A remembrance service for May 18 was observed by Tamil political leaders in Trincomalee on Wednesday morning.

Tamils in Trincomalee commemorated May 18 on Wednesday.

The event brought together religious leaders and civil society members across Trinco.

Sri Lanka’s president stated that his government would work towards strengthening the military, as he criticised the previous administration for putting “war heroes into jail” in a speech in Colombo today.

Maithripala Sirisena was addressing a ceremony in the southern capital marking Sri Lanka’s “National War Heroes’ Day” according to army’s official website, as Tamils across the North-East mourned those killed during the final stages of the island’s armed conflict seven years ago.

Colombo though had stated the ceremony would be “celebrated” as a “cultural presentation of victory”, as 400 soldiers stood in formation before Sri Lankan government and military officials.

Mr Sirisena, who was accorded a red carpet guard of honour on arrival at the ‘Battaramulla War Heroes’ Monument’, reportedly showed “his deep gratitude to the memory of fallen War Heroes who salvaged the country from LTTE terrorism”.

The end of the armed conflict will be 'celebrated' by the government in a 'cultural presentation of victory' on May 18, according to the website of the defence ministry.

The event, titled 'A Reminiscence of Reconciliation', will include the army, navy, air force, civil security department and the police.

Held on the day Tamils across the world to mourn the tens of thousands of those who died, the 'celebration' will occur under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena.

A government official said the president and the prime minister decided to conduct the event in this way this year in order to build "lasting peace through reconciliation, friendship and brotherhood among the people", defence.lk reported.

Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon called on the international community to ensure pressure is kept on the Sri Lankan government for accountability for atrocities committed on the island and an end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland.

See the full text of her message below.

This month we mark the genocide that took place in Northern Sri Lanka, the Tamil homeland in 2009.

7 years later the Tamils in the diaspora and in the homeland continue to resist the ongoing brutality against them under the new president of Sri Lanka.

The perpetrators of mass atrocities continue to enjoy “total freedom” under the current Sri Lankan government said the Student’s Union at the University of Jaffna, in a statement released to mark 7 years since the massacres of 2009.

“The painful thoughts remain as unhealed wounds in our hearts even today, and the memories of this day, that year, recollect in our minds once again,” said the statement.

“The justice that was denied for the innocent people who laid down their lives on that day, is now become a covered up justice,” it continued. “Under the guise of good governance, the government has extended total freedom to those who committed these heinous crimes, and without subjecting them to interrogation.”

Tamil National Alliance Leader R Sampanthan met with the former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to discuss issues affecting Tamils in the North-East.

During the meeting Mr Sampanthan stressed the need for resolving the issues such as releasing civilian land currently under Sri Lankan military control, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the release of political prisoners according to an official press release.

Polls opened this morning in Tamil Nadu, as the final round of state assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

The election sees arch rivals, DMK chief, Karunanidhi and the current chief minister, J Jayalalitha pitted against each other once again, however, the election this year is to be a multipolar contest with a number of smaller parties positioned to play a decisive role.

The Tamil Civil Society Forum, in a statement released in Mullivaikkal remembrance week, said that the “crimes being committed against the Tamil people are not declining.”