Addressing a public rally in Mullaitivu, Mahinda Rajapaksa outlined that the government had taken expeditious measures to develop the war-battered Northern Province over the last 4 years.

Several Buddhist organisations are planning to take legal action against the Tamil National Alliance's 'manifesto' in the run up to the Northern Provincial Council elections.

"Post-2009, grave concerns still exist about military engagement in civilian activities in the north, including sexual abuse, the situation of detainees from the war, the impact of forcible disappearances, impunity, hatred and violence against religious minorities, the intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders, the weakening of democracy, growing authoritarianism, the erosion of the rule of law and the abduction and murder of journalists."

"I want our Prime Minister to show his commitment as an international citizen and as a serious defender of human rights by joining the Canadian Prime Minister in his boycott of the meeting."

Arizona Senator and former presidential hopeful John McCain has asked whether the US should be more active in condemning the ongoing serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Gazette.

Speaking at the confirmation hearing of Nisha Desai Biswal, President Obama’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, McCain said there continue to be reports from human rights organisations that there are still significant human rights abuses taking place against the Tamils which rise to a level that is “very disturbing”.

A Sri Lankan court granted bail today to a Buddhist monk and four laymen that were arrested for attacking Christian places of worship. 

Reports have suggested that women in three Kilinochchi villages were subjected to coercive birth control last month.

After being asked to visit the hospital to check up their children, the doctors allegedly used coercive language to convince the women to take Progestogen-only subdermal implants (PODIs), a long-term hormonal birth control under the skin of a women’s upper arm.

India’s Shipping Minister, GK Vasan, has expressed his opposition to the proposed sale of two naval ships to Sri Lanka.

“I am against the selling of warships to Sri Lanka. I will meet the Prime Minister soon and represent him not to sell the warships,” he told reporters at a function in Erode.

The Buddhist Ravana Balaya group warned today that the Tamil National Alliance’s Chief Ministerial Candidate, C.V Wigneswaran would not be allowed to return to Colombo following the results of the Northern Provincial Council election.