The Tamil National Alliance MP P Selvarajah says unlawful arrests were still continuing in the Eastern Province and warned that the people would teach the new government a lesson if this continued, Ceylon Today reported.

"Fifteen persons have been arrested in Batticaloa alone since the new government came into power. We told our people during the election campaign that such arrests will not take place after January 8. But these arrests continue even after the new government came into power," the Batticaloa MP said, adding the arrests had created panic amongst civilians.

The chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils said he prayed “for a new dawn for the Tamil people”, with the expected release of a UN report on mass atrocities committed against Tamils by the Sri Lankan armed forces later this year.

In a message marking the Tamil new year, Member of Parliament Lee Scott sent his wishes to the Tamil community, adding that,

“This is a wonderful time of celebration and gives us the opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution British Tamils have made to the economy and culture of Britain borne of strong commitment to family and social responsibility.

Mr Scott went on to state,

“I also pray for a new dawn for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and the victims of war crimes and mass atrocities who suffered enormously and continue to endure extreme hardship, with the release of the UNHRC war crimes report." 

The Sri Lankan military has built army camps on residential land that was reportedly released to displaced Tamils in Jaffna, reports Uthayan.

”Only less than 20% of the lands released are residential lands and there are army camps in 46 acres of land released,” said S Sukirthan, Vali North regional Council chairman, stating that the camps had been built in Varuthalaivilan.

Sri Lanka's military held several event's in the Vanni to 'celebrate' Tamil and Sinhala New Year, with civilians, including children, invited to take part.

The 66th and 663rd Brigades of the Security Forces Headquarters in Kilinochchi held an event each in Pooneryn (Poonakari) on the 8th and 10th of April. Major General A.P. De Z Wickramaratne, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 66 Division was chief guest at both events. 

Famous Sinhala singers from the south graced the event in the Kiranchi playground, in the virtually exclusively Tamil town.

The British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland stated the Sri Lankan government will be “judged on their actions”, as she pledged support for the British Tamil community and called on Sri Lanka to co-operate with a UN investigation into the mass killings of Tamils.

“A huge tragedy unfolded in the closing days of the military conflict in Sri Lanka,” said Theresa Villiers. “A UN Report concluded that 70,000 civilians were killed in the final phase of the war and it has been estimated that nearly 150,000 still remain unaccounted for. The total loss of the life during the war will of course have been much greater.”

Calling on the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the recently deferred UN investigation, Ms Villiers said,

“I welcome the undertakings the new President has given to lead a more democratic and accountable government, but his administration will be judged on their actions in delivering on these promises. We cannot yet tell whether this change of Government will lead to real and lasting change in Sri Lanka.”

India’s National Human Rights Commission ordered an investigation into the killing of 20 alleged sandalwood smugglers after hearing two testimonials on Monday.

The testimonies countered police claims that the alleged loggers were shot in an exchange last week, claiming instead that they were executed.

The police say that the killings took place when they challenged a group of 100 sandalwood smugglers who attacked them with axes and stones, reports the BBC.

The killings of the alleged smugglers, who were mostly Tamil, sparked mass protests in Tamil Nadu.