The Tamil National Alliance will not accept ministerial portfolios in the government, out of respect for the “immense sacrifices” made by the Tamil people during the armed conflict, the party’s MP for Batticaloa, MP C Yogeswaran said.

The MP said the party was not “greedy” for such posts in this or the next government and would only consider the portfolios once the political aspirations of the Tamil people are fulfilled.

"We should respect the immense sacrifices made by our people during the three decades of civil war. Therefore, we cannot accept the portfolios for prestige reasons," Mr Yogeswaran said, while addressing a public meeting in Kiran, Batticaloa last Friday.

"Thousands of Tamil people in the past had sacrificed their lives to fulfil the political aspirations of the Tamil community. We are still negotiating with the government in power to achieve the political target of the Tamil people. Not a single cent had been allocated for the development of the Kiran village,

Tamils who were displaced during the armed conflict in Amparai remain destitute and have not been resettled in their native villages, T Kalaiarasan, a councillor for the TNA in the Eastern Provincial Council said to media.

The leader of the Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and former legal adviser to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)  V Rudrakumaran questioned the motives of recent talks held between Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and select Tamil representatives.

Drawing on previous experiences in political negotiations with the Sri Lankan government and questioning the timing of the talks, Mr Rudrakumaran said,

“The present government is to be a short lived one with parliamentary elections likely to happen soon. Nothing much will eventuate in terms of long term outcomes for Tamils with this interim government structure. Therefore, the urgency surrounding these talks brings up questions whether the talks are genuinely in the interest of the Tamils.”

The government’s plan to dismantle military camps in the Tamil majority areas will lead to the split of the country, leading monk Medagoda Abayathissa said, according to Ada Derana.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the monk also condemned the new government for planning to adopt a decorative version of the Sri Lankan flag.

“The cabinet has approved a proposal to appoint a committee to prepare an officially accepted decoration flag. This is something we never wanted to happen,” Mr Abayathissa said.

Civilian houses in the High Security Zone of Valikamam North are being demolished by the army.

According to Tamil National Alliance MP, A. Vinayagamoorthy, reports have emerged of homes being demolished and wells being covered within the Valikamam North High Security Zone.

The South African government must arrest Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, London-based advocacy group Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), demanded.

In a statement released on Sunday, the group pointed out the International Criminal Court had issued two arrest warrants against the president for charges including crimes against humanity and genocide.

Al-Bashir on Sunday was prevented from leaving South Africa, in anticipation of a ruling for his arrest by The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC).

“TAG welcomes the interim ruling of the High Court in Pretoria, preventing Al-Bashir from leaving South Africa, pending its ruling on an application for his arrest by The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC),

The Sri Lankan government must consult with the victims and their families to ensure support for mechanisms to establish accountability, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussain, said at the opening of the 29th UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva this morning.

Sri Lanka’s government refuted former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s accusation that the government has removed 59 army camps during its tenure since January.

Highways minister and UNP general secretary Kabeer Hashim said it was Mahinda Rajapaksa who ordered the removal of several camps and the release of land, and not the present government. He said the former president insulted the country’s security forces by implying an LTTE resurgence.

"Rajapaksa is saying that 59 camps have been removed from the North by the current administration. We urge him to stop lying. All the camps were removed during Rajapaksa's time. In addition, of the 11 000 acres taken over by the security forces over 5000 acres were released during Rajapaksa's time. Not only that Rajapaksa ordered the removal of the Army camp in Sampur," Mr Hashim said

Mr Rajapaksa “accused” the government of dismantling the camps in a letter addressed to the 'Bring Back Mahinda Rally' in Matara in southern Sri Lanka, adding that he was “shocked” by the development.

 Tamil leaders in the North-East of Sri Lanka are concerned that the new Sri Lankan government’s actions do not address issues of Tamils desire for greater autonomy and the withdrawal of military troops from the North-East, reports the Washin