In Sri Lanka, chief minister of Tamil-majority Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran today boycotted the 69th Independence Day function in Jaffna and instead attended protest meetings in Mullaitivu district. Provincial Governor hoisted the national flag, but the Chief Minister chose not to be present. A small section of radical Tamil nationalists led by Northern Provincial Council members observed the day as a "Black Day" for the Tamils by wearing black bands. They held a demonstration in front of the District Secretariat putting forth their demands including release of political prisoners and civilian land by armed forces. <br/><br/>Chief Minister Wigneswaran addressed the protesters saying that the government has returned less than six percent of the lands the military had seized during the war. The chief minister has been following a hardline stance against the central government calling for federal constitution and redressal of war crimes, as opposed to moderate Tamil leadership who are in favour of working with Sri Lankan government to find a solution to ethnic issue.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in his independence day address criticised elements working against the reconciliation process in the country terming them as opportunistic. Speaking at the Independence Day celebrations Colombo, the President said that those working against the reconciliation process are clearly working against the country. He said that the reconciliation process has drawn the praise of those in Sri Lanka and overseas.