Thirteen Tamils accused of fraud, falsifying documents, extortion and money laundering in order to fund the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are to stand trial in Switzerland on Monday.

The men, from Germany, Switzerland and Sri Lanka, are accused of sending $15.3 million to the LTTE.

The Habeas corpus case relating to the disappearance of 12 Tamils who disappeared after surrendering to the Sri Lankan military at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009, has been postponed to March 19. 

The case which includes the disappearance of the LTTE's former political wing leader, Ezhilan and Rev. Francis Joseph, was postponed as the state attorney was absent. 

China is planning to launch a satellite for Sri Lanka this year, GB Times reports. 

The project comprises over 40 launches in total which will include satellites for Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as commercial companies. 

The Sri Lankan government acknowledged the planned acquisition of 671 acres of land in Mullaitivu is in order the establish a central navy base. 

Japan’s Foreign Minister Tharo Kono reportedly pledged his government’s “fullest support for the development and reconciliation process of Sri Lanka” in a visit to Colombo today.

Colombo's Fort Magistrate has issued an open warrant for the arrest of the government’s former ambassador to the United States.

The former ambassador, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, is wanted by Sri Lanka’s Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) over the alleged misuse of government spending.

The body of a young Tamil man bearing several wounds was recovered from a well in Jaffna on Thursday.

20-year-old Anantharaja Ananthababu was found dead in a field well in Sanguveli, with locals believing he was beaten and murdered then thrown in the well, judging by the state that his body was found in. 

Mr Ananthababu was reported missing on Thursday by his family, when he did not return home from his job as a labourer.

Officers from Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force detained two men in Kilinochchi for the alleged possession of cannabis last week.

The Island reports that two people were arrested after being “intercepted” by a team of officers from STF base at Mullaitivu”.

Human rights lawyer and former leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar Ponnambalam, was remembered today on the 18th anniversary of his death.

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on him to “personally intervene” to assure the release of fishermen who have been detained by Sri Lankan security forces.

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a British national in Maligawatte, Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

The death is being treated as suspicious by Sri Lankan police after the body was found with a wound to the face. 

Both suspects are residents of Maligawatta, the Daily Mirror reported. 
 

Defying calls for the military to withdraw from Tamil civilian life, the Sri Lankan army continued to hold a series of events throughout the Christmas period across the North-East.

Sri Lankan navy officers arrested 13 Indian fishermen on Wednesday, seizing two fishing trawlers. 

The men, from Rameswaran, Tamil Nadu, were accused of entering Sri Lanka's waters. 

The men were detained last night at the navy base before being handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Authorities today. 

UK parliamentarians, currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, met with the spokesperson of the Tamil National Alliance on Thursday, as well as the Sri Lankan president,  Maithripala Sirisena.