The UNP announced Thursday that a new constitution would offer greater devolution of power however, would maintain a unitary state and the current executive presidential system, thereby rejecting Tamil demands for a federal structure. 

The UNP statement, made at its party headquarters did not however detail which powers would be further devolved. 

The statement to maintain a unitary state was endorsed by the SLFP as well. 

The World Bank board last week approved a $75 million credit to improve the selection, administration and payments within Sri Lanka's welfare programs. 

Thousands of people attended Maaveerar Naal commemorations in Switzerland last month, as Tamils across the word remembered the lives lost in the Tamil freedom struggle.

Soldiers from the 661 Brigade in the 66 Division of the Security Force Headquarters (Killinochchi) gave away school accessories to children in Pooneryn on Monday.

Troops received sponsorship from National Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Association and the ‘Kind Heart’ Association.

The Tamil National Alliance urged the government to relocate chief monk Ampitiye Sumanarathana from the Eastern Province after tensions on Sunday.

Seenithamby Yogeswaran, TNA’s Battacloa District Parliamentarian, asked the government why it has failed to take any action against Sumanarathana for his hate speech against Tamils and Muslims.
Further, he explained how Sumanarathana’s ongoing behaviour has disrupted the community.

The Sri Lankan president cleared the names of Sinhala chiefs who were previously branded 'traitors' by the then British governor in 1818. 

"After 198 years, I cleared the names of Wellassa heroes including Monarawila Keppetipola," tweeted Mr Sirisena. 

The Norwegian ferry operatory, Norled AS, MMBL Pathfinger Group and Aitken Spence are to establish a ferry service linking Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka, SLBC reported. 

The first stage of the operation would link Tuticorin to Colombo, before providing a service connecting Talaimannar to Rameshwaram. 

A further stage would provide a service between Colombo to Kochi, in Kerala. 

Photograph @mhmhisham

The extremist Sinhala Buddhist monk and leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Gnanasara was invited by the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena to attend a meeting as a 'religious leader' this week. 

A parliamentarian with the United National Party has reportedly received death threats over his involvement in the constitutional reform process, as the party called for “maximum devolution of powers within a united Sri Lanka”.

A Sri Lankan government minister stated that no one has “the right to tell how many soldiers should be kept in the north or in the east,” in a defiant address to parliament this week.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that he would “not leave any room to weaken the military” as he pledged to ensure security across the island remained at full strength.

Speaking to Parliament yesterday, Mr Sirisena was quoted by Colombo Gazette as stating that “there will not be any compromise on National security”.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's 'apology' for the destruction of the Jaffna Library in 1982 has been criticised, after it was initially praised by many as a step towards reconciliation.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Wickremesinghe said in Sinhala: "“The public library in Jaffna was burnt during a United National Party (UNP) Government in 1981. We know it was wrong and tender an apology for it,” he said.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture released a report on Wednesday expressing serious concern over the use of “routine torture” by Sri Lankan security forces and called for an independent body to investigate the practise.

The Committee panel of 10 independent experts said it “remains seriously concerned over consistent reports” of torture on the island.

Sri Lanka’s defence secretary said that land releases in the North-East are not taking place due to pressure from the international community, but that the decision was being made by the military.