In Sri Lanka, hundreds of minority Tamils staged a rally and public meeting in northern Jaffna town. They demand a federal constitution and to merge minority-dominated Northern and Eastern Provinces. The meeting was addressed by prominent Tamil leaders including Chief Minister of northern province C.V. Wigneswaran. Shops and transport services remained shut in Jaffna during the demonstration named Ezhuga Tamizh or 'Tamils Arise'. <br/><br/>Organisers said, the rally aims to create awareness among the Tamils and to put pressure on the government in Colombo to expedite the implementation of the promises it made to the Tamils at the time of the Presidential and parliamentary elections held last year.<br/><br/>In a related development, over 20 minority Tamil political prisoners today began a hunger strike protesting against their detention. The prisoners have urged the government to release them without further delay or if their cases are being further prolonged, then it may be transferred to a court in the northern towns which are Tamil- dominated. Most of the prisoners were arrested during and soon after the country's 30 year civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels which ended in May 2009. Most of them have been released but around 100 of them are still in prison demanding early release. <br/><br/>AIR Correspondent's report:-<br/>People from all parts of Tamil-majority areas in North participated in today's rally named 'Tamil arise'. The participants carried placards demanding return of lands occupied by military during war against LTTE, stopping construction of Buddhist temples and settlement of Sinhala population in Tamil areas and release of political prisoners. It was aimed at putting pressure on Sri Lankan government under President Maithripala Sirisena who was elected on promise of reconciliation with minority ethnic groups. The new government has taken few steps including setting up of commission to frame new constitution. Tamil groups are demanding federal structure in the country and merger of eastern and northern provinces. However, the oldest Tamil party led by MP V. Sampanthan did not participated in today's rally saying such moves will further alienate majority Sinhalese groups."