Nineteen centuries back, Silappathikaaram a Tamil epic cited the inevitability of retributive justice as a warning for misgovernance. Perennially true the learned would affirm. The discomfiture of a national political formation which sought to usurp power and failed would reaffirm. In Jaffna the party that tried through means that were devious, remains consigned to continued oblivion. Thirty two years are now past and the party in power which lacerated the electoral process is out of power for seventeen years. The Library Fire in Jaffna preceded the rigging that failed. The Reichtag Fire in Germany preceded the election for usurpation. Inexplicable are the ways in which the hand of destiny moves to relegate the guilty to the dustbin of history. But are lessons learnt?

Australia, the current Commonwealth chairman, urged its successor Sri Lanka to improve its human rights record but distanced itself from calls to boycott the handover summit in Colombo.

Australia’s Immigration and Citizenship Minister Brendan O’Connor said he had made it “very, very clear” during talks with Sri Lankan leaders of the need to pursue reconciliation after the crushing of a Tamil rebellion in May 2009.

“The Sri Lankan government is serious about responding to these concerns in a practical way,” O’Connor told reporters in Colombo on Friday after meeting Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris.

After elections in the North, an independent administration by the Tamil alliance

After the proposed Northern provincial council lections the government has received secret information that the Tamil Alliance would opt to have an independent administration devoid of interference.

In order to implement the secret administration they will receive the assistance of several western countries. The President had been informed on this by two Tamil politicians and from the Intelligence services. This has become a great concern to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa as they are dangerous signs.

Issuing a communique the Human Rights Watchdog, Amnesty International says that Azad Sally must be released immediately or charged with an internationally recognisable criminal offence.

Amnesty International notes that Sally had told journalists on April 29 that he was in hiding because he feared for his safety, after receiving threats.

Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director - Polly Truscott said Azad Sally's arrest and the harassment he has faced over the past weeks, is indicative of the climate of fear the government critics in Sri Lanka are forced to live under.

Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, today issued the following statement:

“Canada condemns the arrest of Azad Sally, leader of Sri Lanka’s newly formed Muslim Tamil National Alliance. Mr. Sally was reportedly taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities on May 2.

“We call for Mr. Sally’s immediate release. We understand his arrest is likely motivated by his work on human rights, in particular his defence of religious freedom, including the right of religious communities to practise their faith in Sri Lanka without fear of reprisals.

The office bearers of Jathika Hela Urumaya has warned the government to listen to the conditions they are going to lay when the Northern Provincial council are held and thereafter. They have given a warning to the government if hearing is not given to their suggestions and have the elections they will leave the government.

According to the National Organiser Nishantha Warnasinghe before they declare having the elections there should be a lot of important and distinct changes that have to be made for the provincial act.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has called for foreign monitors at the Northern Provincial Council elections scheduled to be held in September.

A TNA delegation has raised this issue during a meeting with the Elections Commissioner.

The TNA has said that having foreign monitors will help ensure the election is free and fair.

The TNA also said that Tamil Political party representatives have urged the polls chief to make arrangements for the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora to caste their vote at the election.

The refugees in Tamil Nadu seeks to vote at the NPC elections,the request rejected.

The Commissioner of Elections has turned down a request made by the Leaders of Tamil parties to allow those refugees who are in Tamil Nadu the opportunity to vote at the Northern Provincial council elections.

There are thousands of refugees who are in Tamil Nadu. At a meeting held yesterday with the participation of the UNP, JVP and the TNA parties the request was turned down by the commissioner of elections.

The Government's decision to go ahead with the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election has perturbed Opposition political parties.

All this time, the Opposition has been pointing an accusing finger at the Government for not holding the NPC election. But the Government's stance was that NPC election should be conducted when resettlement is completed.

Demining, rehabilitation, development and reconciliation programs have been going on at a rapid pace and the Government firmly believes that elections should be held after completing resettlement to give the Northerners a fair opportunity. A little over a year ago, President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured that the NPC elections will be held in September 2013.

There is as yet no traction under the wheels of Canada’s efforts to have this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting moved from Sri Lanka because of the human rights abuses of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his administration.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will boycott the summit scheduled for November unless Colombo abides by United Nations demands that it properly investigate allegations of massacres of civilians and other abuses by its armed forces in the closing weeks of the war against Tamil separatists in May 2009.