Updated 12:00 GMT

Shops and businesses in Jaffna are closed in support of hunger striking Tamil political detainees, who demand to be released (Photo: @uthayashalin)

Several towns across the Tamil-dominated North-East have nearly completely shut down in a hartal in support of Tamil political prisoners.

Shops, restaurants, banks, schools and other institutions, owned by Tamils and Muslims are closed in Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Vavuniya, locals told the Tamil Guardian on Friday. President Maithripala Sirisena was forced to cancel a visit to Batticaloa, where he was due to take part in the opening of a court complex.

Some business owners in Jaffna town and Nelliyadi opened their shops after they were threatened by unidentified individuals, however later took part in the protest action, despite the threats.

(Photo @mayurappriyan)

Posters commemorating the annual Tamil remembrance day on November 27, Maaveerar Naal, have appeared at Jaffna University.

Several Tamil political prisoners languishing in prisons across the island have been forcibly taken to hospital after entering their 5th day on hunger strike on Thursday.

An estimated 18 Tamil political prisoners were taken to hospital after entering their 5th day on hunger strike to demand their release.

A further 13 fasting prisoner remain in a worsening condition within the prison said the  former TNA MP Suresh Premachandran. 

The Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister in a meeting with Sri Lanka’s president Sirisena was told that all Tamil political prisoners could not be released at once. Sirisena said that he did not have the power to release all the prisoners at once and that legal processes would have to be followed.