<p>&nbsp;The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, proclaimed May 18 2019 as “Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day” in a statement released today.</p> <p>The statement, said,</p> <p>“Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day is an opportunity for us to honour and memorialise those impacted by the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. The armed conflict in Sri Lanka caused the persecution of innocent people, displaced many and caused many to seek refuge elsewhere. We gather on this solemn day to remember, to commit to ensuring that such tragedy is never repeated and to continue to seek justice</p>

Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena, today urged states to remove their travel advisories against visiting the island. 

Speaking at the presidential secretariat today, Sirisena said the security situation in the country had come back to normal. 

A number of countries including the United States, India and United Kingdom issued advisories following the Easter Sunday suicide bombings by Islamist extremists, which killed over 250 people. 

"Within the next few days the threat of terrorism would be completely wiped out," he said. 

Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) said it had uncovered a 'training camp' in Kathankudy used by Islamist extremist suicide bombers responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings.

Military items including a uniform and cap were found inside a house in Chavakachcheri during a search operation in the Kovitkudiyiruppu area. 

Tamil youth in Switzerland have released a book documenting life in the Vanni during the ceasefire, as part of attempts to commemorate periods of self rule throughout Tamil history.

Traders in Puthukudiyiruppu marked May Day with a business strike in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Mullaitivu town’s business community raised black flags and kept storefronts shut on May Day to protest the government’s failure to prevent the terror attacks which killed over 250 people in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

The Sri Lankan president today told the media not to cover search operation by the security forces. 

In a press release issued by the president's media division the media was told not to broadcast footage, arguing that the media publicity was unwarranted and inconviencing communities. 

Since the Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people, armed military personnel and police have searched and raided homes, businesses and public premises, including in the North-East. 
 

Two men have been arrested over violent clashes between Sinhala and Muslim groups in Poruthota, Negombo yesterday. 

Sri Lanka has appointed Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, a man accused of overseeing war crimes a decade ago, as head of the Overall Operational Command in Colombo in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks last week.

Sri Lanka’s president vowed to “eradicate terrorism” and press ahead with presidential polls scheduled for later this year, in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings last week.

“Elections cannot be postponed, therefore before the elections I will bring about stability and I will eradicate terrorism,” Maithripala Sirisena told Reuters.

Sirisena went on to acknowledge that “25-30 suspects” from the bombings remain at large, calling them “active members”. “We have already identified all active members of the group and it’s a case of now arresting them,” he added.