The Sri Lankan Army has launched a “well coordinated” drive to eradicate weeds in the Jaffna peninsula, reported the Civil and Military Coordination – Jaffna website.

The leader of the DMK, the largest opposition party in Tamil Nadu, described the draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka “disappointing” and called on India to propose a separate resolution, calling for an independent international investigation.

"The draft placed before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is overall disappointing," the party chief M Karunanidhi said in a statement.

“(1) Be unequivocal and unwavering in its support for an independent, international inquiry; (2) Make every effort to secure widespread support for a robust resolution; and (3) Ensure an international inquiry commences swiftly.”

 

The Sri Lankan state's continuing human rights violations post-conflict provided "credible allegations of crimes against humanity against the Tamil population in the Northern Province", concludes a damning 90-page report by Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice.

The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in a brief discussion on reconciliation between Sinhala and Tamil communities on the island of Sri Lanka with Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, outlined that India could not confirm its position on the draft UNHRC resolution tabled against Sri Lanka.

A mosque in the Colombo suburb of Dehiwala has been closed after the local magistrates issued a court order.

Police had filed a case against the mosque in February, saying it was operating illegally, an accusation mosque authorities denied.