Sri Lanka is intending to drastically cut back crude oil imports from Iran, as the June 28 deadline for sanctions imposed by the United States is drawing closer.

"Our efforts to finalize new arrangements ahead of the deadline were on track," Petroleum Minister, Susil Premjayantha said to The Island yesterday.

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'.