A part of a contested forest in Mullaitivu was damaged by fire, with distressed locals suspecting arson in retaliation to protests against deforestation for state-sponsored Muslim resettlements.

The Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan and spokesperson M. A. Sumanthiran, met with Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, on Thursday to discuss the constitution making process and key issues faced by Tamils which were causing them to lose hope.

British parliamentarians and academics discussed the Sri Lankan state's ethnocratic nature at a book launch in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.  

'Government and Politics in Sri Lanka: Biopolitics and Security', authored by Dr Sriskanda Rajah focuses on Sri Lanka’s post-colonial policies and democratic structure and argues that Sri Lanka functions as an ethnocracy leaning on authoritarianism, and was launched with a discussion on Sri Lanka by a panel of academics and Members of Parliament.

Speaking at the event the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell stressed the importance of discussing the characteristics of the Sri Lankan state that allow for the oppression of Tamils, adding that Tamils must be allowed to determine their own future.

The British government expressed “serious concerns” to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner this week, after a United Nations Special Rapporteur report found torture was endemic, systematic and routine on the island.

Responding to a question from the leader of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils Paul Scully, the Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom said the UK had expressed their concerns over the report’s findings to Sri Lanka’s representative in London.

The Governor of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province warned that there would be “stiff resistance” to federalism on the island, labelling any attempt to introduce devolution a “conspiracy”.

Speaking at a Buddhist ceremony in Kandy, Governor Hemakumara Nanayakkara said that he “would continue to speak the truth according to my conscience”.

The Sri Lankan military announced that it had completed the construction of a new water facility at a Tamil school in Jaffna earlier this month.

The European Union's ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tung Lai-Margue, told Sri Lanka to ensure transparency in the financial sector, end corruption and cut duties in order to make the country appeal to foreign investors. 

The National Freedon Front (NFF) said it "vehemently" condemned the statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson on his visit to Sri Lanka this month, accusing him of violating sovereignty. 

Speaking at an event organised by the European Chamber of commerce, Sri Lanka's prime minister promised liberalisation of the economy prior to the next budget, expressing his support for breaking down barriers for competition. 

The Sri Lankan President signed the gazette for the Office of Missing Persons today.

Announcing on his official Twitter account that he had signed the gazette, President Sirisena said “this marks another step forward in Sri Lanka’s path to sustained peace.”

“OMP being gazetted is a significant step forward for the people of Sri Lanka,” the UN resident coordinator, Una McCauley said on Twitter.

The UN is to ensure soldiers from Sri Lanka are vetted prior to joining the UN Peacekeeping force. 

Singapore’s Foreign Minister said Jaffna “holds special significance” for his country, during a visit to the region today.

The United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, undertaking a three-day visit to the island where he will discuss peacebuilding with government officials and members of the Tamil National Alliance.

Rejecting the report by the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson, Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson said on Wednesday that the foreign ministry would going forward answer to the country's defence ministry and the Prison Commissioner General before  foreign officials undertook any future similar visits.