The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum Asia), calling for sustained “international scrutiny” until tangible results were achieved on the ground, urged Sri Lanka to “fully demilitarise” the North-East of the island, release political prisoners and allow the OHCHR investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) team full access into the island.

Calling on the Sri Lanka to honour the trust placed in it by the High Commissioner for human rights by allowing the OISL team access to the North-East, the NGO said,

The Sri Lankan government consistently claimed the LTTE was active in South Africa after the end of the island’s armed conflict in 2009, despite findings by the South African intelligence agency which denied this, reports Al Jazeera.

In a set of secret intelligence cables obtained by Al Jazeera’s investigative unit, the State Security Agency of South Africa said “ongoing allegations have been made since 1998 by amongst others, Sri Lankan government officials and some Sri Lankan academics that Tamil organizations in South Africa are providing the LTTE and some of their supporters with weapons, as well as providing members of the LTTE and Tamil organizations in South Africa with para-military training”.

“Available information does not confirm these allegations,” continued the cable.

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed military officials all held senior positions during the final phase of the island’s armed conflict where tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred and alleged crimes against humanity were committed, reports Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka.

“Recent appointments to top military posts have heightened doubts on the effectiveness of the proposed 'internal mechanism' to investigate war crimes,” said JDS, detailing several of the newly appointed senior military officials.

The new commander of Sri Lanka’s army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe de Silva, was “in charge of dispatching civilians fleeing the north at the conclusion of the war,” during his time in Kilinochchi as Forward Maintenance Area Commander.

Major General Kamal Gunaratne, the new Master General Ordnance of Army Headquarters was also reportedly “considered the most senior among military commanders in the attack on Mullaithivu” and is accused of overseeing the execution of Balachandra, the son of LTTE leader Velluppillai Prabhakaran and newsreader Isaipriya.

Sri Lankans and Indians should be able to travel to each other’s countries and do business with no hindrance, said Sri Lanka’s Central Bank governor on Thursday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Arjuna Mahendran, expressed optimism about establishing a Free Trade Agreement with India, stating,

“I think a Free Trade Agreement with India is definitely very desirable for Sri Lanka, not only with India but also with China and the United States.”