in Colombo on May 14 where he was questioned from dawn till dusk. He was released on the condition that he should be able to respond to a summons at any time in future. 

Another demonstration was held in Jaffna on Friday as Tamils expressed solidarity with protesters in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu and condemned the police violence against them.

Journalists reporting on continuing land grabs in Mullaitivu were photographed by plain-clothed military personnel this week. 

The media workers had travelled to Ottisuddaan, Mullaitivu on Thursday to accompany the Vanni politician, Shanthy Sriskantharajah during a meeting at the army camp regarding the military's continued occupation of land. 

In a recent feature by the state owned Daily News, the Sri Lankan Army was commended for being at the forefront of nurturing Buddhism across the country.

The article titled, “SL Army’s dedicated service to Buddhism,” praises the army’s “unstinted commitment [to Buddhism] since 1949” by recounting recent projects.

As calls for the Sri Lankan military to demilitarise the Vanni continue, the army announced that it had refurbished the ‘Corporal’s Club’ building at its headquarters in Kilinochchi last month.

The Pacific Command Augmentation Team of the Embassy of the United States visited the Sri Lankan security forces headquarters in Kilinochchi last month, reports an official military website.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena told a group of Buddhist monks this week that “duties and responsibilities towards Buddhism and the Sangha will be fulfilled”.

The Sri Lankan government formally ended the posting of its former Defence Attaché  Brigadier Priyanka Fernando  last month, confirmed a British minister, after he was caught on video threatening Tamil protestors in London .

Mark Field, the current British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific confirmed that “the former Defence Attaché's posting to London was formally ended by the Government of Sri Lanka on 15 April”.

Tamils in Jaffna held a demonstration on Friday in solidarity with protesters in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu who were shot by police officers. 

Despite concerns raised about its role in civilian life in the North-East, the Sri Lankan military announced this week it was looking to recruit Tamil women into farming work. 

The military advertised the role stating that women under the age of 33 can apply. 

Increasing its presence in cilivian life the Sri Lankan army distributed cement packets to temples in Jaffna this week. 

Over 600 cement packets were given to 30 temples at an event on May 23 at Vasavilaan Central School.