The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has offered to assist the government families of those reported missing reports ColomboGazette.

President Maithripala Sirisena said Sri Lanka was overcoming obstacles internationally, while some are making baseless accusations.

Speaking at an event in Polonaruwa, Mr Sirisena said that the government was not being influence, despite of what political opponents were saying.

The president also claimed that he can save former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and those who engaged in the war from the electric chair.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his government was not averse to international participation in the country's touted accountability mechanism, however stressed that "final judgement will be made by the internal judicial system".

The prime minister, who was visiting a temple in Guruvayur, said officials from neighbouring countries such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh would be able to participate in discussions on war crimes, alongside representatives from the US and human rights organisations.

Mr Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka wanted to ensure that those responsible for civilian deaths are held to account, whether they were from the military or the LTTE, adding that the UN said it was possible that up to 40,000 people were killed in the last phase of the war.

A former cabinet minister under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime was appointed as the Governor of the Northern Province on Sunday, reports Colombo Page.

Reginald Cooray, was sworn in at President Maithripala Sirisena’s office on Sunday with his appointment to be effective from February 16th.

Representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Sri Lanka next week for a joint ‘Forensic Audit’ on development projects that amount to US $250 billion launched by the former Rajpaksa regime.

Government Minister Sarath Amunagama told media that the consensual government was in a dilemma as to how capital investment could be raised for the projects, as the previous regime had commenced the project without full financial backing.

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa set up a coordinating office in the wake of announcing that a group of MPs loyal to him will form a new political party.

A large number of parliamentarians loyal to Mahinda Rjapaksa reportedly met at his residence this week to discuss the final details of the new party and finalised the name and party symbol reports Colombo Page.

The Sri Lankan government on Friday launched a consultations process, the 'Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms'.

The Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena on Friday reiterated that his government was not under any foreign influence.

Volunteer teachers in Vanni called for permanent appointments to be made as promised months ago by the provincial council.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Al Hussein said victims of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict must feel that justice is done, no matter the form of accountability mechanism enacted.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit to the island earlier this week, Mr Al Hussein reiterated his office’s support for international involvement in accountability, stating:

“The suggestion of having an impartial and independent court is fundamental because it must address the needs of victims on all sides. And we thought by having international participation this can be guaranteed.”

With reporters reminding the human rights chief of comments from Sri Lankan leaders, who have repeatedly rejected foreign involvement, the High Commissioner noted that there “may be other views”.

However, he added that “certainly the victims views have to be brought into this discussion – and that’s why the consultation that the government has begun is all the more important that their views be taken into account”.

He continued to say:

“There has to be set in motion a process to establish the truth, to establish a mechanism which will confirm or not whether there were systemic violations of a planned and organised manner and whether those thresholds then merit prosecution. All of this requires a step by step approach.”

“However in the end… whatever you do will be for nought if the victims themselves do not feel that justice is being done.”

Over 30,000 people in Jaffna alone were still internally displaced found a report by the Northern resettlement and rehabilitation committee.

The report which was handed over to the UN human Rights Chief during his visit to the North-East further found that over 5000 acres of land remained occupied by Sri Lanka’s army in Valikamam North.

The US Department of State has announced funding for the strengthening of investigative journalism in Sri Lanka.

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour (DRL) said in the announcement that there will be an open competition for the funds, worth approximately $500,000.

A key outcome of the successful project should include "increased coverage on reconciliation and transitional justice activities in the country."

"Strong consideration will be given to proposals that work to facilitate interaction among journalists and media institutions in the north/east and south as well as proposals that include an emphasis on women journalists," the announcement said.