The Sri Lankan military continued to intrude on religious activities in the North-East as soldiers from the 64 Division in Mullaitivu took part in festivities at a temple in the district last month.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe pledged that his party would rebuild the economy in the Tamil North-East of the island, but said that first the economy of the whole island needed a “fix”.

Speaking at a rally in Vavuniya, Mr Wickremesinghe vowed to bring development projects to the North-East.

"But before we take steps to fix the economy in the North-Eastern region we have to fix the country's economy," he said.

"We have to start taking steps in line with this agenda,” he added. “We are going to develop the Trincomalee Port,” he said, noting that “it is the best port in Bay of Bengal”.

The United States’ Ambassador to Sri Lanka said his country “has stood shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka” as it prepares to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two governments this month.

As part of celebrations, new bilateral initiatives will be highlighted by the US as well as “exercises between the two countries’ militaries will enhance disaster response capabilities and expand interoperability”.

Residents in Batticaloa and Trinco took part in festivities this month celebrating the Tamil festival of Thai Pongal. 

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) campaign events this month saw a heightened security presence, with searches for supporters and journalists attending. 

A campaign event in Mullaitivu on January 29 and an event the day before in Vavuniya where TNA figures, R Sampanthan and MA Sumanthiran, saw police officers and even Special Task Force officers present. 

Increased security comes amid reported assaults on TNA candidates by supporters of the paramilitary group, EPDP, as well as rising frustration within the Tamil population over the failure of the unity government, which has received strong support from senior TNA leadership, to deliver on key pledges. 

Sri Lankan military personnel continue to be seen in significant numbers around Myliddy TB hospital which was recently 'released' by the army.

The continued military presence has prevented the hospital from being renovated and being used as a public hospital, locals said. 

Families protesting against the Sri Lankan military's occupation of land in Keppapilavu, Mullaitivu met with international representatives and human rights groups on Monday - day 333 of the protest. 

Visiting groups met with the families amid heightened police presence, and expressed support for their struggle for their land. 

The Sri Lankan government is under increasing pressure to expedite the release of land occupied by the armed forces in the North-East. 

Sri Lanka's Human Rights commission has set up a dedicated Election Complaints Desk to deal with numerous complains of rights violations in the run up the local government election next month. 

The chairman of the Northern Provincial Council, C V K Sivagnanam this week called on the Sri Lankan government to end the proscription of the LTTE, arguing it was meaningless. 

"Eight years has lapsed since the war ended with even former LTTE members joining mainstream politics after surrendering their weapons and in such a scenario continuing with the ban on the LTTE is meaningless," he was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying. 

Twelve years have passed since 7 TRO workers were abducted by Sri Lankan government-backed paramilitaries in Batticaloa. The kidnappings, which took place on the January 29 - 30, 2006, are yet to lead to a prosecution. 

The paramilitary Karuna group was accused of abducting the aid workers before torturing and murdering them.