^{Students at Vembadi Girls School, Jaffna}

Students across the North-East held a minute silence at 11am local time today in memory of the tens of thousands who were killed by Sri Lankan armed forces in the final stages of the conflict in 2009. 

At precisely 11am students and staff stood in silence to remember. 

Addressing crowds gathered at the Tamil genocide remembrance event in Mullivaikkal memorial ground today, the chief minister of the Northern Province called on the international community to set up without delay international strategic mechanism to ensure justice. 

Declaring May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Day', Mr Wigneswaran said, "as a group of people who have faced institutional genocide, the international community must come forward to assure us a sustainable political settlement based on our sovereignty, our homelands and our individuality."

"Sri Lanka consented to install a hybrid Inquiry Panel before the world body. Now they refuse to abide by their promise and undertaking. This would point out to the world the manner in which our successive governments for 70 years have deceived and fooled our Tamil people." 

Crowds have begun to gather this morning at Mullivaikkal memorial ground ahead of the remembrance event planned to start at 11am local time. School students and families of the disappeared who have been holding continous protests held out May 18 rosettes. 

Schools across the Northern province flew the Northern Provincial Council flag at half mast today marking Tamil Genocide Day. 

Earlier this week the NPC education minister has sent a circular to all schools requesting them to hold a moment's silence at 11am in memory of the tens of thousands who were killed by Sri Lankan state forces at the end of the armed conflict. 

Businesses across the North-East remained shut this morning to mark May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Day', remembering the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred by the Sri Lankan state during the end of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Traders in Puthukudiyiruppu closed their shops and set up a memorial for the victims with black bunting and flowers in memory of the lives lost. 

Students at the University of Jaffna gathered outside its grounds this morning before embarking on a motorbike procession in memory of the tens of thousands of Tamils slaughtered by Sri Lankan state forces at the end of the armed conflict in 2009. 

Marking Tamil Genocide Day, the Northern Provincial Council member, T Ravikaran scattered flowers across Nandikadal lagoon at sunrise. 

The Northern Provincial Council has declared today as a day of mourning for the Tamil people. 

The leader of the British opposition Jeremy Corbyn committed to including fundamental Tamil issues in any future election manifesto whilst speaking at a Tamil genocide memorial event, organised by Tamils for Labour.

The remembrance event, which took place on Wednesday at the Houses of Parliament,  was chaired by Sen Kandiah of Tamils for Labour and Siobhain McDonagh MP.

Human bones have been found in an excavation site on Wednesday in Mannar after work began to erect a new entrance way in the town. 

The bones were first discovered within sand that had been excavated from the site and sold on to local residents earlier this year. 

An album with songs paying tribute to the victims of the final stages of the war was released on Mullivaikkal beach on Thursday.

A Mannar businessman, who narrowly survived serious injury after being shot at by a gang of 8 men today, has alleged that police officers called to the scene helped the culprits escape. 

Mr Jaysuthasan Swamipillai said 8 men arrived to his home at 9pm on Thursday evening by car and attempted to shoot at him. After missing the aim, the men tried to run away in their vehicle however the engine was not starting. 

Mr Jaysuthasan called the police during this time. However, when the police officers arrived they helped the men restart their car and allowed them to escape before investigating the crime scene, he told reporters. 

The penultimate day of Mullivaikkal Week was marked in various places in the East on Thursday.

Families of 24 missing Tamil youth were left in fear following a court hearing in Jaffna on Wednesday after Sri Lankan military intelligence officers dressed in plain clothes filled the court room and surrounded family members as they left the building. 

The hearing was regarding the disappearance of 24 Tamil youths who were arrested by army officers from the Navatkuli in 1996. They have not been seen since. 

The chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran and his team visited the Mullivaikkal memorial ground on Wednesday afternoon to check on preparations ahead of the Tamil genocide remembrance event planned for May 18. 

Former LTTE cadres, students from North-East universities, Northern Provincial Council members and local residents have spent recent days helping to clear and prepare the site ahead of tomorrow.