A resolution passed by the NPC earlier this month, calling on the international community to investigate charges of genocide and prosecute the perpetrators, was "timely" and the facts listed are all true, said Tamil National Alliance MP MA Sumanthiran on Sunday.

In an interview with Ceylon Today, the MP criticised the government for failing to keep promises regarding the resettlement of displaced people in the North-East, but stressed the TNA will continue to support the new government through the parliamentary election.

"The resolution is timely and the facts which have been listed out in it are nothing but true." Mr Sumanthiran said. "It was a sheer democratic action and very well drafted, taking into consideration the grievances of the people directly affected by the war. Various comments could surface with regard to the resolution, but it was aimed at seeking justice for the people who have been affected by the ruthless war in the North."

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Australia stayed silent on human rights abuses on the island in exchange for cooperation from the Sri Lankan government in stopping Tamil asylum seekers fleeing in boats.

Speaking to The Australian, the prime minister said people connected to the previous government under Mahinda Rajapaksa were involved in the trafficking operations.

“It was being done by people with Rajapaksa connections, but once this deal was done between Australia and the Rajapaksa government, where you looked the other way (on human rights abuses), then secretary of defence got the navy to patrol,” he told The Australian. “You could not have got anyone out of this country without someone in the security system looking the other way, the police or the navy.”

Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran fears Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has not released Tamil political prisoners as he does not want to anger the Sinhalese majority ahead of elections later this year.

Speaking to the New York Times, the chief minister said dozens of political prisoners could be released immediately but expressed doubts over the government's pledges to release detainees.

“I’m talking of a history of not living up to promises in the past,” Mr. Wigneswaran said. “The prime minister wants to play for time because the elections are coming.”

The National Freedom Front has accused the Sri Lankan government of fuelling a "separatist agenda", over its agreement to conduct a domestic probe.

Spokesperson Mohamed Muzammil said the six-month extension to the UN probe into Sri Lanka was a farce and the government's promise to conduct a domestic investigation was a betrayal against Sri Lankans, Ceylon Today reported.

The Jaffna University Students’ Union (JUSU) expressed its disappointment at the deferral of a UN inquiry into mass atrocities committed against Tamils and announced it will be staging a protest rejecting a domestic Sri Lankan investigation on Tuesday.

The postponement of the inquiry had caused the Tamil people “disappointment with a great pain,” said a statement released by the JUSU. “6 years passed; there has been no justice for our people ruthlessly massacred by the Sri Lankan government using its military machines.”

The statement went on to reject any domestic mechanism announced by the Sri Lankan government, stating that “it is nothing but an attempt to protect criminals and a preparation to destabilise human rights issues for us Eelam Tamils.”

At least seven people, hailing from the North-East were arrested at the Bandaranaike Airport near Colombo over the last two weeks, according to Thinakkural.