Tamil civil society organisations have called on the European Parliament to deny Sri Lanka restoration of GSP+ until at least a list of surrendees and detainees is released by the Sri Lankan government.

In a joint statement supporting the the demands of the families of the disappeared who have been protesting across the North-East, the civil society organisations also noted “with serious concern, that Sri Lanka has failed to substantively comply with the 27 international conventions which the European Parliament requires compliance with in order for a state to be eligible for GSP+ status.”

Tamils working on military-run farms and preschools were forced to protest against the Northern Provincial Council by civil security department personnel.

Employees of military run agricultural and preschool ventures, including a significant number of former LTTE cadres, were threatened with suspension of wages if they refused to attend the protests.

In recent months the Northern Provincial Council and local agricultural and civil society organisations in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi have been campaigning to regain control of large agricultural farms and preschools from military control.

Families of the disappeared have been protesting in Trincomalee for 50 days now.

Australian Tamils held a memorial in Melbourne on Saturday for Annai Poopathy and other Tamils killed in the armed struggle.

Families of the forcibly disappeared are approaching 60 days of protest at Vavuniya.

Sri Lankan terrorism police interrogated Tamil organisers of a memorial sports tournament this week.

A knock-out football tournament organised by ‘Agni Siragugal’ or ‘Wings of Fire’ has been taking place in the run-up to Mullivaikkaal remembrance day on May 18th. Sports clubs across the North-East have been participating.

On Thursday, the leader of the Wings of Fire organisation, Selvanayagam Ananthavarman was subject to investigation by Vavuniya Terrorism Investigation Department officers.

Families of the disappeared have continued their protest in Kilinochchi, on what is now the 59th day.

The 29th anniversary of Annai Poopathy’s death was remembered today across the homeland.

The garbage dump collapse in the town of Meetotamulla, near Colombo, has killed at least 30 people, while damaging approximately 150 homes.

"This is a government-made disaster…I have a mix of feelings — of anger, frustration and sorrow. We have been trying to protest and raise these issues, but no one was listening," a local resident stated.

Following the disaster, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe vowed to close the dump – a site that has absorbed much of Colombo’s waste over the past several years, especially as the capital undergoes heavy construction.

Easter Sunday was celebrated by Christians across the North-East today.