The decision of when to resume operations at the University of Jaffna will be taken after Thaipongal, reports Uthayan.

The Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya, extended his New Year wishes to the armed forces.

Jayasuriya, in a speech at the army headquarters, expressed his pride in the dedication his forces had shown to development projects in the country.

The Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse has joined his brother in accusing foreign conspiracies for bringing the country into disrepute.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a building, he also claimed that all Sri Lankans are now living in harmony.

The military has no intention of withdrawing army camps in Jaffna despite intense pressure exerted by the international community and Tamil political parties, reported The Sunday Leader.

The brother of Khuram Shaikh, the British man murdered in Sri Lanka on Christmas day last year has spoken out about the lack of action with the case.

Nasser Shaikh told BBC Breakfast that the stalled case was "disheartening" and "gives out the wrong message".

Matt Baker, parliamentary aide for Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who has taken up the case said:

A Tamil doctor has been arrested by the Sri Lankan military and detained at the military base in Kokkaavil, reports Uthayan.

Visiting Matale district, which was one of those affected by recent floods and landslides, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse promised to provide 'alternative lands' to those living in areas at risk of landslides or other natural disasters.

A football stadium and training centre, a project run by paramilitary leader, Douglas Devananda, is nearing completion, reports Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence (and Urban Development).

The Sri Lankan defence secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse claims that foreign and local elements are attempting to use the judiciary to destabilise the country.

A 4-year-old girl has been raped and strangled to death in Mandaitheevu reported the Jaffna based newspaper Uthayan.

Addressing a meeting at a vihara, Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena praised the country’s Maha Sangha for protecting the country during times of crisis, and called for more children to come join the Buddhist clergy.

The former chief cricket writer for Australia’s The Age newspaper Trevor Grant has slammed leading Sri Lankan cricket player Kumar Sangakkara for his continued efforts to paint Sri Lanka as a ‘haven of peace and tranquility’.

See below for selected extracts of his article ‘Sangakkara, batsman and propagandist extraordinaire’.

Leading Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara is currently in Australia to play cricket but he also appears to be auditioning for a job in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s propaganda unit.

As he did on the England tour last year, Sangakkara takes every opportunity in Australia to suggest that his homeland has become a haven of peace and tranquility.

He did so again this week when sending a message to the protesters who plan to gather at the MCG on Boxing Day, calling for an Australian cricket boycott on future tours and matches against Sri Lanka.

British Tamils continue to be held in Sri Lankan jails without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, despite pleas from parents to transfer them to British prisons if found guilty of any crime.