The World Press Freedom Index for 2014, compiled by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) has Sri Lanka fall further to 165th position out of a total of 180 countries.

Last year Sri Lanka occupied the 162nd spot, but has gone down the rankings due further restriction of the Tamil press.

“In the north of Sri Lanka (165th, -2), the army reigns supreme, tolerating no challenge to the official vision of the “pacification” process in Tamil separatism’s former strongholds.” RSF said.

The Tamil National alliance (TNA), today, called for an independent international probe into the mass grave found in Mannar.

The skeleton count rose to 59 today, after the 20th excavation at the site was completed. Evidence of bullet holes have been found on the skeletal remains whilst others bodies have been found with hands bound.

Speaking to Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, the TNA parliamentarian for Mannar, Selvam Adaikalanathan, implored,

“We are also aware that some of the western countries, including the US, who are experts in forensic tests, excavation and investigation have expressed their willingness to assist the local excavation and investigation processes, but they have not been granted necessary permission. We, the Tamils, cannot simply rely on the Sri Lankan government for justice. If the investigations are to be independent, it has to be an international one.”

Outlining the risk of losing evidence, Adaikalanathan stressed the urgency of his calls, stating,

“One more human skeletal remain was recovered when digging took place yesterday for the 21st time, taking the total number to 59. At least one of them was said to be of a child. We still don’t know the extent of  this mass grave. Some of the skeletal remains had bullet holes while some others have been found with their hands bound behind their bodies. We urgently call for an independent international investigation into this mass grave. Otherwise, there is risk of evidence being tampered with or destroyed completely.”

China today launched an attack on countries that were pressing Sri Lanka on human rights issues, pledging to support the Sri Lankan government defend its ‘national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity’.

Responding to a query regarding the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister, G.L Peiris’, visit to China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, said,

3 more skeletons have been uncovered in the latest excavation of the mass grave in Mannar, reported the Uthayan.

The excavation is the 20th to have taken place so far, from which a total of 58 bodies have been unearthed.

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the ruling coalition of Sri Lanka, blamed the UNP, opposition party, for the creation of the Tamil diaspora and international scrutiny faced by Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a media conference at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headquarters, the general secretary of the UPFA, Susil Premajayantha, outlined that the UPFA government’s failure to prevent the 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms  created the diaspora, who were now involved in lobbying the international community to take action against Sri Lanka using claims of war crimes during the final stages of the ethnic conflict in 2009.

Land cordoned off by the Civil Defence Force

The Sri Lankan government has been forcibly acquiring land in the village of Thennamaravadi, an area that links both the Tamil dominated Northern and Eastern provinces, with over 270 acres of land owned by Tamils acquired by the state and Sinhala settlers.

Thennamaravadi, located on the border of the Mullaitheevu and Trincomalee districts, has had almost 22 acres of land taken by Civil Defence Division and Civil Security Department members, despite deeds to the land being held by Tamil inhabitants of the village, according to sources on the ground.

Sources also told the Tamil Guardian that 250 acres of land used for paddy cultivation has been acquired by Sinhalese farmers from Singhapura and Gayapapura, following harassment from Sri Lankan security forces, who coerced Tamil farmers into selling the land far below their market value.

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has offered his country’s support to Sri Lanka against pressure at the forthcoming UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, during a visit by its External Affairs Minister GL Peiris.

"China opposes some countries' interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka under the pretext of human rights issues," Wang said in Beijing, according to Reuters.

The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council has decided to support calls for an independent probe into “alleged severe crimes” during the conflict and current human rights issues.

Meeting to decide the EU’s priorities during the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva next month, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to the HRC.

“Ahead of the 25th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and following the conclusion of the Third Committee of the 68th UN General Assembly, the EU reaffirms its strong commitment to and support for the HRC and other United Nations bodies tasked with the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide,