The US will only resume a more comprehensive military relationship with Sri Lanka once the government has made progress towards reconciliation and accountability, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said at a talk at Harvard University.

Speaking on "U.S. Foreign Policy in South Asia: A Vision for Prosperity and Security", Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal said the US continues to call for credible efforts to ensure accountability and justice.

"While the prosperity agenda in South Asia is critically important, so too is enhancing political stability and regional security. In order to enhance that stability and security, our foreign policy is designed around engagement – even on the toughest and most vexing issues,

"Sri Lanka has fortunately ended its civil war, though reconciliation has proved challenging. Following the March UN Human Rights Council resolution in Sri Lanka, we continue to call for credible efforts to ensure accountability and justice. We look forward to a resumption of a more comprehensive military relationship once the Government of Sri Lanka has made better progress toward reconciliation and accountability."

The president of the Congress Party Sonia Gandhi said at an election rally in the Tamil Nadu, that her party had done more than any other party for the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Speaking in Kanyakumari on the southern-most tip of India, she rejected allegations by political parties in the state, who say that the Congress has not done enough for Tamils on the island, just across the water from the town.

"I want to ask them, is there any party, which has done more than the Congress party for the Sri Lankan Tamils? Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life while fighting for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka," she said.

Gandhi also called on Tamil Nadu to reject the BJP’s Narendra Modi.

Sri Lankan security forces are investigating alleged ‘close association’ between TNA MP Sritharan and ‘Gopi’ and his associates, who were accused by Sri Lanka of reviving the LTTE before being killed by the army, after a manhunt spanning several weeks.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake told The Island that the MP had harboured the fugitives and provided them with transportation, and that he had been seen with ‘Gopi’ in Colombo and Batticaloa.

Dissanayake said a mobile phone used by ‘Gopi’ was recovered and details retrieved from the phone will be used to reveal more information.

Police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said that there was evidence to prove that ‘Gopi’ had contact with the MP and several others.

"Mr Sharma expressed disappointment at this step but looked forward to the resumption of the contributions."

"We can no longer justify providing additional funding to an organization that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behaviour and religious intolerance in its member states".

Amidst the heightened surveillance in the North-East, the violent attack against the journalist Sivagnanam Selvatheepan on Monday could not have been carried out without the Sri Lankan state being aware the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) said today.

“The army, the police and the intelligence service are involved in surveillance all over the Tamil homeland. In such circumstances, there is no way that this attack could have been carried out unknown to the state. Therefore the government must accept full responsibility for this assault,” a statement quoted party secretary, S. Kajendran as saying. 

Stating that the TNPF “deeply condemned” the “cowardly” attack on the 29-year-old journalist, Mr. Kajendran said, 

“We have learnt that Selvatheepan was [previously] threatened several times by groups seeking to continue repressing and strangling the voice of the Tamil people.”

Calling on the international community to act, Mr Kajendran said it must take steps to curb the oppression and attacks which the Sri Lankan government has “unleashed” on media and journalists.

Pointing to the "use of terrorism prevention laws to arrest and torture of human rights activists and Tamil people struggling for justice against government oppression, the assaults and murders of journalists seeking to expose injustices, and the burning of press offices", Mr. Kajendran said, "these things have all become commonplace throughout the Tamil homeland.”

'Some nations seem to have chosen to turn a blind eye to these front organisations and their activities because they claim to support political activism or humanitarian relief. At the same time, the network’s operatives, most of whom are trained terrorists, remain involved in various illegal activities, and are constantly seeking ways to revive terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.'

New Year's event in Konapulam, Jaffna (Picture: CIMIC-Jaffna)

The Sri Lankan Army organised several events for the Tamil community in the Northeast to celebrate the Tamil and Sinhala New Year.

The Security Force Headquarters - East (SFHQ-E) held an event at Welikanda, a few miles from the border with the Batticaloa district. The official army website reported that the 54th Division, under the direction of Major General Lal Perera, organised the event, which gave “prominence to Sinhala and Hindu traditions”.

Tamil women soldiers, who were recently recruited into the army also participated in the event, the website said.

Sri Lanka has accused the Canadian government of using the funding it gives to the Commonwealth as a political tool, holding the body to ransom due to electoral politics, reported Colombo Gazette.

Canada yesterday suspended its voluntary funding to the Commonwealth over ongoing human rights concerns in Sri Lanka and condemning the country’s role as the organisation’s chair.

“It is the Government of Sri Lanka which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said to the Colombo Gazette.