The Democratic representative for Illinois, Mr Danny Davis commemorated the Mullivaikkal remembrance day in the US congress on May 18, speaking on the Sri Lankan government's failure to win the peace, seven years after the end of the armed conflict. Rep Davis said the "ambitious promises" made by the government need to be turned into concrete action, calling on the US to assist and support the processes, while keeping conditions on the military and other aid in place until there is real reform. "The government of Sri Lanka has made commitments on transitional justice and accountability, a political settlement of the ethnic problem, security sector reform, the return of land, the release of Tamil political prisoners, actions to end human rights violations and other ambitious reforms. Unfortunately, not enough improvement has yet been seen by the Tamils, Christians and Muslims who feel marginalized and discriminated against. Courageous leadership is needed to gain trust if reconciliation is the goal, not just promises. Now is the time for real action."

The president of the Justice and Peace Commission in Jaffna Diocese has demanded the Sri Lankan government determine the whereabouts of several catholic priests who surrendered to the military in the closing stages of the armed conflict, reports Herald Malaysia . "The local church still seeks an answer in court and from the army about the whereabouts of the missing priests but no information has been forthcoming," said Father S V B Mangalarajah. He was speaking at a memorial to remember Father Mariampillai Sarathjeevan who died of a heart attack amidst the massacres of 2009. The ceremony, at Our Lady of Fatima's Church in Uruthirapuram, took place on May 18, alongside several other remembrance ceremonies across the Tamil North-East. Father Sarathjeevan was unable to access medical help at the time, with resources and medicines embargoed to the conflict zone by the Sri Lankan government. "But what happened to our missing Sri Lankan priests Father Jim Brown and Father Joseph Francis who surrendered to the army? asked Father Mangalarajah. "Father Francis was among those leaving the war zone in May 2009 and passing through a military checkpoint where some people saw him but he is no more today."

Hundreds of British Tamils gathered outside 10 Downing Street in London to join the Tamil nation in commemorating the Mullivaikal genocide. LIVE - #Tamils in UK mark #May18 #Mullivaikkal remembrance by Downing Street. pic.twitter.com/vNWtaE9Qvm — Tamil Guardian (@TamilGuardian) May 18, 2016 Plays to remember the final stages of the war were performed to the crowds, as they stood in remembrance despite the temperamental British weather. MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) addressed the event, including the Chair MP James Berry, MP West Streeting and MP Bob Blackman.

The Chief Minister of the Northern Province in Sri Lanka CV Wigneswaran congratulated J Jayalalitha on her election victory that saw her become Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister for a second term running. Congratulating Tamil Nadu’s chief minister, Mr Wigneswaran said, “I would like to extend my congratulations to J Jayalalitha on becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, once again and I look forward to seeing her assist the Eelam Tamil struggle.” During her election campaign the AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa told Tamil Nadu voters that her party would work towards justice for genocide and a...