Almost 3,000 Indian fishermen and their family members have commenced a hunger strike demanding the Sri Lankan Navy release Tamil Nadu fishermen that they arrested earlier this month.

Fishermen from across 63 different hamlets in the Nagapattinam district joined the fast, which they said will carry on until the detained fishermen are released.

The fishermen were held during various incidents in the last month, with dozens being arrested.

The French Embassy in Sri Lanka stated it would continue to closely follow the case of 17 aid workers, who were shot dead by Sri Lankan security forces, in order to ensure that justice is served for the killings.

Stating that “the Embassy will continue to pay close attention to developments in this case to ensure justice is served,” it went on to add,

“The French Embassy has reminded the Attorney General that the protection of witnesses was a prerequisite in the course of the investigation and that all methods used during the investigation must serve the sole objective of bringing to justice those responsible for the massacre of 17 aid workers of ACF.”

The 17 Action Contre la Faim (ACF) workers, mostly Tamils, were lined up and summarily executed on 4th August 2006 in Muttur, Trincomalee. The charity stated Sri Lankan security forces were responsible for the massacre.

Over 50,000 upcountry Tamils will be unable to vote at the Uva Provincial Council election, in the island's south, as their employers have refused to grant them leave in order for them to cast their vote, reports Colombo Page.

The Tamils, employed in the private sector in other parts of the island such as Jaffna, Colombo, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, will not be able to return to the Uva province, in order to cast their vote.

The producers of 'Kaththi', Lyca productions, held a press conference on Tuesday, denying any links to the Rajapaksa regime amid calls to boycott from students in Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa criticised Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran for “not cooperating” with the government’s development in the region, while speaking at a UN Habitat event.

Rajapaksa said the chief minister’s lack of cooperation was affecting the “ordinary people” in the north of the island, and that political differences with the central government resulted in some officials, showing reluctance to work with the government.

The defence secretary pointed out that the Colombo Municipal Council is working with the Urban Development Authority and Ministry of Defence, despite it being governed by the opposition UNP, adding that the Northern Provincial Council must also work with the government, in the best interest of the people in the region.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, noted that difficulty in dealing with issues regarding land ownership and coexistence with the military forces remained for the people in the Eastern province, in a statement on her recent visit to the province.

“New roads and bridges have opened up markets and encouraged tourists, but many issues around land remain and the reality of co-existing with military forces is still difficult for many,” said Laura Davies.