The Sri Lankan government is unlikely to return thousands of acres of private Tamil land to their owners before the parliamentary elections, as it could damage the campaign of the current government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Returning land held by the military to Tamils is “fraught with great political risk”, The New Indian Express quoted a “highly placed source”.

Meanwhile, resettlement minister DM Swaminathan told the paper he was optimistic the government would return land to Tamils.

“We may or may not get all the 18,000 acres we want now, but we are optimistic. This is because President Sirisena, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga (who heads the Taskforce on Reconciliation), are genuinely interested in giving back lands seized from the Tamils,” he said.

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa said he suspects a return of the LTTE, while speaking at a rally after a Buddhist ceremony in Anuradhapura.

"I have a suspicion that we may return to see terrorism. We don't want to see that happening we want everyone to live in peace and harmony," Mr Rajapaksa said according to ColomboPage.

Maniyam Vithusha has been reported as missing for 5 days after she failed to return home following a visit to an orphanage that her mother worked at.

The Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Galagama Attadasi Thera warned that the government must be wise in responding to Tamil demands of de-militarising the North-East and ensure that Sri Lanka remains united under one flag.

Speaking during a meeting with Sri Lanka’s prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Buddhist monk, questioned the demands of the Northern Provincial Council CV Wigneswaran.

Sri Lanka “belongs to the Sinhalese” said the leader of Buddhist nationalist organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), in an interview to the BBC this week.

"This country belongs to the Sinhalese, and it is the Sinhalese who built up its civilisation, culture and settlements,” said BBS secretary general Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara from his organisation’s offices in Colombo. “The white people created all the problems," he added.

"We are trying to... go back to the country of the Sinhalese," continued the Buddhist monk. "Until we correct this, we are going to fight."

The Sri Lankan navy organised a medical camp for Tamil civilians in the northern town of Karainagar, reported Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.

Stating that the camp was of great benefit to the people in Kayts, the MoD went on to say it was organised by the navy “as a part of its social responsibility of looking after the people in the islands who always seek the assistance of the Navy for their day -to-day activities”.

Police in Jaffna have been accused of negligence in the case of murdered schoolgirl S. Vithiya.

Vithiya’s parents attempted to report her missing at the Kurikattuvan police checkpoint but were turned away. They later filed a report at Kayts police station, but police there were reportedly disinterested, saying Vithiya had likely run away with someone.

The body of the 18 year old Pungudutivu student was found inside a dilapidated house with her hands and legs tied to logs.

Accused Sri Lankan war criminal Major General Jagath Dias, Commander of the Security Force Headquarters in Mullaitivu left his post this month, with a grand send off from over 2,500 troops and a Buddhist ceremony. 

The commander, who was in command of the Sri Lankan army’s 57th division and is suspected to be directly responsible and hold command responsibility for mass atrocities committed by his troops during the final phase of the armed conflict, is being promoted to the post of Chief of Staff.

The Sri Lankan army reported that in addition to the formal military ceremony, the major general had a religious ceremony conducted by a monk at a Buddhist vihara in the district, “in order to invoke blessings on the outgoing Mullaittivu Commander… with the participation of all officers and other ranks.”

The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) general secretary Douglas Devananda denied allegations that his party was connected to the rape and murder of a school girl in Punkuduthivu.

Rejecting the allegations, Devananda said that his party members were constantly blamed for the murders that were taking place in the North-East, reports Ceylon Today.

“Those political parties who are against us are slinging mud at us to tarnish our political identity. These allegations are levelled against the party by our political opponents to stigmatise our image by connecting the gang rape and brutal murder to us,” said the EPDP general secretary. 

The leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) M Karunanidhi said that the Tamil homeland continues to be occupied by Sri Lankan troops despite the change of government on the island earlier this year.

Quoting a report by US think tank, the Oakland Institute, the DMK chief said it “shows that injustice against Tamils has not reduced despite a new President.” “The rule changed there, but did the scene?" he asked.