In more signs of Sri Lanka’s intention to ignore recommendations made in the LLRC, the Army Commander has used his New Year’s message to the armed forces to call on the army to be the ‘guiding light’ for development, just as it has been for unification, in the country.

Extracts from Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya’s new year message:

Tamil Nadu's DMK party announced its decision to pull out of an all-party Indian delegation set to visit to Sri Lanka this week, on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters, the DMK leader, Karunanidhi said,

“DMK never planned [to be part of the delegation]. There are past experiences to show that there is no use of such visits. Therefore, nobody from DMK is undertaking the visit.”

The Sri Lankan military's army commander in Jaffna, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe warned Tamils in the North-East to be wary of the Tamil diaspora.

Hathurusinghe said,

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, extended his wishes to the British Tamil community celebrating Chithirai Tirunaal and Tamil New Year.

In his message Mr Johnson highlighted the significant contributions British Tamils make to the city.

Full message:

Hoping to capitalise on Palestine's $4.02 billion economy, Sri Lanka seeks further trade links and tourism investment with Palestine.

Sri Lanka's minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen, and his Palestinian counterpart, Khuloud Daibes, discussed ways of increasing trade between the two country's during a recent trade show.

Addressing delegates at the show last month, Daibes said,

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Sri Lanka to respect human rights in a statement marking Tamil and Singhalese New Year.

“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to Sri Lankans around the world as you celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) announced it will be launching a new 'patriotic movement' early next month.

The leader of the JVP, Somawansa Amarasinghe said the country was in need of a true patriotic force that campaigns against 'imperialist interventions into the country'.

The party will hold seminars in the upcoming weeks to create awareness on how to defeat such 'imperialist intervention'.

Criticising Sri Lanka's "anti-Tamil" approach, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, announced her decision to withdraw her party's (AIADMK) only representative to an all-party Indian delegation to Sri Lanka next week.

Stating that she did not want this visit to be a "mere eye-wash like the previous one", Jayalalithaa expressed concern at the lack of opportunities to engage directly with victims and those affected. 

Jayalalithaa said,

One of the two activists of a newly formed Leftist party abducted by Sri Lankan security forces and later released after Australia’s intervention says he was tortured in custody.

Speaking on his return to Australia after being deported, Kumar Gunaratnam told ABC: