Sri Lanka's law and order minister, Ranjith Madduma Bandara is to visit the North-East on Thursday in order to "defuse the pro-LTTE mindset in the area", his deputy said at a news conference. 

The deputy minister of law and order, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara are to accompany Mr Bandara on his visit to the Northern province. 

“We will gather all stakeholders and will try to resolve matters,” the Mr Jayamaha said. 

Members of a Jaffna temple board have been harassed almost daily by Sri Lankan security forces, police and intelligence personnel since their deity was displayed with a Tamil homeland-shaped backdrop on the final night of the temple's annual festival (thiruvizha).

The Swiss Federal Criminal Court decided last month that it would not hand down jail terms to 13 Tamils accused of fundraising for the LTTE, stating that there was not enough proof to consider the group a criminal organisation.

Eight of the thirteen accused Tamils were acquitted of all charges, whilst the remainder were given suspended prison terms for fraud. 

The judges ruled that the “hierarchical link between the LTTE and WTCC was not sufficiently established” and that “there was not enough concrete proof to consider the LTTE as a criminal organisation.”  

The Sri Lankan army continued its much criticised militarisation projects with Tamil schoolchildren in Jaffna earlier this year, as it organised a science and technology “innovation” exhibit, with dozens of schoolchildren in attendance.

Trincomalee residents protested on Sunday expressing anger at Sri Lankan police for failing to take action after a Tamil man was murdered in the district last week.

Tamils protested on Sunday against plans to build an army camp inside Jaffna fort. 

Sri Lanka's Archaeology Department which runs the historic building recently granted the army permission to build on its premises. 

Sri Lanka's army commander, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has ordered the army to condemn what he described as events or any acts which 'obstruct reconciliation'. 

Four fishermen from Mandapam, Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Sunday near Neduntheevu for allegedly poaching. 

The men were taken to Kangesanthurai along with their boats. 

The latest arrest comes just days after the Sri Lankan navy arrested 12 fishermen last week. 

The Church of St Peter at Navaly remembered over 140 Tamil civilians killed in its premises by Sri Lankan Air Force bombs 23 years ago during the presidency of Chandrika Kumaratunga. 

A remembrance service which included special prayers and the lighting of candles took place on Monday evening at the church. 

By April 2009, Valaignarmadam had been hit by shells several times. Nestled just hundreds of metres away from Nandikadal lagoon, this small, normally serene town on the coast, was now the site of unbelievable suffering. The preceding weeks and months had seen the town’s church, a makeshift hospital, and even people queuing for handouts of food hit by Sri Lankan artillery, rockets and cluster bombs.

It was in this carnage that Mariyathas was with his mother.