Over 2000 Sinhala Buddhists, including over 300 Buddhist monks, protested outside a mosque in Dambulla, forcing mosque officials to cancel Friday prayers.

The protesters were led by three Buddhist monks - Inamaluwe Sri Sumangala Thera, Akmeemana Gunaratana Thera and Pallewela Hemaratana Thera. Having surrounded the mosque, the protesters shouted slogans demanding that the mosque be demolished.

Tamil inmates at Galle prison were violently attacked by Sinhala prisoners with blades on the 14th April, reported Lanka eNews website.

The website, which has been banned by the Sri Lankan government for expressing 'anti-government' sentiments stated that the mainstream Sri Lankan press had not reported on the incident.

The body of 18-year-old Tamil student, Sivalingam Sivakumaran, was found by a Sri Lankan military 'high security zone', 2km from his home in Kerudaavil village in Vadamaraadchi North of Jaffna district, reports Tamilnet.

Addressing the cross-party Indian delegation currently visiting Sri Lanka, TNA MP Selvam Adaikkalanandan reiterated the need for the devolution of land and police powers.

The Leader of the DMK, M Karunanidhi, has welcomed the idea of a referendum on an independent Tamil Eelam.

Writing in his party journal Murasoli, Karunanidhi said India should give the "required support and pressure" to effect an intervention by the UN.

An Eelam Tamil activist has been elected President of the Ontario NDP, the provincial branch of Canada’s main opposition National Democratic Party.

Sri Lanka is intending to drastically cut back crude oil imports from Iran, as the June 28 deadline for sanctions imposed by the United States is drawing closer.

In more signs of Sri Lanka’s intention to ignore recommendations made in the LLRC, the Army Commander has used his New Year’s message to the armed forces to call on the army to be the ‘guiding light’ for development, just as it has been for unification, in the country.

Tamil Nadu's DMK party announced its decision to pull out of an all-party Indian delegation set to visit to Sri Lanka this week, on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters, the DMK leader, Karunanidhi said,

The Sri Lankan military's army commander in Jaffna, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe warned Tamils in the North-East to be wary of the Tamil diaspora.

Hathurusinghe said,

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, extended his wishes to the British Tamil community celebrating Chithirai Tirunaal and Tamil New Year.

In his message Mr Johnson highlighted the significant contributions British Tamils make to the city.