Sri Lanka's defence ministry has approved an order allowing the detention and questioning of four members of the security forces, who were arrested in connection to the abduction of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda on Monday, military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said according to Ada Derana.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday (24) arrested an army corporal, a sergeant, and two lieutenants, in connection with Mr Eknaligoda's abduction.

Earlier this month a senior military official admitted questioning the cartoonist in custody, in the first admission by a member of the security forces that the cartoonist was detained.

TNA MPs say the recent elections and the alliance's massive victory in the Tamil North-East gave Tamil nationalism a "big boost".

Batticaloa MP Seenithamby Yogeswaran said the Tamil freedom struggle, started by Tamil leaders several years ago, would continue until its objective is achieved, while addressing a meeting in Thuraineelavanai.

Mr Yogeswaran further said those against Tamil nationalism will be considered "enemies".

The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, YK Sinha, has formally handed over an Indian coast guard ship to Sri Lanka's navy.

The ship was initially given to Sri Lanka in 2006 " in appreciation of the Sri Lanka Navy’s efforts to maintain the maritime security in the region", the Daily Mirror reported.

Defence Ministry Secretary B Basnayake accepted the ship on behalf of the Sri Lankan government.

Sri Lanka's navy is regularly accused of attacking Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, worsening an already tense diplomatic relationship with the southern Indian state.

Tamil farmers and agricultural workers from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu protested on Monday that over 90% of newly appointed agricultural research assistants to the North are Sinhalese.