The first Tamil to die in the liberation struggle was remembered in Jaffna today, on the 41st anniversary of his death.

Locals gathered at a statue of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran in his hometown Urumpirai in Jaffna earlier today, and commemorated his life. TNA NPC Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan, AM Shivajilingam and Pradeshiya Sabha member Sajeevan also attended the event.

The getaway vehicle used in the murder of Tamil National Alliance MP Nadarajah Raviraj has been found said Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), amid reports that the weapon used in his killing belonged to the Sri Lankan army.

The CID informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nirosha Fernando that the trishaw used in the murder of the Tamil parliamentarian had been found and the magistrate approved further investigations into the vehicle.

The court was also reportedly informed that the murder weapon used belonged to the Sri Lankan army.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena, speaking to the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon on Thursday, expressed his intention to attend the 30^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September.

A statement by the president’s office on Friday, said,

A protest march demanding swift justice for the rape and murder of schoolgirl Vithiya took place in Point Pedro on Wednesday.

Photographs: Tamil Guardian

Police had reportedly filed for the protest to be barred by the Point Pedro court, but the presiding judge refused to issue a ban on the grounds that it would be undemocratic.

Jaffna Press Club (JPC) has called on Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Sirisena, to ensure impartial inquiries are conducted into the murder and disappearance of Tamil journalists.

In a letter addressed to the President, JPC outlined that many, many Tamil journalists and media workers had been killed or gone missing , particularly in the last two decades.

Welcoming the President’s announcement to conduct an inquiry into the disappearance of Sinhalese cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, JPC stressed the need for inquiries into the killings and disappearances of all journalists and media workers, particularly in the North-East.

JPC emphasised that any such inquiries should be carried out under the watch of impartial international media organisations.

Over 100 MPs from the UPFA have signed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The United States plans to “do a lot to support Sri Lanka” said the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, during an address made to the Washington International Business Council this week.

Richard E. Hoagland said that the Sri Lankan presidential elections which saw the defeat of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa had “brought about a sea-change in our relationship with Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister Ajith Perera said that the country would be able to end the restrictions on the GSP+ trade benefits before the end of the year.

Sri Lanka's government has rejected a recent report by the Oakland Institute, which said a "silent war" through the military occupation of Tamil land in Sri Lanka continues to seek “Sinhalese domination in former Tamil homelands".

Deputy foreign affairs minister Ajith Perera said to media the government "strongly rejects" the report published last week.

The Long Shadow of War: Struggle for Justice in Post War Sri Lanka highlighted that at least 160,000 military Sinhalese soldiers remained in the Tamil North-East of Sri Lanka, with the military involved in processes that seized land from local populations and “systematically” suppressed Tamil culture and history.

Noting demographic changes in the eastern provinces, the report found that some areas had seen the Tamil population halve due to state actions.

The SLFP will support former president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming parliamentary elections, according to the party's spokesperson Dilan Perera.

Mr Perera, who is also an MP for the UPFA coalition, said the party felt Mr Rajapaksa was popular and should be promoted so the election can be won.

“Today there is huge support for Mahinda Rajapaksa so we must market him at the polls,” he said.

More students have been arrested in Jaffna in connection with a series of protests over the rape and murder of a Tamil schoolgirl last month, as there continues to be a heavy Sri Lankan security presence in the region.

Latest reports suggest that a student from the Manippay Higher Secondary school was arrested on May 31st in connection with a protest outside the Jaffna court complex last month.

The Jaffna Crime Prevention Unit police said surveillance video and other footage was used to identify and apprehend the student. They further stated that he was in possession of illegal drugs at the time of arrest and provided information about other suspects they were searching for.

Meanwhile riot police continue to maintain a heavy presence in Jaffna with travel along a main road near the Jaffna court complex and A9 highway suspended.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa will definitely be contesting the forthcoming elections as a prime ministerial candidate, although he has not yet decided which party he would run under, according to his spokesperson Rohan Weliwita.