The head of the Tamil National Alliance has expressed his confidence in President Maithripala Sirisena’s ability to present a political solution based on autonomy for the Tamil people in their traditional homeland to the Sinhala people.

“We have high hope that President Maithiripala Sirisena would speak to the Sinhala community with an open mind seeking support to find a sustainable political solution to the six decade old Tamil problem,” Sampanthan said at an event in Batticaloa.

The leader of the TNA further said his party was not asking for a separate state or a federal solution within Sri Lanka.

The former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa has been cleared of all charges of corruption by an Indian court on Monday.

"Truth and justice have prevailed," said Ms Jayalalithaa in a statement after the court decision. "I am immensely satisfied, the verdict has paved the way for me to emerge as tested pure gold," she added.

Ms Jayalalithaa maintained that there was no wrongdoing and that the charges were “foisted (on me) by political enemies.”

The ruling now clears the way for her to return as chief minister.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has denied the existence of secret detention camps, where Tamils are thought to have been sent during and after the armed conflict.

"Last week, I had an opportunity to meet a group of mothers still looking for their missing children. The issue of secret detention camps came up and assured them such facilities do not exist. I assured them of a thorough inquiry in case they could reveal secret detention camps," the minister said to media.

Thousands of Tamils remain missing, 6 years after the end of the armed conflict, including those taken captive by the Sri Lankan army in front of their families.