Muslims in the Thoppoor area of Puliyankulam, Trincomalee have condemned what they said was the Sinhala occupation of 125 acres of land. 

The Muslim residents said the occupation and the cultivation of agricultural land was taking place despite the fact that land ownership documents proved they were the rightful owners. 

British High Commission officials met with members of the former LTTE cadre political party, Crusaders For Democracy in Trincomalee on Thursday. 

CFD members told reporters that the officials, Paul Green and Bob Last discussed the UK's work in Geneva on Sri Lanka and of the UK's future initiatives towards accountability for those forcibly disappeared. 

The difficulties faced by former LTTE cadre was also discussed. 

The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) have summoned Kanesalingam Santhiralingam, the spokesperson of Crusaders for Democracy, a political party of former LTTE cadre. 

Santhiralingam, also known as K. Thulasi, has been ordered to attend the TID's Colombo second floor office on December 19 to give a statement regarding an investigation. 

However, the summons, which was delivered to his wife at home by a Sri Lankan intelligence officer, does not provide details of the investigation. 

<p>The Washington based organisation, PEARL, on Monday called for justice for Sri Lanka's genocide against Tamils.</p> <p>"When states fail to punish genocidaires, they ignore the object and purpose of the Genocide Convention. Punishment of genocide is necessary to guarantee non-recurrence and end impunity," PEARL stressed in its statement, which was issued the day after the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.</p> <p>"As a first step, PEARL calls on states to officially recognize the mass atrocities of Black July and 2009 as “genocide.” We further urge states to impose sanctions on Sri Lanka until it establishes a special judicial mechanism with foreign judges, prosecutors, and lawyers to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes, including genocide, since the start of Black July."</p>

<p>The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan yesterday rejected reports that a document had been signed with the United National Party (UNP).&nbsp;</p> <p>In a written statement Sampanthan said such reports were "deliberately false".&nbsp;</p> <p>"It is reported that a document signed by Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe Leader of the UNP and myself as the Leader of the ITAK/ TNA is being widely circulated. I state that I have signed no such document with the Leader of the UNP and the said document is deliberately false."</p>

<p>A 55 year old father of two, Sivapathasuntharam Sivaseelan, was found dead in Batticaloa today.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sivaseelan is believed to be from Koolaavadi Thisaveerasingam Square area of Batticaloa.&nbsp;</p> <p>His body was found at a construction site in Kallady, where two buildings are currently being built.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kaathankodi police are investigating this matter.</p>

Students and staff at the University of Jaffna today held an event remembering the chief political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Anton Balasingham. 

Balasingham, who was known within the Tamil nation as 'Bala anna', passed away 12 years today. 

Students were joined by staff at the University, as well as local political figures at the event, which also featured a seminar analysing the island's political situation. 

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) held commemorative events across the North-East on Friday to remember Anton Balasingham, the chief negotiator and political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

<p>Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from the post as prime minister tomorrow, in the latest twist to the island’s political crisis.</p> <p>His son and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa tweeted the announcement, stating it was done “to ensure stability of the nation”.</p> <p>Rajapaksa is expected to give an announcement tomorrow.</p> <p>“The SLPP with Frm President, SLFP &amp; others will now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena,” Namal added.</p>

India appears to have adopted a “waiting game” approach to Sri Lanka, said the Hindustan Times in an editorial today, but warned “the wait for the crisis to play out to some sort of conclusion could be a long one”.

The paper stated the crisis in Colombo comes amid calls in Sri Lanka for an “inclusive system that takes care of the interests of all sections of society, including the minority Tamils, who have a considerable impact on domestic politics in Tamil Nadu”.