The leader of ITAK's youth wing, Subramaniyam Sivakaran was arrested on Wednesday morning by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).

Mr Sivakaran, who is also the editor of a Tamil newspaper called Puthiyavan, was detained at the paper's offices in Mannar and taken to Vavuniya.

The activist, in a recent interview to TamilNet, had condemned the recent arrests and abductions by the TID and compared the Sirisena-regime to that of Mahinda Rajapaksa for its deployment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The recent NPC resolution calling for a re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces in a federal setup should be discussed in parliament, the Tamil National Alliance spokesperson MA Sumanthiran told the Island.

The Frontline Socialist Party has warned Tamils that they should not harbour hopes for a federal setup in the North East.

Propaganda Secretary Pubudu Jagoda said at a press conference that the TNA was fishing in "troubled waters".

"The TNA’s objective is clear. It is using its federalism demand to attract popular support and to swell the number of the supporters. We hope that Tamil people will not fall for such tactics," he said.

The newly appointment British non resident defence advisor, Captain Stuart Borland visited Sri Lanka last week, where he met with the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and commanders of the army, navy and air force.

Captain Borland, who was appointed last year following a meeting between the British prime minister, David Cameron, and the Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM).

The Sri Lankan army has accused the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan of entering an army camp in Kilinochchi without prior permission.

The army's commander, Lt. General Chrishanta De Silva lodged a complaint over the alleged incident.

“This should not have happened," the minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying to press on Monday.

"If and when a VIP wants to visit a camp of the Armed forces, he or she must get prior approval from the Head Quarters of the respective force and the base commander makes necessary arrangements on the advices of the Head Quarters,” he added.