The University of Jaffna’s Student Union condemned the military's search operation within student residences, demanding an immediate end to all military activities, which the student body said were causing disruptions to the University's academic life. 

“That the security forces – who have been repressing all our rights to freedom of expression under the excuse of terrorism – are entering and searching without any apparent reason has created fear among the students,” the student body said in a statement issued Friday.

Military intelligence officers conducted a search operation at the men's hostel at the University of Jaffna on Thursday. A large number of armed soldiers were deployed in the area following the incident, leaving students and locals alarmed, local sources told the Uthayan.

Describing it as a breach of security that has created a tense atmosphere around the campus, the student body criticised the university administration for remaining mute on the subject.

Their silence has caused students to question the administration's ability and commitment to protecting its students, the Union said.

The Union stated that despite the government’s claims of peace, terrorism laws continued to be used to terrorise the Tamil population.

Jaffna police force has launched an action plan to recruit more Tamil women into the force across the Northern Province, the district's superintendent told journalists at a weekly press briefing on Friday.

"Since the day I came to office, civilians have complained about a lack of female officers at police stations in Jaffna [and] we have found this problem exists not only in Jaffna, but all over the Northern Province in my investigations," the Uthayan quoted the superintendent as saying.

"In order to address this issue, actions are being taken to recruit Tamil women into the police," he said.

"Once we receive 500 applications, a training centre will be established in the Northern Province," the superintendent added.

Rejecting widespread reports of intimidation, abuse and sexual violence against Tamil women recruited into Sri Lanka's security forces, he said,

"There is a prejudice amongst the people that female recruits are harassed by senior officials. Those who wish to join the police can speak to female police officers in your regions and clarify your doubts."

Concerns around the targeted recruitment of Tamil women by security forces have persisted however, with several NGOs reporting coercion and incidents of sexual abuse.

Last month a 23 year old army recruit reported being forced into having sexual intercourse with 10 high ranking officials, along side other Tamil female recruits.

Photographs Uthayan

The local library in Chavakachcheri received books and a new printer from the Thenmaradchi Development Association in the UK.

The Maldives today reaffirmed its commitment to support Sri Lanka in the international forum, reports ColomboPage.

The Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, on her second visit this year to Sri Lanka, in a meeting with the Sri Lankan president at Temple Trees , said,

“On the international front, let me assure you of the Maldives’ continuous support .”

Families in the Valikaamam North who were displaced by the military's High Security Zone 24 years ago, have rejected the army's attempts to resettle them in Akkarai, stating that they only want to be be resettled in their own lands, the Uthayan reported.

"Resettle us in our own lands, we are not willing to be displaced again," the Jaffna newspaper quoted the displaced families as saying to the army.

"We just want our own lands" the families reportedly added, after army soldiers visited families offering the opportunity of being resettled into houses in Akkarai.

The Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Bangura, speaking at a press briefing in New York after the release of a UN report on sexual violence, expressed concern over incidents of sexual violence in Sri Lanka, reports Inner City Press.

Responding to questions regarding how the UN would act to stop the use of sexual violence to oppress an ethnic community, the official stated she had discussions with Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to New York regarding this issue.

“The most important thing we have said to them is for them to actually appoint a focal person to deal with this," she added.

Bangura added that she would meet Yasmin Sooka, a former member of the UN panel of experts on Sri Lanka, to discuss what could be done on the issue in Sri Lanka.

Military soldiers photographed children and teachers in school in Valayankattu and Kaakkaiyinkulam in Mannar district, BBC Tamil reported.

Entering schools during lessons times, the military also gathered information about the students, teachers and headteacher.

The Sri Lankan government today, rejected UN concerns over sexual violence in conflict on the island, deeming them to be matters of accountability and reconciliation issues that could be solved internally, reports a Sri Lankan daily.

“We are disappointed that such issues which have no relevance to this issue have been dragged into this report, “ the Daily Mirror quoted the government as saying.

China will continue to support Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council, said Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin during a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday, reported the Daily Mirror.

Minister Zhenmin thanked the president for his personal interest in maintaining relations between the countries.

“We will continue to support Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Sri Lanka will always find a friend in China.”

“You have established a close friendship with the Chinese leadership,” Mr. Liu said, adding that this personal relationship “will play a guiding role in China-Sri Lanka relations.”

A man was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) in Jaffna on Thursday evening.

He is alleged to have been a “close associate of ‘Gopi’”, who was reported to have been killed by the Sri Lankan military earlier this month, reported Colombo Gazette.