Both Sri Lanka’s leading candidates in upcoming presidential polls have emphasised their commitment to “national security” and strengthening the controversial military, as canvassing heats up this week.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella told Anadolu Agency that for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, national security “will remain his foremost agenda”.

“All countries prioritize national security,” he said. “There is no point in talking about reconciliation without ensuring national security.”

Sri Lanka’s president declared open a new military complex this morning, speaking at a grand opening ceremony alongside accused war criminal Shavendra Silva.

<p>There have been no police investigations and no accountability for the threats and violence faced by refugees and asylum seekers in Sri Lanka says a new report published by Amnesty International and Minority Rights Group International.&nbsp;</p> <p>Following the Easter Sunday attacks, where more than 250 people killed in three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka, refugees and asylum seekers from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran faced attacks by armed mobs, forcing some to flee their homes.</p>

Sajith Premadasa, the UNP’s presidential candidate, has stated that once elected he would appoint a new Prime Minister who could command the confidence of parliament.

He told reporters;

"As soon as I'm appointed President, a new Prime Minister who commands the confidence of Parliament will also be appointed. Sri Lanka will have a new first-time Prime Minister who will be endorsed by the majority,"

<p>Mahinda Rajapaksa, former war-time President of Sri Lanka and accused war-criminal, has criticised UNP&nbsp;Presidential candidate, Sajith Premadasa, of deliberately misleading the Sinhalese majority by avoiding the term “unitary state”.</p> <p>In his statement, he claims the chapter of the UNP’s manifesto dealing with constitutional reforms will replace Sri Lanka’s “unitary state” and will lead to the nation becoming “a loose federation of virtually independent provincial units”.</p>

<p>The Sessions Court allowed a prosecution application to dismiss two charges of possessing items related to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran.</p> <p>Judge Madihah Harullah accepted the request after deputy public prosecutor Aslina Ahad made the application.</p> <p>According to the charges, Gunasekaran allegedly had LTTE-related items in his office and house, Malay Mail reported.</p> <p>The assemblyman was represented by a panel of four lawyers, led by RSN Rayer.&nbsp;</p>

An Indian airline will commence commercial flights between Jaffna and Chennai from Monday it announced, with plans to step up connections between the two regions.

Flights are due to start on Monday 11th of November, with a one-way fare reportedly costing in the region of USD $45 plus taxes.

Sri Lanka’s health minister Rajitha Senaratne claimed that each Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian would receive “Rs. 300 mn each to spend on their electorates”, according to a report in The Island on Wednesday.

Senaratne reportedly held a series of meetings in Jaffna, where he canvassed support for Sajith Premadasa in this month’s Sri Lankan presidential elections.

The Island quotes a health ministry statement with Senaratne reportedly telling a rally in Jaffna that no other government had allocated such a large amount to parliamentarians from the North-East. 

Leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) released a statement endorsing Sajith Premadasa in this month’s Sri Lankan presidential elections, despite his refusal to engage with demands put forward by the parties.

“Mr. Sajith Premadasa is a leader with clean hands,” claimed the TNA statement on Wednesday. “In whatever capacity he has functioned, it is accepted that he has done his best.”

<p>Sri Lankan parliamentarian SB Dissanayake’s security forces opened fire at a group of protesters blocking the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP’s car, leaving two people injured on Wednesday.</p> <p>Ruwan Gunasekara, police spokesman, said the injured were admitted to Teligama hospital and later taken to Karawanella hospital for treatment.</p> <p>The group of protesters are reported to be Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) supporters.</p>