“Sri Lanka’s new president can demonstrate his commitment to respecting human rights and bringing an end to impunity by committing publicly to ensure the investigation of serious violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law and, where sufficient evidence exists, the prosecution of those suspected of committing crimes under international law, irrespective of the identity of the victim or the suspect including their rank, political status or influence.”

A court in Berlin has convicted ten Tamils for "supporting a terrorist organisation" and has given them suspended jail sentences lasting between 6 and 22 months.

The eight men and two women, aged between 32 and 60, were found guilty of financially supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, by collecting donations between August 2007 and March 2009.

The judges said the accused suffered violence and discrimination in their homeland and that they "primarily wanted to support humanitarian efforts, but were aware that funds could be used for criminal activities."

The federal government in Germany has recently increased monitoring of Tamils, at the behest of the Sri Lankan High Commission in Berlin, a Tamil activist told the Tamil Guardian.

The MoD Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU) has been responsible for housing projects under the directive of the secretary of defence Gotobaya Rajapaksa since 2006.