"The TNA's decision to contest the Northern Provincial Council election cannot even be described as a low-risk, speculative venture – harmlessly undertaken on the off-chance that it succeeds. Rather, TNA participation in the Council poses significant risks. Complicity in propping up a Provincial Council system that provides token benefits – perhaps a bicycle here and a rice sack there – while perpetuating the Sri Lankan state's structural genocide of Tamils, could strike a devastating blow to the decades-long struggle by the Tamil people for their rights and freedom. There is a real danger of unwittingly playing stooge in the Sri Lankan state's campaign to regain legitimacy on the world stage: if Tamil participation in the Provincial Council is used to provide a distraction that undermines global campaigns for an international independent inquiry into the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan state and recognition of the Tamil people’s right to self-determination.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) expressed disappointment over the president’s stance on land and police powers to provinces today.

The party leader, R.Sampanthan, speaking to media, outlined that President Mahinda Rajapaksa continually changed his stance on devolving police and land powers.

A Chinese mega-port built in Colombo will be opened tomorrow.

The Colombo International Container Terminal cost $500mn to build and is 85% owned by state-owned China Merchant Holdings International.

Independent shipping expert, Rohan Masakorala, said the port gives China a foothold on a strategic route, according to AFP.

A second protestor involved in the Weliweriya demonstration has died, after being wounded by troops who fired on the villagers.

There is a heavy presence of Special Task Force soldiers and armed police in the village, according to the AFP.

"People are afraid to go outside of their houses because of the security forces' presence," A. Siridamma, the senior Buddhist monk in the area told reporters.

The US embassy in Colombo has expressed concern about the incidents in a statement.

A Sri Lankan lawyers’ organisation, the Lawyers Collective,  strongly condemned the Sri Lankan government’s harsh action on the Weliweriya protests.

In a statement the organisation said that it condemned the government attacks on peaceful protestors, stating,

The Sri Lankan government have outlined that there will be no restrictions placed on the movements of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay during her visit to Sri Lanka.

"We wanted to display black flags to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh beacuse of his support for Sri Lanka. Without India's support Sri Lanka would not have had the opportunity to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting - India's role made it possible for them to host it."

"We are protesting against the India Prime Minister for supporting a genocidal government with their pro-Sri Lanka stand, and condemn his actions. That is why we are raising black flags during his visit to Trichy."

"We are calling for the cancellation of CHOGM in Sri Lanka, and the May 17th Movement as well as other organisations are joining Vaiko's call."