Answering questions in Parliament, Britain’s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire, once again stated that Sri Lanka has until March 2014, to begin credible domestic accountability processes before the UK will call for an international investigation.

Drawing on previous statements, Swire stated,

Tamil children in the North are increasingly dropping out of school, reports IRIN news service.

The situation is mainly aggravated by lack of meaningful job opportunities, with poor families needing all able-bodied members to find odd jobs or agricultural work to make ends meet.

Sri Lanka has rejected the allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, made by an Australian NGO on Wednesday.

The International Crimes Evidence Project accused the Sri Lankan government of “crimes against humanity of persecution”, which could constitute of genocidal acts, and called for a international inquiry into the allegations.

India will extend its visa-on-arrival facility, from initially eleven countries to 180, meaning tourists from nearly all countries will not have to apply for a visa in advance form an Indian embassy, reported Zee News.

Sri Lanka has again said it needs more “time and space” to address reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

In a 30-minute propaganda video, aired on US national television channel NBC, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Secretary Lalith Weerathunga said that Sri Lanka needs over a year to implement the bulk of the LLRC recommendations and up to 10 years to see “fruits in this whole issue of reconciliation”.

Australian newspaper The Age published an editorial today calling upon the Australian government to take meaningful action towards bringing about an international investigation on Sri Lanka, stating that the international community has a duty to act on the reports of war crimes.

Published the day after a report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), which stated genocidal acts may have occurred, the editorial slammed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s “petulant and dangerously insular response” to reports of human rights violations and Australia's "shameful and obsequious brand of appeasement” of Sri Lanka. It went on to note that "Australia risks being marginalised" if it fails to act towards bringing about justice.

Extracts from the article have been reproduced below. See the full piece here.

"When war crimes are committed but not punished because a ruling government ignores or, in the case of Sri Lanka, flatly denies that they occurred, the duty falls to the international community to act. We must not fail to do so even when we fear it may jeopardise bilateral relationships. We have an abiding moral duty to do all we can to ensure justice is done."

"What is particularly concerning, though, is evidence that torture, enforced disappearances, rape and sexual violence have continued since 2009 under the government of President Mahindra Rajapaksa. The PIAC suggests the Rajapaksa government has fostered a ''culture of impunity'' that allows violations of human rights to continue. Is it any wonder that so many Sri Lankans have sought asylum here in recent years?"

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation, a group founded by DMK head Karunanidhi, has passed a resolution calling on India to support an international investigation into Sri Lanka at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

The organisation, who met at the at 'Anna Arivalayam' in Chennai with Karunanidhi chairing, unanimously condemned the Indian government’s approach on Sri Lanka and called upon the government to support a resolution calling for an international investigation on Sri Lanka.

Protesters and demonstrators are to be prosecuted in the future, the Sri Lankan police has announced.

Police spokesperson Ajith Rohona told a press conference that due to the public inconvenience caused by demonstrations and road blockades, protestors would be charged for wasting public time.

The policy will allegedly be enacted in all districts on the island, including Colombo.