Tamil families of the disappeared who have been demanding information regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones, marked 868 days of protest last week, with a rally through Vavuniya town.

Tamil National Alliance leader, R. Sampathan, stressed in a speech in southern Matara, that a political solution to the ethnic tensions which has plagued Sri Lanka is needed to attract economic investment and promote a better quality of life.

In his speech, he emphasised that a decade has passed since the civil war and commitments made by the international community to resolve Tamil grievances remain mostly unfulfilled. Sampathan’s speech was during an event meant to celebrate Sri Lanka’s finance minister Mangala Samraweera’s 30 years in politics. 

Sri Lanka’s president vowed never to allow “foreign forces” to challenge the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, as he voiced his opposition to signing a status-of-forces agreement (SOFA) with the United States.

“I will not allow the SOFA that seeks to betray the nation,” Maithripala Sirisena said at a rally earlier this month. “Some foreign forces want to make Sri Lanka one of their bases. I will not allow them to come into the country and challenge our sovereignty.”

A 22-year old Tamil student from Batticaloa passed away from injuries sustained in the Easter Sunday attacks this week, as the death toll from the bombings rose once more.

Karunagaran Umasankari, a second year arts student at Eastern University, was attending a service at the Zion Church in Batticaloa on Easter Sunday when a suicide bomber triggered an explosive device at the premises. At least 31 others were killed with her, including fourteen children.

India has granted a 300 million rupee grant to support the renovation of the Jaffna Palaly airport which is expected to be a centre for business and tourist traffic between Sri Lanka’s North and India.

Earlier, the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA) had stalled the development of the airport due to concerns over political instability.

Read more here: India foreign ministry hesitates over Palaly airport due to 'political climate'

The villagers of Keppapilavu who have been calling for the released of their occupied land for more than 863 days criticised Tamil politicians, stating that they have been “forsaken”. 

Speaking to reporters in Mullaitivu, where the Sri Lankan security forces have continued to occupy private Tamil land, protestors slammed leaders from the Tamil National Alliance as well as the governor of the Northern province Suren Raghavan.

Reports have emerged that the Sri Lankan army is building a vihara on occupied land in the so-called 'High Security Zone' of Valikamam North, leading residents to fear that they will not regain their lands.