A heavy military presence has been reported in Vanni, following the arrest of a Tamil disappearances campaigner, Jeyakumari, and her 13-year-old daughter, Vipoosika, in Kilinochchi yesterday.

Sources told the Tamil Guardian that there was a large military presence around Tharumapuram, with restrictions being placed on the movement of the public, including Tamil parliamentarians.

Local residents have said that over 2000 troops are currently present in Vanni. 

Tamil campaigner Balendra Jeyakumari, who was arrested along with her 13-year-old daughter Vipoosika under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, warned of unknown people following her home and threatening her, in a video sent to Channel 4 last month.

Channel 4 revealed earlier today that Ms. Jeyakumari had sent a video where she warned of unknown persons looking for and following her. She told the British broadcaster,

"Unknown faces follow me and track me whenever I go home after protests. [To me, in my mind, this frightens me]."

“This is a serious threat. We are terrified to live here.”

“I gladly give this interview to Channel 4 to publicise my plight.”

“We have now heard reports that Jeyakumari and Vidushika may be detained by an Order of the Secretary, Ministry of Defence under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, thereby circumventing the legal requirement that they be produced before a Magistrate within twenty-four hours of arrest. The TNA is shocked and appalled at the conduct of the authorities in this regard. The high-handed conduct of the government, even while its human rights record is under scrutiny at the current sessions of the Human Rights Council, is illustrative of the government’s disdainful conduct towards the Human Rights Council,”

"People were arrested yesterday. We have to examine the evidence, the grounds on which it was done. That will happen in due course. There is judicial scrutiny."

"I think it is very wrong to come to a conclusion before the facts are looked at objectively and in depth."

The remains of Karthikesan Niruban, a school teacher from Vavuniya, were found by locals clearing a garden in Mankulam, JDS reported.

Niruban went missing ahead of the Northern Provincial Council elections and his family made a complaint to Vavuniya police station in September last year.

The leader of the opposition United National Party Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that he saved leading members of the government from being hauled before the International Criminal Court, whilst campaigning in the south of the island.

Addressing an event in Sirikotha, where the UNP was launching its election manifesto for the upcoming Southern and Western Provincial elections, Wickremesinghe accused the Rajapaksas as “masquerading as the greatest patriots”, according to the Island.

Updated 18:41

A Tamil rights activist campaigning for the families of those ‘disappeared’ in Sri Lankan military custody is tonight herself being held, along with her 13 year old daughter, at an unknown location.

The Sri Lankan government says that it will formally reject the resolution that is to be proposed at the UN Human Rights Council.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told media that the government is willing to accept constructive criticism, however it will not abide by any resolution which could harm Sri Lanka’s interests.

Foreign Secretary William Hague reiterated the British government’s support for an international investigation in a written statement delivered in parliament on Thursday.

Hague said, as no credible domestic accountability process had been established, the time has now come for international action and that the UK has been talking to a wide range of UNHRC members to garner support for a resolution calling for an international investigation.

“[N]o credible domestic accountability processes have been set up to date in Sri Lanka. As a result, the time has now come for international action on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka."