Updated 02:34 BST

Witnesses from the No Fire Zone revealed their testimonies at a side event on disappearances in Sri Lanka at the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, on Thursday.

A panel discussion on detainees and disappearances in Sri Lanka consisting of the Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee Kirsty Brimelow QC, President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation and Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador Bianca Jagger, Human Rights Advocacy activist and the Tamil Guardian's Sutharshan Sukumaran, was chaired by the former All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) chair Lee Scott.

The first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle was remembered in Jaffna today, on the 41st anniversary of his death.

Locals gathered at a statue of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran in his hometown Urumpirai in Jaffna earlier today, and commemorated his life. TNA NPC Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan, AM Shivajilingam and Pradeshiya Sabha member Sajeevan also attended the event.

Students at the University of Jaffna light candles in memory of the tens of thousands who were massacred at the end of the armed conflict

Marking the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils at the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in May 2009, Tamils across the world and in all districts of the Tamil homeland in the North-East came together in acts of remembrance.

Remembrance events took place in the North-East amid surveillance by Sri Lankan intelligence and police officers, and a ban issued by court order in Mullaitivu restricting remembrance rallies by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) and the Northern Provincial Councillor Ravikaran.

Whilst this year saw the most public display of remembrance since the end of the armed conflict, many Tamils in the North-East remained fearful of attending. Vehicles travelling towards events were stopped by security forces and those inside questioned. Reports even emerged that bus drivers were ordered by police officers not to refuse travel to those wishing to attended memorial events.

"Civilians largely kept away at this event as several Sri Lankan intelligence agents and police were watching those attending the ceremony. Even journalists covering the ceremony were followed and Sri Lankan security agents listened in as they interviewed civilians and politicians," AP news agency reported.

The TNA spokesperson Suresh Premachandran criticised the governement.

"The new government tells the international community that they are treating the Tamils with dignity. But they get court orders to prevent Tamils from remembering their dead," Mr Premachandran told AFP by phone from Mullivaikkal.

"What sort of democracy do they have? You can see how many police we have over here," he said.

Whilst Tamils grieved however, the Sri Lankan government held a military parade in celebration of the defeat of the Tamil armed resistance movement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

See here for coverage of Sri Lanka's 'Armed Forces Day' celebration in Matara, on May 19th.

NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan at Mullivaikkal beach (Photo @ananthysasi)

North-East
				International community needed to secure justice and political solution for Tamils - CV Wigneswaran (18 May 2015)
				TNPF hold Mullivaikal memorial in Vadamaradchi East after court order  (18 May 2015)
				Amparai Tamils commemorate Mullivaikkal in Kalmunai (19 May 2015)
				Mullivaikkal memorial observed in Trincomalee (19 May 2015)
				Mullivaikkal remembrance event held in Koppaay church (19 May 2015)
				Uthayan holds Mullivaikkal remembrance event (18 May 2015)
				May 18 remembrance held in Trincomalee (18 May 2015)
				Crowds at May 18 memorial event in PTK (18 May 2015)
				Kilinochchi event for Mullivaikkal remembrance (18 May 2015)
				May 2009 killings remembered in Mannar amid Sri Lankan court order banning planned event (18 May 2015)
				Northern councillor marks Mullivaikkal at Nanthi Kadal despite ban (18 May 2015)
				Prayers held at Keerimalai temple to remember Mullivaikkal dead (18 May 2015)
				Father Mariyampillai Sarathjeevan remembered in Kilinochchi (18 May 2015)
				Jaffna University remembers massacre of Tamils at end of Sri Lanka's armed conflict (18 May 2015)
				Police intimidation at Batticaloa May 18 remembrance event (18 May 2015)
				Heavy surveillance at interfaith memorial event in Mullivaikkal (18 May 2015)
				May 2009 massacre commemorated at Mullivaikkal despite ban by Sri Lankan authorities (18 May 2015)
				Mullivaikal massacres remembered in Vavuniya (18 May 2015)
				Mullivaikal massacre remembered in Trincomalee (15 May 2015)
				Mullivaikal remembrance marked in Jaffna in run-up to May 18 (15 May 2015)
				Mullivaikal remembrance held at Point Pedro (14 May 2015)
				Beginning of Mullivaikal remembrance week marked, under watch of security forces (12 May 2015)
Europe
				British Tamils remember Mullivaikal massacre in London and Glasgow (18 May 2015)
				Tamils in Denmark remember May 18th massacre (17 May 2015)
				Swedish Tamils hold advocacy event in remembrance of Mullivaikkal massacres (20 May 2015)
				Tamils in Qatar remember Mullivaikkal deaths (20 May 2015)
Tamil Nadu
				Thousands mark May massacre at Marina beach in Tamil Nadu (17 May 2015)

Updated 07 May 2015 01:00 BST

As the UK general election 2015 approaches this Thursday, parliamentary candidates outlined their positions on key concerns of British Tamil voters, with many pledging their ongoing support for international accountability and justice mechanism, carrying out an investigation to establish whether a genocide occurred, as well as endorsing the Tamil nation's right to self-determination.

Candidates from the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, in London and key constituencies across the UK, were asked by the Tamil Guardian to detail their views on accountability and justice for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, the deportation of Tamil asylum seekers from Britain, steps that should be taken if Sri Lanka fails to ensure justice for the victims by September, an investigation into genocide and the Tamil nation's right to self-determination.

To see the final survey report with full responses from candidates, sorted by constituency, please see the UK General Election 2015 Candidate Survey on Tamil Issues.

Sri Lanka's military held several event's in the Vanni to 'celebrate' Tamil and Sinhala New Year, with civilians, including children, invited to take part.

The 66th and 663rd Brigades of the Security Forces Headquarters in Kilinochchi held an event each in Pooneryn (Poonakari) on the 8th and 10th of April. Major General A.P. De Z Wickramaratne, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 66 Division was chief guest at both events. 

Famous Sinhala singers from the south graced the event in the Kiranchi playground, in the virtually exclusively Tamil town.