Following the publication of the European Commission’s assessment reports on the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement stressing the need to reform the trade regulations to ensure that rights-abusing states are held to account.

“The EU GSP reports show that some countries seem to be on notice that their trade benefits depend on their human rights record, while others fear no consequence for their abuses,” said Claudio Francavilla, senior EU advocate at Human Rights Watch.

The Officers in Charge at Jaffna and Koppay police stations have filed a petition at Jaffna Magistrate's Court today, seeking a ban on Maaveerar Naal commemorations in the peninsula. 

The petition has specifically sought a ban on commemorations taking place at the University of Jaffna, Koppay Thuyilum Illam and at Lt Col Thileepan's memorial in Nallur, Jaffna. 

At the court hearing, the judge said the judgement will be adjourned until Monday morning. 

The Vice President of the Crusaders for Democracy party has been arrested under the notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for providing meals to the families of fallen LTTE cadres earlier today. 

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, MP for Mitcham and Morden, Siobhain McDonagh, slammed raised concerns over the newly appointed foreign secretary’s, David Cameron’s, engagement with China and promotion of the Chinese-backed “Port City Colombo”.

Families of fallen LTTE cadres were honoured in another event in Mullaitivu and Jaffna yesterday as the Tamil nation marks Maaveerar remembrance week.  

Mallavi, Mullaitivu 

At the event in Mallavi, the mother of three fallen LTTE cadres lit the sacrificial lamp before flowers were laid to remember the tens of thousands of Tamils that gave their lives to the liberation struggle. 

Headstones at Vaharai Thuyilum Illam have been demolished and Tamil activists have been harrassed as Sri Lanka intensifies its crackdown on Maaveerar Naal in the Eastern province. 

Four Sri Lankan police officers collected the personal details of Tamils at Uduthurai Thuyilum Illam this morning as they were making preparations ahead of Maaveerar Naal. 

Each year on Maaveerar Naal, Tamils gather at Thuyilum Illams across the North-East to remember the tens of thousands of LTTE cadres that gave their lives to the liberation struggle. 

A court in Jaffna has ordered the arrest of Sri Lankan police officers over their involvement in the killing of a Tamil youth, who was tortured to death in custody last week.

25-year-old Nagarasa Alex died last week, after being arrested and tortured by Sri Lankan police. A post-mortem examination revealed “multiple injuries” that led to his death.

The Jaffna magistrate ruled it a homicide and ordered the arrest of four Sri Lankan police officers.

The Muttur magistrate court issued a prohibition order to 17 individuals, including Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader and MP, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, and TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendran, prohibiting them from conducting Maaveerar Naal commemoration events in Trincomalee.

Valaichenai police have demolished a memorial erected at Tharavai Thuyilum Illam, Batticaloa, to commemorate fallen LTTE cadres on Maaveerar Naal.