Events organised to commemorate dead LTTE fighters will not be allowed in any part of the country, said Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, the spokesperson for the defence ministry.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing earlier today, Wanigasooriya said that families who had lost relatives due to the “terrorist insurgency” have the freedom to mourn their loved ones in private.

Wanigasooriya denied that the defence ministry was behind the closure of universities in the Northeast, saying that the ministry does not get involved in matters that come under the purview of other ministries.

The spokesperson added that the display of flags or other insignia of the LTTE or any of the diaspora organisations recently proscribed is also illegal and thus not allowed.

According to The Nation, Wanigasooriya also said that details of the proscrfibed organisations will be provided to the respective countries from which they are operating.

The Agriculture Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, Ponnuthurai Ayngaranesan, has accused the Sri Lankan government of not providing drought relief to the people of the province, reported Ceylon Today.

"The Northern Province is currently experiencing drought conditions due to the changes in weather patterns as well as due to the harmful actions of the people to the environment," he said, adding that there is a lack of drinking water and crops have been damaged.

Canada should rethink its decision to ignore Sri Lanka's proscription of 16 diaspora organisations and over 400 individuals, Sri Lanka's military spokesperson said, reported the Business Standard

"Canada must remind themselves that LTTE remains a terrorist organisation as they have banned them," said the military spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya.

"We hope that Canada will act accordingly," he added.

Stating that the proscription was in line with a UN security council resolution on counterterrorism, Brig Wanigasooriya warned that Canada's decision to ignore it was tantamount to violating that resolution.

Tamil organisations have called for the postponement of an Indian Premier League cricket match, due to be played on the 18th of May in Chennai, according to the New Indian Express.

The Sri Lankan government says it has put aside Rs 300mn to offer to Internally Displaced People (IDPs), whose land was grabbed in Sampur by the military for a High Security Zone, reported BBC Tamil.

A case filed by the displaced, currently ongoing at the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, heard that the government will offer the IDPs alternate lands, and if they were not willing to accept this, they can take the money as compensation, the government attorney said.

The lawyer for the IDPs said it was illegal for the government to acquire private land without holding an inquiry into the need for the acquisition.

However Supreme Court Judge Mohan Peiris accepted the arguments of the government, and requested a report regarding those IDPs who wished to take up the government offer.

Commenting on the development, an attorney at law and lecturer in law at the University of Jaffna, Kumaravadivel Guruparan said the Supreme Court’s refusal to deal with the illegality of the land grab was consistent with its past record.

"This is not the first time that the Supreme Court has responded to petitions relating to land grab in this fashion," Mr. Guruparan told Tamil Guardian.

Updated 23:30 BST

The commander of the Sri Lankan army in Jaffna, General Udaya Perera warned student leaders and members of Jaffna University’s faculty that anyone involved in public commemoration of those who died in 2009 will be arrested, the Uthayan reported today.

A 70-year old woman was injured near Kaithadi, Jaffna, after being hit by a military vehicle, reported the Uthayan.

Pandari Naachchi was admitted to Jaffna hospital, after being hit while crossing the road. Saavakacheri Police is reported to be investigating the incident.