The spokesperson of the Tamil National Alliance, MP Suresh Premachandran urged India and the US to support the release of the OISL report and the implementation of its recommendations, while criticising the 100 day reform programme of President Maithripala Sirisena, for not addressing Tamil issues.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jaffna Press Club, the MP for Jaffna also welcomed the genocide resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council on Tuesday, adding that genocide of the Tamil people continues today in various forms.

Mr Premachandran called on the international community, “be it India or the United States,” to cooperate and ensure the release of the OISL report and to push for the implementation of its recommendations.

“There is nothing about Tamil issues in the [President’s] 100 day programme,” he pointed out. “Tamil people should be resettled, political prisoners should be released.” Mr Premachandran said that Tamils expected the support of India, the US and other countries when demanding action on these issues.

Elaborating on the importance of the NPC’s genocide resolution, Mr Premachandran said “genocide is not simply killing a section of people. It is also rendering those people unable to live on that land.”

Sri Lanka's Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) has summoned Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran for questioning reports the Uthayan.

Mr Ravikaran was sent a warrant from the Mullaitivu police on Wednesday, requiring him to report to the TID's Kilinochchi branch on the 18th of February at 10am. No reason was given for the summoning.

Welcoming a recent Northern Provincial Council resolution calling for the UN to investigate the crime of genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka, Northern Provincial Councillor M K Sivajilingam, called on Tamil parties, Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora to bring about change in the international community to provide justice.

Mr Sivajalingam further added,

“Whilst the new government came to power wanting to put behind the international accountability mechanism, the Tamil nation is demanding justice. The UN’s report should be submitted in March.”

Sri Lanka's new government on Thursday approved President Sirisena's motion to hold this year's 'War Heroes commemoration' in Galle.

Sri Lanka will look to start talks on a $4 billion dollar loan by sending a high level team to Washington, said the Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake, on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Colombo, Mr Karunayake, said,

“There is a lot of international goodwill and we can get finance from the IMF and World Bank at 0,5 percent.”