The Heads of Mission of the European Union has expressed its concern over Friday’s raid on opposition websites.

“Freedom of the media is a vital element in democratic societies and journalists must be able to carry out their legitimate work without fear of harassment or intimidation.

The US has called on Sri Lanka to end media harassment, after police shut down opposition websites on Friday.

In a press release, issued on Saturday, the US Embassy in Colombo said it is following the case closely.

A report by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson Q.C., has recommended the British government to review its policy of proscribing and de-proscribing organisations.

India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon refused to commit to a stance on India’s satisfaction with the peace and reconciliation process, while speaking to Indian reporters on Friday.

Sri Lankan police have raided offices of two news websites on Friday.

The offices of Sri Lanka Mirror and Sri Lanka X News, which are housed in the same building, were sealed and nine people, mostly journalists, were arrested.

The defence ministry said that the websites were carrying false information.

Reiterating the need for "progress" on the implementation of the UNHRC resolution by the "end of the year", the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it "will consider all options available to press the Sri Lankan Government to fulfil its obligations."

Responding to a letter sent by British Tamils Forum (BTF) objecting to Mahinda Rajapaksa's UK visit, the FCO said:

"We have consistently called for a credible, thorough and independent investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by both sides during the conflict."

"The UK continues to monitor the situation in the north and east of the country and we consistently raise concerns over access for NGOs and seek further progress on scaling back of high security zones."

"We pressed for and welcomed the resolution on Sri Lanka agreed at the UN Human Rights Council in March, and we have called on the Government of Sri Lanka to play its part in implementing the resolution."

"With international partners, we will continue to encourage Sri Lanka to make early progress, including during the Universal Periodic Review of Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council in October."

"We expect to see progress by the end of the year and will consider all options available to press the Sri Lankan Government to fulfil its obligations."

In a statement, BTF asserted that the FCO's response to their letter had "exposed the spin" by the Sri Lankan President’s spokesman, Bandula Jeyasekara, who had claimed that Cameron and Rajapaksa "had held a 'cordial' meeting and that the President had briefed the Prime Minister 'on the development in the country."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling on him to "impress upon Lanka the need to instruct their navy to exercise restraint and refrain from harassing innocent Indian fishermen pursuing their livelihood", after more attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka brought the rupee exchange market to a halt on Tuesday, as banks stopped quoting spot prices against the US doller, after the traders were told not to trade the rupee beyond the 133 level.

On Monday, the Sri Lankan rupee traded at a near record low of 132.90 to the dollar, with a state bank selling dollars at that level.

In the latest clampdown on press freedom, the Sri Lankan government has blocked access to five Tamil language news sites - TamilWin, Athirvu, Sarithan, Ponguthamil and Pathivu - making them no longer accessible through Sri Lankan internet service providers.

A preliminary report on the census released by the Sri Lankan government appears to show dramatic changes in the population of the North-East of the island since the 1981 census.

According to the government figures, there were large increases in the eastern districts, but also huge losses in the north. The decline is thought to be due to Tamils fleeing the conflict.

"Our estimate is that out of the one million Tamils who fled the fighting and are living abroad, at least 80 percent were from Jaffna," said Suresh Premachandran, a member of parliament for the TNA.

"If not for the war, the population in Jaffna would have been over 1.4 million,"

Citing the threat of dengue fever, the government has warned that it would need to take over uninhabited land over the next month.

The head of the dengue control programme, Dr Ranjith Batuwanthudawa, said that empty property and land provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

A hunger strike by Eelam Tamil refugees in Chengalpet ‘special camp’ in Tamil Nadu has entered its 12th day, TamilNet reports.

Nine of the fourteen hunger strikers have been hospitalised, while protesting and demanding immediate release from the camp, where they are held in squalid conditions.

The Sri Lankan government rejected reports that the External Affairs Minister, Prof G.L. Peiris has submitted a document on its plans to implement the LLRC recommendations, during a visit to Washington last month.

The chair of the 'task force' overseeing implentation, Lalith Weerathunga, said,

From whale-watching to hotels to public health campaigns, Sri Lanka's military have been entrusted with a new role.

Over 10,000 Sri Lankan military officers are to be deployed to find dengue fever the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena announced.