Switzerland received 11,873 asylum seekers between January and June this year, with Sri Lanka the second most common country of origin, after Eritrea, ahead of conflict hotbeds such as Syria and Somalia.

A total of 840 refugees from Sri Lanka, most of whom are thought to be Tamil, sought asylum in Switzerland, compared to 781 Syrians and 3,800 Eritreans.

The number represents an increase of 76.5% compared to the equivalent period in 2014, when 364 refugees from Sri Lanka claimed asylum in the country.

Photograph: Tamil Guardian

United and coordinated action between the homeland and Tamil diaspora is needed to achieve the Tamil nation’s aspirations of redeveloping the North-East, seeking justice for genocide and finding a political solution based on the Thimphu principles, said the Chief Minister of the Northern Province during a visit to the UK last week.

A full English translation of his statement made on Friday can be read here.

Addressing a full auditorium at the annual lecture of the International Association of Tamil journalists (IATAJ), CV Wigneswaran said,

“Offering the humanitarian support to rebuild our land is a short term goal. For this your support is needed. Ensuring justice for the genocide that was committed is a medium term goal – for this too your support is needed. Finding a political solution based on the Thimbu principles is a long term goal – that too must take place with your support. I end my talk trusting that you will give your understanding and support for all of us to work together with dedication for this.”

The Sri Lankan government says it is currently identifying and releasing private land, currently occupied by the military in High Security Zones, The Hindu reports.

The paper quoted a “top official” from the defence ministry, who said surveyors and other field officials are also involved in the process to ascertain the veracity of claims and identify the owners of the land in question.

The government was not in a position to return all land, the official further said, adding that it decided to provide monetary compensation, based on the market value of the land, or offer alternative land to the legitimate owners.

The official refused to give a definitive figure for the land still occupied by the security forces, but The Hindu said over 5,000 acres are still held.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says the party stands united, ahead of the general election on August 17.

Mr Yapa said the main goal of the SLFP was to defeat the current government and appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister.

“We want to install a people’s Government after August 17,” the SLFP General Secretary said, according to Colombo Gazette.

The Tamil National People’s Front held a campaign rally in Trincomalee on Saturday.

General Secretary of the party Kajendran Selvarajah and local candidate Mr Gnaneswaran addressed the audience at the Welikada Martyrs Memorial Hall in the town on the eastern coast.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa slammed Sri Lanka’s current prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for allowing the “North” to be in “chaos.”

Speaking at the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) inaugural rally, Rajapaksa accused the new government of trying to “sweep away the Rajapaksa’s” like the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did.

Stressing that his government was able to free the country from "terrorism", Rajapaksa added,

“Not even six months have passed since the UNP came into power and the North is in total chaos. Some have even said that the LTTE rule is preferable to the situation that prevails in the North today.”