The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said Australia would have breached the UN refugee convention if it had deported over 150 asylum seekers detained at sea, to India, whilst making a submission to the High Court in Australia, reports an Australian news agency.

The court is currently looking the legality of the Australian government’s handling of the incident, when 157 asylum seekers originally fleeing from Sri Lanka were detained on board a boat heading for Australia and kept at sea for 4 weeks.

"Intercepting a refugee in international waters and taking him or her back to the place of persecution would violate the spirit of the refugee convention," the UNHCR submission said, stating that it would have been a case of refoulement, which is prohibited by the convention.

Today's print edition of Eelamurasu announcing cessation of publishing. Headline reads: 'Now we take our leave. When it dawns we meet'

The France based Tamil Media House has been forced to shut down, after an assassination attempt was made against a senior official last week.
 
The official, whose name has not been disclosed for security reasons, was shot at by an masked gunman, by his home in Paris on September 18, before receiving death threats, warning him to stop running the organisation or face death.

Indian authorities stated that 4 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on Monday night, as the detention of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan security forces continued.

Sekar, the Assistant Director of Fisheries in the Jagadapattinam district, confirmed that the men had been arrested after they failed to return on Tuesday, reports PTI.

The latest incident comes as another group of fishermen from Rameswaram stated the Sri Lankan navy damaged their fishing equipment. Rameswaram Fishermen Organization President S Emerite said that over 500 boats from India were fishing near Katchatheevu when Sri Lankan navy personnel threatened them and destroyed their fishing nets.

Sri Lankan police have again attempted to disrupt a Tamil memorial event in the North-East of the island.

A candlelight memorial was held despite the attempted disruption, to commemorate the 24th anniversary of a massacre committed in Puthukkudiyiruppu near Batticaloa, reported Uthayan.

Seventeen Tamil civilians were hacked to death on September 21, 1990, with Muslim Homeguards and Sri Lankan soldiers suspected to be behind the attack.

Addressing a panel discussion at the UN Human Rights Council Monday, Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to Geneva called for an investigation into the use of armed drones to ensure it is in line with international human rights and humanitarian law.

“Sri Lanka is therefore greatly concerned about the increasing use of remotely piloted aircrafts or armed drones in counter terrorism operations, violating the international human rights and humanitarian laws in particular the principle of proportion, distinction and proportionality,” said Ambassador Ravinath Aryasinha.

“Sri Lanka calls on all actors to ensure that the use of remotely piloted air crafts or armed drones in counter terrorism strategies be carried out in compliance with international law, including international human rights law and humanitarian law, and respecting the sovereignty of states,” he added.

Seven Indian nationals were arrested at the weekend, for alleged visa and trade violations in Kalmunai in the Eastern province, reports Daily Mirror. The seven were said to be selling clothes as well as other items in the Nayapattimuna area.

The Sri Lankan police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said they would be brought before Kalmunai magistrate.

The Sri Lankan president’s office has launched a new website this month in an attempt to counter international criticism of Sri Lanka over allegations of mass atrocities committed by state forces at the end of the armed conflict, ahead of Rajapaksa’s attendance at the UN General Assembly 69th session in New York this week. The website, which purports to list Sri Lanka’s achievements in reconciliation and development, also highlights its working relationship with the UN.

”Having been a member state since 1955, Sri Lanka has and continues to engage with all U.N. systems.