The Sri Lankan government continued to deny it has ever deployed cluster munitions, as it took over the presidency of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CMC) in Geneva this week.

Addressing the closing session of the Eighth Meeting of States Parties (8MSP) Ambassador A.L.A Azeez said Colombo had never used cluster munitions, despite evidence to the contrary.

Tamil farmers have requested the Karaiththuraipattu Divisional Secretariat to recover cattle that have become trapped during the acquistion of 617 acres by Vadduvakal navy.

The farmers, who rely on milk produce for their livelihood, have been campaigning for the release of their land for the past two years. However the navy has refused them entry, leaving the farmers in financial hardship. 

"While the navy holds our cattle, we are forced to buy milk for our children," one of the farmers told Tamil Guardian. 

Sri Lanka's Archaeology Department has blocked the development of the Aathy Iyanar temple in Vedukkunaari Malai, Nedunkeni-Olumadu in Vavuniya district. 

Residents had sought to worship and carry out building works on the temple on Vedukkunaari Malai ahead of the temple's annual festival from September 7 to 9. 

However, Department officials have informed Nedunkeni police that it would be prohibited and that residents could build a temple 400m away from the original site. 

Sri Lanka’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has released its interim report today.

In its interim relief proposals, the OMP called on the Sri Lankan government to “expedite and give highest priority to prosecutions and other ongoing cases involving enforced disappearances”.

The government should “ensure that state officials including members of the armed forces and police who are named as suspects or accused in criminal actions relating to abductions and enforced disappearances are suspended pending the final determination of such cases,” it added.

Despite persistent calls for demilitarisation the Sri Lankan army distributed food at a care centre for Tamil children in Puthukkudiyiruppu last week, continuing to exert its presence across the North-East.

According to an official military website, soldiers from the 68 Division visited the care centre on Saturday.

The Sri Lankan military discussed how diasporas can “internationalise” issues at a defence seminar in Colombo last week, as human rights atrocities committed in Sri Lanka are due to be discussed in Geneva this month.

The military seminar on the diaspora comes in the run up to the UN Human Rights Council session later this month, with accountability for atrocities committed in Sri Lanka to be discussed by Tamil diaspora members with international ambassadors.

A second de-mining worker died today after he succumbed to injuries suffered when a landmine exploded in Mankulam, Mullaitivu on Monday. 

Rajenthiran Nitharsan (28), originally from Omanthai, Vavuniya was admitted to Vavuniya hospital on Monday following the blast.

Another worker, 24-year-old Pathmanathan Thileepan from Paravipanchan, Kilinochchi was killed during the explosion. 

Over 80 mines have been discovered since work began in Mankulam, Mullaitivu at the beginning of August.

Kankesanthurai police yesterday arrested three Tamils from Manipay. 

The men were collecting iron materials from land that was recently released to the public after military occupation, in order to sell the goods in Kankesanthurai and surrounding areas. 

Police officers on patrol allege the Tamils were in possession of 200 12mm calibre bullet capsules. 

The men have been remanded until September 10 by Mallakam court. 

Five Tamil youths were arrested by Chunnakam police yesterday in Punnalaikadduvan, in Jaffna. 

The police have accused the youths of being in possession of 250g of cannabis. 

Further investigations are being carried out, the police said. 

The enforced disappearance and massacre of 158 Tamils from the Eastern University in Batticaloa in 1990 was remembered today, 28 years on. 

On September 5, 1990 Sri Lankan soldiers surrounded the Vantharumoolai campus of Eastern University, rounding-up and arresting 158 Tamils that were sheltering there.

Those 158 were never seen again. Although locals believe they were likely to have been massacred, not even one body has been found.

Two weeks following this round-up, a further 16 were arrested and forcibly disappeared. The fates of those 16 are similarly unknown.