Sri Lanka’s new president’s recent release of military occupied land in Jaffna had already been signed off by the previous president Mahinda Rajapaksa, suggest reports.

Photograph: Tamil Guardian

The proposed 19th amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution, aimed at reducing powers of the executive presidency, was met by opposition when table in parliament on Wednesday.

The leader of Sri Lanka’s opposition the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) said that some provisions in the amendment, tabled by prime minister Ranil Wickrememsinghe, needed approval of the people.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) met with the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop and department of foreign affairs and trade officials (DFAT) on Thursday, discussing ongoing Tamil concerns and the ground reality in the North-East.

“Good meeting with Tamil National Alliance MP Mr. Sumanthiran and Tamil Diaspora representatives on recent developments in Sri Lanka and support for reconciliation,” tweeted Ms Bishop following the meeting.

China on Thursday urged Sri Lanka to ensure the legitimate interests of its companies were protected during the Sri Lankan president’s official visit to Beijing.

"China's cooperation with Sri Lanka is based on mutual benefit and a win-win situation, without any political preconditions," China’s president, Xi Jinping was quoted by China’s state news agency, Xinhua, as saying.

He reportedly added that China wished to help Sri Lanka sustain its development.

His comments come amid ongoing uncertainty over Chinese projects in Sri Lanka, in particular, the Colombo Port City project, which the new Sri Lankan government said it would re-examine before allowing it to proceed.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal said whilst being encouraged by the new Sri Lankan government’s promises of reform, there remained tough challenges, including a difficult road ahead on accountability and reconciliation, as well as demilitarisation of the conflict affected areas.

Ms Biswal, who had visited Sri Lanka last month, made these comments before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on Tuesday, regarding the ‘US rebalance in South Asia: foreign aid and developmental priorities’.

The Federation of National Organisations (FNO), has warned against the 'separatist' agenda being pushed through the calls for the 13th Amendment.

Gunadasa Amarasekera, whose Patriotic National Movement - an ally of the National Freedom Front - is a member of the FNO, said the 13th Amendment must be "pruned".

"The UNP and the SLFP are using the idea of a national government to push the country to ruin by making way for the Eelam to take over," he said.

Four Indian Navy ships will arrive in Trincomalee for a three-day visit, during which they will take part in training exercises and cultural events, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

The ships are part of the First Training Squadron, part of the Indian navy's Southern Naval Command.

The ships, Tir, Kesari, coast guard ship Varuna and training ship Sudarshini will be visiting the port city in Sri Lanka's North-East.

The United Kingdom stated it remained committed to a Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) investigation into Sri Lanka’s (OISL), in an address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 28th session of the council, the UK said that it “remains committed to the OHCHR investigation as part of the process of addressing the grievances of those affected by the conflict and of achieving lasting peace and reconciliation.”