Tamil youth in Switzerland have released a book documenting life in the Vanni during the ceasefire, as part of attempts to commemorate periods of self rule throughout Tamil history.

Traders in Puthukudiyiruppu marked May Day with a business strike in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks.

The Mullaitivu town’s business community raised black flags and kept storefronts shut on May Day to protest the government’s failure to prevent the terror attacks which killed over 250 people in Batticaloa and Colombo on Easter Sunday.

The Sri Lankan president today told the media not to cover search operation by the security forces. 

In a press release issued by the president's media division the media was told not to broadcast footage, arguing that the media publicity was unwarranted and inconviencing communities. 

Since the Easter Sunday bombings which killed over 250 people, armed military personnel and police have searched and raided homes, businesses and public premises, including in the North-East. 
 

Two men have been arrested over violent clashes between Sinhala and Muslim groups in Poruthota, Negombo yesterday. 

Sri Lanka has appointed Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, a man accused of overseeing war crimes a decade ago, as head of the Overall Operational Command in Colombo in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks last week.

Sri Lanka’s president vowed to “eradicate terrorism” and press ahead with presidential polls scheduled for later this year, in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings last week.

“Elections cannot be postponed, therefore before the elections I will bring about stability and I will eradicate terrorism,” Maithripala Sirisena told Reuters.

Sirisena went on to acknowledge that “25-30 suspects” from the bombings remain at large, calling them “active members”. “We have already identified all active members of the group and it’s a case of now arresting them,” he added.

Sri Lanka has declared a curfew in Negombo, after a reported clash between a Sinhalese and Muslim group in the town earlier today.

Armed Sri Lankan troops were deployed to the scene as crowds began to gather along Thakkiya Road in Poruthota.

The Sri Lankan military arrested a man in Vavuniya earlier this week, after troops conducted search operations across several villages and homes, including of a Hindu temple.

Homes in Kovilkulam and Kovilputhukulam were searched by heavily armed Sri Lankan soldiers, as operations continue across the North-East. Vehicles were also stopped and searched throughout the week.

Tamil civil society groups condemned the Easter Sunday attacks targeting Christians in Sri Lanka last week, as well as calling for “empathy and solidarity” with Muslim groups who face persecution on the island.

The statement, signed by eight different organisations, said the groups “express our wholehearted solidarity and support to our Christian communities, targeted in this cowardly act of violence by extremists”.

The United Kingdom has offered to help Sri Lanka set up a central intelligence body similar to the Joint Terrorism Analysing Centre in the wake of the Easter Sunday bombings by Islamist extremists supportive of Islamic State.