A protests by fishermen in Mullaitivu against illegal fishing by Sinhala fishermen continued today into their 8th day. 

The fishermen have been supported by the families as well as Karaithuraipattu local council members who attended the protest to express their solidarity. 

Three students who were among 11 Tamil youths arrested by Sri Lankan police for allegedly being involved in sword attacks and gang violence, where allowed to sit their A Levels by Mallaakam Magistrate Court yesterday. 

The youths, who were arrested on August 4, will be allowed to sit the exam under the supervision of the prison officers.  

The issue of their A Levels was brought to the attention of the court by lawyers for the students, who maintained their clients were innocent and should be allowed to sit their exams. 

The Sri Lankan military continued its militarisation of the North-East, announcing that it had built a Tamil pre-school in Mullivaikkal earlier this year.

A petition has been launched to unseat DUP MP Ian Paisley after he was suspended from the British parliament for failing to declare two holidays that were paid for by the Sri Lankan government and later lobbying on the country's behalf against an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The parliamentary recall petition, the first one launched since such legislation was introduced, sees Mr Paisley at risk of a possible by-election in his constituency seat of North Antrim in Northern Ireland.

Tamil families of the disappeared met with Switzerland's Federal Councillor for the Department of Justice and Police and criticised the Sri Lankan government’s Office on Missing Persons (OMP) as an “exercise in futility”, demanding “action, not words”.

In a letter handed to the Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga, the protesting families said they had “travelled across the country to every military camp, every government prison, every police station” to search for the whereabouts of their disappeared loved ones.

At least eight of the campaigners have died since roadside protests began over 500 days ago.

The Northern Provincial Council held a moment of silence this morning, to pay tribute to DMK leader M Karunanidhi who passed away earlier this week.

Sri Lankan security forces have claimed that four detainees of Vavuniya prison escaped police custody while being transferred to Mullaitivu Magistrates Court for trial on Tuesday.

Mullaitivu Security Forces said the detainees had been arrested regarding two murder cases in the area, Adaderana reports.

Prison officers and police reportedly launched a special operation in the area on Tuesday evening and investigations continue.

The Sri Lankan government will conduct a feasibility study into the possibility of constructing an airport in Kandy in order to increase tourism in the area.

The cabinet approved proposals for the study on Wednesday.

The airport would be for domestic services to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the district.

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka called for India – Sri Lanka relations to “look towards the future”, as he addressed an Independence Day ceremony in Colombo this week.  

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu was the chief guest at the event, where he highlighted that India was the 6th largest and fastest growing major economy in the world.

“Sri Lanka’s location in the proximity of fastest growing economy could bring in substantial advantages,” he said, according to an Indian government press release.

“Sri Lankan youth could fulfill their aspirations and make them a part of India’s growth story,” he added.

The Sri Lankan government has issued a statement denying that it broke international sanctions on North Korea, as claimed in a United Nations report last week.

The report, written by a group of independent experts examining the implementation of UN sanctions and submitted to the Security Council, accused Sri Lanka of continuing to accept imports of North Korean textiles.