The leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) referred to MP Ian Paisley Jr's dealings with Sri Lanka while speaking on the party's failings over the past year at conference.

While apologising for a domestic scandal over a green energy scheme, DUP leader Arlene Foster also referred to failings within the DUP ranks in a "number of other areas".

Works have commenced in Mullaitivu for the construction of a memorial site for 8 Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan army.

On November 27, 2007, 8 Tamils of which 6 were children, were killed by a claymore mine planted by the Sri Lankan army’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LLRP) or Deep Penetration Unit in Iyankan Kulam.

The Sri Lankan government said no permission has been granted for Maaveerar Naal commemorations due to take place on November 27. 

Sri Lanka’s Director General of Government Information said the government “refute(s) the fake rumour that government had given permission to hold so called Maaveerar commemoration”.

Tamils across London prepared to mark Maaveerar Naal on November 27th, with a series of events across the capital this week.

Shops in districts across London displayed Tamil Eelam flags outside their stores as they prepared to join Tamils around in world in remembrance this week

Bicycles and food items were donated in Batticaloa today to mark the birthday of the LTTE leader V Prabhakaran. 

Donations were made to families of Maaveerar and to families of the disappeared. 

An audit of a water project in Colombo, funded by the Asian Development Bank has revealed irregularities, non-compliance with rules and regulations and delays, Economy Next reports. 

Over three years after the projected started only US $16.5 million of the 80 million allocated has been used, the report compiled by the Auditor-General's department. 

<p>Sri Lanka's Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning for allegedly helping the main suspect in the abduction and killing of Tamil youths between 2008 to 2009 evade arrest.&nbsp;</p> <p>The summons issued orders Admiral Wijegunaratne to appear before the CID on November 27.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena insisted he has acted within the country's constitution in a phonecall to the Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Russian airline will soon be operating daily flights between Colombo and Moscow, expanding from the current five days a week schedule.</p> <p>Russian authorities informed the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow of the plans, Colombo Page reports.</p> <p>The planned expansion would enhance Sri Lanka-Russia cooperation and bring the two countries even closer, the report said.</p>

Tree planting in memory of fallen LTTE fighters continued in the North with saplings being planted in Vavuniya.

Under the organisation of the Vavuniya North divisional council (prathesa sabai), local authority officials, civil society members and school students planted trees in Kanakarayankulam.

<p>A Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka’s Central province committed suicide earlier this week, purportedly after being chased for money he had obtained from over 100 individuals on the pretext of obtaining foreign visas for them.</p> <p>The 28-year-old monk from Nilambe, Galaha, hanged himself on Wednesday near his vihara.</p> <p>He had charged 8500 Rs each from 108 individuals, promising to obtain work visas to Vietnam.</p>

The Tamil festival of lights known as Karthikai Deepam or Karthikai Vilakkeedu was celebrated by Eelam Tamils on Friday.

The festival falls each year on the full moon night of the Tamil month of karthikai (November). Origin stories behind the festival vary regionally, although one reason is to celebrate the birth of the Tamil god Murugan.

Sri Lankan police tortured two Tamil youths on November 19, a complaint registered with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission detailed. 

"They hung me upside down and beat me, asking me if I was in the LTTE," one of the victims, Pirakash Balasingham from Elalai, Jaffna said. 

Balasingham, who was returning home in an auto with his brother-in-law at around 10.45pm on November 19 said they were stopped by police officers who were carrying out road side checks in the area. 

Responding to a Sri Lankan police petition, Jaffna Magistrate Court on Friday issued a ban on the use of what it described as the LTTE flags, symbols and maps at the planned Maaveerar Naal event in Koppay Thuyilum Illam. 

Earlier this week Koppay police applied for a ban of the remembrance event under section 120 of the penal code - inciting or seeking to incite hate - and Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) regulations.