Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera confirmed that issues of reviewing bans on diaspora and releasing political prisoners had been discussed with some representatives of the Tamil diaspora and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Responding to questions from the opposition leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that a meeting in London took place in London with representatives of the Global Tamil Forum, TNA MP M Sumanthiran, former Norwegian negotiator Eric Solheim and representatives of the South African and Swiss governments.

Samaraweera further stressed that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which was commissioned by the previous government, had recommended engagement with the diaspora to encourage reconciliation with different communities, reports dailymirror.lk.

The LLRC was slammed by international NGOs and foreign diplomats as being inadequate and flawed in addressing core issues on the island, consequentially strengthening calls for an international process to investigate Sri Lanka’s atrocities and work towards reconciliation.

Opposition questions government over GTF meet (12 June 2015)

TNA spokesperson denies knowledge of London meet (09 Jun 2015)

See also:

Sri Lanka's LLRC does not meet international standards - FCO (28 Jan 2014)

TNA rejects LLRC report, calls for international action (15 Jan 2012)

LLRC report through the eyes of the JHU  (28 Dec 2011)

‘Responsibility now falls on the international community’ – ICG (23 Dec 2011)

LLRC report falls short - cross-party UK MPs (22 Dec 2011)

Construction work has been suspended on a Buddhist temple being built on illegally appropriated Tamil land in Mullaitivu.

The Buddhist vihara was being built with military support on land privately owned by Tamils in Kokkilay, Mullaitivu.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena thanked a delegation of Buddhist monks from Korea for their contribution to Buddhism this week, whilst meeting them in Colombo.

The delegation of Korean Bhikkhus, including the Chief Incumbent of the Yeorae Yaksasa Temple in Korea, met with Mr Sirisena in Temple Trees.

According to the Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka:

“The President Sirisena also commended the enormous religious service done by the Bhikkhus of the both countries for the development of Buddhism.”

The Sri Lankan military marked 6 years since the capture of Mullaitivu last week, with a military ceremony and Buddhist ceremony at its Mullaitivu headquarters last week.

The Ministry of Defence reported that a Buddhist “All-Night Pirith chanting ceremony” was held, overseen by 18 Buddhist monks and Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe.

Mr Ranasinghe can be seen below in the photo on the left, dressed in white receiving blessings from Buddhist monk Panwila Gunarathana Nayaka.

Meanwhile prayer sessions were also reportedly held at a Hindu temple, a mosque and church in Mullaitivu, which the Major General attended in full military uniform.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should not have been charge of the Sri Lanka’s national security as he was a US citizen who had “renounced any allegiance to Sri Lanka”, in a speech to parliament last week.

Speaking in Sinhala, Mr Wickremesinghe told lawmakers that Mr Rajapaksa “was in-charge of people who were bearing arms for the republic of Sri Lanka, while he under law, was obliged to bear arms for the United States of America”.

The Prime Minister went on to state that if the United States had gone to war with Sri Lanka, then Mr Rajapaksa would have fought alongside the Americans against Sri Lanka.

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa alleged that Sri Lanka’s national security and economy was at risk under the new regimes governance.

A representative of the US State Department met with the chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman to discuss Sri Lanka’s potential violation of its commitment to US sanctions on Iran’s crude oil.

The US economic counsellor Mathew Lower met Ranjith Wickremasingha to discuss an alleged attempt to unload one million barrels of Iranian crude oil in Colombo, reports dailymirror.lk.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will not be supporting the 20th Amendment, which has recently been approved by the Sri Lankan cabinet, as it will reduce the number of parliamentary seats in Jaffna from 11 to 6, said spokesperson Suresh Premachandran.