Leaked population data from the World Bank, indicates that over 100,000 Tamils remain unaccounted for after the final months of Sri Lanka's military onslaught, writes the former BBC journalist, Frances Harrison in the Huffington Post.

Citing World Bank spreadsheets, Harrison states that 101,748 people, or roughly 28,899 households are missing from Mullaitivu District, and asserts that "an international investigation is required to establish the truth about what may be one of the least reported but worst atrocities of recent decades - both in terms of the speed and the scale of the killing."

See here for full article in Huffington Post.

Extract reproducted below:

"The leaked World Bank spreadsheets broken down by village for the north of the island estimate numbers of returnees to the former conflict area in mid 2010. The Bank also cites Statistical Handbook Numbers for population in 2007 - before the fighting intensified. The two sets of data reveal 101,748 people missing from Mullaitivu District - the area that bore the brunt of the final fighting. This is the equivalent of 28,899 households. This number has been confirmed to me by the World Bank, though they add "other interpretations about the population data that are not included in the document can not be attributed to the World Bank".

The Sri Lankan Army’s 552 Division recently facilitated a medical camp for Tamil civilians in the town of Iyakkachchi, near Elephant Pass in Jaffna, says a report on the defence ministry’s website.

The ministry claims over 900 Tamil civilians took part in the event, with the army transporting people to the school where the clinic was held.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has pledged support for Sri Lanka to host 2013 Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting, whilst visiting the country.

Speaking alongside Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs G L Peiris, Carr said,

“Australia will be at the Commonwealth Summit next year and will provide Sri Lanka with the technical assistance necessary for a successful summit.”

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced plans for Australia to help expand Sri Lanka’s spy network, as part of efforts to stem the flow of asylum seekers to the country.

Carr announced that Australia would be providing extra surveillance equipment to Sri Lanka as well as hosting training programs  on maritime surveillance for the Sri Lankan Navy.

Speaking in Colombo he said,

China has blocked a loan of over $69m, saying it will only release the funds once Sri Lanka pays fees to China’s state-run insurance company, reported The Sunday Times.

Beijing is blocking the payments, demanding that 7% of the loan should be paid to the insurer Sinosure, although Sri Lanka has offered sovereign guarantees.

The Chief of the Indian Army, General Bikram Singh will visit Sri Lanka this week, with the intent of discussing ways to strengthen their bilateral defence ties.

Despite strong opposition from Tamil Nadu political parties regarding Indian co-operation with Sri Lankan defence forces, the Indian Army chief will be looking to find ways to enhance the Sri Lankan Army’s training, military and hardware capabilities.

More arrests of Jaffna University students are feared, as Sri Lankan security forces claim those arrested had previous LTTE links.

The police's media spokesperson SSP Prishantha Jayakody said,

“All those arrested were involved with LTTE activities in the past and we are arresting them,”

The Canadian NDP MP for Scarborough-Rouge River, Rathika Sitsabaiesan, condemned the arrests and attacks on Jaffna university students by Sri Lankan security forces as a "clear assault on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and breach of human rights" and asserted it was "completely unacceptable".

The European Union has announced it will assist 4,000 families to build permanent homes in their "villages of origin" in the North-East of Sri Lanka.

EU Ambassador H.E. Bernard Savage said:

The Sri Lankan have expressed concern at the launch of a rocket by North Korea earlier this week, in a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The full statement says,

"Sri Lanka is concerned at the launch of a rocket using ballistic missile technology by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874.