"The attack marks yet another attempt by the Sri Lankan state, through intimidation, aggression and sheer violence, to deny Tamils the very basic of rights – the right to mourn our dead.

Justice is paramount. However, reflecting on over sixty years of genocide faced by the Tamil nation, we view this attack as another in that continuum. We note with dismay and abhorrence that it will no doubt be met with injustice and impunity. 

Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the North-East who continue to face this genocide today."

Remembrance event by TNA. Photograph TamilNet

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Tamil National Peoples Front (TNPF) held Mullivaikkal remembrance events in Jaffna on Friday, despite the heavy presence of the Sri Lankan military, reports TamilNet.

Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Tamils honoured the victims of Mullivaikkal by lighting candles at remembrance events held across Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Hosur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Saami Malai and Chidambaram.

The events, organised by the Tamil Desiya Pothu Udamai Katchi have been taking place over the past two days, with more planned. 

Tamil Nadu youth and student organisations took part in remembrance events in Chidambaram.

Kovai, Tamil Nadu

Organisers have announced that further events are taking place in Chennai this weekend. An event will be held in the T.Nagar region of Chennai on Saturday followed by a large event, at Marina Beach on Sunday, where the veteran political activist Pazha Nedumaran, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, Tamil Desiya Pothu Udamai Katchi leader Mani Arasan, director Seeman, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Kolathur Mani and the leader of the May 17th Movement Thirumurugan will be participating.

Mahinda Rajapaksa vehemently rejected calls to demilitarise the North-East whilst addressing Sri Lanka's 'Victory Day' parade at the Galle Face on Saturday.

See reports here and here.

Citing what he described as the "LTTE diaspora", who "had not given up their separatist ideas", Rajapaksa said,

A three member bench of Sri Lanka's Supreme Court, dismissed a petition against the blocking of five news websites, including Srilanka Mirror, Sri Lanka Guardian, Lanka Way News, Lanka News Web, and Paparasi News.

The petition was filed by Sunil Jayasekara and Udaya Kalupathirana of the media rights group, Free Media Movement (FMM).

The three-member panel at the Supreme Court consisted of CJ Shirani Bandaranayake, Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and R.K.S. Sureshchandra.

See also:

Court case against Sri Lanka’s ban on websites (06.12.11)

Supreme court sanctions Media Ministry's authoritarianism (03.12.11)

A group of around 80 Tamil detainees have launched a hunger strike in Welikada Prison in Colombo.

The group started the hunger strike on Thursday morning, demanding immediate court hearings or release.

The hunger strikers have been detained without trial for several years, with some having been in custody for over 5 years.

The secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union has been attacked hours before he was due to address a Mullivaikkal remembrance event in Jaffna, reports Lankasri News.

Students at Jaffna university staged large scale protest outside the university grounds condemning the attack of the secretary of student union, Paramalingam Tharsananth.

See reports here, here and here.

Demanding that the university officials act to safeguard the rights of students, the protesters burnt an effigy of the university's vice chancellor, prompting her to call for discussions.

According to reports, the situation remains tense, after the protest has resulted in a large deployment of Sri Lankan police officers to the area.