The left wing Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) stated it was opposed to federalism, in response to the manifesto released by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) this week.

JVP Propaganda Secretary and Member of Parliament Vijitha Herath told The Island, "the JVP is against federalism”. Whilst accepting that “the grievances of the Tamil people should be redressed,” Mr Herath reiterated that “federalism is not that solution”.

He also spoke out against the merging of the Northern and Eastern provinces, as outlined by the Indo-Lanka accord, which saw the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution signed.

“It is the JVP that went before the courts and got an order to demerge the two provinces that had been arbitrarily merged after the Indo-Lanka Accord,” said Mr Herath. “These two provinces should function separately.”

His comments come after the release of an election manifesto by the TNA, which called for constitutional changes that accept the Tamil people's entitlement to their right to self-determination under the United Nations International Covenants on Civil political rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICCPR).

The head Buddhist monk of the Asgiriya Chapter gave his blessings to the Sri Lankan army on Friday, stating that “its services cannot be undermined under any circumstances”.

The comments by the newly appointed chief monk came as the commander of the Sri Lankan army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva and a military contingent paid a visit to seek his blessings last week.

The monk commended “the roles that have been played so far by the Army as brave defenders of the Nation, risking own lives for others in the country and what they have gained for the country,” reports the military website.

The Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF) has condemned the plans for a domestic accountability mechanism in Sri Lanka, as detailed in a UN memo obtained by Channel 4.

In a statement, the group said they “condemn and reject these moves hatched in secrecy to establish a domestic mechanism solely negotiated between the Government of Sri Lanka and the UN”.

The TCSF further said that the UN “clearly does not see the Tamil people as being partners” in the accountability process on the island, despite human rights chief Zeid Hussain’s repeated call for consultations with victims in establishing a mechanism.

The Tamil National People’s Front today criticised the UN plan for a purely domestic incquiry, as revealed by Channel 4 News last night.

The UNP rejected the possibility of a federal solution to the long-running ethnic conflict, the latest southern party to do so.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said the policy of the party and its alliance the UNF was to devolve powers to the provinces in consultation with all concerned and within a united and undivided Sri Lanka, Colombo Gazette reported.

“We will not agree to a Federal solution,” Mr Perera said insisted.

The minister further stressed that there was no new or past agreement with the TNA with regards to the elections.

Abductions, torture and sexual abuse of Tamils by Sri Lanka's security forces continue under the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena, according to a new report released on Tuesday, which calls on the UN to refer its reports to the International Criminal Court for further action against those responsible for the crimes.

Location of a secret torture camp in Trincomalee - International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka report

The report, by the International Truth and Justice Project Sri Lanka (ITJP), says 100 so-called "white-van" abductions occurred between 2009 and 2015, one from as recent as this month, and describes torture and sexual violence by military forces and police against Tamils in locations across the North-East and Colombo.

ITJP in its report published 41 locations on the island where victims say they were tortured since the end of the armed conflict, revealing the GPS coordinated for the notorious intelligence detention facility in the Trincomalee Naval Dockyard. The locations include 15 military camps, 15 police stations, 10 "Rehabilitation Camps" and Menik Farm internment camp.