Two more Sinhalese men have been arrested by Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force (STF) for illegal sand-mining in Vavuniya.

A 21-year-old and a 32-year-old were arrested during an STF round up in Sinnaputhukulam on Saturday.

The men’s construction vehicle and other equipment were also seized by the STF.

The newly appointed commander of a Sri Lankan military brigade in Trincomalee marked taking up his post by receiving blessings from a Buddhist monk last week, as the security forces continues its close relationship with the island’s powerful Buddhist clergy.

Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade, who was previously forced to resign over his controversial relationship with Sri Lanka, has reignited his ties with Colombo, holding discussions with Sri Lankan officials at his London office last week.

Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) members and supporters in Mannar marked the 121st birthday of S J V Chelvanayakam today. 

A Tamil detainee at Manipay police station attempting suicide by slitting his throat whilst in custody. 

As part of the ongoing days of protest by families of the disappeared, a demonstration was held outside their office off the A9 road in Kilinochchi yesterday. 

Sri Lanka’s fishing authority has failed to take action against illegal activities carried out by Sinhalese and Muslim fishermen in Mullaitivu, while targeting Tamil fishermen for arrests.

Sri Lankan soldiers stationed in Kilinochchi were at another Tamil pre-school this week, as militarisation of the region continues despite fierce opposition from locals.

Sri Lankan soldiers held yet another blood donation event in the North-East earlier this month, despite previous controversial comments by Sri Lankan leaders on ‘Sinhalese blood’ being given to Tamils.

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) is to advise Sri Lanka on implementation of treaty obligations during its visit to the island next month. 

Rejecting criticism of Australian troops conducting military training with Sri Lankan counterparts, an Australian envoy stressed however, that the allegations of war crimes were "serious" and required investigation, the AP reported. 

In its latest report the NGO, Society for Threatened Peoples, detailed the pervasive militarisation that continues to take place across the North-East a decade since the end of the armed conflict. 

Rejecting the Sri Lankan government's rhetoric that a hybrid court is unconstitutional, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson, M A Sumanthiran and the former chief minister, C V Wigneswaran, argued that such a court was within the country's constitution. 

Members of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) youth wing yesterday cleared the memorial grounds of Annai Poopathy in Kallady, Batticaloa.