Sri Lanka’s  State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said the Terrorism Investigation Division would investigate and arrest those involved in organising the commemoration of Maaveerar Naal and marking the birthday of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Responding to questions about events in the North and East from the press, the defence minister said,

“The TID has launched investigations because such actions are illegal. The LTTE is a banned terrorist group. The TID will carry out necessary investigations and arrest those that are involved.”  

Reports have emerged that the University of Jaffna Vavuniya campus has been indefinitely closed to prevent a potential clash between Sinhala and Tamil students.

A group of Sinhalese complained to the university administration that Tamil students commemorated the birthday of the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Velupillai Prabhakaran, reports Dailymirror.lk

According to the news outlet 600 students were asked to evacuate the university premises by Tuesday evening.

Sri Lanka's prime minister and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday warned his fellow party MPs not to criticise the SLFP president as could jeapordise the government. 

According to local papers, Mr Wickremesinghe was particularly critical of UNP parliamentarians holding press conferences during his recent trip to India. 

Going forward all press briefings would need his approval or that of the General Secretary, Leader of the House or the Chief Government whip.

Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena arrived in South Korea today on a state visit which is to focus on building economic cooperation between the two countries. 

Mr Sirisena was accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana and Minister Daya Gamage. 

A number of economic agreements are expected to be signed including on the Employment Permit System (EPS) and the economic development cooperation fund (EDCF). 

Mr Sirisena will also be visiting a business forum to hold discussion with four large potential investors, Colombo Page reports. 

Families of fallen cadres and local residents gathered at the site of a Thuyilum Illam in Kanchikkudichchaaru, Amparai to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

Tamils in Vavuniya marked Maaveerar Naal at the Eechankulam Thuyilum Illam and in a service in Vavuniya Town. Eechankulam was the only Thuyilum Illam to be built by the LTTE in Vavuniya. The events included traditional observances such as lighting of the sacrificial lamp and distributing saplings to families of Maaveerar.

Tamil National Alliance MP Shanthi Skandarajah, speaking in Sri Lanka’s parliament today, called on Sri Lanka to allow Tamils in the North and east to visit cemeteries to commemorate their war dead.

Ms Skandarajah, stressed the need to allow them to restore cemeteries that were destroyed reports DailyMirror.lk.

The MP went on to add that schemes should be made so that widowed women are empowered to start self-employment schemes.

Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the ExCel Centre in London to commemorate Maaveerar Naal.

The event commenced with the raising of the British Flag and the Tamil Eelam national flag to the respective national anthems.

Tamils across Mullaitivu, the most heavily militarised district in the homeland, gathered at various LTTE cemeteries to mark Maaveerar Naal.

Hundreds of Tamils gathered in Mannar at the Thuyilum Illam site of Aadkaaddiveli.

Local priests stood alongside families of Maaveerar to pay their respects.