Sri Lanka's army commander stationed in Jaffna today warned Tamils gathered that if the 'peaceful life' was disturbed there would be a return to check points and roadside stop and interrogations. 

Speaking just a few days after thousands of Tamils across the North-East marked Maaveerar Naal, a day of remembrance for fallen LTTE fighters, and two police officers were killed in Batticaloa, Major General Hettiarachchi told Tamils to "our expectation is that Tamils living in Jaffna live with love."

"I ask the Tamil people, let us continue to live this peaceful life. If this peaceful life changes once again, the time will again come when the police and the army set up checkpoints along the roadside and stop and interrogate those passing by on the streets."

The archaeological department of Sri Lanka has begun construction work at an area surrounding a Hindu temple in Trincomalee, in further attempts to occupy land in the North-East. 

Sri Lankan police have arrested a man from Kilinochchi, accusing him of being involved in the shooting dead of two officers at a checkpoint in Vavunathivu, Batticaloa. 

The man, 48 year old Sarvanandam Rasanayagam, was arrested yesterday by Kilinochchi police. 

Chunnakam police have arrested three youths from Kokkuvil, Jaffna on Friday, accusing them of being associated with the Aava gang. 

According to the police the men were in possession of seven swords, each 3 feet long. 

The men are expected to be produced before court today. 

Several events were staged across Europe to mark Maaveerar Naal this week, as tens of thousands of Tamils across the continent gathered to pay their respects to fallen Tamil fighters.

Thousands of Tamils gathered at memorial events across Tamil Nadu, India this week to commemorate Maaveerar Naal. 

In Thanjavur, Naam Tamilar Katchi supporters held a large scale event where party leader, Seeman spoke. 

Tamils in Malaysia commemorated Maaveerar Naal on Tuesday, joining thousands of the Tamils worldwide in marking this day of remembrance. 

Families of the disappeared continued their months of protest today in Kilinochchi, demanding answers over the whereabouts of their missing loved ones. 

The demonstration took place by an office for the disappeared in the local area. 

The Chinese Embassy in the UK responded to a Financial Times editorial by hitting back at suggestions that loans to Sri Lanka were leaving Colombo in a “debt trap”.

“China and Sri Lanka have long been friendly neighbours that always support each other in their major and core interests,” claimed Zeng Rong spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

A senior US administration official confirmed that Sri Lanka’s participation in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which is worth several million dollars in funding, has been “put on hold” as political turmoil has rocked the island.

^{- Brannavy Jeyasundaram}

Mourning is for the living. It enables us to process grief, understand loss, and above all, invite healing. History is full of rich and meaningful mourning customs, indiscriminate of cultures, because how else could we possibly move on? In a way, mourning the loss of life promises our own survival. It is for this reason, I believe, mourning is a human right.

Two Sri Lankan police officers have been shot dead at Vavunathivu in Batticaloa, sparking a major police operation in the region.

The officers were found dead at a checkpoint they were stationed at in the town.

The first LTTE fighter to given his life to the Tamil struggle, Lt Shankar was remembered in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on the anniversary of his death. 

A lamp was lit at the exact moment of his death 6.05pm, during a memorial event held at the Keeraththurai Crematorium Madurai where he was cremated. 

Lt Shankar was taken to India for treatment after being injured in battle with the Sri Lankan military. He succombed to his injuries and died in Madurai.