The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al Hussain, will visit Sri Lanka in June, according to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, the minister said Mr Hussain's visit was in line with the UN's focus on Sri Lanka, the Daily Mirror reported.

“Failure to carry out a domestic investigation will lead to an international investigation which might in turn lead to foreign intervention,” the minister said.

A high-level delegation fro the European Union is due to arrive in Sri Lanka next week to discuss the suspension of GSP+ trade concessions, withdrawn due to Sri Lanka's human rights record.

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen quoted EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka David Daly as confirming the EU Trade Working Group's visit on March 23, according to Xinhua.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy External Affairs Minister Ajith Perera has dismissed the award winning documentary ‘No Fire Zone’, which details massacres committed during the final days of the armed conflict on the island, stating that it will not seriously affect the country.

The Sunday Leader spoke to Mr Perera who said the documentary director had “a hidden agenda”, dismissing the launch of the Sinhala version of the film earlier this month.

“They will not get any positive or any additional publicity by showing this,” said Mr Perera adding that the video had no credence.

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka had underlined calls for “equality, justice, peace and dignity” for Tamils on the island.

“The visit expressed India’s strong support for democracy and reform in Sri Lanka,” said Ms Swaraj. “Prime Minister noted in his address to the Parliament that recent elections reflected the collective voice of the nation – the hope for change, reconciliation and unity.”

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Ms Swaraj further added “India stands with Sri Lanka in its efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.”
“Prime Minister also declared that we believe that the early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process,” she continued.

A panel discussion by Tamil politicians and rights activists took place in Geneva today, on the 'Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka and the international community's responsibility to protect'.

Watch the video here:

The Tami National Alliance spokesperson, Suresh Premachandran said that he had witnesses that could testify to prove that there were secret detention centres in the North-East.

Accusing the prime minister of rejecting the claims of detention centres without properly investigating the allegations, Mr Premachandran said,

“Prime Minister is saying that there are no secret detention camps without carrying out appropriate investigations. In Trincomalee there was a secret detention camp named ‘Gotabhaya.’ Up to 700 people are detained there.”

The Sri Lankan navy attacked fishermen from India with nylon ropes and pelted stones at them on Tuesday morning, in the third reported attack by Sri Lankan security forces on Tamil Nadu fishermen this week.

The fishermen from Ramneswaram were reportedly set upon by the Sri Lankan navy, who attacked them off the coast of Katchatheevu and warned them not to return.

The attack comes after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe reiterated his defence of the Sri Lankan navy's shooting at Indian fishermen who stray into its waters.