The Second Deputy Chief Minister of Penang in Malaysia reiterated calls for an international probe into the killing of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians during the final stages of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

"It is not justifiable to have own probe against those who were responsible (for the massacres)” said  P Ramasamy, as he arrived in Coimbatore on Sunday. “It should be conducted by an International agency," he told reporters.

His comments came ahead of Sri Lanka being discussed at the opening of the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

Efforts to seize privately owned land in Jaffna for the needs of soldiers have been disrupted by fierce opposition from landowners and locals.

Surveyors were forced to suspend their efforts to measure the area in Koppay, after the landowners denied them access onto their properties, with the support of neighbours and local politicians.

Speaking at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council, British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has reiterated their expectance of a credible accountability mechanism and that Sri Lanka will take forward recommendations made in the OHCHR report, which will be published this week.

Highlighting several countries' human rights abuses, Mr Swire concluded his statement with Sri Lanka, saying,

The United States says it will engage with Sri Lanka in developing a resolution which will help the country achieve a "meaningful and credible" accountability mechanism.

The Sri Lankan government said it would release 16 arrested Indian fishermen on Monday, ahead of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's first foreign visit to India.

The fishermen, from Rameswaram, were reportedly apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy near Delft Island and towed to the Jaffna coast earlier this month. The arrest sparked a protest with approximately 50,000 Indian fishermen launching a strike demanding the Sri Lankan government release their arrested colleagues.

However Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said,

“The released is not related to the PM’s visit to India. The process to release the Indian fishermen has been taking place several times and this is just one of them.”

Earlier this year Mr Wicremesinghe defended the Sri Lankan navy's shooting of fishermen, stating: "If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that.”

The awareness walk, calling on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an international justice mechanism reached Kaithady earlier today, on its penultimate leg before reaching Jaffna.

Sinhala opposition to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and Sri Lanka is mounting as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is preparing to travel to New Delhi on Monday.

The National Freedom Front's Wimal Weerawansa announced a protest against CEPA, to be held on Monday in Colombo, under the name 'CEPA: An Indian death trap'.

Meanwhile the JVP also warned against the agreement, saying that that the local industrial sector would be adversely affected by granting more access to Indians.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Hearth said the party had information that the CEPA would be the main focus during talks between Mr Wickremesinghe and Prime Minster Narendra Modi, contrary to a statement by a minister on Sunday, who stressed CEPA would not be discussed during the visit.

The Sri Lankan army released a statement denying it was blocking efforts to investigate the disappearance of a journalist, following the arrest of several army officers.

Three retired members of the army intelligence unit were arrested after surrendering themselves to police with their lawyers last week, in connection to with the investigation of disappeared Sinhalese journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. 10 military personnel, including some of who are currently serving, have been arrested so far.

It was reported that the military had attempted to block the probe, a charge they are denying.

“The Army while reiterating its compliance with any CID request and full cooperation to the CID for any investigation on the conduct of Army personnel, wishes to underline that once the Police arrest any Army suspect, the Army lawyers do not appear or make any submissions and they do not have any role to play,” said a statement released on Friday.