British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said “there remains much to be done” to implement a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, in a written statement to parliament this week.

Responding to a question from parliamentarian Wes Streeting, Mr Swire said “Sri Lanka has made encouraging progress towards fulfilling its commitments to UNHRC Resolution 30/1 but we recognise there remains much to be done”.

Human rights violations by Sri Lanka's security forces reported in 2015 include harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and rape, according to the US Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices.

The report, released by Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday, details several reported violations from the Tamil-dominated North-East of the island and said widespread impunity for the crimes committed during the armed conflict and other crimes committed following the end of the conflict, particularly for cases of torture, sexual violence, corruption, and human rights abuses, continued.

"The major human rights problems reported during the year included harassment of civil society activists, journalists, and persons viewed as sympathizers of the banned terrorist group the LTTE as well as arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence committed by police and security forces," the report says.

The report notes surveillance of Tamil civilians and seizure of private land. It also said there was "evidence of government-aided settlement of Sinhalese families from the south in traditionally Tamil areas".

US Secretary of State John Kerry called for “further efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka's democracy and prosperity,” in a statement released to mark Tamil and Sinhala New Year.

“The past year's accomplishments have been historic, demonstrating the deep commitment of the Sri Lankan people for reconciliation, tolerance and peace,” said Mr Kerry.

“I offer my best wishes for a happy New Year and continued success as you move ahead with the new constitution and further efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka's democracy and prosperity.”

The Sri Lankan military held a series of events across the North-East once again this week, to mark the start of the Tamil New Year.

Events were held in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vanni at Sri Lankan army bases, with Tamil civilians, including children invited to take part. Sri Lankan commanders oversaw events, which involved soldiers taking part in activities and games.

The commander of the Sri Lankan army, Lieutenant General A W J C De Silva, marked the occasion with the release of a statement praising Sri Lankan soldiers and stating “it is the prime responsibility of all members of the Army to protect our motherland, its citizenry, to assist in developing the country and to strive to make 2016 the year of achievement”.

Marking Tamil New Year this April, the chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran highlighted that the passing of time had not resolved the problems facing the Tamil people.

"Years keep rolling on, but there delays continue in finding a solution to the problems of the Tamil people," he wrote in a statement.

See statement reproduced in full below:

"Bidding a farewell to the Manmatha Varudam, Durmuki Varudam begins this evening. Years keep rolling on, but there delays continue in finding a solution to the problems of the Tamil people."

"Many of the war-affected people are unable to return to their own houses and lands, and they are still displaced, living amid a lot of hardship."

Sri Lanka is one of the countries where impunity continues, according to former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Speaking at the second annual N. Sivalingam Memorial Lecture at York University in Toronto, Navi Pillay said, “While international justice decisions show that significant advancements have been made in accountability, there still remain significant challenges.”

“Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and others, are a reminder that impunity for war crimes still continues”, she observed at the event on Thursday. Specifically on Sri Lanka, she noted that during her visit to the country while she was High Commissioner for Human Rights, “even though the fighting was over, the suffering was not.”

The former high commissioner revealed that then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa had approached her when she assumed office and warned her that he was about to launch a huge campaign to end terrorism and that she should not criticise him.

The construction of 65,000 homes by the Indian company Arcelor Mittal will go ahead as planned and will commence within two months, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M.Swaminathan told the Daily Mirror.

”Reluctantly though, we have to accept one fact which is that local contractors or investors are not capable of undertaking a massive project of this magnitude. That is why we offered the tender to Arcelor Mittal which is a globally recognised multinational construction company. We also want to finish the task within the targeted time and resettle 65,000 families in two years,” Minister Swaminathan said.

On February 18, the MCSL was invited by the National Planning Department of the Sri Lankan Finance Ministry to submit a proposal for the construction of 65,000 brick and mortar houses in the North. MCSL responded enthusiastically with the relevant details, including a plan for funding from Chinese and other international banks with ADB and Sri Lankan government guarantees.