The Sri Lankan police said the shooting of the Batticaloa Land Reform Commissioner, Nesakumar Vimalaraj  on Wednesday was a contract job over Mr Vimalaraj's opposition to land in Eravur being illegally aquired by politicians, the Daily Mirror reported. 

According to the paper, police have instructed two teams to investigate the shooting. 

Mr Vimalaraj was shot after he was called outside by two unidentified motorcyclists, whose faces were covered by helmets.

Muslim organisations in Batticaloa held a rally in support of protestors in Keppapilavu on Friday, demanding the release of military occupied land.

Sri Lanka slipped this year on Index of Economic Freedom by the US based Heritage Foundation, falling into a rating of 'Mostly Unfree'. 

"Economic reforms undertaken to improve Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stability and potential for growth include strengthening the management of public finance and structural reforms to foster a more dynamic private sector. However, a weak judiciary continues to undermine property rights, and the perceived level of corruption is debilitating," the Heritage Foundation noted. 

Sri Lanka scored only 57.1 out of 100, compared with 59.9/100 in 2016. 

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde is set to visit Sri Lanka next month, EconomyNext reported. 

Sri Lanka missed benchmarks set out by the IMF for December 2016, including benchmarks for introducing a formula to price fuel, as well as automatic market pricing of electricity.

In November the IMF announced it had completed its first review of the Extended Fund Facility granted to Sri Lanka, and would approve US $162.6 million disbursement. 

The three year program was approved in June, allowing US $1.45 billion.

The leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R Sampanthan called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure lands were returned to the Tamil people in an address to parliament this week. 

"The Governemnt is very insensitive on the question of land. Lands must be returned to the people. You are cultivating my land with fruits, vegetables, and crops and selling them in the market at competitive prices. How can this go on?" Mr Sampanthan said, expressing his support for the ongoing protests of Tamils in the North-East calling for the return of their homes. 

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress in Sri Lanka at Wednesday’s review meeting in Geneva.

The review meeting aimed to assess the status of women’s rights in Sri Lanka – a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Sri Lanka failed to provide adequate responses to questions of transitional justice raised by CEDAW – such as whether findings from the consultation task force reports would be implemented, witness protection and the establishment of the Office of Missing Persons.

Security Force Headquarters Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) commenced an English program for officers on Monday.

“The 60 day-long course will focus on latest writing, speaking, listening and reading techniques and communicative skills,” said the army website.

The Tamil district of Kilinochchi is heavily militarised, with military personnel engaging in administrative and commercial activities.

Tamils have have long complained that Sri Lankan soldiers rarely speak Tamil and are ill-equipped to deal with the needs of locals.

Families of the missing resumed a hunger strike protest in Vavuniya on Friday.

Kilinochchi's business community marched on Thursday in solidarity with protestors demanding land returns and with families of the disappeared