The UN World Tourism Organisation has been criticised for organising a conference in an Eastern resort notorious for human rights violations and the displacement of locals.

The UNWTO conference entitled "Tourism: a Catalyst for Development, Peace and Reconciliation" held in Passikudah was dubbed a 'farce' by Sri Lanka Campaign.

The Society for Threatened Peoples recently detailed in a report that tourism development in war-affected parts of the East result in human rights violations.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) National Organiser Nishantha Warnasinghe warned that the clashes at Jaffna University between Sinhalese and Tamil students on Saturday were a sign that Sinhalese students have “lost their equality in rights”.

Sri Lankan police officials have appointed a “special police team” to investigate clashes that took place between Sinhalese and Tamil students at Jaffna University on Saturday as it looks towards making prosecutions, reports Daily News.

Sri Lankan government minister Champika Ranawaka warned that clashes at Jaffna University on the weekend may lead to “new Prabhakarans” as he called for prosecutions against those involved.

Colombo Telegraph quoted the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development as stating that Tamil students faced no discrimination across the island, whilst Sinhala students were under threat in Jaffna. Clashes erupted on Saturday over attempts by Sinhala students to include a Sinhalese Kandyan dance performance for the first time at a traditional welcome event.

“There is a deeper meaning to this incident,” said the minister. “This is not just an assault on students, this is outright racism.”

Warning that “space must not be given for new Prabhakaran’s to be born,” the minister went on to call for prosecutions against those involved. “We must nip this at the bud, we must defeat these elements. The law must apply to each and every culprit who were behind the assault,” he added.

“These racist and fascist elements must be defeated,” he added, stating that “if they want it to be an all Tamil university, then it should be shut down.”

Sri Lankan soldiers were seen at the Ulavikkulam pillaryaar Kovil festival at Achuveli in Jaffna, where they involved themselves in religious festivities that were underway.

Updated 1230 GMT

A Sinhalese student brandishes a log towards a group of Tamil students as violence broke out at Jaffna University on Saturday.

Sinhalese students at the Jaffna University clashed with Tamil students earlier on Saturday, as violence erupted over the use of a Kandyan dance from the south of the island at a traditional orientation programme.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI)  is carrying out a feasibility study of the airport in Palaly, on the Jaffna peninsula, in order for it to be developed as a regional airport, The Sunday Times reported.

India has previously supported development of the air base, including the reconstruction of the runway.

Currently the facility is operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force and used for military and civilian in-country flights.

Ninety five percent of Tamils in the North-East have asked for a federal constitution in Sri Lanka, said a member of the government’s Public Representations Committee (PRC).

The PRC chairman Lal Wijenayake, initially said that most Tamils did not want a federal solution. Refuting the claims made by the chairman, S Thavarasa, a member of the PRC committee, said he could produce documentary proof to show Tamils in the North-East demanded federalism.

“I have copies of all the submissions,” he told press on Saturday.