David Cameron mobbed by 200 Tamil protesters Gathered around his motorcade after he met local officials in Jaffna Up to 200 demonstrators brandished photographs of missing relatives Two women seen to be thrown aside by Sri Lankan police officers First world leader to travel to north since Sri Lanka gained independence Prime Minster David Cameron was mobbed by protesters this morning during a visit to the war-scarred north of Sri Lanka. Up to 200 demonstrators brandishing photographs of missing relatives, letters and petitions gathered around the Prime Minister's motorcade after he met local officials in Jaffna. At least two women were able to get up close to the windows of Mr Cameron's car, and were seen to be thrown aside by Sri Lankan police officers. Mobbed: David Cameron was mobbed by protesters during a visit to the war-scarred north of the island. Pictured: Cameron talks to villagers of internally displaced people's camp at Chunnakam village, in Jaffana Demand: An ethnic Tamil woman tries to approach David Cameron's car to hand over a letter demanding an international inquiry to disappeared relations of at Chunnakam village, in Jaffna Grief: A Sri Lankan ethnic Tamil woman cries holding a portrait of her missing son Protests: Sri Lankan members of the 'Dead and Missing Person's Parents' organisation hold photographs as they take part in a protest in Jaffna As many as 40,000 civilians are estimated to have died in the final months of the regime's 26-year fight with Tamil Tiger separatists in 2009, according to the UN The premier - the first world leader to travel to the north since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 - is embroiled in a furious row over his decision to attend the Commonwealth conference on the island. Canadian, Indian and Mauritian leaders stayed away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in protest over human rights but Mr Cameron has rebuffed calls for him to join them - arguing he will better highlight the issues by being there. As many as 40,000 civilians are estimated to have died in the final months of the regime's 26-year fight with Tamil Tiger separatists in 2009, according to the UN, which wants an international investigation if no new inquiry is held. Tour: Cameron emerges from a tin roofed hut at Sabapathi Pillay Welfare Centre Historic: Cameron made an historic visit to Sri Lanka's former warzone, stealing the spotlight from a Commonwealth summit The premier - the first world leader to travel to the north since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 - is embroiled in a furious row over his decision to attend the Commonwealth conference on the island Mobbed: On a walk Cameron talks to villagers of internally displaced people's camp at Chunnakam village, in Jaffana President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejects claims that his forces indiscriminately shelled Tamils fleeing the intense fighting as the Tigers - themselves a brutal guerrilla movement - were defeated, and allegations of battlefield executions and rapes. Abuses are reported to continue, with claims of torture, abductions and intimidation of the media and judiciary, leading the UN human rights chief to warn the country was becoming increasingly authoritarian. Reconciliation efforts have included regional elections in the north and a commission to investigate historic 'disappearances' but Mr Cameron has said they do not go anywhere near far enough. Mr Cameron met and shook hands with Mr Rajapaksa today at the formal opening of Chogm, which is also being attended by the Prince of Wales on behalf of the Queen, who heads the group of mostly former British colonies. Battle: Cameron went to the northern areas that saw the worst of the war between soldiers and ethnic Tamils rebels fighting for a homeland Powerful: The Prime Minister said he had been confronted by 'incredibly powerful' images during his visit to the north But he left the summit soon afterwards, taking a small aircraft to Jaffna, the provincial capital of the Tamil-dominated north, on a visit which he says he made a condition of his attendance at the event. He visited the city's library, an important location for Tamils after it was burn by a Sinhalese mob in 1981 amid the inter-ethnic tensions which led to the civil war. At the library he was greeted by staff including the chief librarian at a table laden with flowers and burning incense. He then met the chief minister of the northern province, former judge CV Vigneswaran of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - who urged the Prime Minister to tell Mr Rajapaksa that they wanted to move to reconciliation 'in a peaceful manner' - and the TNA national leader, MP Rajavrothian Sampanthan. At the offices of the Uthayan newspaper Mr Cameron heard about murders, attacks and intimidation on the daily and its staff, not only during the civil war but right up until recent months. Interest: Crowds gathered around the Prime Minister as he spoke to local figures Warning: President Mahinda Rajapakse warned against passing judgement on his country's past He was shown, by owner E Saravanapavan and chief editor MV Kaanamylnathan, pictures of the victims on the walls and bullet holes from one of many armed attacks on the premises. The editor has lived in the building for six years, only ever venturing out for medical treatment, as he fears for his life following a previous assassination attempt. Sri Lanka ranks near the foot of the tables for press freedom worldwide, with one prominent national editor murdered and many others attacked and beaten. Mr Cameron also visited Sabapathopillaia, which is described by the Sri Lankan authorities as a 'welfare village' for civilians displaced by the civil war, but which the Prime Minister said was effectively a refugee camp housing Tamils years after hostilities ended. The Prime Minister said he had been confronted by 'incredibly powerful' images during his visit to the north. 'Going to the headquarters of a Tamil newspaper here in northern Sri Lanka and seeing pictures of journalists, shot and killed, on the walls and hearing stories of journalists who have disappeared long after the war has ended, that will stay with me,' he said And also the image, in this camp, of talking to a young woman who came here when she was very young - a child in this camp - and wants nothing more than to go to her own home. Mr Cameron said that the Rajapaksa regime 'still has a chance' to take action over human rights that will satisfy the international community. 'The fact is about this country that there is a chance of success because the war is over, the terrorism has finished, the fighting is done,' said the PM. Greeting: A Sri Lankan woman greets David Cameron as he arrives at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rakapaksa theater, the main venue for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting Official duties: Prime Minister David Cameron arrives for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo 'Now what's needed is generosity and magnanimity from the Sri Lanka n government to bring the country together. And I think coming here, listening to these people, hearing these arguments, helps to draw attention to their plight. I think the spotlight has been shone on Sri Lanka and people can see the good and the bad. They can see the fact that here in the north there has been an election. There's a chief minister who is a Tamil, who I met with today. But the bad thing is, there are people like those in this camp who have been here for over 20 years who want to get to their homes. Meetings: Prime Minister David Cameron meets with the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the British High Commission in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Talks: David Cameron meets with the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the British High Commission Chat: David Cameron speaks with South Africa's President Jacob Zuma while waiting for the official photograph of the Commonwealth heads of states 'Now the fighting is over and the war is over, what's needed is generosity, magnanimity, proper devolution of power. The Tamils and Sinhalese can live in peace on this island. Mr Cameron has promised a 'frank exchange of views' with Mr Rajapaksa over the 'chilling' claims of war crimes and violations of human rights in a face-to-face meeting expected after his return to Colombo. The Prime Minister earlier met his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott for their first talks since he ousted Julia Gillard in elections in September. Mr Abbott, who also faced considerable domestic pressure to boycott the summit, said the Commonwealth 'is an extraordinary association'. It is one based not on wealth, not on geography, not even on necessarily mutual interest, but on shared values. Institutions and associations like this are important in the modern world.