The US development agency, USAID has said it will design a livelihood project for vulnerable groups, including “women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict” and others.

A statement by the US embassy in Colombo said:

In order to support further reconciliation of the Sri Lankan people, the U.S. Embassy, through its development office of USAID, is designing a new livelihoods project that aims to increase household incomes in the dairy, poultry and horticulture sectors. This initiative seeks to reach women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict, and other vulnerable groups.

The Sri Lankan election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has said that all candidates taking part in the provincial council elections will have to submit a signed affidavit with their nomination, swearing that they respect the territorial integrity of the country and unequivocally oppose any moves to divide Sri Lanka.

“Thirty years ago today in Sri Lanka, violent mobs of armed extremists began carrying out attacks against the country’s Tamil population. Hundreds of Tamils were killed and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed in the ensuing riots."

“In the years since the Black July pogrom, July 23 has become a day of mourning and remembrance for members of Sri Lankan Tamil communities around the world, including the 200,000-strong Tamil community in Canada."

"As we reflect on the violence that began on this day in 1983 across Sri Lanka, I take the opportunity to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to promote and uphold our fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.’’

“I stand with the Tamil-Canadian community in commemorating the senseless destruction and tragic loss of life during Black July.”

Over 200 British Tamils staged a demonstration outside Number 10 Downing Street today, in remembrance of 1983 Black July massacre .

Marking the 30^th year since the deadly pogrom of 1983, Tamils from 3 generations yielded placards and banners that highlighted the on-going genocide of the Tamils in the North-East of Sri Lanka. Banners displayed to the public that the events of Black July were a small fragment of the unabated destruction faced by the Tamil nation in the North-East.

The External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, GL Peiris, has urged the public to look at the benefits that hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting would bring, after criticism about the cost of the event.

“Good things cannot happen without expenses. It involves expenditure of resources,