The Sri Lankan military held a series of events across the North-East once again this week, to mark the start of the Tamil New Year.

Events were held in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vanni at Sri Lankan army bases, with Tamil civilians, including children invited to take part. Sri Lankan commanders oversaw events, which involved soldiers taking part in activities and games.

The commander of the Sri Lankan army, Lieutenant General A W J C De Silva, marked the occasion with the release of a statement praising Sri Lankan soldiers and stating “it is the prime responsibility of all members of the Army to protect our motherland, its citizenry, to assist in developing the country and to strive to make 2016 the year of achievement”.

Marking Tamil New Year this April, the chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran highlighted that the passing of time had not resolved the problems facing the Tamil people.

"Years keep rolling on, but there delays continue in finding a solution to the problems of the Tamil people," he wrote in a statement.

See statement reproduced in full below:

"Bidding a farewell to the Manmatha Varudam, Durmuki Varudam begins this evening. Years keep rolling on, but there delays continue in finding a solution to the problems of the Tamil people."

"Many of the war-affected people are unable to return to their own houses and lands, and they are still displaced, living amid a lot of hardship."

Sri Lanka is one of the countries where impunity continues, according to former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Speaking at the second annual N. Sivalingam Memorial Lecture at York University in Toronto, Navi Pillay said, “While international justice decisions show that significant advancements have been made in accountability, there still remain significant challenges.”

“Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and others, are a reminder that impunity for war crimes still continues”, she observed at the event on Thursday. Specifically on Sri Lanka, she noted that during her visit to the country while she was High Commissioner for Human Rights, “even though the fighting was over, the suffering was not.”

The former high commissioner revealed that then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa had approached her when she assumed office and warned her that he was about to launch a huge campaign to end terrorism and that she should not criticise him.

The construction of 65,000 homes by the Indian company Arcelor Mittal will go ahead as planned and will commence within two months, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M.Swaminathan told the Daily Mirror.

”Reluctantly though, we have to accept one fact which is that local contractors or investors are not capable of undertaking a massive project of this magnitude. That is why we offered the tender to Arcelor Mittal which is a globally recognised multinational construction company. We also want to finish the task within the targeted time and resettle 65,000 families in two years,” Minister Swaminathan said.

On February 18, the MCSL was invited by the National Planning Department of the Sri Lankan Finance Ministry to submit a proposal for the construction of 65,000 brick and mortar houses in the North. MCSL responded enthusiastically with the relevant details, including a plan for funding from Chinese and other international banks with ADB and Sri Lankan government guarantees.

An Indian minister has contradicted longstanding claims by Sri Lankan officials that the Sirisena-government is opposed to the building of a bridge which would link India's southern-most state Tamil Nadu with Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated North-East.

The project is under consideration, it is under discussion. But nothing has been finalised," Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari told journalists at the Foreign Correspondents Club in New Delhi on Monday.

He said discussions have been held on the issue with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, adding that they were also "interested" in the project.

"My hearty New Year wishes to all the Tamil and Sinhala people living across all parts of the world. 

I wish the New Year that has blossomed, brings in prosperity to every one of you.

Tamil New Year is not a mere festival; it is a reflection of our art, culture, traditional sports and many other elements, interlaced with our centuries old heritage in a characteristic way.

Besides, as two distinct unique communities, we celebrate Tamil New Year in the most traditional way. Apart from bonding the Tamil and Sinhala people; it must be borne in mind with pride that Tamil New Year is the only festival that is jointly celebrated by the Tamil and Sinhala communities.